DIY Frozen Drink Machine

Posted Jun 10th 2005 9:00AM by Eliot Phillips
Filed under: misc hacks

Here's something cool and refreshing just in time for the weekend and that wild Flag Day celebration you were planning. This is similar to the margarita machine that was circulating last month. They're both based on garbage disposals. fixer's design uses an external return pipe. It also uses a 4-gallon stock pot instead of the giant plastic drink cooler. I'm guessing this made attaching the garbage disposal a lot easier. Mentally you still have to overcome the fact that you're drinking out of something that was originally intended to process waste, and a plastic drain pipe coming out of a chip board box isn't going to make that any easier to stomach. He says it works great, but the lack of insulation probably means that it doesn't stay frozen very long. It would be cool if I could turn that dewar we had back on the farm into one of these, wait� no� I just remembered what we kept in there.

[thanks fixer]

Reader Comments

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1. i built one out of the water cooler last summer, documeted it in a pdf send me an email if you want our pdf plans. Stuart1@nbnet.nb.ca

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by Stuart Macdonald

2. Kitmondo is an online marketplace for used plastic machinery and rubber machinery including blow moulding, recycling, moulding, plastic lines, extrusion, mixers & blenders, printing & finishing and thermoforming machinery.

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by richard

3. I guess no other plumbers are building these...pvc is made for drain waste vent piping, cpvc is made for potable water. All home centers carry the stuff...

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by Roland

4. I really would love to see the Acmetequila site's version, but they have removed it. :-( Can anyone send a copy to me? bbluvbasket@cox.net

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by BB

5. This site shows the pipe routed from the exhaust port of the garbage disposal, but the acmetequila site shows the pipe routed from the dishwasher inlet port. Does it make a difference?

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by Rick

6. I made it worked great, I am still living after drinking out of the PVC piping, only problem I had wad the 1/2hp motor getting hot and shutting off. next time I will make it with a 1hp motor.

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by mIKE

7. Seriously, people. You're worried about the *PVC pipe* being toxic? I'd be far more concerned about the garbage disposal unit- as it's the only component that wasn't designed with the slightest bit of thought put towards anyone drinking something that went through it. In all reality the garbage disposal is probably adding something unwanted... I certainly wouldn't trust it. -Stephen

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by sgstair

8. Hmm, I'd want to read the label on that plumber's putty though...

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by Ed Tapanes

9. Here's the site for the MSDS on the putty Ed: http://www.herchem.com/msds/MSDS22_staput.pdf and the specifications sheet: http://www.herchem.com/specs/staput.pdf Hope that helps.

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by fixer

10. Something about using PVC pipe to deliver properly chilled and prepared poison is quite refreshing however...Well done!

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by strider_mt2k

11. pvc is used in non consumable plumbing, like piss and shit filled water. look under your sink and your feed lines will be copper pipe, but the drains are more likely to be pvc.

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by dephyler

12. While I'd not use PVC for my household potable water lines, it shouldn't be a concern in this application. As long as the water isn't static in the pipes for extended periods of time (weeks/months) the possible release of dioxin or other CDDs would be negligible. I'd be more concerned about the solvent and/or cleaners used to prep and fasten the pipes. There are potable-water-safe cleaners and solvents available. Cheers, Ed T.

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by Ed Tapanes

13. eliot, maybe you need the g-bong. don't be such a square.

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by fNhm

14. gbongs for all!!!

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by plex

15. I'm pretty sure that PVC being used to deliver consumable liquids is dangerous. something about poison...

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by dephyler

16. "I'm pretty sure that PVC being used to deliver consumable liquids is dangerous." Er, what do you suppose a 1/2" pvc pipe is for if not plumbing? Teeny weeny spaghetti-string-poopie sewer lines?

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by fixer

17. I was the one that axed your comment. No matter how clever a gravity bong is, that isn't going to fly around here.

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by Eliot Phillips

18. Thanks for the post. One note about the return line, you can easily fill the box with packing peanuts for insulation like I did OR realize that if there is a problem with it not staying frozen you just aren't having much of a party!

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by fixer

19. damn bro', I thought I was hooking you up with the G-Bong. I know it kept me pleasntly pain free when my wis teeth were taken out. And they had to cut away bone! Alot of it. And you went and just dissed my post right off of the board. thax for nothing! I hope you get dry socket!

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by fNhm

20. woot lol im the first to say somthin anywho, i might try this over the shorts summer(time is going by so fast)i

Posted at 3:05PM on Sep 3rd 2006 by waseem

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