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Snow Ball Machine Comparison
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.
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OUR MACHINE
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THE COMPETITION
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BEARING SYSTEM
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OUR MACHINE
Stainless steel sealed ball bearings |
THE COMPETITION
Bronze bushings and metal thrust bearing. |
| Result: Maintenance
free |
Result: Requires disassembly and grease
approx. every 2 weeks (every 12,000 lbs. ice) to prevent
seize-up and rust.
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SHAFT DESIGN
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OUR MACHINE
Threaded shaft is screwed into the blade wheel to tighten against
a 1 3/8" shaft collar. |
THE COMPETITION
Plain shaft with a pin through the shaft and aluminum impeller. |
| Result: Superior start-up
torque strength. |
Result: The starting
torque will snap the pin or wobble out the pin hole in the softer
aluminum metal blade wheel. |
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MOTOR AND BELT COVER CONSTRUCTION
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OUR MACHINE
Polyethylene plastic. Removed from the machine by only one thumb
screw and two wing nuts. Cover also unplugs from the motor. |
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: Rattle free.
Fast access blade changes when necessary. |
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. |
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH &
SAFETY CERTIFICATIONS
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OUR MACHINE
Fully certified by the most respected independent testing labs
in the world. |
THE COMPETITION
NOT CERTIFIED. |
| Result: Machine can
be operated in municipalities that require health & safety
certifications. |
Result: Machine CANNOT
be operated in municipalities that require health & safety
certifications. |
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LEGS CONSTRUCTION
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OUR MACHINE
Cast aluminum leg design. |
THE COMPETITION
Fabricated metal leg design with multiple, closed, inside 90'
corners that trap water. |
| Result: Leg design
meets the certification standards of the NSF (National Sanitation
Foundation). |
Result: Leg design
traps water, making NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) certification
impossible. |
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DOORS FRAMES & FLAPS
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OUR MACHINE
Cast aluminum door and frame. Handle with magnetic latch. |
THE COMPETITION
Frameless, eighteen gauge steel flap. |
| Result: Rattle free
operation. |
Result: Rattle prone
operation. |
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SERVICE
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OUR MACHINE
Southern Snow's machinists specialize in servicing/maintaining
our snow cone machines. |
THE COMPETITION
Manufacturing the 1087 is a secondary business for this company
which primarily produces popcorn machines for travelling carnivals. |
| Result:
FAST, ECONOMICAL Blade sharpening & machine maintenance. (Blades
are completed in 24 hours.) |
Result:
Blade sharpening & machine maintenance is bound to take longer. |
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WARRANTY
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OUR MACHINE
LIFETIME limited warranty on the machine
parts and labor.
SIX YEAR warranty on the 110 volt motor.
FREE return freight.
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THE COMPETITION
Limited two years on parts and six months
on labor.
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OPERATIONS MANUAL
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OUR MACHINE
SIMPLE, PHOTO BASED 11 PAGE MANUAL detailing all
aspects of machine operation including blade changing and trouble
shooting. |
THE COMPETITION
Two paragraph overview description(about 120 words). |
| Result: Fast maintenance
and short learning curve increases your profitability. |
Result: Longer maintenance
times increase your aggravation and decrease profitability. |
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TOOL KIT
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OUR MACHINE
Contains an EXTRA SET OF BLADES, ball drive allen
wrench, "L" drive allen wrench, blade gauge and grease. |
THE COMPETITION
No toolkit supplied. |
| Result: No hidden maintenance
costs. Fast maintenance also increases your profitability. |
Result: Hidden costs
for tools and supplies that will be needed as well as additional
downtime when parts/tools are not on hand. |
