smoke ring
Cut a 2 inch diameter hole in the center of the bottom of a
round oatmeal box. Cut the neck off a large balloon and stretch
it over the top of the oatmeal box. Secure it in place with a
rubber band. Shape a piece of aluminum foil into a vase shape.
The top of the vase should easily fit through the two inch
hole. Put a quarter teaspoon of ammonium chloride into the
vase. Ammonium chloride is also called Sal ammoniac and is
available at drug stores. Heat the bottom of the vase with a
candle flame and white smoke will rise into the box. Aim the
box toward a dark background preferably with any light source
being behind you. Tap the balloon. A beautiful smoke ring
rolls across the room.
Other similarly shaped containers can be used but the hole you
cut should be smaller than one third the diameter of the box.
If Sal ammomiac is not available smoke can be produced by
burning tissue paper. Roll up a single tissue and place the
roll in a holder made from a bent paper clip. One end of the
clip is bent into a horizontal U and the bottom of the
vertical roll pushed into the U. The other end of the clip is
bent into a large V shape which lays flat and keeps the holder
upright. Light the roll and when it is flaming nicely blow it
out and set the hole of the box over it. The smoke will not
be dense but will be visible if the lighting is right. Try
aiming the box so the smoke ring passes through the area under
an overhead light with the rest of the room dimly lit.