with most ice sculptures, by making some simple modifications, you can convert them to tube ice luges.
updated and expanded a little 6/27/23 when added to iss
a stars ice luge from the stars ice sculpture
Below, you’ll see my stars ice sculpture design. I recently added this design to the site, but I indicated that I’d use it to illustrate a technique. I’ll show you what’s necessary to make this sculpture into a stars ice luge that you can pour liquids through for bar service.
wait, what is an ice luge again?
Basically, an ice luge is, at a minimum, a large chunk of ice that has a carved channel or a plastic tube that a drink flows down to a person waiting anxiously for it. Sometimes the drink goes straight into the person’s mouth, other times into their glass; it kind of depends what kind of party it is and how many shots they’ve had up to that that point. (When Covid restrictions were in effect, people understandably were far more likely to want it to go into their glass.)
The design possibilities for the “chunk” of ice that makes up the ice luge are practically limitless. So that’s why ice luges are often also intricate ice sculptures. At a wedding, the ice luge might be a delicate sculpture with their monogram engraved. On the other hand, at a backyard barbecue, it might just be a block of ice with channels cut into it.
In New Orleans, I’ve been asked to make all sorts of ice luges, from the very risque to very corporate logos. Outside of New Orleans, I’ve been a part of two projects to built record setting ice luges, one in Alaska and one in Boston. Ice luges add an extra element of fun to events. They can turn a rather ordinary event, getting a drink at a party, into a somewhat rare experience that not everyone has had a chance to try.
Luges have become VERY popular in recent years. In fact, one time, a friend asked me somewhat sarcastically: “Do you make every ice sculpture into an ice luge?!” Sometimes it seems that way 🤣
I will say that I would probably be considered somewhat of an authority on ice luges. Not only do I make ice luges in one of the world’s party capitals, New Orleans, but I’ve also been involved in the creation of TWO of the world’s tallest ice luges. The massive bottle ice luge above was in Boston.
what kind of ice sculptures make good ice luges?
Somewhat on purpose, the stars ice sculpture design is a very appropriate piece to convert into an stars ice luge. In most cases, however, some small design changes, a little bit of cutting, and some tubing and a funnel are all that it takes to covert a standard ice sculpture into an ice luge. I have to say that ice sculpting legend Maurie Pearson was the one who first suggested this technique to me and it’s been a very useful one over the last few years.
The first things you need for a luge are entry and exit points for the liquid. The entry point must be above the exit point. Usually, I keep a little extra ice at the entry point so I can cut a little larger hole for the funnel to sit in (please see the drawing below, which shows the back side of the luge sculpture.)
Usually it’s best to have the exit point be a spot where the liquid has no place to go but off of the sculpture. This helps the liquid to flow more efficiently into the glass and saves a lot of wasted product. If the bartender is supposed to stand behind the sculpture and the guest in front, then I try to put the entry point on the upper left side and the exit point on the lower right. This way, both the bartender and the guest can use their right hands for the drink pour and catch.
I also try not to put the entry point up very high, because if you do, that will be the day that the very short bartender works, and he or she will have to use a ladder or a step stool to pour the drinks. (And probably, if the bartender loses his or her balance at any point, they’ll grab onto the ice sculpture to regain it; not particularly safe!)
this is a diagram showing how you make the track for the ice luge tubing. You cut holes in from the top and bottom and then join the holes with a track cut into the back of the sculpture. After that, you freeze the tubing in place. Btw, you might also hear ice luges referred to as shot luges, martini luges, or even flumes (rarely).
making the track for the luge tubing
When you cut the track for the tubing, drill your entry point down, your exit point up, and cut your track from the back of the sculpture. To cut luge tracks and drill the entry and exit holes, I use a die grinder fitted with a 1/2” diameter end mill bit.
Make sure that you carefully connect the cuts so that it results in a smooth, continuous track to feed the tubing into. (Again, see the drawing above.) Make sure your tubing is CLEAN and warm (it bends easier and doesn’t kink as easily if it’s warm) and feed it into the track. When I’m using makeshift luge funnels (see below), I use Watts clear vinyl tubing with an outside diameter of 5/8” and an inside diameter of 1/2”. It usually has a blue line on the label. (See the photo down below.) This type of tubing is designed for food and water uses and can be found at hardwares stores such as Home Depot or Lowe’s in the plumbing department.
However, when I’m using a specialty ice luge funnel (see the other photo down below), I use the yellow label tubing or even the next diameter down. This fits the small clear plastic funnels that I order from Ice Crafters. (You want a tight fit so that the funnel stays put; maybe test things beforehand to ensure the right fit.) Either way, leave at least six inches of excess tubing hanging out of both the entry and exit. After it’s in the track, cover the backside cut with wet slush (it’s not as white and noticeable as dry snow) that you pack in tightly. Then allow the slush to freeze in the freezer. Clear off any excess slush after it’s frozen into the track.
another look at the back of the sculpture showing how the tubing and funnel are positioned to make the ice luge.
attaching the funnel for the ice luge
At set-up, I usually pull the entry point hose out an inch or two and then cut the hose close to the ice. Then, I attach the plastic funnel to the entry hose, then use the exit end of the tubing to gently pull the funnel/entry tubing down so that the funnel is seated properly.
You could just simply cut off the entry tubing any place you want, attach the funnel, then pull it down, but I find that the tubing develops some “memory” and tends to go back to the position it was in before you started pulling on the tubing. This means that your funnel might end up in an undesirable position if the tubing shifts. Pulling the tubing up and cutting it means that the luge tubing ends up in its original position and is less likely to shift.
Take care that you don’t crack the funnel or disconnect it from the tube. In the photo below, two versions of makeshift “funnels” are pictured next to the blue label tubing. The “funnels” are actually disposable plastic glassware from a party supply store and you cut off the bottom of the stem to make a functional funnel. I have another article entry about this here. Further down, a specialty luge funnel is pictured.
these are do it yourself ice luge funnels: you carefully trim the bottom off of these disposable clear plastic party glasses. And then you use wider plastic tubing with them so that it can fit around your “funnel.”
you can get this specialty ice luge funnel at Ice Crafters.
take the shot luge for a test drive
Once the funnel is in place in the ice luge, cut off any excess exit side tubing and pour liquid through the luge to make sure that it’s not blocked. If the carving is very cold, keep the rest of it covered and make sure not to spill anything on it while you’re testing the luge, or you may fracture your piece.
By the way, do not test your luge with water BEFORE storing it in a freezer unless you’re sure that you can get all of the liquid out (no, you can’t blow through it to make sure!) or the extra water will freeze and block your tubing. You CAN test your luge before or while it’s in the freezer if you use vodka, which won’t freeze unless it’s EXTREMELY cold. I used to keep a bottle of vodka in my studio freezer for this purpose, although many would assume that it was for other purposes 😜
There’s a lot more to say about luges and I’ll expand on this topic in other entries.
for more info
If you have any questions about my stars ice luge design or about making ice sculptures into ice luges, email me or comment below. (It might not let you though.) If you would like to use this ice sculpture design or any other design on this site, please check the design usage guidelines. The design collection page lists designs on the site.
You might also find photos and info from this entry on the ice sculpting secrets Instagram account and you can comment there as well as below. Thanks!
really old comment
The following comment was on the original blog entry. After some technical difficulties etc., the blog was reconstructed, and this was the only way to keep the original comments. Unfortunately, the hyperlinks from the original comments are gone in some cases. You can add your own new comments at the bottom.
nick
great idea. so many times customers would ask me to produce a louge with a hose in the ice three days before the event, and i simply thought it was impossible. however, i did come up with an idea. for example, with your star design, after cutting out the sculpture i would turn it sideways and cut with my saw 3/4 of the way through sculpture, as i pushed down with the bar i would drag it out creating a slide. never the less, the backingfilling idea is great and i’m sure i’ll use it in the future.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007 – 01:43 PM
