In article ,
Larry Jaques wrote:

On Sun, 30 Jan 2011 16:10:31 -0500, Joseph Gwinn
wrote:

In article
,
wrote:

On Jan 30, 11:35*am, Ignoramus17662 ignoramus17...@NOSPAM.
17662.invalid wrote:
A related question, has anyone ever tried to build something for ice
removal?

i

We always used an ice chopper when I was a kid, looked like a
straightened out hoe on a wood shaft. Used mostly for cleaning drains
and removing heavy patches on concrete stairs, the rest got sanded and
salted. Could be had at the regular hardware store when there were
such. Haven't had one or needed one since I moved here, snow is
usually gone in a day or so, even a foot or two.

A tool that does the same job is named "The Big Mutt" by The Village
Blacksmith. I bought one at a local hardware store.

The old hoe-like tool is also available, the Ames "Brute 7in Scraper":
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1277224.

I picked up a floor scraper which might work in the same way, Joe.
http://www.harborfreight.com/48-inch...per-93918.html
I've used it as a pry bar, shingle remover, scraper, shovel, cement
trowel, and more than a few other things. It takes a licking and keeps
on thrashin'. Highly recommended. I think I paid $12 on sale.

The HF scraper seems a bit light for chopping ice, and the bent blade
will tend to spring. This is why heavy steel shovels don't work all
that well on solid ice.

The old hoe-like tool was the least work and wear-and-tear on the user:
just lift it up and let it drop on the ice. Time after time.


Joe Gwinn