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Choosing a Shaved Ice Machine

Shaved ice comes from holding a block of ice firm and shaving that block with a blade set a certain height above a surface. In the 1800’s a wood plane was used and around the turn of the century hand held ice shavers were sold in the Sears catalog.

In the 1930’s motorized shaved ice machines were available and became popular after World War II. In the 1950’s New Orleans had no less than four manufactures of shaved ice machines. Japan has several ice machine manufactures that as a total produce about 10 different models.

There are there major shaved ice machine types:

  1. New Orleans block ice shaved ice machine

  2. Japanese block ice shaved ice machine

  3. Japanese cube ice shaved ice machine


1) New Orleans Block Ice Shaved Ice Machine

If you are in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia or Florida your competitor most likely has a New Orleans style shaved ice machine. If you are opening in a town where the New Orleans style shaved ice machine is prominent, that is what you need to get.

The New Orleans style shaved ice machine produces shave ice faster than any other method. The snow is regulated by the temperature of the ice, blade sharpness and the pressure applied on the throttle. Some prefer ice in a melt state temperature to produce soft cotton balls of snow. Some have the ice sit in a chest freezer overnight set at approximately 0 degrees F to +5 degrees F. This temperature ice will produce powder snow the same as that preferred on ski slopes. These machines have limited life time warranties. Parts and service is available on the first machine built to the present.

If there is no block ice available and you want to make history in town, there are block ice makers from $4,000 to $7,000 for shaved ice machines.


2) Japanese Block Ice Shaved Ice Machine

Japan has several manufactures of shaved ice machines that spin a block of ice over a stationary blade. Each manufacturer has several models of this shaved ice machine available. HF 500 E is the most popular of these shaved ice machines in the U.S.A. The other Japanese machines have their price controlled by high dollar franchises that much rather sell you a franchise than the machine or the machines do not have the UL and NSF certifications required by some health departments. In Hawaii the FUJIMARCA is most popular. The FUJIMARCA shaved ice machine is the least expensive and most durable. This machine is not approved for use in all the states because there is no NSF certification.

The HF 500 E is a three handed machine that should be operated with a foot switch. The operator wears a plastic glove or sandwich bag on there right hand to pat the snow in shape while holding the cup with their left hand. The shaved ice machine is turned off and on with a foot switch. This stops snow from falling on a finished product while your hand is going to the machine switch. The foot switch also lessens wear and tear of the smaller machine switch.


3) Japanese Cube Ice Shaved Ice Machine

Japan has produced cube shaved ice machines. The cubes are not under vice pressure as they pass over a high tech sharp blade. The pressure against the blade is only from the weight of the cube and centrifugal force. The Hatsuyuki HC 8E produces 95% shaved ice and 5% small chips. The chips are not noticed and the 95% snow captures the syrup. The syrup stays on top of the fluffy snow and does not bullet to the bottom like the chipped ice of a circus sno cone


The following factors will decide what shaved ice machine is best for you:

  1. Market and Competition

  2. Part-time Operation or Add On to Existing Business

  3. Mobile Operation

  4. Space

1) Market and Competition

To compete in markets using the New Orleans style shaved ice machine you will need the same. Other shaved ice machines would be slower or have too much air in the product. The New Orleans snow is soft yet dense giving a feeling of "more for your money".

If you plan to duplicate a Hawaiian shave ice operation use the HF 500E. These machines are popular on the U.S. West Coast.

If there is no block ice available and no competition the HC 8E is the best of the cube shaved ice machines.


2) Part-time Operation or Add On to Existing Business

The HC 8E is great for coffee shops and food establishments looking for additional afternoon profits.


3) Mobile Operation

All three of these machines are available in 12 volt battery operated models. If you are using a generator for 110 volt machines more than half of the time I recommend 12 volt battery operated machines. The HF 500 is the most delicate of the three machines for mobile use.


4) Space

Selecting a shaved ice machines based on available operation space is like going into the dump truck business and buying a wheel barrow. Make space for the proper machine.

There are other shaved ice machines on the market. The following is a comparison of those machines.

The Gold Medal copy of the Southern Snow New Orleans style block ice shaved ice machine is the Gold Medal #1087 "Olde New Orleans" block ice shaved ice machine made in Cincinnati, Ohio.


Southern Snow machine features:

  1. Limited life time warranty.

  2. Easy access to blades.

  3. Surface mounted blades.

  4. NSF / UL certifications.

  5. Knowledgeable employees to help with problems. Phone Southern Snow direct at 1-800-393-8933


The Gold Medal #1087 "Olde New Orleans" block ice shaved ice machine features:

  1. Six month warranty.

  2. The #1087 needs to be removed from its installation area to remove screws in back of the machine when changing blades. Permanent installations such as mobile units need to be caulked for leaks in the pan after blade changing.

  3. The blade mounting surface is a raw casting. The blades rock on this surface. When the blade holding screws are retightened you need to guess where the blade will stop.

  4. There are no certifications of NSF / UL. In many states commercial use is not allowed.

  5. Gold Medal has over 100 dealers. No dealer sells enough of the #1087 to know how many blades are in a set, the price or where the blades can be re-sharpened. Their main business is selling popcorn and popcorn machines to traveling carnivals.


The Gold Medal copy of the Hatsuyuki HC 8E cube shaved ice machine is the #1027, #1027HD and #1047. The three models are basically the same with more horsepower and a larger frame.


The Hatsuyuki HC 8E features:

  1. Six month warranty.

  2. Cubes rotate in the ice chamber over a superior Japanese steel blade. The only pressure on the cube is the weight of the cube on the centrifugal force provided by the motor.

  3. The blade mounting surface is a raw casting. The blades rock on this surface. When the blade holding screws are retightened you need to guess where the blade will stop.

  4. The ice chamber drains through the center so no water from melting will get to the snow.

  5. The HC 8E has NSF / UL certifications.


The Gold Medal #1027, #1027HD, and #1047 features:

  1. The ice chamber shape jams ice cubes over the inferior sno-cone machine quality blade. This poor design is the reason for additional horsepower. The quality of the blade can only produce ships similar to all Gold Medal sno-cone machines.

  2. The ice chamber attempts to drain at the rear. The cubes splash through the water as the water drains. This allows more water in the snow.

The Gold Medal copy of the Hatsuyuki HF 500 E is the Shavemaster II. These machines are the most delicate and require precise machining and a quality blade.


The Gold Medal Shavemaster II features:

  1. The machine failed in the market.

  2. They quit making the machine.


The Hatsuyuki HF 500 E features:

  1. Precise machine work and construction.

  2. Superior blade.