Episode 31: Homemade Zamboni

Inventor Damian Renzello has been making portable skating rinks and related accessories for years, so it's not surprising that it's come to this: a homemade super zamboni that blows snow, shaves ice, and looks totally awesome. I love projects like this - the false starts, the dangerous accidents, the madness - I think those are the three ingredients that make up what they call "Yankee Ingenuity." I was a little disappointed to find out this wasn't a meaningless, self-destructive quest for a personal homemade zamboni, and instead the latest invention from a genuine entrepreneur. I should have known from the photo—it's far too well built to have been cobbled together by a crazy person.

Speaking of crazy people, I was surprised to learn from Damian that the zamboni was actually invented by a guy named Zamboni. I think I always thought that zamboni was an Italian word for "ice shaver" or something like that (you know, those Italians: crazy for hockey!). You learn something new every day—or in my case, once a week.

If you'd like your own Bambini Revolution, or if you want to set up a portable backyard skating rink (I know I do), you can find Damian's products at www.portarinxandbambini.com.

—Jonathan Coulton

 

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Comments

[i'm first]

first

[Ron Shurkus]

Its great to see people still inventing one of a kind American made products.
Great story!

[james]

i absoutly luv those types of inventions it is like 4 things in one crazy
laterz

[Dave]

FYI - this guy is the same guy Damian J. Renzello trying to say he invented Porta Rinx LOL I cant believe how slimey some people are BE CAREFUL there is this guy Renzelo in Vermont that claims to have invented the name Porta Rinx I only know about him because he jumped all over a post I made to a web discussion about porta rinx kits. When I checked out this Renzello guys website portarinx.com he has this big "web warning" on his site claiming someone is "slandering" his product name and claiming he is the only porta rinx dealer on the planet and that he has been doing it for 10 years. What a joke!

I made a nice post regarding the prota rinx our family has been building since 1971 and this guy Renzelli from Montpeleir Vermont snaps back challenging my post.

We all just want to "Warn People" not to get ripped off and scammed by the Vermont USA company run by this Damien Renzello. This guy did not "invent" porta rinx and it looks like he does nothing more than repackage the porta rinx PVC kit sold in magazines but this guy takes a 200 dollar rink and resells it for two thousand dollars!

Here is a real web warning I googled this guys name :"Damian J. Renzello" and I found this "Fraud Against the Government is Rampant in Vermont According to Court Documents" http://express-press-release.com/35/Fraud%20Against%20the%20Government%20is%20Rampant%20in%20Vermont%20According%20to%20Court%20Documents.php I hadnt read the whole thing but would guess this guy who claims to have invented porta rinx has been ripping off more than just your average hockey family claiming to have invented porta rinx The article says Renzello deliberately falsified some documents to defraud the Unted States Judicary! This has got to be the same joker that is postin stuff on my posts. The article also tells that Renzelo has been in many lawsuits and even said the Vermont Attorney General took action against him for "violation of the Consumer Fraud Act" and something about him having "deceived consumers".

Don't get taken by this Renzello character nor believe his posts. Just Google him and the name porta rinx and you will find many companies sellling the same rinx for thousands of dollars less.

If anyone wants help building their own porta rinx or wants to buy directly from the source email me or check out a reputable source to buy from like Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006NDBPM/ref=nosim/?tag=dealtime-toys-20&creative=380333&creativeASIN=B0006NDBPM&linkCode=asn

[Damian Renzello]

This guy David Black … aka Mike Nelson is full of it! I do not resell kits, I manufacture them from scratch! period! Please do not believe this so called David Black aka Mike Nelson I have had 5 years of problems with this guy so has many many others … once again check out my web site, www.PortaRinxandBambini.com - check out my news articles, which dates back 10 years ago and also check out my letters from past customers, Please do not be mis led by this crack head! he has got to be one of the worlds greatest Losers/cyber squatters.

PS David why don’t you, if you are for real why dont you just give me a phone call

PS I do not own Portarinx.com Mike Nelson aka David Black does!

for more info on David Black aka Mike Nelson

Check out …
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=mike+Nelson+Cyber+Squatter&btnG=Google+Search

also check out … This story explains it all!

http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050505/NEWS/505050380/1003

Thank you folks …
and may the world pay you back - David Black aka Mike Nelson … in all possible ways for slandering a good guy with good intentions for all your slanderous comments. 10 times fold

and for all of you seriously looking for a portable kit for an ice skating rink … talk to you soon, Damian

[bahij kashou]

somenoe needs to invent a zamboni with an edger on it so everything can be done at once and i dont have to waste money to buy an edger seprate and hire people to work an axtra 5 minutes to edge the ice

[bahij kashou]

somenoe needs to invent a zamboni with an edger on it so everything can be done at once and i dont have to waste money to buy an edger seprate and hire people to work an axtra 5 minutes to edge the ice