Building a small ice rink, need advice

[Robert_in_NY]

I want to build a small ice rink for my 6 year old daughter to learn on. I have a round level sand area where we set her inflatable pool that I want to set up a 12' diameter rink on for practice this year. If all goes well I will look at making a larger rink area for next year.

What I am curious about is if there is anything I should do that I haven't thought about as I have never done anything like this. I plan to just mound up snow around the edge and lay plastic down to hold the water in. I am thinking about just a couple inches thick would work fine. What do you guys think? Also, what should I do to maintain a good skate surface on it? Just keep shoveling it off? Thanks

 

[gwjd]

a few years ago there was an ask this old house episode on this they used 2x10s and plastic for a full hokey rink only 4-6 inches of ice built up over time

 

[RobertN]

Search for VON on this site. He used to do that in his backyard. He even, got a deal on a Zamboni! A PM, or google Von's Mog's.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/ag-tractors-machinery/3254-orange-rescues-zamboni.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/2726-vons-view-photos.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...aintenance-crew-photo-35-230534-rinkrats2.jpg

 

[tcartwri]

We used Haylage wrap sold at the feed store as the base. It's heavy heavy poly that's white on one side, black on the other. I used the FEL to make the end mounds with snow, then laid the plastic in, and finished off with the side mounds. Then you run your well for two days or so to fill it! When the rink is getting solid, you pile snow on the tarp ends and wet it with the hose to hold it down.

Makes a perfectly smooth, thick rink that will survive thaws. In fact our ice was so good, I couldn't walk on it.....

The wrap was $200, but there is enough for two winters. That's for a 50' x 30' rink.

 

[Dutch445]

I don't really think you need the plastic for such a small area,
i would compact the snow you have, roll it or drive it down
with tires of a tractor or something, then start to build up
on that with water. spray the snowpack down, let it freeze,
and again, and again. this weekend is primo conditions for that,
and you could have it done in a day i bet. always use thin coats
of water, instead of trying to get it too deep, that will cause
air bubbles etc. of course, if you build up the edges with some
snow, you can spray those too to harden them, but you really
don't need to

that's what i remember from my youth. i used to work for the
village munincipal dept and we'd make an ice rink in a village park,
never put plastic down, it was too big!

 

[ToadHill]

Robert. You have the right idea. As far as maintaining it is concerned, I just shovle it off now and then, and when it gets gouged up, spray a light coat of water over it to fill in the bad spots.

 

[Egon]

Use a cheap tarp for the base. Might want to shovel an inch or so of snow in and level it. Helps build up the base. Then flood. Let it freeze and scrape with a steel edged scraper to knock down bumps. Flood and scrape again. Do a final flood with slightly warm water to get a real even finish if that is possible.

Try and do the flooding in late afternoon when it is warmer so the water has a chance to spread out evenly.

 

[radioman]

12 ft is kinda small to learn on I think. With weather going to be perfect this week and weekend, I would use snow to make a base with tractor bucket backdragging and fine mist it and let it set overnight today. tomorrow I would spray water in morning before work and spray more water at at night . by sat. morning it should be a nice rink.
I really don't think plastic is necessary since the temps is going to be near 0 this week. Once you get a base ice setup, its all you need. The snow base protect the ground surface and just spray more water on it when you need a smooth surface.

good luck and be sure you post pics.:thumbsup:

 

[RobertN]

That sounds like a lot of work. I like the way Von did it. And, he got to drive the Zamboni I think he sold the Zamboni when he got in to restoring Unimog's, but he had originally got it pretty cheap.

Use a cheap tarp for the base. Might want to shovel an inch or so of snow in and level it. Helps build up the base. Then flood. Let it freeze and scrape with a steel edged scraper to knock down bumps. Flood and scrape again. Do a final flood with slightly warm water to get a real even finish if that is possible.

Try and do the flooding in late afternoon when it is warmer so the water has a chance to spread out evenly.

 

[tcartwri]

Snow base does not work, unless you like standing outside all day cursing. btdt. :thumbsup: