Homemade ice machine, adding a second ice maker to increase production!

[@mikepalmieri3375]

Great job & a unique idea! I was an industrial refrigeration tech for 30 years and worked on tons of ice makers and the problem with air cooled condenser commercial ice makers is as the ambient temp rises ice production drops off severely. With your set up you have overcome that problem since you are just keeping the ice makers in a 10 f ambient constantly. Also commercial ice makers use tons of energy especially as it get warmer and ice in an unrefrigerated ice hopper melts and drains. I would recommend one thing to anyone considering doing this is to make sure that the freezer doesn’t have a mullion heater around the top of chest (where you cut into plastic to run lines and wires). The heater is used in some cases to stop lid from freezing shut from condensation. It is very easy to check just buy examining wiring diagram of unit and it will show if heater is present, it is more common on domestic fridge freezers than chest fry but worth a look. Again GREAT JOB!

[@TKCL]

I checked before cutting, no heater in the lip. Thanks for the info

[@mikeb3010]

As a certified City & Guilds refrigeration engineer, having a split system makes sense, I wouldn’t have done it any differently, you took all the right precautions, nice work.

[@jakemustian99]

I finished building my ice maker Saturday evening. it is now Monday afternoon and there is about 18 pounds of ice already. this works great

[@TKCL]

Awesome!

[@djastram]

"I don't care what it was designed to do, I care what it can do!" - Gene Kranz from NASA. Great video!

[@TKCL]

Thank you for watching

[@michaelcowling9928]

This is god damned genius level problem solving. You just saved me a couple thousand bucks. So thank you for that.

[@TKCL]

Thank you for watching, glad you enjoyed it.

[@josepnkho]

Great job. Much like you, i need lots of ice all at once only once every few weeks for fishing long days especially if im too tired to process fish the same day. Commercial ice machines are overkill and let the ice melt. Counter top ones have low capacity and also let the ice melt. Both are great for constant demand. Im considering this idea.

[@thomassmith3310]

Since you have the freezer and limited production you can fill some containers with water and make some block ice, which last a lot longer than cubes.

[@TKCL]

I have been doing that lately

[@johnmcook1]

@@TKCL i freeze milk jugs lasts a long time

[@TKCL]

@John Crypto how did you get your thumbnail to have movement?

[@dane.1847]

A few days before a bbq or party, since I have a freezer, I just go to the grocery store and buy a few gallon jugs of distilled water and freeze them. All you need after that is a box cutter and an ice pick. You get beautiful crystal clear ice.

[@zanekubicek2186]

@@johnmcook1 My dad cuts the top off 3 liter soda then freezes it to use in his water jug at work it works pretty well

[@nes999]

I just ordered the ice makers and will pick up the chest freezer this weekend. This is the perfect solution for me.

[@TKCL]

Awesome, hope you enjoy it! Remember to be very careful around the copper tubing in the walls, that freon is toxic. Mine is producing ice very well.

[@amrevrhyme]

Sorry I couldn't help Andrew but hopefully I can you. The Idea is great but please don't gouge the side of your freezer. The top of the freezer is nothing but insulation, all the cold stuff happens below the seal. Mount your ice makers near the hinge. Strategically drill through the top for the wires and the waterlines so that they line up with the makers. use large enough tubing aimed straight down so you don't get any capillary effect. You can mount everything right to the top and you can cover it all up with the box of your choice . Don't mess with the wiring of the freezer. Wire the whole thing independently like he did in the second video. Maybe put an ON OFF in the circuit since it's controlling water, plugging it into a ground fault receptacle wouldn't be a bad idea either. Great video, great idea.

[@TKCL]

Good points!

[@jbroof1234]

I already have the freezer. I’m going to add the ice makers. Really nice design and money saver.

[@TKCL]

Thank you for watching

[@richarddangle]

The tare button on a scale is a beautiful thing!

[@TKCL]

Yes

[@robertswilder]

@RAH Capital I am pretty sure he knows what a tare button it. But you cant use that when you already have it full....

[@TKCL]

I know exactly what that button does. I would have to dump the contents out and clear out the weight of the pan or just do it the way I did, it's multiple steps either way.

[@TheUserid82]

Finally watched the middle video in the process. You can increase how efferent the coolers are by precooling them using one of those freezer packs they send with some orders to keep them cool in the mail. The day before the outing toss the frozen pack in so it will cool down the cooler and when you toss the ice in the next day the ice isn't cooling it down. The packs go back into a freezer so they are ready to go the next time they are needed as they are also good if you take a cooler when shopping to toss the frozens in so they don't thaw as fast on the way home.

[@Nirrrina]

Make good ice packs for your back too. Just make sure to wrap them good with a towel so you don't freeze your skin. They're colder than regular ice packs.

[@Mrcaffinebean]

This is a pretty good idea! A lot of people use a fair bit of ice in coolers for weekend events and a lot of contractors use it for lunches and drink coolers for their employees. It gets pretty annoying to constantly be stopping by the store for ice. But at the same time it hardly justifies a commercial ice maker.

[@TKCL]

Very true!

[@cowboyassass1n]

Check into some heat shrink tubing to cover those solder joints! Much safer and cleaner than vinyl tape!!!

[@frogjunk]

I’m sad he didn’t use duct tape..

[@chrisavila2073]

Was wondering if I could borrow a cup of ice

[@TKCL]

I might have a little extra 🤣

[@susanc257]

Just sent these videos to my husband. I want one of these! This is awesome! Great show.

[@TKCL]

Thank you for watching

[@TKCL]

More videos coming on increasing production

[@mikegraleski4136]

Ingenuity at its finest!

[@TKCL]

Doing my best

[@harmandros]

You can place a bucket lined with nylon bags to gather your ice cubes every day and store them properly in the left compartment of your deep freezer. This way you don't need to use a shovel.

[@archstanton8988]

Great Design and Install! A Very Effective Format for Cheap Bulk Ice Production. As a 30 Retired Maintenance Guy, I only see 1 Flaw in Concept and Install. That Ice Maker that you Purchased is an IM-6 Automatic Ice Maker for Standard Home Refrigerators and if you take a Look at the Bottom of Each Unit? You will notice a White Plastic Paddle Shaped Lever that is Designed into the Gearing System of the Unit. As the Ice Maker sends the Signal to the Solenoid to pull for water, after the Water has been sent through the Fill Tubed and drains into the Catch Trey it sends another Signal to cut the water Off. First, if you look at the Front Cover of the Ice Makers you will see the Cover Square with the Logo on it and say between the 3 and 4 O"clock Position on the Right Hand Side of the Ice Maker Itself you will see a Little Circle with a + and - Symbol. Remove the Circle Cover Tab with a Small Flat Head Screw Driver and you will see a Phillips Head Brass Screw. Turn that Screw Clock Wise 5 Times, what that does is tell the Ice Make to Pull for More Water so your Catch Trey has Larger Cubes in it and They will Last Longer in what ever need you are using, 2nd the White Plastic Lever that I mentioned rotates out toward the Front of the Ice Maker and is designed to in a Normal Installation that when the Factory Trey is full, the Lever hits the Ice Cubes and tells the IM-6 to not pull for more Water until that Lever is able to Cycle Completely. Without that Stop System, it will continue to make Ice, unless possible the Freezer fills with enough Ice and it fills in a way that the Lever will hit it and Stop the Process. Please take a Look at the Ice maker as it Cycles for a Better Understanding of what I have given a Description of. Again, Great Concept and Install. If you have any Questions? just ask. Thanks for a great Post...

[@TKCL]

Thank you for the information

[@jdm1066]

Awesome project! I would go with a slightly larger freezer and 2 ice makers. The longer freezer would keep your options open to add 2 more at the other end while still leaving room to reach in to scoop out ice.

[@TKCL]

Second ice maker was added a while back, that video is at the end of this one. So far so good, update video out tomorrow.

[@jdm1066]

@@TKCL I have looked at the Commercial Ice Makers for my home for years. Even used they cost too much money. Then they waste so much water from the drain in the bottom. Some even have built in heaters in the bottom to ensure the bottom ice melts. This solution never occurred to me. Great video.

[@TKCL]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@daviddevine4052]

Afternoon from the UK Andrew. Just wanted to congratulate you on a brilliant idea and quality build. Never seen anything like that before. Living in the UK I don’t really have a need for one of these but I can definitely understand yours. Your seem a proper nice guy and have a passion for everything you do. Keep up the great work.

[@TKCL]

Thank you for watching and the kind words

[@davejohnsonnola7908]

Former bartender and current refrigeration tech. ¡ Kudos ! Beware of being to aggressive with that ice scoop! Easy to puncture the thin walls.

[@TKCL]

That's been bothering me! I can see that happening

[@davejohnsonnola7908]

If the ice is purely for chilling cans and bottles not consumption, might want to line the bottom and sides with 1/2" foil faced foam board to avoid damaging the coils with that dangerous dagger of an ice scoop.

[@joshwilliams8823]

Damn good common sense.! One of the best ideas I've seen lately for filling coolers for us weekend drinkers. Price is right!!!

[@TKCL]

Thank you for watching

[@HWPcville]

What a great idea....thinking "inside" the box...lol Great idea and great video. Thanks for sharing.

[@TKCL]

Thank you for watching

[@jonniedaughenbaugh4703]

Nice build very creative

[@TKCL]

Thank you for watching

[@cameronclark5899]

Great diy project awesome workshop

[@noyb72]

This I will do. Just replaced one in my house freezer, no sweat to add to a chest freezer. Thanks!

[@TKCL]

Thank you for watching

[@juanokiller]

One of the greatest video ever. Im definitely making my own ice maker,

[@TKCL]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it

[@patrickbear7261]

My thought exactly, I already have the freezer.👍🏻👍🏻

[@TKCL]

New video out tomorrow with some ideas for a easier build with no cutting of the freezer.

[@patrickbear7261]

Your Ice maker videos are AWESOME 👍🏻👍🏻 You got me thinking, I already have the freezer so why not make my own, Thank You 👍🏻👍🏻

[@TKCL]

Glad you enjoyed it, more videos coming

[@RationalZellinial]

Idk if I’ll ever need this but loved these videos and your ingenuity

[@TKCL]

Thank you for watching

[@SpeedyWalker-zn2fe]

I see you went on and ordered that second kit👍🏽

[@codyliles6240]

this is a must, great video

[@TKCL]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Outtahide540]

What a scoop. Good build

[@TKCL]

I plan on scooping lol!

[@ryanzynda5114]

That second ice maker is going to be nice to double your ice maker process. 😃 you save a lot of money.

[@TKCL]

I think so too!

[@davidvoitle2502]

Hell yeah man!! Great video. Ordering my supplies tomorrow. I already have a chest freezer. Thanks for showing us this!!

[@TKCL]

Thank you for watching

[@michaelbrinks8089]

@@TKCL I got a free similar looking working ice maker out of an old fridge freezer. With an attached wire harness I wanted to put in a small cooler do these wire directly to 120V AC wall plug in? Or is it wired into the fridge/freezer and has the power stepped down? (I have to re watch the video)

[@TKCL]

I now have two ice makers and made my own extension cord that plugs directly into 110.

[@frankfarms1]

Great idea, 2 is always better than 1

[@TKCL]

With everything except wives LOL

[@wadenottingham7597]

Hi, just wanted to say hello and I look forward to watching your videos. Arms family homestead sent us your way.

[@TKCL]

Thank you so much for the support and stopping by

[@vikithomasson7772]

Me too! And I’ve been binge watching every since!!

[@TKCL]

Thank you so much

[@teveler]

Very good sir.. I have been wanting to do the same thing for years. Seems like a worthwhile project!

[@TKCL]

It's absolutely a worthwhile project, 50 lb of ice a week for only $369. It'll pay for itself at 9-10 months at that rate

[@bmwlover1981]

Great vids bro. You are a smart guy. This is a great way to make ice on a budget.

[@TKCL]

Thank you

[@johnrga]

Why would anyone give this a thumbs down? Crazy!

[@TKCL]

Thank you very much

[@davidedwards3734]

Hoping it will furnish enough for y'all!!! Great video!!

[@TKCL]

Time will tell!

[@Paramedick]

Flat 4 or 5 conductor wire is available at any NAPA store. It is used for trailer wiring.

[@girlmastergeneral]

Love to see smart people doing stuff like this! A++

[@TKCL]

Thank you very much

[@dougmcnabb947]

I love your channel. Keep them coming

[@TKCL]

Thanks for watching

[@JohnAK72]

Great job bud, I always thought ice maker needs its own separate pcb, but turned out that it works just fine without anything special. Also I’ve seen your latter updates, adding 2 fans was a super wise choice. Just like a freezer everything works super faster yet more efficient with the assistance of fan.

[@TKCL]

Thank you for watching

[@mackjenkins7721]

Man I'm telling you that is so awesome that you don't have to go to the store and buy ice. Ice is so expensive now days. We have an ice maker Vending machine in a parking lot in town & in my in-laws town and for a 10 lb bag of ice it's $10. Expensive man when I can go to my local Exxon gas station and get it for $3 for a 10 Ib bag of ice. $3 you got my business. That is an nice ice machine that you got their man.

[@TKCL]

Wow that's very expensive! We are 3.99 a 20lb bag and I thought that was high!

[@manny_chacon]

Amazing!! You sir are a genius!

[@TKCL]

Wow, thanks!

[@darrylgiffen3759]

I know your machine is probably making enough ice for your needs. In my opinion, the one thing that you could do to increase is production even more is install the ice makers onto aluminum heat sinks that thermally join the ice makers to the chilled wall of the freezer using a thermal mastic. Interesting project. Thanks

[@TKCL]

I'm installing fans tomorrow and testing output. Next week I am adding block ice and increasing thermal mass to see if production increases

[@bigman55434]

Here are the changes I would make to the design. First, you mounted the ice maker in the warmest part of the chest freezer, of which has no active airflow. In a regular freezer, they are usually designed so that the coldest air coming off the evaporator hits the icemaker. Maybe mount a small fan inside the chest freezer to get more cold air across the ice maker. Second, I would add another icemaker, or a larger capacity one, to make more ice. Third, I would add a catch bucket, so you are not digging ice off the bottom of the cooler. You could even rig a 20lb ice bag under a chute, and fill it as they are made. I bought a case of ice bags with drawstrings on ebay, from a store that closed, for cheap. Lastly, if you can find a way to pre-chill the water to around 33 degrees, like running it through a coil of copper tubing kept inside a mini-fridge, it would greatly speed up the ice making process.

[@TKCL]

You'll enjoy the video I'm about to post, cover most of that.

[@marklefler4007]

maybe add a wedge under the ice makers to force the ice to flow into the lower section, to prevent shutting off the ice maker early with ice pileup on the upper shelf?

[@willishiland6069]

Great video and thanks for sharing! Stay Safe!

[@jayilla28]

Wow thats awesome

[@TKCL]

Thanks

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Awesome project.

[@TKCL]

Thanks!

[@princedax77]

Great video eventually I'll be able to make one myself also your workshop looks amazing love the organization for a while I had a similar set up in a 10x16 lofted building but as they say crap happens had to move and change the workshop to living space most of my tools are still packed up unfortunately I miss the organization I once had

[@TKCL]

Thank you, it's a constant struggle to keep clean and organized.

[@princedax77]

@@TKCL yes I agree especially when others have use of your tools and they just leave them laying around most of the time is spent looking for the particular tool that you need lol

[@Raceydog]

Nice! I am going to make one of these for my club. FYI. I have a small freezer like this and the interior aluminum surface is very thin. You might want to put something down where the ice hits and be careful if you’re using a scoop. I put several holes in the bottom of mine with frozen food.

[@TKCL]

I'm worried about that too

[@michaelevans2989]

What i would do to quickly make it more efficient is to place a few pails, juggs whatever of water into the freezer. This will help get the temp lower and keep at that range better. One main issue you have is the makers are at the top of the unit where it's the warmest preventing it from chilling the ice faster and making it out ice out faster more ice out. I would put some small pails of solid ice on that side shelf this will keep the makers cooler so your making ice faster. The pails you can remove later when there's enough ice in the machine that it regulates better.

[@TKCL]

I installed fans and I'll have a video out tomorrow. I'm making block ice next week and testing thermal mass effects.

[@HeritageFarmsTexas]

New follower. We are weekend ranchers and use a lot of ice. I like. I will be doing something similar. Great channel. Love the shop.

[@TKCL]

Thank you for watching!

[@_Lazare]

Well done !! Keep improving and soon you’ll have a production line happily happening haha Congrats bud :)

[@TKCL]

Thank you for watching

[@stevetaylor9770]

Jumped up Jebus in a side car. That was a lot of work that won't last very long. But I have been wrong before. Good luck. Cheers from Saskatchewan.

[@TKCL]

Won't last why?

[@HerbertPrince]

I was wondering, being the lid only has a hinged lid without any wires going to the lid, if the wires to each ice maker inside your freezer, and the water inlet tube, could all go from the top of the lid, as the wires and the water inlet lines could all be sealed using a sealant and you wouldn't have to cut the sides of where the lid seats on the bottom unit? A box could be made and fastened on top, to house the sloped tubes that would go down through the lid into the trough of each ice maker. Plus this could be made using PEX tubing, which wouldn't freeze as much. But you had a great idea how to mount both ice makers inside the freezer. Just an idea, so you wouldn't have to cut into where the lid seal makes contact with the flat area of the bottom freezer unit. Just some food for thought.

[@TKCL]

You could go through the lid as well.

[@HerbertPrince]

@@TKCL What I had written, was before I saw the future video's. It in my opinion was a genius idea to build the piece above the freezer unit to run the wires, water fill pipe and be able to mount the unit, as this would provide a better seal on top where the hinged lid is, as well as where it sits on the freezer unit. I really enjoyed the series, as how you would keep evolving to make better changes, and to do the ice output tests for 24 and 48 hours.

[@TKCL]

Glad you are enjoying the content. Thanks for watching!

[@robertmoorej]

Thats a smart idea! That box seems huge tho. I would probably partition off the left side, and you could still use it for other stuff. Ice pops for the kids maybe...or deer meat. Also having other items in there would increase the thermal mass allowing it to freeze faster.

[@TKCL]

Not in my case, I fish, hunt and boat all the time. I use 80lbs of ice everytime I saltwater fish.

[@TKCL]

I installed fans today and testing has begun. I'm making block ice next week to increase thermal mass and testing.

[@chrisy939]

1. Jealous of your tan! 2. Your tool bench looks awesome. 3. Damn that’s a big a** ice scooper!

[@TKCL]

1. It's Florida 🌞🌞🌞🌞 2. It's not big enough 😔 3. You da$# right! Bigger is better right?

[@LetsgoBrandon2023]

@@TKCL what part of Florida?

[@TKCL]

North central near Tallahassee

[@LetsgoBrandon2023]

@@TKCL nice I live in plant city between Tampa and Orlando

[@TKCL]

I'm familiar with it

[@Hubjeep]

This idea came to mind today as I installed one of those kits in my fridge a while back. Thanks for making your video with how to wire it and the importance of that sleeve to keep the water line from freezing. Those cubes are better than "bag ice" IMO, going to build one here for parties, boat, and neighbors. Now to see who sells a reasonable chest freezer.

[@TKCL]

Mine is working great, probably has 150 lbs of ice in it now. I love being able to have my own ice. Try Sam's club or Lowes, I've been to both recently and seen smaller freezers in stock.

[@jamonmang6099]

awesome idea. i think you could add two more units for sure (longer bracket).

[@TKCL]

Possibly, but they would be in my way. I added fans this morning to see what kind of production increases could happen. I have a few more things to test too. Videos coming soon.

[@jamonmang6099]

@@TKCL i cant wait. this is something i have wanted to do for years. hurricane irma 13 days no power. my generator could have kept your ice maker running forever.

[@TKCL]

Exactly! We live in Florida and have hurricanes too.

[@davidm7824]

I would add a manual drain valve at the bottom to drain water in case you lose power. What about an insulated trap door near the bottom to remove stale old ice?

[@TKCL]

I keep it turned over well, the cooler already comes with a drain.

[@MarkJLarsonOutdoors]

Very good job buddy!!

[@TKCL]

Thank you for watching

[@Zalagar619]

Just a heads up, not sure if your scale is the same model as mine, but it is the same brand, On mine, after you turn it on, if you put the bucket on it, then hit the power button again, it tares it and zeroes it out with the bucket on it, that way it will only count the ice when you add it. I know that wouldn't work for the already filled buckets, I just mean in the future if you need to weigh something and that way you don't have to weigh and subtract the bucket weight.

[@TKCL]

Oh yeah I've been doing that if you watch my current videos.

[@Zalagar619]

@@TKCL Oh yeah, please don't hate me lol I just clicked on your #370 video and You mentioned it haha I was on my way to delete this comment when I saw you replied lol :)

[@frankkoppen7281]

Just an idea hear. Mount the ice makers on the lid. Just a different way or view on the project. Most likely no issues drilling holes in the lid.

[@TKCL]

Water would dump out of them every time I opened it

[@jameskarr5550]

Great Work!!

[@TKCL]

Thank you

[@jameskarr5550]

@@TKCL how many days it take to fill up freezer with 2 ea?

[@TKCL]

No idea, I take way too much ice out during the summer to fill it up. It won't fill up until winter. I'd say it would take several weeks, like 5 or 6. That freezer can hold a lot of ice.

[@jameskarr5550]

@@TKCL great idea, Thanks for sharing!!

[@kellyslifeadventures274]

Cool project. Just found your channel, Daniel from Arms Family Homestead sent me your way.

[@TKCL]

Thank you for stopping by

[@numberonenole4590]

Nice project!

[@TKCL]

Thanks! For some reason your earlier comment disappeared 🤷🤷🤷🤷

[@numberonenole4590]

@@TKCL Yeah, I thought it offended you. I sure hope that wasn't the case.

[@TKCL]

Not at all, KZbin has a bad habit of just removing comments before I can ever respond. Ticks me off that they do that!

[@numberonenole4590]

@@TKCL Okay, good... Thanks Brother!!

[@pastevensonjr]

I love it. Im going to make a slight design modification and make a wooden/foam collar to mount everything to like a Keezer.

[@TKCL]

That's exactly what I'll do on my next one, I didn't discover that until after I was done.

[@vetjon9400]

I built one with the wood collar / keezer style last weekend. The wood is a poor insulator and stays wet due to condensation. The condensation adds considerable heat to the interior I believe. I need more insulation (have 3/4 blue foam inside the collar) and a shorter collar (used a 2x6 and only need a 2x4).

[@TKCL]

I'm going to use pvc or hpde (cutting board material) for my next build to avoid that.

[@pastevensonjr]

Yea I may sandwich it with a foam.

[@TKCL]

I would

[@IContext]

I have written a number of comments now and hope you put them in order but anyway In the last mod I described I said try contact freezing against the cold wall. If you pull vacuum on that it should be much faster. Now I have one more idea for that get soda fountain carbonator and use carbonated water then pull a vacuum while contact freezing with pre-chilled water.

[@garza7676]

Love the ice machine . I’m totally doing this . Just need to figure out wiring . I’d like to add a 15 amp breaker to the circuit powering the ice makers .

[@TKCL]

Thank you for watching

[@funnycatvideos5490]

why would you need 15 amp for a couple of solenoids and timers?

[@garza7676]

@@funnycatvideos5490 that’s a good question . What size would you recommend ? . Im not a electrician .Could you run ice machine and pump on 24volts ?

[@TKCL]

Needs 120 volts, the biggest draw will be the compressor kicking on and I recommend a minimum of 10 amps for that, the biggest draw on the ice makers is probably when the heating element kicks on to release the ice.

[@garza7676]

@@TKCL I guess I’d have to read the max amp draw on the ice machine . I feel it’s important to add at least a breaker since the wires will be exposed on the outside .

[@ShaneZettelmier]

Lol. Dang, KZbin is all over it. The ad at the beginning of this video was for something like K2 kinetic advertising a freezer icemaker product. 😂😂😂 sometimes it feels like we’re being spied on. Lol As far as the cord I’m guessing it would be fine the refrigerator usually pulls a lot more energy than a deep freezer and they run the icemaker off the same power source. If you get the maximum amperage rating from all three devices you can just add that together and see if your cord is a large enough gauge to handle that amperage and then you’ll know if it’s too much of a load or not. Even then most of the time you’re probably not gonna have all three devices on at the same time but you definitely want to be sure. I’m guessing the fans make a difference and I’ve had an icemaker that had what they called turbo mode which was just a fan and it did make it work faster. Also you were talking before about thermal mass and I think putting two or three jugs of water in there to freeze solid would be a great idea, especially if your power went out for 20 or 30 minutes it would definitely help keep everything solid instead of melting and refreezing, it definitely couldn’t hurt. I also think that little penguins on skis in there would be some awesome decor and probably improve the morale of your ice-makers. 😜😆

[@TKCL]

See todays video, fans made a huge difference

[@ShaneZettelmier]

@@TKCL lol. Yeah I commented again can I have a bad habit of commenting before the videos over 😂😂 but I do think I came up with a couple of ideas on my last comment. Lol

[@JaceDrummer]

Great idea and execution. You need to look into the tare function of your scale though, no need to deduct the weight of the ice bin manually. :)

[@TKCL]

My upcoming videos I start using that are but for everybody

[@ckfab475]

Summer is coming and us in Florida really need our ice. Coolers, Margaritaville machines and such suck it up. LOL. Nice job.

[@TKCL]

Don't forget whiskey on ice!

[@KevinBritain]

Awesome stuff dude..

[@TKCL]

Thank you

[@jimmieburleigh9549]

But it appears you have the budget for a actual ice maker. They have very efficient ones. Plus the drip hose is for some meltage but mainly to rinse out clean and drain.

[@TKCL]

I do not, I no longer work at a mill where I could work unlimited over time. I am also building our home and every extra dollar is going into that.

[@serenetynow]

When drilling metal, using a center punch on your marks will help prevent the bit from walking on you.

[@TKCL]

Yes it will, I usually only center punch steel

[@HughieGT]

I thought about doing this a few years back but ended up going with a 200 lbs Manitowoc ice machine for $1,900.00. They may have went up since. You can never really justify spending $1,900.00. on a ice machine but it’s purely a convince thing. I do run a cooler of ice year round and use a lot of ice. Good job by the way, I’ve always wondered if it would have worked. Thanks for the great video.

[@TKCL]

Thank you for watching

[@time1800]

If you add a fan blowing across the ice makers it will make a huge difference in ice output air is stagnate in a chest freezer cold settles to the bottom! Look at your Ice maker in the house air flow is in the design.

[@time1800]

Never mind I see you went with the fans.

[@TKCL]

Yep video out tomorrow

[@time1800]

@@TKCL I bet it's making ice like a Alaskan winter now.

[@TKCL]

🤷😁

[@JackBageard]

Good idea……. But freezers maintain temps at 0dig. . When the ice is harvested from a residential ice maker the cubes are wet In a freezer they are going to stick together. Also as the ice sits in the bottom of the freezer sublimation happens causing the ice to grow into one big block. Your friends side by side idea is good but will require a drain for the bin. Even then sublimation will occur . 0:32

[@TKCL]

It takes months for that to happen, I clean 2-3 times a year anyways so it isn't a problem. I now collect ice in small trash bins, it eliminates that problem.

[@bigDH123]

That's a cool project there Andrew, You will be going through a pile of ice next fall when you guys are sitting on your new back porch having some cold snacks watching the sun set. Thanks for the video.

[@TKCL]

That's exactly right!

[@stanleydenning]

I wonder if adding a circulator fan in the box would help. A small computer fan would service. The coldest air is at the bottom of the reach-in. But the ice makers are at the top. Just hinking. 🤔

[@TKCL]

That video is out tomorrow, we think alike!

[@mrk1075]

Cool! ❄️🥶

[@TKCL]

Thanks

[@gijoecam]

I wonder if it would be more efficient to mount one of those countertop ice pellet makers inside the freezer? They put out like 40lbs a day if you keep them filled with water. Most of the smaller ones I've seen just drop the ice into an uninsulated bucket, so you could probably cut a hole in the bottom of the housing and let it fall into the bottom of the freezer chest. Might make for an interesting trial! Thinking through it, you may need to mount the tabletop one to the top or side dropping through the lid of the chest. Not sure what would stop the chest from freezing the water if it was inside. May also need to figure out how to feed it water continuously... Could make an interesting trial though!

[@TKCL]

I've kicked that idea around but have concerns. Cutting an opening would allow outside air and moisture in, resulting in frost buildup. Also those table top models make small hollow ice cubes that melt quickly, that's not what I'm looking for.

[@ericferguson5997]

Nicely done, went fishing in Keaton last Friday and absolutely killed them! Wasn't so good Saturday tho! I'm sure we'll run into each other there soon!

[@TKCL]

Yes I'm hearing good reports! I need to go very soon

[@ericferguson5997]

@@TKCL yes sir! Could of had a 3 person limit in one spot! Weather permitting may make a run offshore for some seabass next weekend!

[@TKCL]

I'm gearing up for some sheepshead spearfishing very soon.

[@whatsthebigfndeal]

That's pretty darn awesome right there. I go through about 20 pounds a day in the summer so it wouldn't be quite enough for me. Unless I make 2 of them :o

[@TKCL]

I'm testing fans and other options to increase capacity right now

[@Gunner-jb6cx]

new house ... new shop.... new tools .... high roller .... shoot on stick !!!

[@TKCL]

Your looking at thousands of hours of overtime working shift work at a paper mill. I don't miss it

[@dwgystyl]

Have you thought about adding a fan to better move the warmer air from around the ice makers?

[@TKCL]

Yes that video will be out later today

[@user-eh5cr4or6k]

As I said you got a great idea there if you do a little research on your ice makers and possibly even add a fan inside to speed up the cooling across your ice makers you can probably I'm just going to speculate as long as those are like the old-style ice makers where you had an almost infinite control inside the front cover to speed up and slow down the production you can probably make up to 50 - a hundred pounds a day with those ice maker.

[@TKCL]

I already have two fans that I'm installing tomorrow, video out next week. Thanks for watching!

[@dadsquatch79]

Woot. Like number 1000....

[@gingerboi8711]

is there a follow up video on how this is doing cause this is a great idea might even be worth building and selling them

[@TKCL]

Releases this afternoon

[@gingerboi8711]

@@TKCL lol good timing

[@pinggolfdog]

Did you use the shut offs for the ice makers to stop production when the freezer is full. It doesn’t sound like you will overrun the storage of the freezer but if you don’t use enough ice what will happen when there’s no more room for ice. Also , from another comment, I like the idea of making some block ice in the freezer to have on hand.

[@TKCL]

No I did not on the this build, but my current new build (video releasing today) I did keep the shut offs.

[@ryanrambo24]

If I follow your wiring I will need 5 wires per ice maker. 4 for the 4 wire harness and 1 for the neutral coming from water valve to plug at the wall. Correct?

[@TKCL]

That's correct

[@ryanrambo24]

@@TKCL And brown to other side of water valve.

[@TKCL]

Assuming you have the same ice makers as me, yes! Otherwise they all have different wire colors, I'd suggest reaching out to a professional electrician or appliance repair shop if that's the case.

[@ryanrambo24]

Last question. Does it matter which side the nuetral wire is plugged in on the water valve? For reference which wire is on the terminal of the mounting bracket side? Thank you.

[@TKCL]

No because on AC current the polarity is constantly changing on each wire.

[@Mike1614YT]

you can also make 10+ lbs a day using two 2 1/2 quart measuring buckets to make block ice. you can chop it into chunks using an ice pick. so simple

[@TKCL]

Not quite as simple as scooping out perfectly uniformed ice and placing right into my cooler.

[@Mike1614YT]

@@TKCL I can make 8.5 lbs a day of perfectly uniform ice cubes using 8 ice cube trays. but the chunky stuff is better, lasts longer in the cooler.

[@TKCL]

I think I'm about to be right with that number or past it. And it makes it for me while I sleep, no attention needed. I test the final production of ice tomorrow now with fans installed.

[@jamescarey6513]

The water inlet valve does one side hook up to the neutral wire harness?

[@TKCL]

Yes always with 110 or it does not work with anything

[@jeremiahdorman6024]

Fill the tube up with sand tape both ends then heat up and bend should give you a clean bend

[@TKCL]

Thank you

[@mattp3548]

This is awesome…. A few containers to keep it off the bottom. Do you have any issues with the ice clumping? maybe some kind of auger system to keep the ice broken up.

[@TKCL]

Sure don't, watch my recent video I talk about some of those concerns

[@aroundmichaelsbarn601]

This is a great idea and video! Thanks for sharing

[@TKCL]

Thanks for watching