YMMV Opal Nugget Ice Maker Home Depot $197 Reg.$549

AnthoHead

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This user is an Expert in Tech & Electronics

Jan 25, 2019 02:45 PM

391 Posts

Joined Nov 2013

AnthoHead

Expert

This user is an Expert in Tech & Electronics

Jan 25, 2019 02:45 PM

391 Posts

All still in the $400s around here but I'd definitely pick it up for $200

mikeyz

Original Poster

Jan 25, 2019 02:49 PM

2,049 Posts

Joined Jun 2006

mikeyz

Original Poster

Jan 25, 2019 02:49 PM

2,049 Posts

Quote from AnthoHead

:

All still in the $400s around here but I'd definitely pick it up for $200

The price online is not what they have marked in the store. Mine shows $499 online for the store i bought one at.

Jiggatyj2

Jan 25, 2019 02:52 PM

52 Posts

Joined Sep 2018

Jiggatyj2Jan 25, 2019 02:52 PM

52 Posts

I'm curious what you would use this for outside of a commercial setting.

tstarks

Jan 25, 2019 02:57 PM

7,232 Posts

Joined Mar 2007

tstarksJan 25, 2019 02:57 PM

7,232 Posts

My store had a stack of them, same price as OP found. I just can't figure out why I need it, or who would.

AngryPirate

Jan 25, 2019 02:59 PM

5,807 Posts

Joined Oct 2007

AngryPirateJan 25, 2019 02:59 PM

5,807 Posts

Quote from Jiggatyj2

:

I'm curious what you would use this for outside of a commercial setting.

Line a few thousand of them in a row to start rebuilding the deteriorating polar ice caps?

1

iRenaissanceMan

Jan 25, 2019 03:01 PM

1,414 Posts

Joined Dec 2003

iRenaissanceManJan 25, 2019 03:01 PM

1,414 Posts

Quote from tstarks

:

My store had a stack of them, same price as OP found. I just can't figure out why I need it, or who would.

Same here. I've seen it for 2 or 3 weeks in the clearance area. I'd love to hear from owners why they have one.

dealjumpr

Jan 25, 2019 03:04 PM

2,500 Posts

Joined Apr 2005

dealjumprJan 25, 2019 03:04 PM

2,500 Posts

Good for fishermen who catch and keep fish. Some people fish once a week or more and can't keep buying ice at $2-$3 a bag

Becky5623

Jan 25, 2019 03:08 PM

240 Posts

Joined Aug 2014

Becky5623Jan 25, 2019 03:08 PM

240 Posts

Quote from tstarks

:

My store had a stack of them, same price as OP found. I just can't figure out why I need it, or who would.

I am finishing off my basement and considering this. It would be convenient to have for a wet bar if you do a lot of entertaining or just like a lot of ice. In Minnesota where I live, people are always driving to the cabin. This would be convenient to fill up your cooler. Those bags of ice are expensive. I have a couple of Grad parties coming up and this would help with beverages. I am also replacing my refrigerator and may forgo the water/ice maker. The filters are expensive. Just some thoughts.

B5rt

Jan 25, 2019 03:09 PM

660 Posts

Joined Feb 2016

B5rtJan 25, 2019 03:09 PM

660 Posts

Quote from fdragger

:

Good for fishermen who catch and keep fish. Some people fish once a week or more and can't keep buying ice at $2-$3 a bag

This is not the machine for that. The claim to fame of this machine is that it makes light, chewable "nugget" ice. It's for people who like to eat ice. If you want to make bulk ice ofr keeping stuff cold, there are better solutions.

That said, I've wanted one of these since they came out. My store has had them at this price since right after Christmas, but I still think it's too much for what it is. If they drop below $100, I'll grab one.

anakinnnn

Jan 25, 2019 03:12 PM

27 Posts

Joined Dec 2011

anakinnnnJan 25, 2019 03:12 PM

27 Posts

So here's the thing with these appliances...
I bought one for our company picnic where it was given away as a prize. It was highly sought after because I work for a tech company and people were enamored with it because of what it produces for the price.
This device is the single cheapest possible method for creating "chewable ice" which most people associate with Sonic ice (the fast food establishment). Chewable ice allows whatever the drink is to mix and blend into the ice in a similar fashion to the way snow cones allow flavored syrup to blend into the ice... but this is in an actual ice cube, albeit smaller than normal. People like this. I like this. I go to Sonic often because I prefer their drinks because of this.

This thing sells for $549... which seems INSANE for a countertop ice maker. But here's the thing... the ice is formed in sheets and is a very special process that is hard to replicate. The next cheapest device to do this in your home is around $1500 and that is for a small low end one. They typically run $2500 or more for a "rich person's" house where it's en embedded appliance that creates chewable ice on demand similar to an embedded microwave or oven. My wife's uncle has one in his house and he is extremely wealthy and installed one for his wife. It's the size of a dishwasher and cost just at $2500.

So now that you know about this thing and why it's so sought after... here's the INSANE problem with this that I will never understand...

This thing has no incoming water line. You have to fill it manually!!! Like, with a pitcher... or bowl... or whatever. To me, this makes it useless because I know myself, I know my wife, and I know my kids... and none of us are going to remember to fill this thing up constantly once it runs out of ice... which is near hourly/daily if you actually use it. Also, the cleaning of it is a total pain since there is no drain or incoming water line. The water can sit in there and stagnate and cause bacteria when not used. People have a hard time cleaning these things.

Regardless... if you want chewable ice in your home made for "free", then this is the single cheapest method where you can accomplish that... albeit, with the caveats I mentioned.

Cheers!
Jason

Last edited by anakinnnn January 25, 2019 at 08:15 AM.

1

lhymes

Jan 25, 2019 03:12 PM

686 Posts

Joined Nov 2007

lhymesJan 25, 2019 03:12 PM

686 Posts

I have an ice ball maker that retails for around $1200, I just got my IceMadeClear Kickstarter, and here I am ready to run to Home Depot to try to snag an Opal ice maker that I definitely don't need. Uggggh I think I have a sickness! Well, at least I have awesome ice.

But seriously, I've been hoping to see these come down in price for a while. Nugget ice is the best ice imo. I love getting a cold drink with it, but the cost of getting a nugget ice maker has always been very cost prohibitive. For $200, if you love the ice from Sonic, Wawa, and Chick Fil A, this is a pretty amazing deal.

Last edited by lhymes January 25, 2019 at 08:33 AM.

mikeyz

Original Poster

Jan 25, 2019 03:18 PM

2,049 Posts

Joined Jun 2006

mikeyz

Original Poster

Jan 25, 2019 03:18 PM

2,049 Posts

Quote from Jiggatyj2

:

I'm curious what you would use this for outside of a commercial setting.

My wife has always loved nugget ice, and all commercial makers are 2k+.

Most hospitals have them in their labor rooms for the patients to chew on, and at that point most women get hooked on it like crack.

So for me it was a cheap way to keep the wife happy Smilie

It also cools drinks way faster than normal ice. If you have never had a Coke with nugget ice.... game changer.

Lefty421

Jan 25, 2019 03:18 PM

1,706 Posts

Joined Aug 2011

Lefty421Jan 25, 2019 03:18 PM

1,706 Posts

Quote from Jiggatyj2

:

I'm curious what you would use this for outside of a commercial setting.

Quote from iRenaissanceMan

:

Same here. I've seen it for 2 or 3 weeks in the clearance area. I'd love to hear from owners why they have one.

because the ice maker in my fridge quit and the repair man said it would be a $400 repair.

This thing is nowhere near commercial capacity. This is a counter-top ice maker. The bin only holds 3 lbs of ice and the ice maker only makes 1 lb per hour. That is not sufficient for any commercial use and is intended to supplement your fridge's ice maker or for those who use a lot of ice like those who like to entertain, into mixology, shakes, smoothies, iced coffee, etc...

trippydude

Jan 25, 2019 03:19 PM

49 Posts

Joined Dec 2008

trippydudeJan 25, 2019 03:19 PM

49 Posts

I own one, its makes chewable flake ice like Sonic Ice, but it's not going to make enough to ice fish. It pretty complex there are several distinct activities going on in it, and much to break. I bought mine broken and fixed a water pump. It makes awesome ice and you can program it with your phone using buetooth. The main drawback is that you have to fill it with water manually. The closest thing you can buy for your house to it is around $4,000. A 15 inch wide built-in or a countertop Hospital-type ice & water machine about the same price and equally bulky. And both the hoshizaki built-in and ice-o-matic/scot big ass countertops have crap warranties and break just as much I'll tell ya that for sure. if you're going try to maintain Sonic at your house the best way is to go buy Sonic ice or be prepared for the machine to break every other year or sooner as none of these machines seem to be very dependable, afaik. that being said I loved it but also being said that it's broken again right now.

Last edited by trippydude January 25, 2019 at 08:41 AM.

B5rt

Jan 25, 2019 03:49 PM

660 Posts

Joined Feb 2016

B5rtJan 25, 2019 03:49 PM

660 Posts

Quote from Becky5623

:

I am finishing off my basement and considering this. It would be convenient to have for a wet bar if you do a lot of entertaining or just like a lot of ice. In Minnesota where I live, people are always driving to the cabin. This would be convenient to fill up your cooler. Those bags of ice are expensive. I have a couple of Grad parties coming up and this would help with beverages. I am also replacing my refrigerator and may forgo the water/ice maker. The filters are expensive. Just some thoughts.

It only makes a pound of ice per hour, and can only hold 3, so it might not be too practical for your use.

YMMV Opal Nugget Ice Maker Home Depot $197 Reg.$549

$197

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