Anyone make their own ice?

[SamRiley]

I'm thinking of pinching a few pennies by starting to make my own ice. Sure it's only $20 for 120# of ice but in ten trips I could have paid off a chest freezer. Anyone else make their own? Any tips?

Many thanks,
Sam

[luke]

Sam..

We freeze a jillion to a jillion and one-half 2 liter soda bottles refilled with water each week....as they melt we drink em...

throw them in the igloo and we are off..

the other method is bribe someone who works at a restaurant....a 12 pack at the back door will usually generate 3 times it's cost in ice..

Luke

[Reel Pursuit]

I do as Luke - freeze the 2L bottles. Find a cheap freezer somewhere so you don't have to put all your steaks and chicken on the counter.
You could also freeze 5 gal buckets to make big blocks.

[rockfisherman]

I have an auto ice maker in the fridge and use the long plastic bags the newspaper comes in to package it. I like the 2L bottle idea, tho.

[Ray]

Sam,

Don't forget water, like bismuth, is an anomalous fluid. Fancy way of saying don't fill the bottles the whole way.

[stingray]

Hey Sam,

Got a skating rink near you? Usually Gaffman and I load up 5 gallon buckets with the shaved ice/snow. Sure it's not edible, you may find some teeth and other tasty bits, but, at least it's an inexpensive way to chill your catch. If you don't catch anything, a snowball fight on the water is always fun.

[SamRiley]

Now there is an idea :)

[mermaid]

With all the high-grade plastics around, home made ice is a breeze. Charlie Demers (God rest his soul) taught us all. Any hard plastic container will do. Screw top milk cartons are the best~~~no bilge to contend with. No need to refill, in and out of the freezer and your good to go.

[sage fly guy]

Sam,

Don't forget water, like bismuth, is an anomalous fluid. Fancy way of saying don't fill the bottles the whole way.


ahhhnoma, ahhhnomnal, ahhhmonmol (#$119)

Ah heck, I give up.

Sam,

For odd items like an ice maker, I religiously check the Want-Ads. You just never know when one shows up for short coin. Used restaraunt supplies I believe have their own listing.

chris

[notime]

Hey Sam,

Got a skating rink near you? Usually Gaffman and I load up 5 gallon buckets with the shaved ice/snow. Sure it's not edible, you may find some teeth and other tasty bits, but, at least it's an inexpensive way to chill your catch. If you don't catch anything, a snowball fight on the water is always fun.

In college we were trying to make frozen Margarita's but the blender didn't do a good job of crusihng the ice so not knowing any better I grabbed some of the ice outside the hockey rink. Not very tasty.