Posted: 6/2/2014 9:01:08 AM EDT
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I'm thinking about picking up a portable/self contained ice machine for keeping ice around for coolers this summer. Buying bags of ice adds up quick.
Anyone have one of these gadgets and have any recommendations or advice? Hoping to spend under $200, or better yet under $150. |
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I saw this one at Sam's for $100. I don't know if it is any good though http://www.samsclub.com/sams/portable-ice-maker/prod13500038.ip?navAction= 
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Quoted:
we have one it comes in handy, but not a high production machine I'm seeing 26-30 lbs/24 hours. It will be mostly weekend ice, so it shouldn't be hard to build up enough in the couple days preceding the trip to stock enough for both days... at least if production is somewhat close to their estimates. |
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Quoted:
I saw this one at Sam's for $100. I don't know if it is any good though http://www.samsclub.com/sams/portable-ice-maker/prod13500038.ip?navAction= http://scene7.samsclub.com/is/image/samsclub/0005846579077_A?$img_size_380x380$ This gets goods reviews on the rv forums I visit. I have an ARB fridge freezer that is pretty badass. |
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Quoted:
I saw this one at Sam's for $100. I don't know if it is any good though http://www.samsclub.com/sams/portable-ice-maker/prod13500038.ip?navAction= http://scene7.samsclub.com/is/image/samsclub/0005846579077_A?$img_size_380x380$ That looks like the one I have. It has a different brand name on it. The nearest Sam's Club didn't carry this one or any other brand. |
| If you keep an eye on it while it is making ice you can easily get 30 pounds a day. I bought one 3 years ago and have not bought ice while camping since. Granted it's not as nice as my flake ice machine that makes 400 pounds a day but for a hundred dollars it's worth the money |
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Quoted:
I saw this one at Sam's for $100. I don't know if it is any good though http://www.samsclub.com/sams/portable-ice-maker/prod13500038.ip?navAction= http://scene7.samsclub.com/is/image/samsclub/0005846579077_A?$img_size_380x380$ My M-I-L has that one, works well, but you need to keep adding water, so the 24 hour production is bullshit unless you are going to keep feeding it. If you could run a small line to it, would be awesome. |
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I freeze bottled water to keep coolers cold. You can then drink the water. Even with ice trays, I can build up quite a bit of ice just by transferring it to a ziploc bag periodically. True, buying ice will quickly add up to more than one of those machines cost. But a little persistence and a box of ziploc bags will get you just as much for a lot cheaper.
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we have one it comes in handy, but not a high production machine Agree. I sold em out of a warehouse retail store through ebay, sold a bunch of them, had a high return rate, cause most of the ones we carried(or that are made) are really slow and not what one would think they are. You gotta pay a lot to get one like I imagined they all should be. |
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The one that we had made wet ice. We would empty it from the machine into a container in the freezer and it would freeze into one huge solid block that I had to break apart every time I wanted a couple pieces of ice.
Was more of a pain in the ass than it was worth. |
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Quoted:
The one that we had made wet ice. We would empty it from the machine into a container in the freezer and it would freeze into one huge solid block that I had to break apart every time I wanted a couple pieces of ice. Was more of a pain in the ass than it was worth. I've seen this as a concern too... I would want to stockpile a day or two worth of ice in a deep freezer, so that would be an issue to me. |
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I bought one at a yard sale for $10. It actually worked. We use it for camping once or twice a year. It doesn't seem to freeze the ice as solid as most normal ice makers, but it is better than doing without. We set up two of these by the bar for mixed drinks.
It kicks out ice about every 10 minutes. You have to keep on top of taking it out, using it, and filling it with water. It is not a good solution to replace ice bags. I have looked at Scotsman, Hozaki and others for a smaller used machine, but they need to be cycled through regularly, or there will be an iceberg in the storage bin............or that is what I think will happen. My frige icemaker sucks ass, so I will eventually put in an under counter Scotsman with my kitchen remodel. |