Most of the time, when somebody comes up with a new idea or a new machine for ice carvers, I have to either wait a while or take a trip to get a look at it. This time, however, the ClearBLOCK™ ice block machine showed up in my backyard. I had to go only a little over half an hour out of my way to take a look. The machine is made by Buffet Enhancements and produces a single standard 40” by 20” by approximately 10” block. Because of the innovative configuration of the machine, however, the block has no clip marks; the block slides out of the machine instead of being hoisted.

like a Clinebell machine, this machine uses pumps and a plastic liner

the side of the tank is removable, allowing the block to be harvested by sliding it out

(this particular block is a little thin because we harvested it early)

in this photo, the block is being removed with the ClearBLOCK Ice Mover, which safely controls the block

with the Ice Mover, the block can be easily rotated into a vertical position

this was the sculpture that I made from the block above. I had no complaints, the block was very clear

later, I made this fleur-de-lis luge sculpture from another ClearBLOCK ice block

finally, this is how the machine usually looks, while it’s making an ice block

    I like the machine. It’s very clean looking and its smaller size, light weight, and heavy duty wheels means that it will fit in places that other machines would not (like in a kitchen). I’ve also so far been very happy with the blocks that I’ve seen from the block maker. Hopefully, I’ll be able to carve more ClearBLOCK blocks and I’ll share more about the machine as I learn more about it.