Making ice So how do you make ice? Ice makers were hard at work longbefore Professor Somorjai's research was published. Most of their knowledgeabout ice comes from trial and error, not from scientific journals and textbooks.In our conversation with San Jose Arena ice maker Bruce Tharaldson, we learneda great deal about ice. In addition, we got a chance to see and better understandthe legendary ice resurfacer--the Zamboni. |  Ice maker Bruce Tharaldson drives one of the two Zambonis at the San JoseArena. |
 Bruce Tharaldson talks about the process involvedin making ice at the beginning of the season.  | Bruce Tharaldson has been involved in the "ice business"for over 20 seasons, starting out making ice for the Minnesota North Stars(now the Dallas Stars). Bruce is responsible for constructing and maintainingthe Sharks' playing surface throughout the 82-game season. The season beginsin early October and ends in April. The playoffs can extend the season intoMay or even June. |
At the beginning of the hockey season, the arena uses an advancedrefrigeration system that pumps freezing "brinewater" (salt water)through a system of pipes that run through a large piece of concrete knownas the "ice slab." When the "ice slab" gets cold enough,layers of water are applied to it. The first few layers are painted withthe hockey markings and the advertisem*nts that you see on (or more correctly"in") the ice. These layers are then covered with 8 to 10 morethin layers of ice. When complete, the ice is only one inch thick! The icestays in place from September to May. The NBA's Golden State Warriors playedon a basketball court that sits on top of the ice. When world famous tenorLuciano Pavarotti visits the San Jose Arena, he sings on a stage above 10,211gallons (38,652 litres) of frozen water.
 The first Zamboni. Image courtesy of Zamboni® Ice Resurfacers. | The Zamboni Legend Once the ice is made, the ongoing task of maintaining thequality of the ice becomes Bruce Tharaldson's primary focus. One of theessential tools for helping maintain the ice is the Zamboni. This mechanical marvel was first builtin the early 1940s in southern California (of all places). Frank Zamboni and his brother Lawrenceneeded a more efficient way to resurface their large ice rink, "Iceland." Up to that time, one would have to drag a scraper behind a tractor to smooth the surface and then go back and coat the ice witha thin layer of water to even things out and rebuild the thickness of the ice. This process couldtake over one hour! Frank Zamboni, an inexaustable inventor, made the process much quicker withhis newly invented "Zamboni ice resurfacer." |
The Zamboni is a mechanical ice resurfacer. It works byscraping the ice surface and collecting the snow (which is later discarded).Next, it "cleans" the ice, by putting down water which flushesthe grooves deep in the ice, loosening any dirt or debris. The excess waterand dirt is then collected. Finally, the Zamboni puts down a thin layerof heated water--which freezes and creates a smooth surface. The heatedwater, according to Tharaldson, is about 140 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit (60-63centigrade); "the hotter the water," he says, "the more evena surface you'll get--it melts that top layer when you cut across [the ice]."
