One of the best parts of attending a hockey game is watching the Zamboni resurface the ice. There’s something mesmerizing about the machine’s slow, steady passes, leaving a smooth, shiny surface behind. I actually have some experience with this, having run a Zamboni at 15 Wing in Moose Jaw—a real treat, even if it was just tax dollars at work. A hockey rink relies on an ice resurfacer, and while “Zamboni” is the most recognized brand name, it’s a specific type of machine. For my backyard rink, I need something similar but on a much smaller and simpler scale.

A traditional Zamboni does more than just flood the ice—it actually shaves a thin layer off with a steel razor, which smooths out the imperfections. Then, it lays down a thin layer of hot water, which bonds with the existing ice and freezes evenly, creating that pristine, glassy surface. My DIY version won’t be quite as advanced, but I’m planning to create a tool to flood the rink and level the surface, leaving it as smooth as possible.

Here’s what I’ll need for this setup:

• Lengths of PVC pipe for a lightweight, easily assembled frame.
• A towel that will be attached to the bottom of the frame and drag over the ice, smoothing and spreading the water as I pull the contraption.
• Zip ties to secure the towel firmly to the frame.
• A valve that will let me control the water flow, so I can adjust it as needed to get an even coat.
• A hose attachment to connect it all to a standard garden hose.

For the water, hot water is ideal since it melts into any tiny surface cracks and creates a smoother layer as it freezes. Figuring out how to get a supply of hot water out to the rink is a challenge, but I’m working on it. Learnign Project 8 perhaps!

Once I’ve got all my parts assembled, I’ll share a link to a video demonstrating the proof of concept so you can see how it’s supposed to work before I put it all together.

Now, I just need the weather to cooperate and bring on the cold so I can keep making progress. Can’t wait!

Rob