We hope to be open this coming spring but can't decide if we want to do a cube or block shaver. We will have to make our own block ice if we do block.
Any reviews on the Hatsuyuki cube shaver? I think this is what we would use if cube and probably the Swan SI 100 if block.
Any advice would be appreciated!

Well I do block and have a block ice maker but the drawback that I find with block is that if I go to an event any distance from home base there is a chance that I may run out of ice and solid block ice is not readily available almost anywhere. That being said I think block makes a better shave ice but I am considering getting a Snowie3000 as a backup so I wont have to worry at events because you can buy cube ice anywhere.

I've only have shave ice from a block ice shaver, is there a huge, noticable difference?

I am going to be starting my mobile unit this coming season. I have already purchased a Little Snowie to start off with but am seriously reconsidering. There is a well know joint around that only uses block shavers so I will be competing with them. The Little Snowie as well as the other cube shavers that I have tried have a lot courser shave that I am not happy with but may have to live with.

It is SO tempting to start with a cube shaver because of the convenience and lower cost BUT is NOT of the quality of a block shaver.

I am torn on what to do and it is driving me CRAZY!!!! I can only hope that the profits will allow me to upgrade quickly to a block shaver and maker.

In my opinion, stick with a block shaver. I originally bought a Snowie 3000 and I immediately returned it the next day. I was soooo disappointed! It is coarse ice!.....Every person I meet and have tried my shave ice absolutely loves it. It is what it should be....shave ice....fine and feathery-like. The syrups stick and absorbs better by the fine shave ice, not like coarse and crunchy ice where it drizzles to the bottom. Don't sacrifice quality with quantity.....people will love your shave ice than any other so called "snow-cone" out there. Set yourself apart by giving your customers authentic Hawaiian Shave Ice.

Hopefully you can still return the "little snowie" and save up for a Swan or Fujimarca (I prefer the Swan-100E) from www.iceshavers.com (where I bought mine). I make my own Ice blocks with these round molds (also can be purchased on that site). I bought 2 chest freezers that I can fit 20 buckets in each. I use Arrowhead water.

You won't be able to compete against a block shaver. Yes you would get the line going but I can tell you people would not mind waiting for something worth waiting for.

Hope this helps....Good Luck! =)

Yeps, if you want really fine ice definitely go with a block ice.

Here's something to think about if the customers in your area are used to block shaved ice then I would definitely go with the block shaver. True it is finer shaved ice, but if your customers haven't tried shaved ice before is it really worth the extra cost of the shavers. The other main advantage of the cube shavers(as everybody knows) is the convenience of being able to go to a supermarket and get more ice. This being said I personally use a cube shave, a high quality Hawaiis Finest 1027 Hd or 1047. There are plenty of times ill go through the 140 lbs of ice my freezer will hold and need another 60 lbs and have to run out and buy more ice from the supermarket. I've seen other block shaver ice stands have to close down due to running out of ice.
There giving away money and profits as we all know the low cost of producing this product. So my vote is for a high quality cube shaver.

I utilize exclusively block ice shavers -and you should too.
Since only compressed block is available in the fairs where I operate, my initial research was
whether to use the widely-available compressed block, or use plain cubed ice.
The fact is that even compressed block can be shaved to a much finer texture than any
cubed ice shaver on the market.

I currently have 4 block shavers from SnoShack (http://www.snoshack.com/shavers.aspx) and serve
approximately 25,000 shave ice per season. When you are serving more than 100 shave ice per hour, you
need reliable equipment. I would like to try the Swan shaver, but making enough round blocks (when I am several hundred miles from home) is just not an option.
Whatever you decide, stick with a block shaver -your customers will be glad that you did.

I have never seen Real Snow Shavers before in action....mainly Swans and Fujimarcas. Is there a video of this? I see that the Real Snow Shavers are quite pricey too. What makes this shaver apart from the others besides the price? Thanks...

Real_Snow wrote:I utilize exclusively block ice shavers -and you should too.
Since only compressed block is available in the fairs where I operate, my initial research was
whether to use the widely-available compressed block, or use plain cubed ice.
The fact is that even compressed block can be shaved to a much finer texture than any
cubed ice shaver on the market.

I currently have 4 block shavers from SnoShack (http://www.snoshack.com/shavers.aspx) and serve
approximately 25,000 shave ice per season. When you are serving more than 100 shave ice per hour, you
need reliable equipment. I would like to try the Swan shaver, but making enough round blocks (when I am several hundred miles from home) is just not an option.
Whatever you decide, stick with a block shaver -your customers will be glad that you did.

The Swan block ice shaver doesn't require strictly round blocks. Store-bought blocks can be used, they just need to be cut.
Does the SnoShack machine work similarly to the Southern Snow machines? I've always been curious about the texture of ice they generate :]