Using dry ice to freeze water - DPChallenge Forums

04/17/2009 06:31:01 PM · #1

I'm up to something for a shot I want to get and need to freeze some water. I can't do it in the freezer and am thinking of using dry ice. Any hints to make this work better? What if I mix the water with some rubbing alcohol. Would that get the water temp lower and freeze faster? (although the alcohol would remain liquid)

I'm looking to freeze a large but thin sheet of ice.

sempermarine

Apple iPhone 5s

04/17/2009 06:40:31 PM · #2

Jason,

I wish I could help you out, but I'm not totally sure it can be done. However, be very careful, dry ice can be dangerous (I know from experience). Here is a link to the Material Safety Data Sheet.

www.praxair.com/praxair.nsf/AllContent/FD4387E48AA78F0F8525654D0063D126/$File/p4575d.pdf

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon

04/17/2009 06:42:32 PM · #3

Originally posted by sempermarine:

Ya thanks. I've worked with it before along with liquid nitrogen so I'll be sure to keep my little fingers covered. :)

Here's another question. To freeze the sheet who thinks it's best to put the dry ice in the thin layer of water and who thinks it's best to try to build some insulated container and just put the water in beside the dry ice?

Lutchenko

Nikon D700

04/17/2009 06:47:38 PM · #4

No idea but have a look at this link
Making thin sheets of ice

ErikV

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

04/17/2009 06:58:20 PM · #5

If you are wanting a smooth sheet of ice, I would go with the dry ice in an insulated container rather than putting the dry ice in the water. But I think you will need a lot of dry ice either way.

Might be easier to go to (or near) the top of Mt Hood or Mt Rainier and let the water freeze up there by itself -- and while you are waiting for it to freeze you can come up with an entry for the April FS that will blow us away.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

04/17/2009 07:01:22 PM · #6

Originally posted by ErikV:

Might be easier to go to (or near) the top of Mt Hood or Mt Rainier and let the water freeze up there by itself...

That's a fine, fine idea as far as it goes, but then he's gotta be able to do the *rest* of the setup and the shot in situ, which I suspect might be a problem :-)

R.

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

04/17/2009 07:10:49 PM · #7

I'm having fun. It's one of those shots where I know what I want, but I have to figure out to get it. And, no, I can't do it at the top of Rainier. :P

ErikV

Nikon D7000

04/17/2009 07:12:53 PM · #8

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by ErikV:
Might be easier to go to (or near) the top of Mt Hood or Mt Rainier and let the water freeze up there by itself...

That's a fine, fine idea as far as it goes, but then he's gotta be able to do the *rest* of the setup and the shot in situ, which I suspect might be a problem :-)

R.

But once the water is frozen he won't have to worry about dropping yet another 5D in the water and getting it wet. So I think in his case freezing the water first and then worrying about the rest of the set up is the way to go.

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

04/17/2009 07:13:43 PM · #9

Originally posted by ErikV:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by ErikV:
Might be easier to go to (or near) the top of Mt Hood or Mt Rainier and let the water freeze up there by itself...

That's a fine, fine idea as far as it goes, but then he's gotta be able to do the *rest* of the setup and the shot in situ, which I suspect might be a problem :-)

R.

But once the water is frozen he won't have to worry about dropping yet another 5D in the water and getting it wet. So I think in his case freezing the water first and then worrying about the rest of the set up is the way to go.

Well, it's all worth a virtual ribbon right?

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

04/17/2009 07:40:13 PM · #10

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

I'm having fun. It's one of those shots where I know what I want, but I have to figure out to get it. And, no, I can't do it at the top of Rainier. :P

Come on. It's doable. Just do that lens covering trick and then run to the other place to finish exposing. :P

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

04/17/2009 09:19:56 PM · #11

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Putting alcohol in the water will depress its freezing temperature... drastically. Not what you want. Put your water in a flat metal pan, like a cookie sheet. Set the pan on dry ice, cover the pan. You can coat the pan with oil if you wish to release the ice later, or just use it with the pan attached if that works for your set-up.

Edit to add: If you mix the dry ice with an organic solvent such as acetone (not isopropanol) you'll get liquid/solid mixture at about -78Â°C... damn cold. Also see this page.

Message edited by author 2009-04-17 21:25:30.

FireBird

04/18/2009 12:34:48 AM · #12

Just how large a sheet of ice do you need?