OT: Small Ice Maker Reccommendations

[CochiseCowbell]

The beer thread got me thinking. My drink fridge in the garage went out some time ago. We're currently renting and we've made do without it. So, kicking the can down the road I've just kept my beer in my Artic cooler. But, I've been buying about 8 bags of ice a week for about the past 2 years.

I don't need anything that requires a water line, for I only need about 10 lbs a day. I've started an amazon search but everything seems to either be too big or too small.

Shame me for my beer consumption all you want, just help me keep it cold.

 

[GoDawgz52]

We bought this one last year....it does a pretty good job.
You add the water to the back and you choose big or small cubes.
It will fill the basket up pretty quick.
Probably too small for what you are looking for though.
Anyway...carry on.

 

[dawgpoundrock]

If you're just putting beer in it, I would get a cheap mini fridge.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Vevor makes a couple of models that use the big water bottles you can buy at grocery stores. I think my parents have that brand and it works pretty well


I’ve had a couple of the countertop ice makers and they honestly don’t last very long. Pump went bad in one and I sent it in on warranty and they replaced it with another one that lasted 2 months. I think it was the GE Opal. Also they are mold factories. Even if you do the “cleaning cycle” there’s mold everywhere in the lines you can’t see internally. It was disgusting.

 

[YesIAmAPirate]

We bought this one last year....it does a pretty good job.
You add the water to the back and you choose big or small cubes.
It will fill the basket up pretty quick.
Probably too small for what you are looking for though.
Anyway...carry on.
View attachment 1268418

We bought this one recently too. The wife will fill it up with water and we store the ice in Walmart bags in the deep freezer

 

[The Peeper]

We bought this one last year....it does a pretty good job.
You add the water to the back and you choose big or small cubes.
It will fill the basket up pretty quick.
Probably too small for what you are looking for though.
Anyway...carry on.
View attachment 1268418

We've got that one or a lookalike and it works good, you just have to be there to empty it when it fills up which is every few hours or so. If you're around the house all day or coming and going it works good, I think the capacity is 25lbs a day that it makes but again you got to be there to keep it emptied and if you don't it kind of melts just sitting there w/ just a plastic lid over it

 

[She Mate Me]

Based on two decades+ of personal experience with and neighborhood observation of the quality of automatic ice makers, I have very clear advice that nobody ever takes seriously, but should.

Buy 10+ of these and a bin and empty and refill them once a day...

 

[DoggieDaddy13]

We've got that one or a lookalike and it works good, you just have to be there to empty it when it fills up which is every few hours or so. If you're around the house all day or coming and going it works good, I think the capacity is 25lbs a day that it makes but again you got to be there to keep it emptied and if you don't it kind of melts just sitting there w/ just a plastic lid over it

Got rid of mine for this reason. It was more trouble than it's worth and takes up space I can use for other worthless purchases.

 

[skip dog]

Based on two decades+ of personal experience with and neighborhood observation of the quality of automatic ice makers, I have very clear advice that nobody ever takes seriously, but should.

Buy 10+ of these and a bin and empty and refill them once a day...

View attachment 1268456

I did this exact thing for a a while a couple of times. Once when my ice maker went out and I was waiting on a part, and the other time, I used these with filtered spring water for bourbon only cubes (before I had square cube tray).....honestly, about 5 minutes of my time per day made more Ice than I could use every few days.

 

[HailStout]

I’ve had a couple of the countertop ice makers and they honestly don’t last very long. Pump went bad in one and I sent it in on warranty and they replaced it with another one that lasted 2 months. I think it was the GE Opal. Also they are mold factories. Even if you do the “cleaning cycle” there’s mold everywhere in the lines you can’t see internally. It was disgusting.

yep. Break easy and gross. My experience as well

 

[aTotal360]

Hoshizaki

 

[CochiseCowbell]

Based on two decades+ of personal experience with and neighborhood observation of the quality of automatic ice makers, I have very clear advice that nobody ever takes seriously, but should.

Buy 10+ of these and a bin and empty and refill them once a day...

View attachment 1268456

I wish I had the freezer space for this absolutely. As a bachelor I did.

 

[Papapat.sixpack]

Hoshizaki

View attachment 1268930

Hoshizaki ice machines is all I see in restaurants now. After seeing what’s in the bottom if not cleaned regularly will make you never want ice again from some.

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

I bought this for my road trips instead of having to keep getting ice for a cooler. It works great.



Link.

 

[msualohadog]

Slight hijack, but my wife always uses the crushed ice function on my fridge. It drives me crazy. The ice is crushed with the cheap plastic blades and I've already replaced them twice at $75-100 a pop. Her response is "I like what I like. Buy a more expensive fridge....".

 

[kired]

I bought one of the basic countertop ones from Amazon, I don’t even know the brand. Euhomy maybe? Had it for three years and it works… but it’s loud as hell. I usually turn it on for an hour in the morning before kids are awake and just put all the ice in an insulated container. It’s too loud to run if you’re in our kitchen or living room.

I only use distilled water, and do the water / vinegar clean every 3-4 weeks. Never noticed any buildup or smells.

But I’d love to find one that’s much quieter

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

You can have my ice maker... It's useless.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

You can have my ice maker... It's useless.

View attachment 1269828

 

[PBRME]

Vevor makes a couple of models that use the big water bottles you can buy at grocery stores. I think my parents have that brand and it works pretty well


I’ve had a couple of the countertop ice makers and they honestly don’t last very long. Pump went bad in one and I sent it in on warranty and they replaced it with another one that lasted 2 months. I think it was the GE Opal. Also they are mold factories. Even if you do the “cleaning cycle” there’s mold everywhere in the lines you can’t see internally. It was disgusting.

Was looking at the GE Opal for the Sonic ice. Mold was a concern for me. Guess I have my answer.

 

[DerHntr]

Based on two decades+ of personal experience with and neighborhood observation of the quality of automatic ice makers, I have very clear advice that nobody ever takes seriously, but should.

Buy 10+ of these and a bin and empty and refill them once a day...

View attachment 1268456

This is what we do at the hunting camp. Right when anyone walks in the house, we dump 10 of them into a gallon ziploc and refill. We do it after morning and evening hunts typically each day we are there. It’s more than enough for us.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Was looking at the GE Opal for the Sonic ice. Mold was a concern for me. Guess I have my answer.

It sucked. It was awesome having the Sonic ice but that thing got really nasty and that was after doing regular cleaning cycles. We have since gotten a new fridge that makes big cubes and Sonic ice.

 

[JY1947]

We’re looking at buying one for the beach condo to fill multiple backpack sized coolers at once if anybody has suggestions

 

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Hoshizaki

View attachment 1268930

I second this…specific capacity needs take a back seat when you can get the consistent quality that a Hoshizaki machine produces. You’d be the envy of the neighborhood.