Who has built a similar "Ice Machine"?

[TimeBandit]

I thought of this for a friends house at Naci last year, just found these videos today.

He has over one million views on this series of how to Ice Machine videos!

Homemade ice maker! SAVE thousands over a commercial ice maker - YouTube

 

[Singleton]

I have small chest freezer in the garage.
You might of just found me my next project.

 

[steamin rice]

That's a pretty cool project and pretty straightforward.

I wonder if there would be issues with the ice getting "stale" if it's not used for several weeks or months? I know that the ice in the bin of my home freezer will end up as one giant ice clump over time if the ice isn't being consumed.

Either way, very cool idea for a low cost ice maker.

 

[mash on it]

A neighbor has a side by side fridge in the garage, the freezer side doesn't have any shelves, just a 11ish gallon trash can... Full of ice from the original ice maker.
Always plenty of ice for the coolers.

Dan'l

 

[TimeBandit]

This guy made some great videos filled with tech facts.

The standard home ice maker he used makes about 3.5 pounds per day, so two will make 7#/day.

He then added two fans (computer?) and increased output to over 9#/day.

I've heard having a million views on YouTube can pay over $4,000.00 so sharing great info pays!

 

[Flying_Lavey]

That's a pretty cool project and pretty straightforward.

I wonder if there would be issues with the ice getting "stale" if it's not used for several weeks or months? I know that the ice in the bin of my home freezer will end up as one giant ice clump over time if the ice isn't being consumed.

Either way, very cool idea for a low cost ice maker.

That is precisely the problem with this method. Ice machine bins are not refrigerated for this reason, to keep the ice separate and lose.

When ice is harvested, it is done so by either a mechanical means (extremely rare to see in a machine) or by melting the base layer of ice so it falls off the plates. Problem is, the ice is covered in water now and if it's immediately stored in a freezer, it will freeze together.

Also, you will notice in the video (I've only seen a couple parts to 1 or 2 of this guy's videos) there is a good bit of frost on the inside on the freezer. That is indicative of the chest either being opened frequently, or there being air leakage into the chest. The main issue lies with the frost is very easy to mealt initially so it will either melt at the touch or a prolonged opening, become water, then re-freeze later in a clump, or the frost will become denser and denser on the walls til you have a thick sheet of ice that is oh so much fun to deal with.

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[Done-it-again]

That is precisely the problem with this method. Ice machine bins are not refrigerated for this reason, to keep the ice separate and lose.

When ice is harvested, it is done so by either a mechanical means (extremely rare to see in a machine) or by melting the base layer of ice so it falls off the plates. Problem is, the ice is covered in water now and if it's immediately stored in a freezer, it will freeze together.

Also, you will notice in the video (I've only seen a couple parts to 1 or 2 of this guy's videos) there is a good bit of frost on the inside on the freezer. That is indicative of the chest either being opened frequently, or there being air leakage into the chest. The main issue lies with the frost is very easy to mealt initially so it will either melt at the touch or a prolonged opening, become water, then re-freeze later in a clump, or the frost will become denser and denser on the walls til you have a thick sheet of ice that is oh so much fun to deal with.

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^^^^^this

 

[Bigbore500r]

That's gonna take 3 weeks to fill up. And 4 ice chests to empty...........
Wouldn't survive a weekend of heavy usage with a house full of boaters, but might be OK for a single family setup.
Get a used 500lb per day Hoshizaki for $1500 from a restaraunt supply place and call it a day!

 

[warpt71]

Really cool idea! I guess I was lucky when I found a commercial under counter unit for $100

It looks like this, and is rated at 220lbs a day.

 

[RichieRich]

Really cool idea! I guess I was lucky when I found a commercial under counter unit for $100

It looks like this, and is rated at 220lbs a day.
View attachment 1019695

does it keep the ice or does it constantly make ice and melts like other ice makers?

 

[Bobby V]

does it keep the ice or does it constantly make ice and melts like other ice makers?

I have a commercial ice maker. I make the the ice, bag it and put the bags in a coffin type freezer.

 

[warpt71]

does it keep the ice or does it constantly make ice and melts like other ice makers?

It is in a constant state of melt. I can plug it in friday night and it will be full in the morning. Ice down a couple of coolers for my family and you will find bottom. It will be full when we get off the water and we can reload a small cooler for the night. I kind of like that I always have fresh and clean ice with it constantly melting. I tend to only use it on weekends and dont leave it plugged in 24/7

 

[Flying_Lavey]

Really cool idea! I guess I was lucky when I found a commercial under counter unit for $100

It looks like this, and is rated at 220lbs a day.
View attachment 1019695

Killer deal there. Under counter units are the way to go. Large production capacity but small storage means it empties pretty quick but refills quickly. 200lbs a day is about right. However, for those reading this and looking to maybe get one, the production ratings are for ideal conditions. 75 degree ambient and about 70 degree entering water temp.

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[240Hallett]

Really cool idea! I guess I was lucky when I found a commercial under counter unit for $100

It looks like this, and is rated at 220lbs a day.
View attachment 1019695
Ours is like this and will fill overnight in a Havasu garage with a swamp cooler. We do the bag and freezer method so we are using colder ice. And there’s ice ready to go in the freezer when we get there for the weekend.

 

[Outdrive1]

I turn on my Hoshizaki, bag ice until my chest freezer is full, and start over when it’s empty. I don’t think a household type ice maker would make anywhere close to what we use.


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[DLC]

I have a under counter bar type ice machine produces about 50lbs a day then bag it and keep it in the upright freezer. I try to keep about 100lbs bagged and ready to go!

havasu water during summer is so warm I added a pre chiller, I removed a Stand alone refrigerated drinking fountain from a business and replumbed it to only cool the water then into the ice maker!

works great!

a big ol commercial ice machine would be the bomb, they are expensive but designed to make ice and lots of it

 

[77charger]

Easier for me to frezze ice trays and bowls of water overnight in my freezer

 

[Ziggy]

My most important question about this guys video is splicing 110 wires with solder. Can't say I've seen it or know if it's safe to do so or not? I've always been lead to believe not to do it that way. Video doesn't show how he insulated the splice. Who has the correct answer, @Taboma ?

 

[Nordie]

My most important question about this guys video is splicing 110 wires with solder. Can't say I've seen it or know if it's safe to do so or not? I've always been lead to believe not to do it that way. Video doesn't show how he insulated the splice. Who has the correct answer, @Taboma?

I would say no, but a lot of 12V stuff gets soldiered and some of the 12V stuff pulls a shit load more amps, like RC car batteries n such.

 

[Racey]

I thought of this for a friends house at Naci last year, just found these videos today.

He has over one million views on this series of how to Ice Machine videos!

Homemade ice maker! SAVE thousands over a commercial ice maker - YouTube

To be honest this is actually a really good idea. Most normal ice makers, even commercial grade ones that are "household size" don't keep the ice cold, they just make the ice. This means when you empty the machine into your cooler it melts much faster than normal ice as the base temp is probably 20+ degrees higher.

Deep freezers get really cold, sub zero, so this will make ice that will stay cold in your cooler, and you don't have to mess around with anything.

 

[Hermosa]

I thought of this for a friends house at Naci last year, just found these videos today.

He has over one million views on this series of how to Ice Machine videos!

Homemade ice maker! SAVE thousands over a commercial ice maker - YouTube

I built one after watching this video, works really well, slow to produce ice, but after a week, you are caught up to where you need to be. Love the larger solid cubes, they last forever in the beer cooler. He had a lot of frost build up, may be part due to the humidity of Florida and him opening it often, or an air leak. I haven't had that problem, but I sealed mine up better where the cords run out the side. For $350.00 what I have invested in mine, completely worth it. I also put a 15lb weight on the top as a reminder to the kids not to fuck with it. I made 3 of them and sold 2 to friends of friends for $800.00 each.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

To be honest this is actually a really good idea. Most normal ice makers, even commercial grade ones that are "household size" don't keep the ice cold, they just make the ice. This means when you empty the machine into your cooler it melts much faster than normal ice as the base temp is probably 20+ degrees higher.

Deep freezers get really cold, sub zero, so this will make ice that will stay cold in your cooler, and you don't have to mess around with anything.

I'm sure you know this Racey, but a substance changing state does not change its temperature. It takes VERY little energy relatively to change that. I bet that reduction in temperature would be gone by the time you were done loading the ice chest.

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[Racey]

My buddy just built one of these over the weekend, we both went down to Lowes and picked up cheapy deep freezes. I'm not sure if i am gonna make one or keep the deep freeze as a regular style. He has a FLIR camera and was able to see where the coils are so he drilled through the actual side and then poked out the foam gently to make sure he didn't pop one of the coils.

Like @Hermosa said, it's slow, makes about 10lbs a day. But once it's full the thing probably holds 400lbs of ice. So as long as you rotate the stock you are good to go.

He found some plastic rubbermaid style bins that fit inside so he has the ice maker dumping into one of those and then he can just re-arrange them as he uses ice.

Helluva lot better than spending 2k on one

 

[Meaney77]

Curious if you could find a replacement type motor for an ice pellet maker and do the same thing? Smaller ice might make more and more frequently?

 

[$hot]

That is precisely the problem with this method. Ice machine bins are not refrigerated for this reason, to keep the ice separate and lose.

When ice is harvested, it is done so by either a mechanical means (extremely rare to see in a machine) or by melting the base layer of ice so it falls off the plates. Problem is, the ice is covered in water now and if it's immediately stored in a freezer, it will freeze together.

Also, you will notice in the video (I've only seen a couple parts to 1 or 2 of this guy's videos) there is a good bit of frost on the inside on the freezer. That is indicative of the chest either being opened frequently, or there being air leakage into the chest. The main issue lies with the frost is very easy to mealt initially so it will either melt at the touch or a prolonged opening, become water, then re-freeze later in a clump, or the frost will become denser and denser on the walls til you have a thick sheet of ice that is oh so much fun to deal with.

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most of us buy this kind of ice, you have to slam it on the ground to break it loose. Seems like making your own is skipping the middle man. Btw I’m in the market for a freezer

 

[Flying_Lavey]

View attachment 1025016
most of us buy this kind of ice, you have to slam it on the ground to break it loose. Seems like making your own is skipping the middle man. Btw I’m in the market for a freezer

Those are not refrigerated boxes. They freeze together because the plastic holds the melt water in the bag and it will eventually slightly refreeze and why they have to be broken apart.

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[The Prisoner]

Os maker.

 

[$hot]

Those are not refrigerated boxes. They freeze together because the plastic holds the melt water in the bag and it will eventually slightly refreeze and why they have to be broken apart.

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They aren’t refrigerated? Then what’s the thing on the top of them?

 

[Flying_Lavey]

They aren’t refrigerated? Then what’s the thing on the top of them?

Im sorry, I should have clarified a little better. They are refrigerated, but they aren't kept below freezing. Those boxes are typically kept at about 35 to 40 degrees to reduce melt loss as well as slow bacterial growth inside the box.

 

[Racey]

Im sorry, I should have clarified a little better. They are refrigerated, but they aren't kept below freezing. Those boxes are typically kept at about 35 to 40 degrees to reduce melt loss as well as slow bacterial growth inside the box.

Uhhh no, those Reddy Ice boxes are most certainly freezers, they kept well below freezing. They are most definitely not 35f+

 

[Ladsm]

I use a Magic Chef counter top ice maker that makes 27lbs a day. I make a few bags up each week and throw it in the coffin freezer.

Somebody asked if it goes bad, we use it for keeping drinks and food cold. The Coors Light cans have never complained yet so no issues to report here.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

Uhhh no, those Reddy Ice boxes are most certainly freezers, they kept well below freezing. They are most definitely not 35f+

Every one I have worked on was above freezing.

 

[Racey]

Every one I have worked on was above freezing.

Hopefully that is why you were working on them

Those Leer boxes like the one pictured run about 16-20F

I've bought ice out of one every week for the last 7 or 8 years, never once had any water the bag.