DIY Ice Rink Building Tips for Hockey Enthusiasts in South NJ

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges and strategies for building a homemade ice rink suitable for hockey practice in South New Jersey, particularly considering the region's winter temperatures. Participants explore various methods for maintaining ice quality and extending the playing season.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests constructing a rink with a frame and liner elevated on 4x4 timbers to mitigate ground warmth, referencing the "bridge freezes first" concept.
  • Another proposes using coils of copper tubing filled with ice-cold water or glycol to help maintain ice quality, questioning the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of this approach.
  • A later reply emphasizes that better heat transfer might be achieved by placing the coils inside the ice and using a non-freezing fluid to prevent blockages.
  • One participant clarifies their intention to place piping on top of plywood within the ice and considers using antifreeze circulated through an ice-filled cooler, raising questions about the maximum outside temperature for effective operation.
  • Another participant points out that cooling the glycol mix would require a chiller, highlighting a significant challenge in the proposed setup.
  • An alternative suggestion is made to practice on concrete with inline skates as a simpler option, acknowledging it may not replicate the experience of ice hockey.
  • One participant advises considering enrollment in a hockey club for more affordable ice time, noting that access to properly conditioned ice is crucial for skill development.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a variety of approaches and opinions regarding the construction and maintenance of a homemade ice rink, with no clear consensus on the best method or solution. Some suggest alternative practices while others focus on the technical aspects of rink construction.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention several variables that could affect the success of the proposed rink, including outside temperatures, liquid temperatures, ice thickness, and the amount of piping used, indicating that the discussion is contingent on these factors.

Who May Find This Useful

Hockey enthusiasts, DIY builders, and parents of young hockey players looking for cost-effective ways to provide ice time may find this discussion relevant.

openbahr
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Ok, so my 8 year old son started playing ice hockey and unfortunately to get good, you need lost of ice time which is expensive and hard to come by. I am trying to figure out how to make a homemade ice rink this winter. I live in south NJ and the winters are not cold enough to have a lasting rink using mother nature alone, which brings me to my question.

I was thinking of first, building a rink with a frame and liner and thinking maybe elevating it on 4x4 timbers to eliminate the warmth of the earth.( the old "bridge freezes first" concept.)

then I thought if I covered the plywood bottom with coils of copper tubing and ran ice cold water or glycol through it, that would really help keep the ice cold and solid, thereby extending the playing season.

so is this a crazy idea? will the reward be worth the effort? what would be the best (cheapest) way to cool the water/glycol?

any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

Mike
 
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You would get bettor heat transfer if the coils were inside the ice and you ran a fluid that will not freeze through it to prevent the chance of a blockage or something, causing your pipes to freeze and bursting your pipes
 
Sorry I was unclear. I did mean put piping on TOP of plywood in the ice.

I was thinking of piping antifreeze through pipes and then through an ice filled cooler.
Of course the outside temp would have to be pretty low.

Is there a way to figure the highest outside temp could be for this to still work?
Guess it would depend on liquid temp, ice thickness, amount of piping , ect...
 
Cooling the glycol mix really is the tough part. You need a chiller for that.
 
Maybe another option is to practice a lot on concrete with in-line skates? I know it's not 100% the same, but it's a lot simpler option...
 
It might be a better option to enroll your son in a hockey club to get cheap ice-time. Unfortunately, the ice-times allotted to youth groups may not be optimal, for him or for you. Still, if you want your son to get skilled at hockey, you need to put him on properly conditioned ice.

Good luck finding a solution. Maine is pretty cold most winters, but budding hockey players need ice-time at decent rinks and that can be hard to manage.