ice paks??

[clawman]

I am going to try using an ice pack in the bottom of a little 6-pack cooler along with some ice water for keeping crawlers. They range from cheap plastic to quite expensive ones. What has been your experience with artificial ice packs?

[walleyecheek]

Originally Posted by clawman

I am going to try using an ice pack in the bottom of a little 6-pack cooler along with some ice water for keeping crawlers. They range from cheap plastic to quite expensive ones. What has been your experience with artificial ice packs?

lay newspapers on top the bedding and then lay just your typical ice pack on TOP of the newspaper.......works good........use it that way every year in CANADA

[gofishwalleye]

I prefer the refreeze water type, no possible chemical contamination. Simple as freezing a water bottle or two or getting the refillable type

[h8go4s]

Originally Posted by gofishwalleye

I prefer the refreeze water type, no possible chemical contamination. Simple as freezing a water bottle or two or getting the refillable type

Exactly. I always have 2-3 plastic soda bottles of water frozen in my garage fridge. Costs nothing and works fine. Available in sizes from 8 oz. to 1/2 gallon.

[Aspencreek]

I made up some of those PVC tubes filled with Salt/water mix. Keep them in the freezer and reuse them all the time. Easy to build and can be done in any size you want. Cut 1/2, 3/4, 1" whatever PVC pipe to desired length, glue on cap, fill with water/salt mixture leaving room for expansion, glue on other cap. Freeze. Youtube shows how to do it, Cooler Hacks or PVC Hacks for coolers.

[clawman]

Originally Posted by Aspencreek

I made up some of those PVC tubes filled with Salt/water mix. Keep them in the freezer and reuse them all the time. Easy to build and can be done in any size you want. Cut 1/2, 3/4, 1" whatever PVC pipe to desired length, glue on cap, fill with water/salt mixture leaving room for expansion, glue on other cap. Freeze. Youtube shows how to do it, Cooler Hacks or PVC Hacks for coolers.

Why is that better than frozen water bottles?

[mjayn]

Various kitchen product bottles fill 3/4 to the top with water and freeze. The square edged 1/2 gallon tall milk bottles are the best for me. Free mini blocks of ice for smaller coolers.

[Aspencreek]

Originally Posted by clawman

Why is that better than frozen water bottles?

The tubes I made (Polar Bear tubes) are infinitely reusable, and the saltwater mixture stays frozen longer and easily cleaned. I made up about a dozen and keep them in my extra freezer, at the ready whenever I need them. Are they better than frozen water bottles? Well, I don't have to remember to put the bottles in the freezer ahead of time.

[h8go4s]

Originally Posted by Aspencreek

The tubes I made (Polar Bear tubes) are infinitely reusable, and the saltwater mixture stays frozen longer and easily cleaned. I made up about a dozen and keep them in my extra freezer, at the ready whenever I need them. Are they better than frozen water bottles? Well, I don't have to remember to put the bottles in the freezer ahead of time.

We use salt on our roads, driveways and sidewalks to THAW the ice FASTER. How can your saltwater mix "stay frozen longer"?
A pound of water frozen to 0 degrees F has the same cooling properties as a pound of saltwater frozen to 0 degrees F.

As I posted earlier, I keep frozen plain water bottles in my freezer just like you do with your PVC pipe tubes. I don't have to remember to put them in the freezer any more than you do.

Nothing about your pipe tubes is any "better" than plain water frozen to the same temperature.

[Aspencreek]

Originally Posted by h8go4s

We use salt on our roads, driveways and sidewalks to THAW the ice FASTER. How can your saltwater mix "stay frozen longer"?
A pound of water frozen to 0 degrees F has the same cooling properties as a pound of saltwater frozen to 0 degrees F.

As I posted earlier, I keep frozen plain water bottles in my freezer just like you do with your PVC pipe tubes. I don't have to remember to put them in the freezer any more than you do.

Nothing about your pipe tubes is any "better" than plain water frozen to the same temperature.

First, do a simple experiment, saltwater mixture and plain old tap water, freeze them solid and check which one thaws quicker, or remains colder longer. You will be surprised and learn something. Youtube has done this same experiment , OOHH, about a dozen times, check it out.
But just to be clear, I never said they were better, just another alternative, no need to get your undies in a bundle