ICE TAPPER Breaker, Break Ice Cubes, Cracker, Crusher IDEAL FOR - Kitchens Bars Restaurants Coffee Shops Cocktail Party Whiskey Scotch Bourbon Vodka rum Tequila Drinks Beer Soda Juice Cola Drinks

This ice tapper takes me back to when I was a kid in the 70s and my parents hosted cocktail parties. Usually these gatherings took place after I went to bed but I remember always being intrigued by this mysterious thing that was with the other bar tools in the den at my house. Then one night (I believe it was an election night for Carter or maybe Reagan) I was allowed to stay up late and while mixing up a cocktail I saw my mother pick up that weird looking thing and whack it against the bag of ice brought into the den from the kitchen.Over the decades, frankly I had forgotten about the ice tapper until about a year ago the ice dispenser in my refrigerator broke the estimate to fix it was more than the old fridge was worth - so instead I started buying bags of ice. I used to keep a small hammer and a thick towel in the kitchen junk drawer for the very reason to break up the ice that had frozen into solid blocks (had to use the towel because the hammer would often break whole into the plastic bag). Nearly each time I reached for the hammer I would think about the "ice thingie" my parents used and wished I had one. I had no idea what it was called and my thoughts about it were too fleeting to go searching for one online since my little hammer and towel did the job.Then a few weeks back I don't remember what I was searching for on Amazon but one of the search results came up with this Ice Tapper. "THAT'S IT!" I yelled out and immediately purchased it. I knew my girly sized hammer and towel worked but having the Ice Tapper really took me back in time. From what details my memory tell me, my parents' version was much more flexible because to use an ice tapper properly (as per my mother's instruction when I inquired as to what that "ice thingie" was) is to get the heavy end to sort of whack against the ice and using momentum. Their ice tapper couldn't be picked up from the end of the handle because either the other end was heavier than this Ice Tapper or the material used to make the handle was more flexible than ice modern-day tapper. As I mentioned, my memory doesn't go back to such details.Nonetheless, this Ice Tapper really works like a charm and now every time I get ice for a drink I'm taken back down memory lane to a time with my parents that I enjoyed so much (both my parents are no longer alive). I have to use this with every bag of ice I buy in the summer because no matter if I drove like a Formula 1 driver, it is so hot out right now that the ice melts a bit on the drive back to my house. Then when it is returned to the freezer the whole 8 pound bag turns into a frozen deadly weapon.Even if you have a hammer (or other tool) in my kitchen for breaking ice, if you want to be official, get an Ice Tapper and put away your hammers, ice picks, etc. away and use real deal. :)

Do NOT buy - the metal disc/dome on the tapper detached from the plastic handle the second time I used this product. I tried to snap it back in place, but it flew off upon next use. I further tried gluing it back with Gorilla Glue, which worked for two additional uses, but the metal disc/dome detached again, so I gave up and returned the item to Amazon. I had one of these a long time ago, and it worked perfectly for years, so it is very disappointing to get a brand new version that was either defectively designed and/or defectively manufactured to the extent that it failed when brand-new.

If you're like me and have a need to buy bags of ice because your ice maker has died on you, this little tool is a must have! I keep my ice in a bowl in the freezer but have problems with large clumps of ice. This tool breaks the ice apart perfectly without me making a huge mess. It also has stopped me from harming myself from using various kitchen objects to try to break the ice, I'm very thankful that I found this handy icebreaker, it's worth every penny!!

We used to keep a large metal spoon in the ice bin to scoop ice. When a family member bent it in half whaling on the ice I searched Amazon for a new scoop and a hammer to replace the spoon with. The tapper seemed even better than a hammer, so we got it. It has worked out well -- one or at most a couple of taps seems to break apart the ice crescents fine. The whaler doesn't seem to need to overdo it as much with the tapper, and it seems plenty sturdy for the abuse he's dished out so far. The plastic remains flexible in the freezer. It does fine in the dishwasher too.Update 2/24/2019: Ice tapper broke today after not quite 3 years of use. Plastic around the metal part split. Probably will order another.

I lost my last one in a move. I always said it was the best investment I ever made. This one, broke on first use. And took about 6 weeks to arrive. I saw the reviews but kept my fingers crossed. No luck. Don't bother, it's truly a waste of money. The 2 piece "ball" is the difference, old one was solid. That's the entire problem. Hope this helps.

I've had my original since the early 1990s and was delighted to find it again to give to a friend. The newer edition is even better, having a slightly heavier head that delivers an even more satisfying and effective "thwop." I may have to get myself a newer one, just to have on hand; my friend won't trade with me ;-} By the way, it works great on old, hard blocks of cooking chocolate.

I was very disappointed in this product. It looks just like the one my Grandmother had that lasted over thirty years, but the one I bought fell apart on the second tap. The metal fell right out.

Product arrived on time and works satisfactorily. I was disappointed that it was made of cheap plastic instead of a more rubberized plastic like the previous one I owned