120 year old Ice box Off Grid!

[@dawnjohnson8739]

It’s amazing to see a train stop in the middle of nowhere to pick up two people and two dogs ❤

[@curmudgeinnak]

We are glad that it does or it would be a lot harder out here.

[@TheIcetemp]

I am old enough to remember using an icebox exactly like this. The two compartments on the left were both for 50lb blocks of ice. You put your food in the right side compartment. The bottom left compartment is where the melt water drained to. I remember the guys bringing in the ice on hooks up the side of the house. We had to get ice delivered about every 4 days.

[@curmudgeinnak]

Thank you so much for that information from first hand knowledge. I will be ordering more of the freezer packs so it will last longer. We will use smallish buckets in winter with ice in them and just stick them outside to refreeze. Thank you again.

[@kathyhensarling2537]

I have one now, I use it to hold games.

[@maggiemaysgrace]

Love the icebox but, then again, I love anything antique! ❤❤

[@curmudgeinnak]

Do so we. Thanks for stopping and watching.

[@sarahschlosser1203]

Beautiful icebox

[@curmudgeinnak]

Thank you we love it.

[@Sugarmountaincondo]

#1 The antique fridge looks great but the wood has been refinished and new brass hardware attached, so the originality of it has been lost, but still a great addition. I think the metal racks inside are a bit pitted and what I recommend is to scrub them as clean as you can using by using a copper scrubbing pad and then air dry them and spray a coat of sealer on them for longevity, I forget the name, but it is a clear finish spray for metal similar to a lacquer you would use on a wood surface. You did great switching to the ice packs and those are something you can easily refreeze in your big chest freezers, just don't let then thaw out completely, plan to change at least 2 of them every 12-hrs, #1 in the morning after coffee and #2 again around your dinner time. Keep the 2 newest frozen ones on top as cold air radiates downward. The bottle of hot sauce you have in the fridge is not necessary as it has white vinegar in it and it will not spoil. Add a layer of aluminum foil to your catch pan so that you don't get any scum build up and you can replace the foil every so often. Hope my ideas and info help you all. Love from South Carolina.

[@curmudgeinnak]

OMG I like you already. lol. I kind of figured it has been worked on. However they are very hard to find up here so we grabbed this one up. Thank you for the tips. We are ordering more of the blocks as I think I should be able to get close to 70# of them inside. Right now as we do not keep the house overly warm we have been swapping the blocks every 22 hours roughly and it stays in that sweet spot of under 39. I have even toyed with putting a hose to the drain in winter and sticking the other end of the hose outside and letting it draw in the cold that way. A lot of old timers up here did that with home made coolers and they worked great. What are your thoughts?

[@Sugarmountaincondo]

@@curmudgeinnak 39 F is fine, as long as you stay out of the 32-34 Range. My only suggestions are that with winter approaching and your trips outside will less frequent, combine your trips into things like when the dogs need to go outside for potty time, bring in some firewood at the same time, also if you do bag a Moose and need more freezer space for storing the meat, you can start freeze your ice packs outside overnight and exchange them in the morning during the dog run. I would not suggest using a cold air intake hose on the wooden ice box as that would me breeching the integrity of it by having to cut 2 holes in it, 1 at the topside for intake and 1 on top opposite of the it in order to create an internal flow since cold air sinks and warmer air rises. You would have to insulate any incoming hose or pipe to ensure you're not cooling the home and you would have to make another breech in the wall of your home for the intake. The pipe could become frozen and clogged, or the free end could become covered in snow and blocked. You also cannot control the weather so what would you do on a 45 F day? I don't know how you prep a Moose when you bag one, but do consider preserving some as a jerky style of meat using a dehydrator, if you don't have one, you could DIY over the wood stove using a rack and cookie sheet. If you run out of freezer space for Moose meat, you could use a secure cold room that is exposed to the outside freezing temp as long as it would bear secure and then you would only need to process 1/2 the body for the freezer and keep the other 1/2 on ice so to say. Your roof is another cold space for storage as long as you don't have any trees or other home attachments that a bear or fox could climb/jump to the roof and get it. I am assuming that your roof stays covered in snow all winter long. So my recommendation is to leave the wooden ice box as original as it is right now and keep using the ice packs and freeze them both inside and outside as needed and also drape a long cover over the top that hangs down the side in order to create another air gap from the warm inside air and that will add some more cooling protection to it and also save the topside from scratches from all the home items your wife was quick to decorate it with Ha ha. Another cheap source of power for replenishing your power bank is to add a small windmill to power a generator or use it to power some outside lights if you don't want to tie it into the main system. I haven't watched more of your video's yet, so I really don't have a good idea about your entire setup, so mu advice maybe a non-plus for you. If you haven't done a complete walk around and walk through, you might want to consider doing a video like that before the snow comes. And I don't know the name of your little dog, but keep him or her on a leash when walking outside, big birds of prey can swoop down in a second and snatch him/her away in a flash. Hope this helps you to decide. ❤

[@htb123]

Love your old ice box!! And also your channel, just found you and enjoying very much :)

[@curmudgeinnak]

Yay! Thank you! We love to see new people come to the channel.

[@Rusty_Nickle]

I would consider finding a rack to put your food stuffs on instead of extending the tube. That water running the way it does helps immensely with heat absorption. It was done that way on purpose. Anyway it's really cool to see these things still being used

[@curmudgeinnak]

Cool, I did not think of it that way. Thank you.

[@katherinekinnaird4408]

Hat's off to the railroad crew members.

[@curmudgeinnak]

They are amazing people.

[@norm5785]

Congratulations on the ice box. Alone is a great resource with good content

[@curmudgeinnak]

yes she is. She is amazing.

[@willieboswell1682]

Seeing this video brought back a lot of childhood memories. I remember my parents had an ice box like this. The ice man would come around pretty often and they would buy a block of ice for the ice box which helped with food preservation. Otherwise milk and other items that required keeping cool was placed in a large bucket and kept in the well. We got electricity when I was 8-9 years old. I’m 81 years old.

[@curmudgeinnak]

Thank you for sharing that with us. We love this icebox. It has worked great since we got it to the house. We look forward to many years of using it.

[@lburton874]

Had a good laugh with the Amazon package unload

[@JulieCrawford-l8r]

It is beautiful!❤ I love antiques.

[@curmudgeinnak]

So do we. More so when they function as they should.

[@justanothertokki9947]

Beautiful 🤩

[@curmudgeinnak]

Thank you.

[@justanothertokki9947]

@@curmudgeinnak please put more music in your videos.

[@sandib4234]

Boy does this bring back memories my Grandma and Grandpa brought one with them from Kentucky and put it in a back room off the house and us kids would go in that room and play and I remember that icebox being in there, it's sad that I never knew what happened to it I asked my Mom and she had no clue. I think it will work great for you guys!!

[@englishwoman7697]

It def is beautiful.....I call Alone Miss Annie....😊

[@curmudgeinnak]

A number of us do. lol. She is a great woman.

[@thesun-N-moon8885]

I enjoy the channel “Alone in Alaska”.. 💖 Her cabin is stunning as well is yours! I’m super excited watching her bathroom build… I watched her create her own “ice box” she did a great job.. excited to watch another channel create their dreams..congratulations!

[@curmudgeinnak]

OMG Alone is amazing. She has worked so hard on her home. When she told Sarah and I that she got the ice box we turned green with envy. We had been looking for one since we got here. Her bath room is going to be amazing. Sarah is getting more ideas from her to transform ours yet again. lol. Thank you for stopping and watching.

[@ebikeoutdoors]

That ice box is really beautiful and it looks very well made I would love one of them great channel just found it 👍✌️👊

[@curmudgeinnak]

It is built like a tank. It was heavier than I expected. Thanks for stopping and watching.

[@lynsmith2698]

That thing is a thing of beauty. I’m a big fan of Alone, been watching her for quite a while. Thanks for sharing your life with u. 🌷🇨🇦

[@curmudgeinnak]

Thank you for watching. Alone is an amazing woman and a good friend of ours.

[@jasondavis1819]

You guys are great I get a lot of inspiration watching you guys anyway I know the beauty is going to get good I love fall and your videos are real good luck I’ll be so glad to get out of this heat haha great to see your old ice box 👍👍

[@curmudgeinnak]

Morning Jason, We are so glad to hear that you enjoy the videos. We are loving the ice box. It is working very good. Yes, get out of the heat. That is partly why we left Fl and moved here.

[@Arleen1010]

Good morning Rob n Sarah. Cool Icebox. Have a great weekend. Mishka is cute.

[@georgetubbs8211]

wow that is a real beauty!! well done!

[@curmudgeinnak]

Thank you. we love it.

[@trishapomeroy9251]

We picked up a similar icebox this spring. It is really lovely, but we are having trouble keeping it cold enough too. I'll have to give those ice packs a try. We've been using frozen water bottles all this time.

[@curmudgeinnak]

That is what we used at first as well. We are ordering even more of those icepacks soon. It should be able to hold around 80lbs of them and keep it nice and cool.

[@trishapomeroy9251]

@@curmudgeinnak Nice. I like seeing yours in practical use. So many are just for looks and not being used...especially in the lower 48 (I'm off grid in WA)

[@jamesfrommanitoba.1992]

Hi there I’m a new subscriber from Manitoba Canada right on the shore of Lake Winnipeg. What a beautiful icebox, don’t see many of those anymore. Your living my dream but due to an illness and disability we now live the way we can safely yet enjoy to wood stove and cooking on it. We have lived here 6 years now and still waiting for the next blizzard, we have had the -40’s but sure not the snow we used to have. Looking forward to catching up on your videos, please be safe and have a great winter.

[@curmudgeinnak]

Hello and welcome. I was in Winterpeg for about 9 months years ago doing some work. Was a great windy place lol

[@jamesfrommanitoba.1992]

@@curmudgeinnak lived my life in that city and I only go back for hospital appointments, it’s so amazing how we change when you leave a busy city. It’s so peaceful and relaxing I totally understand why you live there. Can’t wait for your next live.

[@AlmostaGreenAcre-zs5eu]

Very nice ice box and Miska is getting so big 🥰

[@curmudgeinnak]

Thank you. OMG yes she is. I have to get her on the scale again. She has to be over 20lbs now.

[@MitchellsInAlaska]

That’s a beautiful ice box

[@curmudgeinnak]

Yes it is. Thank you for watching Tony. Hope you all are doing good.

[@MattsGarage1791]

gorgeous and functional!

[@curmudgeinnak]

It really is! When you restored one like you told me what was in it for insulation?

[@MattsGarage1791]

​@@curmudgeinnak I believe it's zinc lined and has slate shelves. there is a drain in the bottom. I'll email you some pics.

[@curmudgeinnak]

@@MattsGarage1791 yes, zinc lined wire shelves for this one. I Will look for the email later

[@KarenUntz]

How neat! I've only seen one before.😊

[@curmudgeinnak]

They are amazing systems. Most I have seen have been converted to either storage or electric fridges. I have only seen a handful being used as they should be.

[@lindamiller5489]

I have a smaller one brought it years ago at a antique store

[@garyhammond2213]

The Alaska RR is great!

[@curmudgeinnak]

Yes it is.

[@kristingrounds4163]

Nice looking fridge

[@curmudgeinnak]

Thank you we love it.

[@kylelaw7210]

Now you just need an ice house that can save ice all summer

[@curmudgeinnak]

maybe one day, for now the electric freezer will do. We have talked about that.

[@ontoitaussie7390]

That’s one very flash version of a coolgardie. Absolutely love it, what a great find!

[@curmudgeinnak]

we are loving it. Hope you are doing good. :-)

[@ontoitaussie7390]

@@curmudgeinnak yeah I’m good thx for asking! crazy busy atm as Plan A is in full action mode. It must work as there ain’t no plan B 😵‍💫😬😅😁

[@ptlfabrication569]

Awesome Ice box.

[@curmudgeinnak]

It sure is!

[@lorettaandjasonoffgrid]

So cool how you get around using a train that goes through the backyard. Lol. How far are the tracks from your place? Wowwww that is absolutely gorgeous! What a find! 😍 I'll have to go check out your friends channel. What a game changer this ice box is for you. I'm really going to have to go searching! Thanks for sharing Rob and Sarah!!!

[@curmudgeinnak]

The tracks are about a mile from the house property. The tail this year is horrid due to all the rain we have had. I really can not wait until I find a good tractor.

[@AlaskanAssassinAdventures]

Thats a really awesome looking ice box brother! Beautiful indeed.

[@curmudgeinnak]

It sure is. We love it.

[@chazboyle9456]

looks great guys

[@curmudgeinnak]

Thanks so much!

[@pauldavis6242]

Morning !!! Nice ice box. Ran across one just like it 4 months ago , a Klondike. $450.00 . Should have bought it.

[@curmudgeinnak]

Hey Paul, if it was in good shape that is a good price. I just need more one thing for the kitchen and it will be complete.

[@alaskacutthecord769]

Great video Rob!

[@curmudgeinnak]

Thank you guys.

[@joeweiss428]

It looks great and seems to work well

[@curmudgeinnak]

It does! We are very happy with it.

[@NordicMicrofarm]

wow! Thats amazing! I`ve never seen a freezer like that!

[@curmudgeinnak]

It is a great old device. We are very happy with how it is working.

[@SteveandSusiesHomestead]

Always wanted to build a replica of this to use as a dresser . Very cool old school .

[@curmudgeinnak]

We love it so far.

[@scratchinpetepa]

Thanks for sharing!! Awesome! 🤩

[@curmudgeinnak]

Our pleasure! Hope you are well Pete.

[@samuelschick8813]

What pisses me off about the new fridges? Damn near impossible to find one with the wire shelves. Wire shelves better as better air circulation and they don't break like the glass shelves.

[@curmudgeinnak]

EXACLTY. I love the wire shelves for just that reason.

[@stevenlilelogistics6673]

Great icebox. God Bless

[@curmudgeinnak]

Thank you we sure love it.

[@ashleyanderson2859]

She is getting big!

[@curmudgeinnak]

Yes she is

[@CroakerOutdoors]

I really like how you can freeze these outside then get free cooling to cut down on electric usage. If you had two sets it would be a chore replacing them every couple days. Just found your channel so I am not up to speed on your power situation. I'm looking for some land to build off grid in the NE.

[@Wattsonthegrill]

Amazing

[@curmudgeinnak]

Thank you.

[@dyannejohnson6184]

We took a Volkswagen bug …apart ..shortened the wheel base with half top with wide tract-sleigh…. Went through bush…certainly never had trains….have used grain filled small grainery with meat buried in grain freeze all winter hold good most of summer …can meat if weather in mid summer too hot…..did dry meat and fish in late fall on clothes lines

[@curmudgeinnak]

We want to learn a lot more ways to preserve the meats more traditionally. Do you know any good books?

[@dyannejohnson6184]

All my recipes are in my head…I’ll think see what I can put together….yes when no grain around in grainery…used an ice house cut blocks of ice…straw used to insulate ….for Icelandic hard fish …only took spine out…held together by head,,soak overnite in layers of coarse salt…DONOT rinse hang over line with skin facing inside…DONOT start this method while flies are still out…..OR ELSE YOU GET FLY RAISONS!!…bonus-extra protein!!…they maggots dry very well.!!

[@Rockymountainprospector]

Very nice old box they don't make things like they used to heavy pans

[@curmudgeinnak]

No they do not. So far it is working great for us.

[@Backyard415]

That’s kool. 🥶

[@curmudgeinnak]

yes it is. :-)

[@janetholdread]

So do you have a 12v deep freezer that's smart if so you don't need fridge freezer anymore by using that set up I'm eventualy building a small trailer for fishing trips you just gave me a awesome idea with that im putting a DC freezer was going to put a mini fridge as well so less solar Ill make a ice box instead of the mini fridge great video

[@curmudgeinnak]

No 12v freezer. WE have two large 17cf+ freezers. You can build one rather easy. If you build one send us pics please.

[@sarahgrooms5606]

There is an Amish store in Kidron Ohio, Lehman's. They have all non electric things. They have kerosene refrigerators. I knew a man who had one in his house. Just a thought.

[@curmudgeinnak]

I did not even know that was a thing. I may have to look into that.

[@sarahgrooms5606]

@@curmudgeinnak I have bought items from them before. Order there catalog.

[@beverlybrezina1312]

Yes, Lehman's. I live not too far from it. The Amish love it!

[@whitedobie]

How do you refreeze the Bass Pro Shops 10lb packs to keep the process going?

[@curmudgeinnak]

We do have freezers

[@gissie391]

If you out in winter can use ice snow outside? If all else fails?

[@curmudgeinnak]

yes, We have buckets just for that. We also melt snow in winter for water.

[@sandollarj504]

Great way to refrigerate your food. How do you freeze the ice blocks ?

[@curmudgeinnak]

We have a large 18cf freezer in out of the buildings. Freezers are a bit more efficient as they get opened less.

[@rayberger2694]

These ice boxes are getting harder and harder to find, I wish there was a cooler company that would make a cooler using the same type of design. Question ? How do you cool / freeze your ice packs before you put them into your frig ? In the winter I guess you could just leave them outside to freeze, but what about during the summer ?

[@curmudgeinnak]

We have two big chest freezers we keep running in summer.

[@RealLostGlitches]

Ice box just isn't practical, needing new ice every few days, unless it's winter, it's definitely more of a beautiful museum piece

[@curmudgeinnak]

We have a freezer going in summer so the refreeze part is not an issue. More so now that we are using the ice packs. We are getting more of them to make the duration that it stays cool will be longer between swaps.

[@dyannejohnson6184]

I had propane tanks in northern BC for stove fridge…but in 40+below I had to have an electric frying pan under the tank to keep tank from condensing and shutting down stove fridge and heat…..Electricity too expensive or not available at that time…1962

[@curmudgeinnak]

Our first winter here we buried the propane bottles under snow to keep them from the extreme cold. It worked great. We only use propane in the main house in summer.

[@dyannejohnson6184]

Oh funny…..! Good solution…I’m laughing so hard…well, I sure was thinking outside the box….loved your reply!

[@josephsmith6967]

So how are you freezing the blocks .? You must be running a freezer?

[@curmudgeinnak]

yes we have two large freezers.

[@RobertSpivey-m4e]

What's all that stuff at side of tracks?

[@curmudgeinnak]

railroad ties that had been sitting waiting to be installed. They have since put them in and took out the bad ones.

[@einzelganger2939]

There’s an identical ice box for sale online in the uk for £1300 ($1700)

[@curmudgeinnak]

Dang, Is it nice looking?

[@einzelganger2939]

@@curmudgeinnak it looks much the same as yours except maybe they’ve given it a bit of a glow up for the photographs. Interestingly the ice box and refrigerator sections are on the opposite side to yours.

[@AnneHeyns]

Not easy to get things there it seems☺

[@curmudgeinnak]

No it is not. lol. Kind of nice that way as it keeps other people out of the area that would be PITA's lol. Hope you are doing good.

[@genesnyder2985]

Does the train run all thru the winter?

[@curmudgeinnak]

It runs north every Saturday and south Sunday. north and south on the first Thursday of the month.

[@arkietreasurehawgs]

[@Arleen1010]

Good morning Rob n Sarah. Cool Icebox. Have a great weekend. Mishka is cute.

[@curmudgeinnak]

Thank you. Hope you had a good weekend too. Yes she is. She is growing like a weed.