Will the snow settle on the stage, or does it just disappear?

Mostly it disappears. The fine flakes evaporate as they fall, which is why the air fills with snow but the stage does not turn white. Heavier clusters do land, sit for a few moments and then dissolve into a thin damp film. If you want snow that visibly lies, a white floor for a whole scene, that is a different effect done with cloths or paper, and we will say so rather than hire you the wrong machine.

Where should we put it?

High, and angled slightly down across the playing space. A shelf, a stand or a balcony position above head height gives the flakes time to drift, which is what sells the effect. Point it across the stage rather than at the audience, and keep the nozzle clear of curtains and legs. For a wedding first dance, a corner of the room aimed across the floor is usually right. The remote lead is 2.5 metres, so whoever cues it stands near the machine.

How much fluid do we need, and can we use our own?

The tank holds 1.2 litres and the machine runs in bursts rather than continuously, so a little goes a long way: a first dance uses a few minutes of snow at most, and a panto might use one good burst per performance. Tell us the schedule and we will send enough with a margin. Use only proper snow fluid — QTX make one formulated for this machine — never smoke fluid or anything home-made, which clogs the pump and ends the effect.

Loud enough to notice. The manual itself says a loud noise during use is normal, and it is: a fan and pump working hard. Under a musical number, a finale or a first dance it disappears into the sound. Over quiet dialogue it will not, so write the snow cues where the band or the backing track can cover them.

Can it go outside for our Christmas fair?

Not in the open. The manufacturer rates it for indoor, dry use only, and foam snow does not survive wind well anyway. Inside a hall, at a grotto entrance or in a dry, enclosed marquee it is fine. If your event is genuinely outdoors, talk to us about what will actually work before you book anything.

Home Services Equipment Hire Smoke, Haze and Effects Hire

Snow machine hire — QTX SW-1

A snow machine gives you falling snow on cue: fine foam flakes blown into the air that drift down through the light and mostly vanish before they land. The QTX SW-1 is a compact 600W unit with a 1.2 litre tank that throws snow around 6 metres, enough for a panto transformation, a school hall finale or a first dance. It runs from an ordinary 13A socket and starts and stops from a wired remote, so one person in the wings owns the cue. It hires at £5 per day, dry or with a technician.

Machine-made snow is a foam effect. The SW-1 feeds a soap-based snow fluid to its nozzle, where a fan blows it out as a stream of fine white flakes. Through stage light they read convincingly as snow; up close they are foam, which is exactly why they work indoors. The smallest flakes evaporate on the way down. The heavier clusters land, sit for a moment and dissolve. There is nothing to sweep and no paper turning up in the wings for weeks afterwards.

The machine itself is small: 3.5 kg with a carry handle, drawing 600W from any ordinary 13A socket. The removable tank holds 1.2 litres of fluid and the throw is around 6 metres from the nozzle. Control is a wired remote on a 2.5 metre lead. Press and it snows; release and it stops. There is no DMX and no desk to patch, which for most bookings is the point: the whole effect is one person's thumb. Hold the button for a few seconds after filling to prime it and it is ready. It is noticeably loud while running, and the manufacturer says as much in the manual, so plan the snow cues under music rather than dialogue.

Placement decides whether it looks like snowfall or a foam cannon. Get it above head height, on a shelf, a stand, a balcony edge or a platform in the wings, and angle it slightly downwards across the stage, never straight into the front row. Height buys hang time: the higher the machine, the longer the flakes drift and the wider they spread before they land or vanish. For a first dance, a corner position aimed across the dance floor covers the couple without anyone standing next to a droning box. Keep the front of the machine clear, and keep it indoors; it has no weather rating at all.

Clean-up deserves an honest paragraph. Most of what the SW-1 puts out never reaches the floor. What does land dissolves into a thin damp film, and on a polished or vinyl floor that film can be slippery underfoot. Plan a quick mop at the interval and the end, and think twice before snowing heavily over a floor people are about to dance on. Carpet generally just dries. The fluid does not normally stain, but test a discreet corner of anything delicate, and do not aim it at instruments, radio mics or anything electrical.

Hire is by the day, with fluid supplied to suit your running time. Run it yourselves or add a technician who will place it, prime it and take the snow cues while you get on with the show.

What you get

The machine, with an IEC mains lead

The wired remote on its 2.5 metre lead: press to snow, release to stop

QTX snow fluid to suit your booking — tell us how long you want it running and we will send enough, with a margin

The tank travels empty; filling and priming takes a minute and the instructions are in the case

Not included as standard: a stand or platform to raise it, extension leads, or a mop for afterwards. Stands and cable can be added

A technician to place it, prime it and take the snow cues, if you would rather not run it yourselves

Good for

Pantomimes: a snow burst for the transformation scene or the walkdown

School winter shows and nativities in halls with nowhere to rig a snow bag

Wedding first dances: a minute of falling snow over the couple, then off

Indoor Christmas fairs and grottos — a flurry over the queue at the grotto door

Dance school Christmas showcases and carol concerts wanting one seasonal picture

Village hall and church events that need the moment without any rigging

What you need to know

What it does: Falling snow on cue: a soap-based fluid blown out as fine foam flakes that drift down through the light. Most evaporate before they land.
Throw: Around 6 metres from the nozzle. Mounted high and angled slightly down, that covers a school or village hall stage from one position.
Power: 600 watts from an ordinary 13A socket. No special supply, and no warm-up ritual beyond a few seconds of priming after you fill the tank.
Control: A wired remote on a 2.5 metre lead. Press to snow, release to stop. No DMX and no desk: one person in the wings owns the cue.
Where it goes: 3.5 kg with a carry handle, so it sits on a shelf, a stand or a balcony edge above head height. Indoors only; it has no weather rating.
Clean-up: What does land dissolves into a thin damp film that can be slippery on polished floors. Plan a quick mop at the interval and the end.

Rates are per day and exclude VAT. A longer hire costs less per day — tell us your dates and we will price the period exactly. Ask us about delivery and hiring with a technician.

Full technical specification (11)

Manufacturer and model	QTX SW-1 mini snow machine
Order code	160.569UK
Machine type	Fluid-based foam snow machine
Snow throw	Around 6 metres
Fluid tank	1.2 litres, removable
Remote	Wired remote on a 2.5 m lead
Power supply	230V AC, 50Hz, from a standard UK 13A socket
Fuse	F3A
Power draw	600
Weight	3.5
Dimensions	345 x 185 x 200

Common questions

Mostly it disappears. The fine flakes evaporate as they fall, which is why the air fills with snow but the stage does not turn white. Heavier clusters do land, sit for a few moments and then dissolve into a thin damp film. If you want snow that visibly lies, a white floor for a whole scene, that is a different effect done with cloths or paper, and we will say so rather than hire you the wrong machine.
High, and angled slightly down across the playing space. A shelf, a stand or a balcony position above head height gives the flakes time to drift, which is what sells the effect. Point it across the stage rather than at the audience, and keep the nozzle clear of curtains and legs. For a wedding first dance, a corner of the room aimed across the floor is usually right. The remote lead is 2.5 metres, so whoever cues it stands near the machine.
The tank holds 1.2 litres and the machine runs in bursts rather than continuously, so a little goes a long way: a first dance uses a few minutes of snow at most, and a panto might use one good burst per performance. Tell us the schedule and we will send enough with a margin. Use only proper snow fluid — QTX make one formulated for this machine — never smoke fluid or anything home-made, which clogs the pump and ends the effect.
Loud enough to notice. The manual itself says a loud noise during use is normal, and it is: a fan and pump working hard. Under a musical number, a finale or a first dance it disappears into the sound. Over quiet dialogue it will not, so write the snow cues where the band or the backing track can cover them.
Not in the open. The manufacturer rates it for indoor, dry use only, and foam snow does not survive wind well anyway. Inside a hall, at a grotto entrance or in a dry, enclosed marquee it is fine. If your event is genuinely outdoors, talk to us about what will actually work before you book anything.