So I went out to check the pond this morning and that stupid heater was iced over again. The DH got out his fancy tiger torch and we couldn't even melt the ice at all. I was explaining how important it was to stay AWAY from the aerator tubing about the time he burnt a hole in it. Well of course that sent me into a terrible crying fit, followed by an assault of very bad words aimed at the poor dh (dumb husband). We managed to get the heater out of the ice, after I whacked a big hole in the top of it with the 8lb maul, but it STILL WORKS!! Thank God for that!
After trying three different saws we found the old swede saw worked the best and spent the last 3 hours making a large hole in the ice and things are once again good! The ice is about 18" thick so there is no problem just walking out there and the dh told me to get my a** out there every morning and keep that hole open. I am watching him closely as I think he might be going to town to take out a life insurance policy on me! J/K :unsure:

Yet another lesson in how to pond in the North.
Ice 18 inches thick!! That's unbelieveable! I have never seen ice that thick. What a pita that must have been to cut through it. I am so glad that I am not you today! You fought the good fight and won KK. Good job!!

I bet your DH got the policy before today. Better check his pockets. he, he, he.

BTW, I have a DH that doesn't listen too! The only time he will listen is if I say it's time to eat or do you need more beer!
Tia

There are old ice saws out there in antique markets. They were used to cut blocks of ice from rivers to be used in ice boxes. ( before refrigerators)

Tia, did I marry your DH twin? :D :P We're having such a warmup around here, I'm worried about the fish waking up.

KK, are you still using the smaller de-icer? Tried finding the thread on who had the other Allied de-icer. When I bought my new one, the ice was already there. I just put the thing on top and turned it on...it melted itself thru. :D Looks like it'll be off for awhile here...YIPPEE!!! Having a heatwave, tropical heatwave <singing> :D

Your making it REALLY hard for me to like you SadieMay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :P You guys and your warm, tropical weather are making me gag, LOL I swear if you say one word about an umbrella drink beside your pond, I am taking the next flight out of this ice burg!!!

I think it was ScampersSharon who has the other allied.

KK, with ice 18 inches thick you could cut out blocks and make an igloo! ;)

Couldn't you use a sawzall to cut the ice or maybe that wouldn't be a good idea b/c of the electricity...

tia

I am actually going to buy an electric chainsaw! I went out there this morning and broke the new ice off, I think it will work if I do that everyday! It is nice to see the opening again :rolleyes:

You will have to make sure there is no chain oil in the chainsaw, otherwise you will get a oil residue floating on the water. Maybe if you wipe the bar and chain with vegetable oil when your done it will stop it from rusting and I don't think a small amount will hurt the fish.

Good point WW. I never would have thought of oil on the bar of the electric chainsaw. Don't they have self oilers?

A chainsaw should cut through that ice in a hurry I would think. KK, we HAVE to have a pic of you with the chainsaw!! :D

KK.........my brain is half baking an idea about attaching a metal bar to element of the allied so it will heat up enough to get through to the bottom of the ice...........maybe a light weight metal chain, wire rope should conduct heat pretty fast. Like I said half baked!

Hey, we all get half baked ideas where our ponds are concerned!

When I buy the chainsaw, Hubby says I won't need to use the oiler if all I am going to cut with it is ice. The ice will be lubricating enough. I will just have to wipe it off good and bring it in the house so it doesn't get rusty etc.

Maybe I won't even have to buy one this year if I can keep that hole open everyday :lol:

Then again I was optimistic a few times already with no luck. There is still a lot of winter left here and the weather man was talking some smack about us getting a record cold spell soon, I am hoping this isn't the first time he is RIGHT! :lol: