PHYSICAL and THERMAL shock are the enemies of a fine piece of sculpture ice. Because block ice is hard and brittle, it can be damaged or destroyed by PHYSICAL SHOCK, such as two blocks being bumped together, a block bumped against a concrete floor, or bumping the steel of a truck bed. By packaging our block in the plastic liner, and a heavy cardboard box, we have virtually eliminated damage to our block by physical shock.

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THERMAL SHOCK occurs when any surface of the block of ice is subjected to a large change in temperature. To prepare a block of ice for carving, it should be brought to 32 degrees F slowly and all the way through, so that thermal shock won’t damage it while carving. If you have stored the packaged block at 0 degree storage, you must set it out in a room for several hours. Cut the box with a box cutter, about one inch up from the bottom and lift the box off. Save the box to put back over the carving to protect it until the sculpture is used.

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A bare block of ice at 32 degrees F is not subject to thermal shock from a hot surface or airflow, as it will simply melt, not crack. A bare block at 32 degrees F is subject to thermal shock from an extremely cold surface of airflow. Our packaged block virtually eliminates damage by thermal shock while still packaged. You may store our packaged blocks in a 0 degree storage, and then set it out in a room, and not have any thermal shock damage.

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Our packaged block can be transported easier than a bare block, and experience much less melting, physical shock, or thermal shock. A block of ice does not crack by itself, it cracks because you allow it to be subjected to thermal or physical shock.