How to make CLEAR ICE at home 🧊Never before seen method🧊Jaw Dropping Results | MIX Cocktail Hour

[@alcademics]

That was thorough! Nice lookin' block. Thanks for the shoutout, I really appreciate it.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Thank you for your inspiring work in this obsession! Er... field.

[@thepaperboy666]

I had absolutely no intentions of doing this but I still watched the entire video and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Thank you! So glad you liked it. It'll be right here waiting for you if you ever change your mind...

[@Guerilla_law3516]

My sentiments exactly, and additionally now my current simple topless cooler efforts can be compared to this and seem normal to my wife.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Hilarious! Cheers

[@brittmurray9818]

Just made my first batch. Worked great and my family was amazed. The cutting was a challenge, so I need to work on my technique, but the ice was super clear. I ended up just running a flat USB extension cord from an outlet near the fridge straight into the freezer and it worked great. Thanks!

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Great to hear it worked out for you! For the cutting, make sure the block is tempered and always start cutting large blocks in half. Keep cutting the halves in half. We'll do a full cutting tutorial soon. Happy Holidays.

[@Thebackson]

I was thnking about the same thing with the usb. Much cheaper and easier to just run a usb extension out of the freezer.

[@mattdaddy8055]

This is a whole new level of cocktail nerdery! Stick with it guys, I got a feeling this channel is gonna blow up

[@MIXCocktailHour]

We take that as a compliment around here!! Thanks for your support, Matt!

[@GIJha]

You got me in the first line … “if you have found this video you have been on a long search” 😂😂😂😂 true that! And cheers!

[@demetriusgallitzin8859]

In the day of technology, what makes man happy is a damn clear block of ice. It's like when caveman controlled fire. Behold, ice!

[@mattrolls618]

So, as a U.K. resident I’m building this from what we have available. I have acquired a chest freezer and set it up in the basement, plus (at great difficulty) this exact model IGLOO cooler - which isn’t readily available in europe. The next step for me was sourcing the insulation foam, the pink panther 1” thick stuff you linked is definitely not available here (but has an R value per inch of thickness so I am selecting a similar grade PIR foam from Celotex) and a 50gpa USB pump. This equates to about 200 litres per hour for people who use metric & Amazon stocks them cheaply. Will not be going down the battery route though, I have built a sealed method of running a cable into the freezer from external power with a low power fuse to disconnect it if the pump freezes. Will comment results with European parts!

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Can't wait for the results!

[@nicolaslockheimers]

OMG that is THE most gorgeous piece of ice I've seen DIY'd... Congrats and Thank you!

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Cheers mate!

[@nicolaslockheimers]

I was unable to find the 12qt cooler, BUT I did get the 16qt size cooler. How high would you recommend I cut/remove the insulation?? My calculations estimate 4.6", but I'd rather confirm w you before I start cutting :)

[@MIXCocktailHour]

That seems right based on our original calculations. Let us know how it goes. We have switched to plugging in the pump directly into am electrical outlet rather than using the batteries. We used the battery packs so we didn't need to run wires out of the freezer door. The wives were not happy about that esthetic so we moved the operation into the office freezer. Problem solved!

[@nicolaslockheimers]

​​​@@MIXCocktailHourIt took 4 days in my fridge freezer, but the results are stunning. The Cube is 11x8x4 inches and clear as glass!

[@DonoVideoProductions]

I will never do this in my life. But it is wonderful that you dedicated yourself to this, clearly (ahem) described it, and shared it with us. Sometimes, it's enough to know that something like this exists in the world. It makes things just a little better.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Thanks for watching! Cheers

[@kkobwatchin]

I especially appreciate the info on failed devices, tools, depths, etc. That's extremely helpful in so many ways. Thanks.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Cheers!

[@AVeryGoodYoutubeChannel]

I would post a video, but what I found, I used the exact same set up with a 28 quart cooler. 3.5 inches and all. The only difference is that I put a small fan underneath the cookie sheet to help circulate air better underneath the cooler. It froze almost twice as fast!

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Excellent tip! Will give that one a try. Cheers

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Your fan trick worked!

[@AVeryGoodYoutubeChannel]

@@MIXCocktailHour love to hear it!

[@chrisfrench9473]

I just put my 30 quart in the deep freezer. Got a link to that fan?

[@Bales9er0111]

​@@MIXCocktailHourwhat fan did you use? Have a link for it?

[@matlhound65]

I would LOVE to see a follow up video on the best ways to score and cut the ice into smaller cubes. I use the top-down method and the ice never breaks evenly.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Great idea. We'll post something before the holidays are over. Cheers

[@barry4967]

Truly awesome. Wow! Thanks for showing us this.

[@brentmack51]

Get 2 dumbell weights and a length of copper wire drape the wire over where you want to cut let gravity and induction cut like a lazer

[@MIXCocktailHour]

We need to try this!

[@BBQDad463]

Thank you for this excellent video. Now I gotta go buy some stuff... Again, thanks for this video.

[@MarcusRefusius]

I did the Top-Down for a long time. Pretty cool, but this is pretty involved. Kind glad I quit drinking at home in 2022. Now my local bar makes me clear round Ice for the one day a week I have my Buffalo Trace. Cheers!

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Cheers mate!

[@quinrickman4467]

Followed your method with a few modifications works great. I suggest putting the top in a food grade plastic bag to prevent insulation contaminating the ice. Very informative video.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Happy to hear that Quin. Great tip about the lid! Cheers!

[@lostinamerica2867]

I put my top insulating foam in a clean trash bag for a clean snug fit.

[@katherinewilliamson7025]

Love these w individuals making cocktails and making clear ice! Awesome!

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Thanks for watching, Katherine!!

[@jorgefiguerola1693]

Seems to be a growing culture with a fascination with super clear ice. More power to you! But I am at ease with processed ice with filtered water.. As with music, you can overwork it. Perfection is in the imperfections. Don't sap the soul out of your libation! Live and let live! JF Brrrr

[@joeyhardin1288]

Thank you. You are a scientist, although maybe a MAD one. Great info and content. God Bless and stay safe.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

lol... Cheers!

[@themooseloungepodcast]

Definitely the most extensive way I've seen but if it works to each their own I guess I won't try it but apparently it makes awesome use. Wtg!!

[@MIXCocktailHour]

It is a bit over the top but it was worth the effort. The clarity of the blocks are extraordinary. Cheers and thanks for watching!

[@elizakimori8720]

Yeah, i'll just set an alarm for 12 hours I think... Ice floats, not going to fight direction :) Inventive thoughreally enjoyed this!!!

[@Martian_Secret_Agent]

Guys. Amazing video, thorough research. Have heard of this previously, have not tried yet, but, I do want to know why the water pump is necessary. What happens if you don’t use a pump????

[@MIXCocktailHour]

you need to keep the water at the top flowing, otherwise it will freeze. The goal is to keep the water freezing in one direction and not trap any air bubbles in the ice.

[@Martian_Secret_Agent]

@@MIXCocktailHourah ok thanks. You guys did it a million times so I 100% believe you, I’m just struggling to conceptualise the science. If it’s freezing at the bottom only, why the top freezes? But I fully believe that it does! Thanks for all the efforts and replies!

[@RichardWhiffen]

That's some amazing looking ice!

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Thanks, Rich!! We were trying to impress you. 😎

[@UnclePete]

This is next level.

[@jackspeer2127]

I have made top down ice in a small cooler and butchering the big block takes some practice. it is easy to just end up with chips so please add a few pointers on how to chop the block successfully . I've wasted plenty of clear ice but now I'm pretty good at it.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Best tips... Always let the block sit out of the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes. always start by cutting the block in half. Score the block across the center with a serrated knife. Turn over and score the other side, then with your knife in the score mark, tap the back of the knife with a hammer or mallot until the 2 halves separate. Then take the halves and cut those in half and keep doing that until you have cube to your desired size.

[@WatanabeNoTsuna.]

Wow! Awesome results! I don't think I'll have the patience to do all that, though, so I would love if you applied that to a comercial product and sold it. I'd buy that in a heartbeat!

[@MIXCocktailHour]

We've been thinking about it will keep you posted

[@WatanabeNoTsuna.]

@@MIXCocktailHour Awesome! Looking forward to it!

[@jimhatcher9513]

Man, this. That ice looks wonderful. I just want to buy the setup already done. You've for sure got a customer in me if you do!

[@joshcolquitt2873]

I use a 20 gallon container in a chest freezer my block is 20"x12x10", I also us a fan at the bottom of my container which helps speed up the process and makes a more even block.It forces the air at the bottom like wind chill. along with pre chilling the water before putting into the container. I usually have a 4.5 day turn over per block.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Thanks for the note Josh. Try starting with hot water. It sounds crazy but it might speed things up. Look up The Mpemba Effect. If you try it and it works, let us know. Cheers!

[@TCDShow]

WOW! Loved loved loved this video!! So freaking cool 😎 Highly educational! #VideoOfTheDay #WOW Thank you 🙏

[@hughesd010]

can you store the ice without damaging the ice?

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Absolutely. Remove the block from the cooler and pour out the excess water. Keep in freezer until you are ready to break it down. When ready, put the block on a cookie sheet and let it temper for 20 to 30 minutes. When it has a wet sheen to it, you can safely break it down to individual cubes.

[@AVeryGoodYoutubeChannel]

this is awesome! might want to update some of these links to the products, if you're able.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

We will be updating soon. Thanks for watching. Cheers

[@screminGTA]

Wonder what would happen if you froze water in a vacuum chamber/pot like they use to remove bubbles in mixed exoxy.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Interesting!

[@dj13579100]

You could try filling the lit with great stuff

[@colorsafebleach5381]

Great video. Very informative. One question. You said you use tap water. Does this mean it will essentially make distilled ice. Pushing everything out, including chlorine and fluoride?

[@DrCush]

Hi Color Safe Bleach, I'm the guy in the video. This is not distilled ice persay, but the directional freezing will remove minerals. Not as well as heating (like in traditional distilling) but well enough. Since Fluoride and Chlorine are minerals, some of their contents will be removed. Would I recommend Flynt Michigan use this method? No. But it is great at giving you a more "water tasting" ice cube. Just a note, do note use distilled water for this. Distilled water is dead and thus does nothing to your spirit. If you don't have decent/drinkable tap water, get some spring water. Cheers! Hope to see you at a live show soon.

[@colorsafebleach5381]

@@DrCush Thank you for the reply! I just got done making and testing some clear ice using the thermos cup method. It came out surprisingly clear, with very few bubbles. My tap water also has a very strong smell and taste of chlorine. The clear ice tasted clean and fresh. I also have a TDS meter. My tap water reads 260, and I let some of the clear ice melt, and that read only an 8. So this seems to filter out a lot of the crap in the water! One more question, did you ever try experimenting to make a bottoms up freeze with the smaller 5qt cooler? There's no way I can fit that bigger cooler in my freezer. If not, I think I want to try. I'm obsessed with clear ice now for some reason, and I don't even drink🤣 Thanks again for the great videos!

[@Berkana]

There is an easier way to insulate the lid. Drill two holes in that hollow lid one on each of two opposite corners, and use spray-expanding foam in a can, and spray expanding foam into that lid. The two holes let air escape as the foam expands. The foam will expand and fill the inside of that hollow lid. That is way easier than trimming all of that pink foam and producing that much waste.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Another great tip! We are collecting them all. Update soon

[@Berkana]

@@MIXCocktailHour Here's one more: buy a large aluminum heat sink (or salvage one off of old speakers), and use that instead of that rack in the freezer. The heat sink will transfer heat out of the bottom of that cooler so much faster. Do an image search of "aluminum speaker heat sink" to see what I mean.

[@janejohns5442]

I thought the same thing while watching this - why not just use spray foam!

[@TheNathanlockhart]

I think you are likely to end up with voids in the lid this way.

[@HotShot424]

I have attempted building something like this based on your video. I had to go with a smaller cooler due to size constraints on my freezer. I also ended up creating a spray foam lid due to the odd shape of the interior of the cooler I found. So far I've had mixed results. Currently the bottom section that had the insulation removed comes out very cloudy but everything above is crystal clear. Still much better than top down in my experience. I'm going to try directing the pumps flow more towards the bottom to see if the circulation can get those out. None the less, thank you for this tutorial. It's been a fun project and I'm hopeful I can figure something out to get your level of results.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Thanks for watching and glad you gave it a try. I will have a chat with the rest of the team and try to figure out why the bottom is cloudy. We'll get back to you soon. Cheers!

[@DrCush]

Hi K! It's me from the video. My thought on the cloudy ice on the bottom is the temperature of the freezer. With a smaller cooler, the ice on the bottom is most likely freezing too quickly. The reason ice gets cloudy is either from freezing in a space too small for it to expand, freezing from the outside in, or freezing too fast. In any of these cases, the ice doesn't know which way to go and freaks out and starts growing in multiple ways, not unidirectionally. I would raise your freezers temp a touch (still below freezing) and see if that works. It will take a little longer, but you'll get more ice out of it. Cheers and please let me know how it works! If that's not it, we'll keep trying til we get it.

[@ehoemp]

Great video! I might try to do something with this technique but with just a plastic box that I have made insulation for. Couldn’t you put the cable for the pump to come outside the freezer in between the door and plug it to the wall so you wouldn’t need to fuck with those batteries?

[@MIXCocktailHour]

A lot of people plug in the wall and hang the cord out. Not all significant others will allow that so we presented the battery option! Let us know how it goes!

[@scottschiller]

My fridge freezer drawer has only 12" height clearance. Does your build end up at just under 12", perchance? 😅 Thank you!

[@MIXCocktailHour]

That wil not be enough clearance due to the lid. But... we are working on a version that wil enable you to use the lid that comes with the cooler and that should work for you. We'll be making the updated video sometime before the end of the year. We'll ping you when ready. Cheers!

[@scottschiller]

@@MIXCocktailHour Thanks for the info, and the quick reply. Assuming the same cooler, I can have the other pieces ready for whenever your next video lands. Looking forward to it! I've been tinkering since 2017 - blocks using a 6-pack cooler, then True Cubes, and as of yesterday, a Ghost 12-pack. A mini-sized DIY Clinebell-style is too tempting to resist. I will readily admit, it's clearly (zing) beyond just a passing interest at this point. 😆

[@kkobwatchin]

Impressive. I'll give it a try soon. BUT...what do you do with the made ice to preserve it when you don't use immediately or that day or for several days?

[@MIXCocktailHour]

When you remove the block, square it up as best you can and stick it back in the freezer until you have time to cut it up into usable cubes. We'll be doing a tutorial on the best way to do the cutting. Cheers.

[@chrismacandrew9692]

After 2 months of frustrating top down Coleman cooler ice (read bubbles), while it still looks great, it does not look like this great. So I've got all my stuff and am starting construction this evening. Wish me luck!

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Good luck. If you can, plug the pump into a wall outlet instead of the batteries. Let us know how it goes. Cheers.

[@chrismacandrew9692]

@@MIXCocktailHour Okay, I plugged the pump directly into a power bar. 48 hours, checked probably 3 times and when it was done......WOW. I don't know why anyone with even the slightest interest in clear ice isn't doing this. Only problem is now I'm bandsaw shopping cause cutting this monstrosity was more difficult. Thanks so much for the effort to make this video!

[@Guerilla_law3516]

Is filter water worth using? I notice you said tap. Kudos on a wonderful video.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Would only effect the taste. Thanks for the kind words!

[@afrolystic]

You're doing the lord's work, bud!

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Lol!

[@Berkana]

You could probably leave the batteries outside the freezer and just run the cord into the freezer. The seal around the freezer door won't leave that much of a gap, and if there is any, you can seal it with some putty. That would seem to me to be a better way than putting the battery into the freezer, which causes problems with the battery.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Great suggestion. We are going to update the video soon with other tips. Thanks for watching!

[@Berkana]

@@MIXCocktailHour One more thought on running the cable out through the door. If the door wants to pop open because the sealing strip wont' conform around a small cable, it is easy enough to hold it shut with some blue tape or a bungie cord. Alternatively, you might be able to find ribbon style thin cables and use those instead.

[@Marksplaytime]

@@MIXCocktailHour Just saw this and thought it was interesting. May try it at some point. Quick question on the lid: Rather than taking all the time to reinvent the thing, why not poke a couple holes and inject spray foam into it, then just cut a small piece of sheet foam to attach to the bottom to increase the insulation factor a bit? Would that simplify things a tad?

[@MIXCocktailHour]

@@Marksplaytime That is a great idea. We are gathering all of these useful tips and will be trying them out. Will do a recap video soon! Cheers and good luck.

[@Chrishm0]

@@Marksplaytime I think people have tried this, and it does not hold true. I recall that a sealed air filled top has more insulating effect than the same size foam filled top. What they did here was increase the depth (size) of their top, thus improving the insulation factor.

[@wyguy1212]

Top down can look like that with right type of cooler ! But there will be much more bubbles on the bottom

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Top down is absolutely a very good way to go. The results from this method are pretty stunning. Let us know if you give it a try! Thanks for watching! Cheers

[@mindaugasjasinskas5511]

Hi,what is the best temperature to freeze?

[@TameeHarrisonTV]

Woohoo! Bottoms up!🍹

[@MIXCocktailHour]

You know it!! ❄️

[@MarkNiceyard]

Hoo, that's a bit of effort! I don't know, but if I just close my eyes while drinking then I don't see any air bubbles in my ice, too. :D

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Funny!

[@lostinamerica2867]

Great video, I actually have everything on hand except the water pump. Is the idea to only move water on the top of the volume of water?

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Yes. You want the water to freeze in one direction. By keeping the water moving on top, it ensures that the water will freeze from the bottom.

[@lostinamerica2867]

@@MIXCocktailHour I had a rectangular cooler, it worked perfectly. This is definitely expert level stuff. I have come to the end of the rainbow. I have tried so many different ways but this is CLEARLY the best.

[@Brian_Patrick]

I think you could get away with keeping the battery pack on top of the freezer; the freezer door seal should close itself around that skinny little cord just fine. Then you don't have to worry about wrapping and insulating it and all that. Or, you could just plug the pump into a nearby electrical outlet and not worry about the battery pack at all.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Absolutely... We did it that way because the wife wasn't happy about the CEO exposed wires!

[@Brian_Patrick]

@@MIXCocktailHour Eh, well... wives are gonna wife.

[@ggalindezb]

Thanks for all that research! I'm definitely giving it a shot. Q: I've got almost all materials but for the life of me, I can't get the same (or even similar) batteries. Any suggestions? I'm considering building an insulated casing for normal batteries using the same foam. I'm hoping the combination of insulation + thermal reflection from the batteries normal operation will be enough.

[@taterman320241]

Feed it with dc from the outside of the freezer.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Plugging into a dc outlet is the way to go especially if you have a freezer in the garage. We developed the battery idea for the the folks that don't want the cords sticking out. Cheers!

[@zlambert0]

thank you so much! Any ideas for making it in larger sizes? For a full cocktail bar

[@MIXCocktailHour]

We'll do some thinking on that and get back to you. Thanks for watching!

[@checkoutthereal]

I know its some time since the video was released, but I still have a question. Is the pump actually necessary? I understand the logic behind it, but the trapped gases should be able to get out of the ice whitout it too, or not? Please correct me if i am wrong

[@MIXCocktailHour]

The reason we keep the water circulating is to prevent the top from freezing. Without the pump, we could not get very good results.

[@checkoutthereal]

Thank you a lot for explaining. makes more sense this way@@MIXCocktailHour

[@leor2252]

Awesome video!

[@MIXCocktailHour]

👍

[@keithstockdale9633]

Hi - great video. You mention in the comments that you'll do a video for a shallower cooler that could fit in a smaller freezer. Did you do this? Any suggestions for a smaller cooler (similar to the one you used for directional freezing) Thanks!

[@MIXCocktailHour]

We have not tried with the smaller cooler but should work. For the youtube video we used the batteries, but we now plug the pump into an extension cord and plug into an outlet. At the time, none of our wives wanted a cord sticking out of the freezer! We have since bought a freezer for the studio, Cheers.

[@keithstockdale9633]

What’s your best guess for how much to cut off of the bottom of a 5qt cooler. It measures around 11”L 7”W and 8”H

[@MIXCocktailHour]

@@keithstockdale9633 we cut off about 3 inches on ours so it's safe to say 2 inches on yours. one tip... lift the cooler off the surface of the freezer. put it on something like a baking rack so cold air can get underneath the bottom o the cooler.

[@thesangst5238]

How do you carve the ice up easily without cracking it or chipping it off where you do not want and wasting chunks?

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Make sure the block is out of the freezer for at least 15 to 20 minutes. The best way to carve is to keep cutting in half until you get to a manageable size. Check back later this month, we'll make a tutorial.

[@janbergendahl]

@mixcocktailhour Thank you for great video :-). Can you freeze the ice as normal after its done and it stays perfect for a long time? I mean, will it get bad after a while in the freezer afterwards? I was thinking i could load up a big freezer with ready made clear ice over the winter and use pleanty in the summer :-).

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Yes, absolutely. Just take the cubes out and let them temper before putting them in a glass with liquid. Putting in to liquid right out of the freezer will cause them to crack. Leaving them out for about 10 minutes should do the trick.

[@janbergendahl]

@@MIXCocktailHour Thank you :-).

[@hareenashokan6158]

Hi there, can I know the estimated elevation you placed the ice box using the baking tray?

[@MIXCocktailHour]

just as long as the bottom of the cooler is off the freezer floor you should be fine. An inch would be plenty.

[@g-legz]

Would this work if, instead of making a new foam top, you insulate the existing top by drilling holes and injecting expandable insulating foam?

[@MIXCocktailHour]

That should work. Also, if you can, plug the pump into a wall outlet instead of using the batteries. The ones we used are no longer available.

[@g-legz]

@@MIXCocktailHour another idea, what if you put an ice mold, say 2" size cubes, with holes on top of the mold to allow bubbles to raise, would you get clear ice cubes?

[@basilmemories]

I wonder what it would take to make a dedicated machine for this. clearly (ha!) a condenser unit and pump, some sort of system to protect the pump from freezing/"running dry", potentially a timer so you didn't have to babysit the system? I mean ideally you wouldn't babysit the system at all, and at the end you'd open up the top of the unit and lift out blocks/molds when done. Even more ideally it'd have a drain spout that you could run a line to. I bet a start would be to look at chest freezers and how someone could modify one for this kind of deal.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Interesting idea. Would be a lot of R&D but making the clearest of clear ice is worth the effort!

[@patknight-zb4nt]

I've been watching some of your videos and other people's videos on how to make clear ice I'm gonna take a small cylinder like a fire extinguisher followed stands about 2 and a 1/2 foot tall. I'm gonna cut it in half threaded so I can put it back together with n o ring seal . Then I'm going to put it under a vacuum about maybe 10 inches of water column and freeze it. I'll let you know how I make out.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Please let us know how this goes. We love fellow Ice Nerds! Cheers

[@BillSands2112]

Kudos, this was awesome thanks for sharing new subscriber

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Cheers!

[@kentc4439]

That’s crazy cool!!

[@conceptrial3400]

What is the use of the pump, can't it be done without it. Thanks a lot for your content

[@MIXCocktailHour]

You need to keep the water on top circulating so it doesn't freeze. That's for your support!

[@xar]

Whoa. How does this work? And can one theoretically make sideways directional freezing? (My freezer is so narrow you have no idea :( .)

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Theoretically, you can do directional freezing with anything that is insulated on 3 sides. One quick and easy way is to put water in a 16oz insulated coffee mug. That will produce a long cylindrical piece of clear ice. Once cut, they fit nicely in a rocks glass.

[@schreitererstudio]

You need to make that machine and put in sale !!!!🎉

[@filmsaavy]

Great video! Love the results.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Thanks, Craig!! Future installation at the cocktail club??

[@filmsaavy]

@@MIXCocktailHour Definitely!

[@AngieWaltersTorus]

So easy to boil water in my electric tea kettle. I use Brita or reverse osmosis water. When it cools, put it in my favorite size ice cube tray.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Life is too short to drink a cocktail with cloudy ice. Cheers.

[@bendall248]

Question, I'm pretty sure that you tried this with the original lid and it didn't work because it isn't insulated. Did you try drilling into the lid and filling with expandable foam? If it works it sure would be quicker, easier and cheaper. Great video by the way!

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Well damn... That is a great idea and would be a heck of a lot easier. We'll give it a try and report back! Cheers!

[@DrCush]

Hi Alan! It's me from the video. I tried that in my earlier experiments. It does work, but not a well as the new lid. While the lids that come with the cooler are more convenient, they were never designed to keep the cool air in. Since cool air sinks, the designers knew they didn't need a great top lid. So not only is it hollow, it also has places where air (ie. Cold air from the freezer) can get in. You can certainly try it with the filled lid, but I find the best results come from a new lid. The New lid also stops the cold from getting through the uninsulated top of the sides of the cooler. It is not a major difference, but the sides of the ice get a little cloudy of you don't use the new lid. Cheers and let me know if you try it and find different results.

[@shisholy7828]

Nice video and you could also drill the holes then fill lid with foam then, cut those two exact blocks and hot glue together and then glue that to the inside of the original lid. Much stronger and more secure fit as well 🏋️‍♂️

[@TheNathanlockhart]

I consider myself a bit of an ice nerd, but this feels like overkill in my experience. Top down works great and i think your problem is a freezer set too cold. You want it at like 10F (-12C). Setting your freezer to max as you have in the video freezes it more quickly and doesnt allow impurities to get pushed down as well.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Top down does work fine. No argument there. We still do a lot of our ice with top down, but this bottom up method turns out some really spectacular blocks. It was well worth the couple of hours it took to build our unit. Cheers!

[@dbiermanphotog]

Have you tried this without the circulation? What's the purpose of the circulation?

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Without the circulation the water on top will freeze. The way to get crystal clear ice is to have it freeze in only one direction. Top down works well but freezing form the bottom up produces a better result.

[@juanmuriel1617]

Is it possible to do this with larger coolers

[@MIXCocktailHour]

@@juanmuriel1617 we did try with a larger igloo 16 quart cooler but had in inconsistent results. The 12 quart with the material we sourced worked best. If you go up in size you will likely need a larger water pump

[@juanmuriel1617]

@ heard that thank you!

[@elizakimori8720]

That's a gorgeous block though

[@first2summit]

This is great but if you want to make single serve ice - pour room-temp water into an insulated pint cup, freeze overnight or so, take out and let defrost and you'll get a puck of clear ice.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Hmmm... That's a great tip! Should fit perfectly in a rocks glass.

[@mattrolls618]

This is some good work. I wonder if any of these particular products are available in the UK… Any particular reason for the battery packs instead of running a USB ribbon cable past the door seal into the freezer from external power?

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Thanks Matt! We did try external power but wanted to come up with a cleaner way to execute and present this method. Having an extension cord hanging out of the freezer not only looks odd but it is also a safety hazard. The batteries solved these two problems for us. If you can't find the exact supplies, make sure to find suitable replacements. For instance, a stronger pump with a Flow Rate higher than 50 GPH, it may circulate the water too much and slow down or prevent proper freezing. If you are able to build a version with different parts, please let us know how things work out for you! ~ Life Is Too Short To Use Cloudy Ice!

[@quinrickman4467]

@@MIXCocktailHour I’m using a 110 V cable plugged into a GFI Ground Fault Interrupter, my freezer is in the basement out of sight. For me it takes 5 days to complete the freezing cycle that would be a lot of battery re-charging.

[@souett]

Your not wrong, we are those people searching for the best clear ice

[@MIXCocktailHour]

We are all part of a unique fraternity!

[@CrowdVerseZA]

what temperature was your freezer when you did this?

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Can't be 100% sure but we'd guess 0 Fahrenheit

[@TooooManyHobbies]

We thank you for your service! lol

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Our pleasure! Cheers

[@wtfobiden]

The olfa blade is an amazing tool

[@MIXCocktailHour]

The best

[@MrLiesAngeles]

Take my drink neat now.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

You always drink alone?

[@mattrolls618]

Hi again guys, I’m following this pretty much identically and I am getting a deep “bowl” in the middle of the clear ice, did you find any situations that cause this?

[@MIXCocktailHour]

We experience that problem but have minimized it. Try setting the nozzle of the circulator just below the waterline. You want to agitate the surface of the water and keep the water below as still as possible. There will likely still be a "bowl" but it should be a lot less pronounced. (you'll notice a small bowl in our video)

[@biggieb400]

I just completed my first block and had the same problem. I had my pump fully submerged. I’m going to try slowing down the pump and submerging less of the pump. I might also need to raise the temp to freeze it slower

[@MIXCocktailHour]

@@biggieb400 Keep us posted!

[@malrlew]

Do you know what I might have done wrong?! I bought all of the exact materials/followed instructions as shown but it’s still super foggy at the bottom and even through the middle of the block while the sides and top are clear 😭 The only adjustment I made was plugging my submersible pump in directly, instead of using the battery pack (per your note on this video).

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Hmmm. Maybe your freezer is too cold? One other thing to try - Don't set the cooler on the bottom of the freezer, set it on a cooling rack so it's raised about an inch. it is important that the ice is freezing from only one direction. In this case the Bottom. Let us know how it goes on the next try!

[@ethanmiddleton]

a small hole drilled into the lid and spray some expanding foam and now you have an insulated lid.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Will give that a try!

[@SouthernGent44]

How much would you charge to build and ship this apparatus to those of us who are not so handy?

[@Berkana]

Here is an idea you may be able to make a variation of do adapt it to your bottom-up freezing. Take a look at this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/raexeqWFjbmbY5I This guy makes small clear ice cylinders by making tiny directional freezing ice cups by insulating a cylindrical plastic bottle whose top has been cut off, sticking the bottom part of the bottle into one of those beer insulating coozies. You could theoretically get this to freeze bottom-up by putting a thin bag or plastic wrap over the top part of the cut PET bottle (to keep water spills from freezing it to the coozie) and putting the coozie over the top of it, so the top is insulated and the bottom is left exposed to the cold, especially if you set it down on a finned heat sink. If you start this thing with a bit of warm water, it should freeze bottom-up reliably, and freezing a small thing like this would take maybe a day or less, rather than requiring a much longer time to freeze up a big cooler's worth of ice. Plus, these things are much smaller, so you're less committed, if, for example, you only want to make a few small cylinders of clear ice. I'd love to see you experiment with the variation of this idea that I described.

[@buddhastl7120]

5:30 in and I’m 95% sure this dude is trolling

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Nope. This is the real deal

[@bartad1984]

what's the function of the pump?

[@MIXCocktailHour]

To keep the water at the top from freezing.

[@jeromehope5823]

P E R F E C T O ! ! !

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Cheers!

[@Jdiamondhands]

Just keep the battery outside of the freezer…..that small imperfection in the door seal shouldn’t hurt….

[@JaazznMaannn]

Niiiice, someone need to build this system ;)

[@BrandonBryan-z4g]

where is the template mentioned in the video? Thx

[@MIXCocktailHour]

It is also posted in the video description - workspace.cimediacloud.com/r/qMBrnYldALJU

[@noir0013]

Probably has bin mentioned before, but it would be easier to just have the cable of the pump go out the freezer door and in to a power outlet.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Try getting your wife to agree to that!

[@edwarddutra7829]

I have a much much easier way of making perfectly clear ice and all you need is a 16 ounce beer can and a pool noodle that fits around the beer can. Cut the noodle to the height of the can . Cut the top of the beer can off just before it starts to taper. Smooth the edges of the can see you don’t cut yourself Insert they can enter the pool noodle, fill it with water and stick it in the freezer overnight The great thing about this method is, you can reuse the cans over and over again but if you damage one easy to replace Give it a shot…. And always remember safety first. Cheers! You can do this with as many cans as possible, and have perfectly clear ice that will easily fit into a double old fashion glass .

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Love it. We'll give this a try! Cheers

[@JohnEd-o8u]

why did you not just drill a series of holes in the factory lid and fill with spray foam?

[@MIXCocktailHour]

We tried that but the top was still freezing.

[@parmeetkalra6378]

Thanks man. Why take off the lid and do the same thing. Leave the lid but take some insulating foam and make a tight cap on the top. Idea is to ensuse insulation on the top. In other words, the top and sides need to be "more insulated" than the bottom. This should deliver similar results.! What say. Secondly the pump can be outside and small dia polymer pipes could be inserted to keep the water in citculation. Please comment / advise.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

We tried adding the foam to the lid but it still let in too much cold from the top. There's probably an easier way to deal with the lid than what we choose so if you find a way, we'll be eager to hear about it. Same goes for the water circulation.... if you have a different way to achieve that, please drop us another comment. Cheers and thanks for watching!

[@fernandol3078]

I think I’ll just dim or turn off the lights

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Funny! That won't work for day drinking. Cheers

[@cynthiablagg4507]

It’s the best!

[@MIXCocktailHour]

All it took was a little cooler surgery...

[@DanBrown85]

Can you re-upload the template?

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Here you go. Let us know how things turn out. workspace.cimediacloud.com/r/qMBrnYldALJU

[@DanBrown85]

@@MIXCocktailHour Thank you!

[@Gregzilla83]

I rarely drink liquor anymore, couldn't care less about clear ice as I don't get why it matters, but great video lol! I watched the entire thing and I admire your ingenuity

[@5PL45H0R]

9:47 Insane.

[@nelsonbrooks]

This is genius…

[@John_Hoover]

Holy shit I just wanted some clear ice. Had no idea I would need to be McGuyver to make that happen.

[@MIXCocktailHour]

We're not too handy either but It only took us about 90 minutes once we gathered all of the materials. You can skip the battery section if you don't mind plugging the pump to wall outlet and having the cord extending out of the freezer. The amazing results will be worth the time you put in. Cheers and thanks for watching.

[@John_Hoover]

@@MIXCocktailHour Thank you. You do have yourself some CLEAR ice there. Good job.

[@mattrolls618]

Final questions my guys, before I start getting creative… What’s the actual temperature in your freezer? I have a feeling my chest freezer might be significantly colder and that’s why it’s overwhelming the insulation. Also, does your freezer have a circulation fan in it? My freezer doesn’t and therefore the supercold air just stagnates…

[@MIXCocktailHour]

Matt - We use a typical home freezer and it does have a circulation fan. if you are using a chest freezer try putting it as close to the top as possible. And like we do in the video, put the cooler on a rack not directly on a hard surface. kzbin.info/www/bejne/g53YlauggpmteKM Let us know how the next attempt goes!