Name: GLAZER mini | Take ICE Easy!
Brand: ORI Future
SKU: Gmini-BALL
Price: 4300.0 JPY
Availability: InStock

Start freezing. Start discovering. Start with GLAZER mini.

Preface

In this handbook, we'll walk you through every detail of using the GLAZER mini.

Chapter 1 covers how to use the product correctly and addresses common questions.

Chapter 2 helps you choose the right water source—turns out, mineral water is one of the best choices for clear ice and the tap water could be the second.

Chapter 3 explains how different temperatures affect the freezing time and the resulting ice clarity. These are general guidelines; actual results may vary depending on your environment.
Finally, Chapter 4 provides the theoretical foundations we found behind the clear ice-making process.

Chapter 1 - User manual

Troubleshooting

1. Why is the top part of my ice missing?

• Reason: The mold wasn’t completely filled with water.

• Solution: Insert the mold into the liner more gently.

2. Why does my sphere ice look like an egg?

• Reason: The mold was pressed too tightly into the liner, causing deformation during freezing.

• Solution: Gently place the mold into the liner, avoiding pressure.

3. Why are there needle-like bubbles in the ice?

• Reason: Water with very low ion content and impurities provides no nucleation sites during freezing, resulting in uncertain freezing patterns.

• Solution: Use water with slightly higher ion concentration, such as tap or mineral water. Avoid purified or distilled water. (See Chapter 2 for details.)

4. Why are there clear bubbles in the ice?

• Reason: As the temperature drops during freezing, the solubility of gases in water decreases, causing bubbles to form. Some of these bubbles don’t fully escape the mold.

• Solution: Try setting the freezer temperature higher to allow more time for bubbles to escape before freezing completes.

5. Why is the bottom of the ice cloudy?

• Reason: Bubbles tend to gather around the vent at the bottom during the freezing process.

• Solution: Make sure the vent path is clear and freeze at an optimal rate to allow gases to escape.

6. Why are there tiny holes around the base of the ice?

• Reason: The air bubbles were not fully released through the bottom vent holes. Since our mold freezes from top to bottom, the air releases as the temperature drops and moves downward, but is blocked by the mold walls.

• Solution: Keep your freezer at a slightly higher temperature and avoid any vibrations.

7. I can't pull the mold out of the liner.

• Reason: The mold was pressed too tightly into the liner, causing deformation during freezing.

• Solution: Gently place the mold into the liner, avoiding pressure.

8. How do I use the plastic cup (liner)?Can it be reused? Is it sold separately?

• Solution: Use one, keep the other as a backup. Yes, it’s reusable. You can order extras from our store.

Chapter 2 - How can I select my water type?

Based on tests conducted on dozens of water sources, we have found that water with a TDS level between 30–50 mg/L tends to produce significantly clearer ice. Water with TDS levels either above or below this range typically results in less transparent ice.

From our experience, we can infer that mineral water, filtered tap water, and some municipal tap water often fall within this optimal TDS range and are therefore more likely to produce clear ice—though actual results depend on the specific characteristics of the water source used.

Purified water, due to its extremely low ion concentration (always 0), often leads to the formation of needle-like air bubbles within the ice. Conversely, water with higher ion concentrations can cause the bottom of the ice block to appear cloudy.

In the following section, we compare the effects of different TDS levels on ice clarity and outline the patterns we have observed.

Purified water - A | TDS 0

Purified water - B | TDS 10

Mineral water - A | TDS 34

Mineral water - B | TDS 44

Mineral water - C | TDS 52

Tap water HK | TDS 59

Mineral water - D | TDS 119

Mineral water - E | TDS 176

Mineral water - F | TDS 231

As shown in the image series, we conducted sampling tests on water sources with TDS levels ranging from 0 to 230 mg/L. These sources included distilled water such as Watsons, purified water like Bonaqua, and a variety of mineral waters with increasing ion concentrations—including Fiji, Evian, VOSS, Acqua Panna, and Dasani... The trends we observed were as follows:

At TDS levels of 0 and 10 mg/L, needle-like air bubbles appeared within the ice. As the TDS increased, these bubbles became less pronounced and eventually disappeared. At a TDS level of 34 mg/L, only minimal bubbles were visible in the ice sphere. When the TDS fell within the 44–59 mg/L range, the ice spheres became fully transparent. Beyond 100 mg/L, the bubbles reappeared in a more granular form, resulting in a cloudy appearance. Among the mineral waters tested, Evian had the highest TDS value.

Our findings confirm that while we recommend using mineral water with an appropriate TDS level to produce clear ice—especially given its compact volume, which makes it ideal for freezing multiple ice shapes even in smaller freezers—mineral water is not the only viable option.

Properly filtered or naturally balanced tap water that falls within the optimal TDS range can also produce crystal-clear ice, making it a practical and accessible alternative for many users.

In the next section, we will explore how the choice of water impacts freezing speed and structural integrity of the ice.

Chapter 3 - How long should you leave the mold in the freezer?

Freezing time is often considered the most critical factor in making clear ice, and the primary variable that directly affects freezing time is the temperature of your freezer. In this section, we will detail the approximate time required for completely freezing a clear ice ball at various temperature settings and demonstrate the resulting ice clarity achieved under each condition.

Please note: The water used in all tests within this section has a TDS of about 40 mg/L. And the initial temperature is room temperature.

In -25°C | Takes 16 hrs

A little cloudy at the bottom.

In -20°C | Takes 24 hrs

Almost clear with some needle liked bubble.

In -15°C | Takes 30 hrs

Super clear

In -10°C | Takes 36 hrs

Super clear

In -5°C | Takes 42 hrs

Super clear

Under optimal water conditions, it has been demonstrated that the lower the freezer temperature, the slower the freezing rate and the longer the total freezing time—resulting in better ice clarity. With the exception of ice frozen at -25°C, which showed visible accumulation at the bottom, ice produced at other tested temperatures exhibited high transparency.

To further explore how ice forms inside the GLAZER mini, we conducted a time-lapse study of the freezing process at -15°C. This investigation revealed that the volume of crystalline ice grows progressively slower over time until full solidification is achieved.

Let’s take a closer look at how clear ice develops during the freezing process.

Time Lapse of mineral water (TDS 40)

After 12 hrs

Ice begins to form on the top surface, with internal sheet-like crystals growing downward.

After 16 hrs

Outer surface solidifies; more sheet-like crystals form and start to intersect.

After 20 hrs

Upper part fully freezes into a solid dome; the bottom starts to freeze.

After 24 hrs

Bottom surface flattens and begins to protrude downward.

After 27 hrs

Still requires more time to fully freeze.

After 29 hrs

Ice completely forms.

This naturally led to the question: how does the freezing curve differ for water sources with significantly lower or higher TDS levels? To investigate this, we conducted additional tests using purified water (TDS 0) and Evian mineral water (TDS 230).

Using the same methodology and freezing conditions, we recorded their freezing behavior and outcomes. The results are as follows.

Time Lapse of purified water (TDS 0)

Time Lapse of Évian mineral water (TDS 230)

Chapter 4 - Technical Reasons.

In this chapter, we will explore the reasons behind the observed phenomena related to ice formation. By referencing third-party literature, we aim to support our experimental findings with external evidence. The discussion will include: why changes in TDS levels lead to corresponding changes in the outcomes, and why the transparency of ice varies with different freezing temperatures.

How TDS Works – A Balance Between Nucleation Promotion and Crystallization Inhibition

The relationship between total dissolved solids (TDS) and ice formation follows a characteristic inverted U-shaped curve, governed by the interplay between thermodynamic and kinetic factors.

At low TDS levels, dissolved ions (e.g., Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) and particulate matter (e.g., CaCO₃ microcrystals) act as heterogeneous nucleation sites, significantly reducing the activation energy for ice nucleation. These sites facilitate ordered molecular alignment at relatively mild supercooling conditions (e.g., –5°C), in contrast to the homogeneous nucleation in pure water, which typically requires extreme supercooling (~–38°C).

However, at high TDS levels, the system exhibits crystallization inhibition due to several mechanisms:

Freezing point depression (Tf=Kf·m) increases supercooling depth, inducing stochastic nucleation and leading to polycrystalline and turbid ice.
Viscosity rise, as predicted by the Debye-Hückel theory, restricts molecular diffusion to the growing ice front, reducing crystal growth rates and increasing inclusion of liquid entrapments.
Hydration shell formation around ions (e.g., Na⁺, with a hydration radius ~3.6 Å) disrupts the hydrogen bond network, suppressing directional crystal growth and promoting dendritic defects or amorphous regions.

Thus, TDS influences ice clarity and microstructure through a balance between nucleation enhancement at low concentrations and crystallization retardation at high concentrations. The resultant ice quality is determined by the competition between nucleation thermodynamics (G) and kinetic barriers (diffusion, phase separation), explaining the non-linear trend observed.

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GLAZER mini | Take ICE Easy!

¥4,300 ¥4,900

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Verkoper ORI Future

Clear ICE Shapes

Aantal

Stunning Clear Ice Mold with Various Shapes

They are easy to use and work as intended, but the ice is not clear. The center is pretty white. They dont get clear as advertised, which doesn’t surprise me since there is no where for the minerials in the water to go. Contianer is to small and there is just one little tiny hole in the bottom if the mold, so therefor there is not enough space for the minerials to be pushed down and out as the water freezes.

Works really well and my friends think it's cool

Works really well and my friends think it's cool. Predicably, these are a hit on DnD game nights.

The point always is missing even when i top up water right to the end of the hole on the top

Hi Steven,

Thanks for your feedback! To help our customers get a better experience and find the best way to use the GLAZER mini, I've created a full guide that addresses this issue:

Why is the top part of my ice missing?
• Reason: The mold wasn’t completely filled with water.
• Solution: Insert the mold into the liner more gently.

For more information, you can visit our user manual page at SUPPORT page --> Handbook of GLAZER mini

Works the best of the sphere, cube and diamond

Goes egg shaped when it freezes

Some of the plastic liners were damaged in shipping

A bit of a learning curve

A bit of a learning curve, but watch the how-to videos and you have beautifully clear monolithic ice in no time!

I tied multiple ways to make clear large cubes

I tied multiple ways to make clear large cubes. This thing works like a charm. A great product!!

These are GREAT!

These are GREAT! I’ve been experimenting with different ways to make clear ice balls, and these are the best by far.

Clear Ice

Works as advertised; make sure to give it plenty of time to freeze due to the insulation. Wish it cost a bit less.

自宅でこんなに透明で美しい氷が簡単に作れるなんて驚きです！GLAZER mini、本当におすすめです👍

Pretty good

I bought the 3-pack of sphere, D20, and cube. Bottom line - makes "almost" clear ice without taking up a lot of freezer space. I've tried each of them twice now, letting them freeze for 24 hours. The sphere was fairly clear but did have quite a few are bubbles. The d20 had one corner completely white, as did the cube. It is often said that great is the enemy of good, and these are good. I compare the sphere to the much larger device that I bought at least 5 years ago, which makes 2 spheres at a time but takes up a lot more freezer space and takes at least 24 hours. It uses probably a 5:1 ratio of water to end product, but the ice is optically clear - no bubbles, no white spots. It is harder to use - getting the mold is tough. This type of device uses 1-inch thick foam walls. So, I will continue using the Ori for every day ice especially since I am not limited to spheres. In fact, I'll order the skull next... One last thoughtful detail - the shape is stamped on the handle so that you can easily grab the desired item from your freezer shelf (see photo)

Hi Alore, thank you so much for the thoughtful and detailed review! 🙌 Unlike other brands making clear ice molds, we always put user experience first. To help you get the very best results (including a perfectly clear D20), we’ve prepared a complete usage guide here: User Manual – GLAZER mini. Once you go through it, you’ll find getting crystal-clear ice is much easier than it seems. We’re so glad you’re enjoying the variety of shapes—and we can’t wait for you to try other shapes next!

They are nice but they do not make crystal clear ice which was the whole reason why i bought them. So very disappointed.

Worked great once I got the technique

Worked great once I got the technique. Fill up the cup, put in the mold, and then top off. Very cool. Will buy a few more.

Good quality, great clear ice

Very happy with the clarity and ease of use

Very happy with the clarity and ease of use. Of the three shapes I seem to have a much harder time getting sphere to fully take, but cube and diamond are almost 100% effective so far.

Makes great ice sphere

Took the sphere out early at about 10 hours. Not fully frozen yet but already clear! Next round I’ll be patient…maybe 😂

Backup cups

Purchased these at the same time as my ice molds, just in case. I haven't used them, as the cups that come with the molds are still working well.

Ice came out crystal clear

Followed the directions and left in refrigerator for 24+ hrs. Was easy to extract the cube (a little warm water helped on the outside of the mold), and the ice came out crystal clear.

Best one I’ve tried so far

Best one I’ve tried so far, super easy and no mess.

Better result than some other molds but still not clear.

Ori Future Glazzer Mini

Quality product, clear ice, easy to use

Awesome

So i just received it and quality is amazing. Packaging is premium and i just needed to google the instructions coz I didn’t remember how to use it LOL

Super fun design and easy to use

I bought the D20 mold and it is such a cool idea. ✌️It's impressively clear and this mold is easier to use than others I've tried. I love how fun it is, perfect for game night! 🥳🥳 Its shape always gets comments when I show drinks.

Works to a point but not 100% clear ice

Works to a point but not 100% clear ice. I’ve a few different clear options and was disappointed these did not work completely. They are easy to use and easier than some of my other options when extracting the ice ball.

You may like

Start freezing. Start discovering. Start with GLAZER mini.

Preface

Chapter 1 - User manual

Troubleshooting

1. Why is the top part of my ice missing?

2. Why does my sphere ice look like an egg?

3. Why are there needle-like bubbles in the ice?

4. Why are there clear bubbles in the ice?

5. Why is the bottom of the ice cloudy?

6. Why are there tiny holes around the base of the ice?

7. I can't pull the mold out of the liner.

8. How do I use the plastic cup (liner)?Can it be reused? Is it sold separately?

Chapter 2 - How can I select my water type?

Chapter 3 - How long should you leave the mold in the freezer?

Chapter 4 - Technical Reasons.

How TDS Works – A Balance Between Nucleation Promotion and Crystallization Inhibition

GLAZER mini | Take ICE Easy!

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