When shopping for a new snow cone or snow ball machine, it pays to compare more than just the initial purchase price. For example, the following machines are similar in appearance, function and initial cost; yet, there is a substantial difference in the quality of construction and materials, resulting in big differences in profitability due to downtime. See for yourself.
OUR MACHINE
Stainless steel sealed ball bearings
Result: Maintenance free
THE COMPETITION
Bronze bushings and metal thrust bearing.
Result: Requires disassembly and grease approx. every 2 weeks (every 12,000 lbs. ice) to prevent seize-up and rust.
OUR MACHINE
Threaded shaft is screwed into the blade wheel to tighten against a 1 3/8" shaft collar.
Result: Superior start-up torque strength.
THE COMPETITION
Plain shaft with a pin through the shaft and aluminum impeller.
Result: The starting torque will snap the pin or wobble out the pin hole in the softer aluminum metal blade wheel.
OUR MACHINE
Polyethylene plastic. Removed from the machine by only one thumb screw and two wing nuts. Cover also unplugs from the motor.
Result: Rattle free. Fast access blade changes when necessary.
THE COMPETITION
Stainless steel. Removal from the machine requires removal of a thumb screw, two wing nuts and 7 phillip head screws. Most of the phillip head screws are held only by the threads tapped into the 18 gauge metal. Removal of the cover is required to change the blades and for bearing lubrication. In time they rattle.
Result: Routine removal of the phillip head screws to conduct regular maintenance results in cross threading and/or distruction of the few threads holding the screws in place, leading to obsessive rattle during operation. Additionally, if the machine is secured for mobile use, maintenance access to the screws on the back of the machine is impossible.
OUR MACHINE
Fully certified by the most respected independent testing labs in the world.
Result: Machine can be operated in municipalities that require health & safety certifications.
THE COMPETITION
NOT CERTIFIED.
Result: Machine CANNOT be operated in municipalities that require health & safety certifications.
OUR MACHINE
Cast aluminum leg design.
Result: Leg design meets the certification standards of the NSF (National Sanitation Foundation).
THE COMPETITION
Fabricated metal leg design with multiple, closed, inside 90' corners that trap water.
Result: Leg design traps water, making NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) certification impossible.
OUR MACHINE
Cast aluminum door and frame. Handle with magnetic latch.
Result: Rattle free operation.
THE COMPETITION
Frameless, eighteen gauge steel flap.
Result: Rattle prone operation.
OUR MACHINE
Southern Snow's machinists specialize in servicing/maintaining our snow cone machines.
Result: FAST, ECONOMICAL Blade sharpening & machine maintenance. (Blades are completed in 24 hours.)
THE COMPETITION
Manufacturing the 1087 is a secondary business for this company which primarily produces popcorn machines for travelling carnivals.
Result: Blade sharpening & machine maintenance is bound to take longer.
OUR MACHINE
LIFETIME limited warranty on the machine parts and labor.
SIX YEAR warranty on the 110 volt motor. FREE return freight.
THE COMPETITION
Limited two years on parts and six months on labor.
OUR MACHINE
SIMPLE, PHOTO BASED 11 PAGE MANUAL detailing all aspects of machine operation including blade changing and trouble shooting.
Result: Fast maintenance and short learning curve increases your profitability.
THE COMPETITION
Two paragraph overview description(about 120 words).
Result: Longer maintenance times increase your aggravation and decrease profitability.
TOOL KIT
Contains an EXTRA SET OF BLADES, ball drive allen wrench, "L" drive allen wrench, blade gauge and grease.
Result: No hidden maintenance costs. Fast maintenance also increases your profitability.
THE COMPETITION
No toolkit supplied.
Result: Hidden costs for tools and supplies that will be needed as well as additional downtime when parts/tools are not on hand.
