How Do Icemakers Work?

[Doc Tinker]

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[WOWZY]

Is that dry ice or wet ice?



Good one Doc

 

[paccool]

Hey Wowzy, probably depends on what he has been eating!



Stan

 

[Papa Joe]

How come the ice you buy at the store, get at the motel, and receive in a toddy is always clear? But, the ice in my refrigerator is cloudy?



I know it's air, but why... ... ... ... ... ... ?



C'mon, Doc. You started thisJoe

 

[snake]

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[snake]

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[illflem]

Papa Joe, when the water is frozen in layers rather than the whole cube at once it will be clear, many commercial ice makers do it this way. Read all about it here.

 

[Doc Tinker]

Hot water freezes faster and clearer than cold water does. Why is that?



A couple of years ago, I watched a video tour of ice plant operations, at an ice plant that was no longer operating and turned into a museum. I guess I didn't pay much attention to how the ice making process worked (probably because there was a lot of cool gadgets to look at in the musuem) but I do remember that the ice came in giant blocks from the winter ice on Lake Huron. I guess I can't answer your question Papa



LOL



Doc

 

[Doc Tinker]

Maybe this will help clear up your question. Another example like the one illflem posted.



http://www.newscientist.com/lastword/answers/226food.jsp



Doc

 

[Doc Tinker]

Isn't it fun how these threads can change in time? Here's something you might like to read about ice...



Ice cream headaches



Doc

 

[Papa Joe]

Cool... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . I want an ice machine now

 

[illflem]

Joe, I made my own rather than buy ice for the 5 ga coolers the orchard crew used. I bought a brand new GE icemaker for a refer, retail price is only $60 complete. Or you can take one out of a trashed refer. I installed mine in a chest type freezer so it fills a 5 ga bucket, it would fill the entire freezer if you let it. All that is required for the install is a 1/2" hole for the water and power through the freezer wall, avoiding the cooling tubes. You can tell where the tubes are by frost on the inside wall. The ice maker needs to be installed level. Two self tapping screws and a water source and you're ready to make ice, of course it isn't clear.

 

[swamp rat]

The layered feezing process is exactly how hockey/ice skating rinks are done. If it were not done that way you would not be able to distinguish exactly where the lines and crease areas are very well.



Anybody care to know how they make the ice diferent colors? white surface, Red & Blue line, goalie crease, ads and what not

 

[Papa Joe]

Thanks, Bill, but I have an icemaker that puts out lots of ice. But, it's cloudy.



Look at Doc's penguin at the top of the page... . I want clear ice like that.



Joe

 

[Okie-Go]

I have a commercial ice maker in my garage. Sure does come in handy during hunting season. Just fill up the coolers then if I connect I can transport the meat back home on ice. My neighbor next door helps with the maintenance and breakdowns and he gets ice for pool parties. Sounds like a good trade to me.