Acrylic ice cubes

Left Handed Brisket wrote in post #18751116
Been following along here and find this discussion pretty cool. I have my grandpas old bench grinder but I'm not sure I could covert it well enough to have a run at something like this.

I googled acrylic melting point and found that it was something like 150c/330F, wonder if making a custom mold would be a possibility? Maybe 3D printed?

Anyway, thought I'd add that watermarks and meta data don't protect photographers, it might add to damages or make the case easier to try, but I think that's about it.

Google "the law tog" bar certified lawyer and photographer, great blog, Facebook and contract store. So the a look, she also has a list of nationwide attorneys.

The bench grinder may get them pretty hot. I have the machines turning at about 100-200 RPM's depending on the coarse grinding or polishing phases. Slower for polishing. If I'm not using water it will begin to melt the acrylic through the friction created with the abrasive.

I've seen this video of melting beads in an oven at ~350F using molds.
https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=JW1yxzlvpTU

I'll take a look at his web site, thanks!

I have a some of those Amazon cubes and decided to see what could be done as far as fracturing them. The wood chisel and a few light smacks broke them into pieces. Pretty random how they break apart. There must be an easier and safer way than turning them into low orbit projectiles. I couldn't find a few of them following...lol. This is the result of the recovered ones. I find it amusing that they fracture into thirds like this. The center dimple may be a stress point with this load so it splits like that. Also flame polished parts to gauge how realistic the result is relative to a block of real ice being picked apart.

How do these look relative to real ice?

Wonder what freezing them and dropping them into warm water would do?

Edit: seems obvious and silly at the same moment.

Looks like smashing them broke on a straight line. If it were more "organic" it might be more random.

ra40 wrote in post #18751330
I have a some of those Amazon cubes and decided to see what could be done as far as fracturing them. The wood chisel and a few light smacks broke them into pieces. Pretty random how they break apart. There must be an easier and safer way than turning them into low orbit projectiles. I couldn't find a few of them following...lol. This is the result of the recovered ones. I find it amusing that they fracture into thirds like this. The center dimple may be a stress point with this load so it splits like that. Also flame polished parts to gauge how realistic the result is relative to a block of real ice being picked apart.

How do these look relative to real ice?

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Individually, I think the edges are a bit too sharply defined but in a glass with some liquid, it probably wouldn't be very noticeable.

I wonder what would happen if you poured Clear Casting Resin in an old ice cube tray? That would create somewhat rounded corners and edges I think.

https://www.amazon.com …alyst-Ounce/dp/B0018N9E3M

As a starting point this may be a good start. Take those bits and refine them by dulling the sharp edges and smoothing the facets a bit more. Very interesting concept. Thanks for sharing.

Happy to share...makes our results nicer doing beverage shots.

Want to try breaking them a different way next time. Figuring out how is amusing.

The casting resign looks interesting. Hmmm...

These were the pieces from above in a glass with some liquid. As a comparison the ones ground from the 1.25" rod. Varying applications depending on how one would set the shot up. The clarity of the polished rod allows them to be nearly transparent in liquid. Above the liquid they look acceptable. I may leave some of the sanding marks to make them a bit less clear and see how that works like the broken pieces that show up nicely in liquid.

Appreciate your comments.

This thread is oddly satisfying, nice work!

I am just starting to get props together for shots like this. First I need a nice set of glasses, but the bar glasses will have to work. I made these using blocks of acrylic. I will have to refine my technique, but these will work for now. I need to learn how to split these better than I have been. The nice thing about making your own is that they are all unique!

Looks good TeamSpeed! I feel the Amazon type cubes look better in pieces.

Did this test shot a few moments ago to see how the 1.25" ones look.

Mine don't look as good as many of the others here, but I agree, the generic cubes you can buy need to be chiseled and cracked a bit, they look better. Putting a liquid into the glass really helps the look, and I have many different sizes now, down to ice chips even. They look ok outside the glass with water around them.

Once you crack them, it is easy to make them shiny and have that melted edge look. I have two ways to split them, each gives a unique look. Just a smack with a hammer will put stress cracks throughout for a conventional look, using a chisel makes clean breaks for a different look.

There's a reason Trengrove Studios (Now Set Shop) handmade cubes cost so much. It shows in the photos. And, if you're shooting drinks regularly and professionally, $200 for some cubes is a good investment. But, they also make cast cubes. These are pretty cheap and work well if the focus is not the drink itself. Especially with crushed ice, which isn't readily identifiable in photos anyway.

Or, buy or make your own real ice cubes and shoot quicker.

Jeff

Russian Standard ahhhhhhh

Talked to the supplier and may have figured out a way to "shatter" it so that the pieces can look like chipped ice. The shop/person that did the piece I saw used 1"/25mm acrylic then machined using a ball end mill. Then broke the piece leaving random jagged edges. Flame polished within the recess. Will have to try that.

The MAPP gas may work nicer then the propane with the right pass over it. I wasn't as pleased with the propane polishing for certain edges. In liquid those little areas aren't as telling as when viewed dry.

Using a buffing wheel this experience has taught me what touch to have when polishing acetate/celluloid that is seen among the pen crafters. Polishing up other composite plastics is far easier after this adventure.

Tip A light touch works well on nicely rubbed acrylic at the 1000+ grit level. Flame polishing when there are coarse grit marks only goes so far and a minimum to me was 600 grit. Have to get the really coarse marks out for a clean looking ice cube. I only have white buffing compound and haven't tried some of the other plastic polishes available. (Some of those are a bit pricey. I'm penny pinching. )

ra40 wrote in post #18730238
Mostly to see how they look in a glass. Agreed about varying levels of being rounded. I had one come off the chop saw that partially welded due to the heat, it flew out and onto the floor shattering one corner. I liked that look because it appears to have been ice picked from a block. Trying to work making more like that one. Well, without the risk of becoming a dangerous flying projectile.

SMS at or slightly below room temp of 73-76F. Has to be pretty nasty paint brush cleaner levels to think of dropping ice into them. There is a 1L bottle of that level stuff used for shots. Sitting under the lights fills the room with a nice aroma. I begin to think "can't be that bad..." yup, it is. A buddy that owned a liquor store for about 30 years passed along some of the non-sellers that sat on shelves since opening. Been using those as props for pours. There have been some really nasty ones encountered.

These were interesting waters:

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Personally, I would not put ice, acrylic or real, in my Speyside, Highland, or Islay single malt.

John from PA wrote in post #18815558
Personally, I would not put ice, acrylic or real, in my Speyside, Highland, or Islay single malt.

Me neither (and if it requires ice then I am not drinking) - but you have to confess, the picture looks much better with some cubes in the glas (it is a photo forum after all).