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Posted: 4/17/2017 3:45:45 PM EDT
[#1]
Just go the chest freezer route.
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Posted: 4/17/2017 3:49:58 PM EDT
[#2]
You could pick up another cheap freezer and make/store block ice as well. Lasts longer than cubes.
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Posted: 4/17/2017 3:50:00 PM EDT
[#3]
I have two where I work, they are water cooled and use a ton of water. Probably would not do well sitting around not working.
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Posted: 4/17/2017 3:50:43 PM EDT
[#4]
Any "cheap" used ice machine you get from a restaurant is going to be a clapped out, old crusty turd that has had every last nickel of value squeezed out of it. Ice machines are expensive, except for some of the small Chinese ones that go for $1000-$2000.
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Posted: 4/17/2017 3:52:08 PM EDT
[#5]
You can get ones that you put a jug of water on and can make 40 pounds of ice in an hour. I think I saw it for about $400 CAD.
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Posted: 4/17/2017 3:52:50 PM EDT
[#6]
Quoted:
I was thinking of trying to locate a stand alone machine cheap from a restaurant closing down or something. I would only turn it on and start cranking out ice if it looked like a hurricane was heading this way. I could fill all my coolers and keep replacing melted ice up until the power goes out. Better than trying to find bags of ice at gas stations or grocery stores. Those sell out quick if a storm is 3 or so days out and heading this way. I also have a chest freezer I could fill up with my own bags of ice and keep ready to roll for storms. |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 3:54:01 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
You could pick up another cheap freezer and make/store block ice as well. Lasts longer than cubes. |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 3:54:44 PM EDT
[#8]
Im getting one for my downstairs bar in the new house build. From what I can find, it looks like a under counter model is gonna be at least $500 for a nice one.
A commercial model would be cool except they are huge. |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 3:59:08 PM EDT
[#9]
I've had them, but I don't think what you want is practical unless you want more than a just in case ice machine. They do make higher quality ice than a typical in freezer icemaker.
Sub Zero makes some nice residential ones, and you can find noisy ones for much cheaper. You'll need to run electricity, fresh water, and a sewer line (for melted ice) to it. If I know a hurricane is coming I fill 2 liter coke bottles and tupperware with water and freeze them. |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 4:05:18 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
This. Pre freeze ice in buckets and cups of various sizes to use in your various coolers. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
You could pick up another cheap freezer and make/store block ice as well. Lasts longer than cubes. I will fire up the chest freezer next month and start freezing gallon water jugs. Do I need to pour a little water out of the jugs to keep them from bursting? |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 4:06:03 PM EDT
[#11]
For the price you could buy mass quantities of dry ice every time there is a hurricane and come out way cheaper.
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Posted: 4/17/2017 4:10:11 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Yeah, this is probably the way to go. I will fire up the chest freezer next month and start freezing gallon water jugs. Do I need to pour a little water out of the jugs to keep them from bursting? |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 4:12:02 PM EDT
[#13]
We had one for the boat for filling the fish chests for offshore and long day trips.
Came from my step-mothers coffee shop that went out of business. |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 4:13:13 PM EDT
[#14]
Letting an ice machine sit idle and then only cranking it up when you need would also more than likely have bacteria/contamination issues as well.
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Posted: 4/17/2017 4:14:31 PM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Letting an ice machine sit idle and then only cranking it up when you need would also more than likely have bacteria/contamination issues as well. |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 4:24:20 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Do I need to pour a little water out of the jugs to keep them from bursting? |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 4:27:20 PM EDT
[#17]
As someone that sold new and used restaurant equipment for close to a decade.....don't.
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Posted: 4/17/2017 4:28:24 PM EDT
[#18]
I have a commercial machine on the side of my house. I love it. One of the best ridiculous purchases I ever made. I'm about 90% certain it's a Hoshizaki, I'll have to go look at it to be sure. Mine makes 1200 lbs every 24 hours... with an 800 lb bin. You can fill coolers all day every day and the machine will keep up. I put it on the outside of my house because partially because of the heat, but mainly so friends and family can come over and use it. I think I paid $800 for the whole thing, IIRC, and $100 for a refrigeration guy to give it a once-over and plumb the lines.
If you like boating/fishing/camping get one and never look back. |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 4:35:54 PM EDT
[#19]
Yep had a good size one at the fishing camp, it crapped out so we need another one.
350lb head, 500lb bin I think. |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 4:39:06 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I have two where I work, they are water cooled and use a ton of water. Probably would not do well sitting around not working. The one we have at work was $1400 and eats up a $400 per quarter maintenance contract to stay running. A chest freezer with 2 liter bottles pre-frozen would be cheaper and more versatile. |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 4:42:27 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
They are huge maintenance hogs too. The one we have at work was $1400 and eats up a $400 per quarter maintenance contract to stay running. A chest freezer with 2 liter bottles pre-frozen would be cheaper and more versatile. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
I have two where I work, they are water cooled and use a ton of water. Probably would not do well sitting around not working. The one we have at work was $1400 and eats up a $400 per quarter maintenance contract to stay running. A chest freezer with 2 liter bottles pre-frozen would be cheaper and more versatile. |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 4:45:00 PM EDT
[#22]
I've worked on the occasional ice maker in restaurants and hotels, they're downright nasty. Mold, hair, dirt, bugs etc. Plan on setting aside at least 8 hours to clean/disinfect it. Also not sure how reliable it will be with intermittent/occasional use...
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Posted: 4/17/2017 4:46:54 PM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Amen! Every commercial ice machine I have been around, probably 5-6 of them, is always constantly needing work done to it to keep it producing. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I have two where I work, they are water cooled and use a ton of water. Probably would not do well sitting around not working. The one we have at work was $1400 and eats up a $400 per quarter maintenance contract to stay running. A chest freezer with 2 liter bottles pre-frozen would be cheaper and more versatile. |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 5:01:53 PM EDT
[#24]
I keep a chest freezer in the basement and fill bags of ice from my freezer/refrigerator and store them in it. Plenty for what I will ever need.
If I need a large unplanned volume, I just go to the firehouse and steal their ice. |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 5:06:16 PM EDT
[#25]
Less than $2K for some 65lb models.
We have a massive commercial one at the Lodge. Cost $5K in Costa Rica. $2.5K in the US (without the bin). |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 5:08:58 PM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
They are huge maintenance hogs too. The one we have at work was $1400 and eats up a $400 per quarter maintenance contract to stay running. Tony Rumore Tromix |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 5:14:03 PM EDT
[#27]
Small one on craigslist, I guess for a home bar or something.
If I wasn't in a hurry, and started now, I could probably have the chest freezer full of my own 1 lb bags of ice by hurricane season with something like this. The frozen water bottles thing seems easier though. https://jacksonville.craigslist.org/app/6088186104.html |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 5:17:02 PM EDT
[#28]
Quoted:
I was thinking of trying to locate a stand alone machine cheap from a restaurant closing down or something. I would only turn it on and start cranking out ice if it looked like a hurricane was heading this way. I could fill all my coolers and keep replacing melted ice up until the power goes out. Better than trying to find bags of ice at gas stations or grocery stores. Those sell out quick if a storm is 3 or so days out and heading this way. I also have a chest freezer I could fill up with my own bags of ice and keep ready to roll for storms. |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 5:17:40 PM EDT
[#29]
My experience with ice machines in research labs is that they require a lot of maintenance.
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Posted: 4/17/2017 5:19:32 PM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
You can just buy packages of bottled water and put them in your freezer. The bottles warp but they don't bust. Then you have fresh water to drink or can use them as ice bottles if you need to cool something. I bought a chest freezer and put multiple packs of water in the bottom to fill the area. No one wants to dig to the bottom of a freezer to get anything out anyway so the space really isn't wasted plus it acts as a additional cooling if the power ever did go out. Then worst case if the power is out long enough that everything thaws I still have clean portable drinking water |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 5:28:26 PM EDT
[#31]
I have a small RCA brand stand alone ice maker for my liquor bar at the house, and I do mean it's small! It was about $100 on Amazon. I only use it to make enough ice for drinks but it's rated to make about 26 pounds in a day, which is technically enough to fill a medium size cooler.
You may need something a little bigger, or just get two of the kind I have. Nonetheless, it kicks out about a cup of ice every 6 minutes and I've been impressed with it so far. |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 5:30:20 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I have a small RCA brand stand alone ice maker for my liquor bar at the house, and I do mean it's small! It was about $100 on Amazon. I only use it to make enough ice for drinks but it's rated to make about 26 pounds in a day, which is technically enough to fill a medium size cooler. You may need something a little bigger, or just get two of the kind I have. Nonetheless, it kicks out about a cup of ice every 6 minutes and I've been impressed with it so far. This one? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00INXG9MY?tag=vglnk-c102-20 |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 5:35:00 PM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Interesting. I might buy one at that price just to be able to supplement other ice supplies. |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 6:22:18 PM EDT
[#34]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Interesting. I might buy one at that price just to be able to supplement other ice supplies. This one? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00INXG9MY?tag=vglnk-c102-20 Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
I have a small RCA brand stand alone ice maker for my liquor bar at the house, and I do mean it's small! It was about $100 on Amazon. I only use it to make enough ice for drinks but it's rated to make about 26 pounds in a day, which is technically enough to fill a medium size cooler. You may need something a little bigger, or just get two of the kind I have. Nonetheless, it kicks out about a cup of ice every 6 minutes and I've been impressed with it so far. This one? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00INXG9MY?tag=vglnk-c102-20 I'll try to remember to take and post a shot of mine when I get home later. |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 6:35:04 PM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
That's the one. Same color and all... by the way, it comes with an ice scooper already so don't buy the extra one they're trying to sell with it. I'll try to remember to take and post a shot of mine when I get home later. I see I can buy 100, 10 lb ice bags online for not much money, I might go with this and start slowly making my own 10 lbs bags of ice and put in the freezer, along with frozen water bottles mentioned above. ETA: Just bought it on Amazon with Prime shipping, will get it Wednesday. It will give me an excuse to sit out in the garage, making ice and surfing arfcom. 
Gonna order the bags now too. |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 6:48:53 PM EDT
[#36]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Just buy a walk-in freezer from a restaurant that goes out of business. Then, build an outdoor shed to contain the walk-in freezer. Build up your ice cube inventory day by day. |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 6:55:19 PM EDT
[#37]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
A walk-in freezer will cost hundreds a month to run. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Just buy a walk-in freezer from a restaurant that goes out of business. Then, build an outdoor shed to contain the walk-in freezer. Build up your ice cube inventory day by day. 
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Posted: 4/17/2017 6:59:16 PM EDT
[#38]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
But it can sure hold a lot of dead hookers! Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Just buy a walk-in freezer from a restaurant that goes out of business. Then, build an outdoor shed to contain the walk-in freezer. Build up your ice cube inventory day by day. |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 7:02:14 PM EDT
[#39]
Here is a review of that icemaker on amazon, he is filling 8 lbs bags in a few hours, I ordered 10 lb bags, so I can probably knock out several on a rainy day or 1 a day after work.
"I have no problems with it yet...Amazed at how quickly ice is made, it makes ice in about 6-7 minutes, my other ice maker made ice every 9 minutes. And this one is much quieter than the one I had before and others that I have heard running before. Ordered me some ice bags off of Amazon and can fill up a 8lb ice bag to full in a couple hours so I'm happy to keep extra 8lb bags of ice handy for the upcoming summer." |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 8:36:58 PM EDT
[#40]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
They are huge maintenance hogs too. The one we have at work was $1400 and eats up a $400 per quarter maintenance contract to stay running. A chest freezer with 2 liter bottles pre-frozen would be cheaper and more versatile. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
I have two where I work, they are water cooled and use a ton of water. Probably would not do well sitting around not working. The one we have at work was $1400 and eats up a $400 per quarter maintenance contract to stay running. A chest freezer with 2 liter bottles pre-frozen would be cheaper and more versatile. I'm surprised at all the people in this thread saying Ice machines are maintenance hogs. Either you all have some ancient POS ice machines (10+ years old) or expect perfect reliability with no upkeep. New ice machines from any of the 4 big brands (except Scotsman maybe) should be pretty reliable. The problems come when people think their ice machine should run 20 hours a day and go years without ever being cleaned or maintained. Cleaning it is not hard and is generally something customers can do themselves but they either manage to screw it up or say sure, I'll do it and then won't do it out of laziness and then are upset when their machine stops working. Twice a year is the recommended interval. The only places i've seen that need more than bi-annual cleanings are places like subway, bars and strip clubs. Establishments with lots of yeast floating around in the air. 
I had a Manitowoc IY500 in my garage for 5 years. It had no problem with occasional usage or bateria growth. I purged the water trough when I was done using it though. |
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Posted: 4/17/2017 9:02:13 PM EDT
[#41]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Here is a review of that icemaker on amazon, he is filling 8 lbs bags in a few hours, I ordered 10 lb bags, so I can probably knock out several on a rainy day or 1 a day after work. "I have no problems with it yet...Amazed at how quickly ice is made, it makes ice in about 6-7 minutes, my other ice maker made ice every 9 minutes. And this one is much quieter than the one I had before and others that I have heard running before. Ordered me some ice bags off of Amazon and can fill up a 8lb ice bag to full in a couple hours so I'm happy to keep extra 8lb bags of ice handy for the upcoming summer." 
I made the bar myself, btw. 
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Posted: 4/17/2017 9:28:47 PM EDT
[#42]
This caught my eye last year... Tempting, but haven't pulled the trigger... $500 - Makes "Sonic" ice...
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Posted: 4/18/2017 9:46:00 AM EDT
[#43]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Here it is, as promised. It's not very big at all - fits under the bar just right. http://i.imgur.com/3SfcWPf.jpg I made the bar myself, btw. I get the ice machine tomorrow, once I get the ice bags, I will get busy. |
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Posted: 4/18/2017 10:01:41 AM EDT
[#44]
My ice strategy for hurricanes will probably be something like this:
Dedicate the Yeti as a 'mother' cooler. Only stores ice, and only opened to replenish melted ice in other coolers. The ice machine will crank out ice to replenish the 'mother' cooler while I still have power. Hell, I have deep cycle batteries and solar panels, I could probably run it off an inverter as well with the power out. I am on well water, and the well has enough pressure to get water from it without the electric pump having power. |
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Posted: 4/18/2017 10:04:16 AM EDT
[#45]
Quoted:
I was thinking of trying to locate a stand alone machine cheap from a restaurant closing down or something. I would only turn it on and start cranking out ice if it looked like a hurricane was heading this way. I could fill all my coolers and keep replacing melted ice up until the power goes out. Better than trying to find bags of ice at gas stations or grocery stores. Those sell out quick if a storm is 3 or so days out and heading this way. I also have a chest freezer I could fill up with my own bags of ice and keep ready to roll for storms. Ice machine that is not used, will tear up. You can't plug and play like other machines, and it has to be emptied on a regular basis. |
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Posted: 4/18/2017 10:13:45 AM EDT
[#46]
A lot of restaurants are starting to lease ice machines, we are.
We had an 9 year old Manitiwoc, 6 year old Hoshizaki, and a 5 year old brand I can't remember. All three started giving us issues so we went with leased units and lease for all new locations. Its nice to know its not our problem when it goes down and the company reimburses us if we have to order ice -- it's about $120 for 500lbs delivered. So if you want one, and see one used, make sure its a not a huge turd. |
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Posted: 4/18/2017 10:17:04 AM EDT
[#47]
Yeah, I have been talked of trying to locate a commercial type ice machine.
Wonder how hotels keep up with it? A big hotel has a few per floor, and many floors. |
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Posted: 4/18/2017 10:25:52 AM EDT
[#48]
Hotels have dedicated maintenance crews, some of the are 24/7, that can service them whenever needed.
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Posted: 4/18/2017 10:33:58 AM EDT
[#49]
My experience with them is that you need to keep them clean and making ice to avoid shit breaking. When they sit idle is when you run into issues. One of the local bars on the river has one outside that they let the neighborhood folks get ice from whenever we want, since it keeps the machine running.
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Posted: 4/18/2017 11:02:22 AM EDT
[#50]
This seems like a lot of work when you can just buy a stand by generator to power your house if the power goes out.
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