Flaking ice

[Mbwhalen]

First off thanks so much for the website..it's my first year building a rink since I was a kid and the website has been awesome! I'm north of Boston and and trying to get my ice smooth after the last storm. J couldn't shovel because like any first year builder I jumped the gun at first site of cold weather and when the snow came it was too thin to shovel. However because it was a wet snow in my area it just roughed up to surface. The last two nights I've been filling three 45 gallon barrels on my 35'x55' rink and while its shown tremendous improvement it is now starting to flake up in big spots. I've built the rink rake which I plan on hooking up to my water heater and plan to resurface it many times. I was wondering if you guys had any more advice for me and again thanks so much! Can't wait to skate!
-Mike

[Joe]

Mike - thanks for the kind words, that's why we're here!

I'm in NH and in a similar boat. We got two storms, close to 16" of snow, and I couldn't shovel until days later once it was cold enough to stand on. My ice is in rough shape. You did the right thing doing the bucket dumps, but sometimes, if the water pools up too thick and the top layer freezes quickly (since it's been frigid the last few nights when you've done this), it creates shell (or shale) ice. Very common. Your best bet is to stomp/walk/smash it all up, leaving a mess of ice chips and craters. Then take your hose (not a resurfacer, not a bucket dump, just the hose) and just walk around filling the craters. The ice chips should melt, the craters will be filled, and once that freezes you should just need one more resurface (you can use your resurfacer now) to get it smooth again. Very common problem, and not an overly difficult solution.

[Mbwhalen]

Thanks joe! Ill do this tonight! Would it be better to smash up and flakes and get rid of them? And should I use hot or cold water?

[Joe]

Smashing them is a requirement...it allows the new water you'll introduce to get into the craters under that thin ice. Removing them is optional...probably a good idea if there is a ton of it, though it may be hard since underneath shell ice is usually very bumpy and not conducive to shoveling. But maybe a broom or blower would do it. Otherwise, if you're going to use warm water, that should melt everything. But cold water will work too.

[Mbwhalen]

Sounds like a plan! I bought a commercial grade backpack blower that should do the trick plus I spent big bucks on it so it will be nice to use it year round...again thanks for the help ill try and post pictures before and after.