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FIRST ICE
The optimum temperature for freezing your rink is 20 to 30° F
(-6 to -1°C).
Begin filling with water, but
DO NOT FILL IT ENTIRELY AT
ONCE.
Add water in increments, as smooth ice is created by
freezing many thin layers (less than ¼ inch at a time).
Attempting to create thick ice at once will result in trapped air
bubbles and a bumpy surface.
Your ice rink will start to freeze fairly quickly, but it may be
several days before it is thick enough to use depending upon
weather conditions and the number of layers needed to get ice
to a sufficient thickness across the entire span of the rink area.
Be patient with your ice, trying to ice your rink too quickly
will result in an uneven ice surface.
TESTING ICE FOR USE
Normally, the ice will need to be at least 3 to 4 inches thick to
prevent cracking. Wearing normal shoes carefully put your
weight onto the ice and walk around. If you do not hear
cracking, it is ready to use. 3 to 4 inches of ice will give you a
solid base to handle uncertain winter thaws.
NOTE:
Do not allow anything but water to rest on the surface
of the ice. Items left on the ice will sink down into the ice and
