I have a little house in NYC so it never really paid for me to get a
snow blower. But I'm getting near 60 and decided that I really didn't
want to be lifting snow anymore. So last month I investigated some
snow blowers and ended up getting a small electric model called a Snow
Joe. Under $200, 13.5 amps, 18" width and around 10" intake height.

We got 18" of snow on Sunday and my little Snow Joe was overwhelmed
but performed heroically. It took a bit to figure out the best way to
approach that much snow, but once I did, Snow Joe did all that I could
ask. It did my driveway, my neighbor's driveway, and the sidewalk in
front of four houses (elderly neighbors).

It certainly wasn't effortless and I can see that having powered
wheels would make things oh so much easier, but really, for that
price, I couldn't have expected anything more.

This isn't to say that a Toro or some gas-powered monster wouldn't
have been better, but they cost a lot more. Nor do I know that this
won't die in the middle of the next storm; I certainly kept fearing
that it would die in this one but each time it was just the plug
coming loose.

And, best of all, the Significant Other has apologized for referring
to it as my "new toy". Ah, sweet victory!

"dgk" wrote in message
...
I have a little house in NYC so it never really paid for me to get a
snow blower. But I'm getting near 60 and decided that I really didn't
want to be lifting snow anymore. So last month I investigated some
snow blowers and ended up getting a small electric model called a Snow
Joe. Under $200, 13.5 amps, 18" width and around 10" intake height.

We got 18" of snow on Sunday and my little Snow Joe was overwhelmed
but performed heroically. It took a bit to figure out the best way to
approach that much snow, but once I did, Snow Joe did all that I could
ask. It did my driveway, my neighbor's driveway, and the sidewalk in
front of four houses (elderly neighbors).

It certainly wasn't effortless and I can see that having powered
wheels would make things oh so much easier, but really, for that
price, I couldn't have expected anything more.

This isn't to say that a Toro or some gas-powered monster wouldn't
have been better, but they cost a lot more. Nor do I know that this
won't die in the middle of the next storm; I certainly kept fearing
that it would die in this one but each time it was just the plug
coming loose.

And, best of all, the Significant Other has apologized for referring
to it as my "new toy". Ah, sweet victory!

I just bought a Toro Snow Shovel electric snow blower. Now I need some snow
to try it out. Only have a double wide driveway and a 42 x 13 deck that is
12 feet above ground. Need to shoot the snow over the railing. Instructions
say it will toss snow 15 feet. Only cost $100 at Ace Hardware. Will update
if I ever get to use it. WW

"WW" wrote:
-snip-
I just bought a Toro Snow Shovel electric snow blower. Now I need some snow
to try it out. Only have a double wide driveway and a 42 x 13 deck that is
12 feet above ground. Need to shoot the snow over the railing. Instructions
say it will toss snow 15 feet. Only cost $100 at Ace Hardware. Will update
if I ever get to use it. WW


Let us know. But hopefully your preparedness will keep the snow-Gods
at bay.

I picked one up a yard sale years ago & thought it was more work than
shoveling. It was fairly heavy & only took a 6" swath or so.

OTOH- My 12amp, 18" electric Toro is a little work horse. [the new
ones are 15ap & $300 on Amazon]

Jim

On Wed, 29 Dec 2010 12:20:40 -0500, Jim Elbrecht wrote:

"WW" wrote:
-snip-
I just bought a Toro Snow Shovel electric snow blower. Now I need some snow
to try it out. Only have a double wide driveway and a 42 x 13 deck that is
12 feet above ground. Need to shoot the snow over the railing. Instructions
say it will toss snow 15 feet. Only cost $100 at Ace Hardware. Will update
if I ever get to use it. WW


Let us know. But hopefully your preparedness will keep the snow-Gods
at bay.

I picked one up a yard sale years ago & thought it was more work than
shoveling. It was fairly heavy & only took a 6" swath or so.

My mother gave me one of those, er, 25 years ago. I found exactly the same
thing. The first time I tried it we had 3-4' drifts. I tried to top the
drifts and the snow flew right back in my face. It was more work than
shoveling and when it might have been useful, it choked on the snow. I really
never used it.

OTOH- My 12amp, 18" electric Toro is a little work horse. [the new
ones are 15ap & $300 on Amazon]

I suppose, like an electric lawn mower, if all you have is a postage stamp to
do, electric works.

On 12/29/2010 12:52 PM, zzzzzzzzzz wrote:
On Wed, 29 Dec 2010 12:20:40 -0500, Jim wrote:

wrote:
-snip-
I just bought a Toro Snow Shovel electric snow blower. Now I need some snow
to try it out. Only have a double wide driveway and a 42 x 13 deck that is
12 feet above ground. Need to shoot the snow over the railing. Instructions
say it will toss snow 15 feet. Only cost $100 at Ace Hardware. Will update
if I ever get to use it. WW


Let us know. But hopefully your preparedness will keep the snow-Gods
at bay.

I picked one up a yard sale years ago& thought it was more work than
shoveling. It was fairly heavy& only took a 6" swath or so.

My mother gave me one of those, er, 25 years ago. I found exactly the same
thing. The first time I tried it we had 3-4' drifts. I tried to top the
drifts and the snow flew right back in my face. It was more work than
shoveling and when it might have been useful, it choked on the snow. I really
never used it.

OTOH- My 12amp, 18" electric Toro is a little work horse. [the new
ones are 15ap& $300 on Amazon]

I suppose, like an electric lawn mower, if all you have is a postage stamp to
do, electric works.

There's a snow blower and a snow thrower. The former augers it out of
the way and the latter augers it to a thrower which tosses it out. The
snow joe appears to be an electric thrower. Electric blowers, as far as
I know, can't handle more than a few inches of snow. It takes a thrower
to handle deep snow. Nothing electric is going to be as powerful as a
gasoline powered unit. Also note that electric units don't appear to be
self propelled so there would be more work involved in pushing it into
the snow.

On Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:25:42 -0500, Frank
wrote:

On 12/29/2010 12:52 PM, zzzzzzzzzz wrote:
On Wed, 29 Dec 2010 12:20:40 -0500, Jim wrote:

wrote:
-snip-
I just bought a Toro Snow Shovel electric snow blower. Now I need some snow
to try it out. Only have a double wide driveway and a 42 x 13 deck that is
12 feet above ground. Need to shoot the snow over the railing. Instructions
say it will toss snow 15 feet. Only cost $100 at Ace Hardware. Will update
if I ever get to use it. WW


Let us know. But hopefully your preparedness will keep the snow-Gods
at bay.

I picked one up a yard sale years ago& thought it was more work than
shoveling. It was fairly heavy& only took a 6" swath or so.

My mother gave me one of those, er, 25 years ago. I found exactly the same
thing. The first time I tried it we had 3-4' drifts. I tried to top the
drifts and the snow flew right back in my face. It was more work than
shoveling and when it might have been useful, it choked on the snow. I really
never used it.

OTOH- My 12amp, 18" electric Toro is a little work horse. [the new
ones are 15ap& $300 on Amazon]

I suppose, like an electric lawn mower, if all you have is a postage stamp to
do, electric works.

There's a snow blower and a snow thrower. The former augers it out of
the way and the latter augers it to a thrower which tosses it out. The
snow joe appears to be an electric thrower. Electric blowers, as far as
I know, can't handle more than a few inches of snow. It takes a thrower
to handle deep snow. Nothing electric is going to be as powerful as a
gasoline powered unit. Also note that electric units don't appear to be
self propelled so there would be more work involved in pushing it into
the snow.

The two words have always been used interchangeably. The difference is
usually delineated as single-stage vs. two-stage.

On Dec 29, 2:25*pm, Frank wrote:
.... major snip ...

There's a snow blower and a snow thrower. *

I don't believe that that is true...at least I am unable to find any
definition that distinguishes between a snowblower and a snowthrower.
They seem to be used interchangably although "snowblower" seems to be
more common.

The former augers it out of
the way and the latter augers it to a thrower which tosses it out. *

Actually, the terms which distinguish the 2 different types of
snowblowers are "Single Stage" and "Two Stage".

A "single-stage" machine has an auger only and the shape of the auger
housing directs the snow up and out of the chute.

A two-stage machine has an auger and an impeller. The shape of the
auger housing directs the snow to the impeller, which rotates at a
right angle to the auger. The impeller breaks the snow up into smaller
pieces and throws it (usually farther).

Check out this site, where the more common term of "snowblower" is
prevalent, yet they talk about Single Stage units vs. Two-Stage units
on a regular basis.

http://www.opeonthenet.com/phpBB2/index.php

Of course, we should not neglect (or maybe we should!) the Power
Shovel which does not even have a chute. The auger just moves the snow
forward as you push it along.

The
snow joe appears to be an electric thrower. *

Well, OK, but it's also an electric blower.

Electric blowers, as far as
I know, can't handle more than a few inches of snow. *It takes a thrower
to handle deep snow.

Again, "electric" is the issue, not blower vs thrower.


Nothing electric is going to be as powerful as a
gasoline powered unit. *Also note that electric units don't appear to be
self propelled so there would be more work involved in pushing it into
the snow.-

True dat!

Frank wrote:

On 12/29/2010 12:52 PM, zzzzzzzzzz wrote:
On Wed, 29 Dec 2010 12:20:40 -0500, Jim wrote:
-snip-

OTOH- My 12amp, 18" electric Toro is a little work horse. [the new
ones are 15ap& $300 on Amazon]

I suppose, like an electric lawn mower, if all you have is a postage stamp to
do, electric works.

Just for the record-- My postage stamp is a 2 car wide driveway 150'
long. It has 2 turn arounds- and is on a wide state road so there is
plenty of 'end of driveway'. Plus about 100' of sidewalk-- and I
make a path around the house for the oil & gas deliveries- and the
dog.

We get an average of 80" of snow a year-- but the last year I used
just the electric, we got over 100"- a couple storms were over 18".


There's a snow blower and a snow thrower. The former augers it out of
the way and the latter augers it to a thrower which tosses it out. The
snow joe appears to be an electric thrower.

It is an electric single stage blower- much like my Toro 12amp.

Electric blowers, as far as
I know, can't handle more than a few inches of snow.

Up to 6" of snow, the 12amp Toro is as fast as my 24" 7HP gas 2 stage.
It is just narrower & I need to drag a cord around. Part of the
reason they get so much power into throwing the snow is they only
handle it once-- and no power is used to move the machinery.

6" or more of very wet snow-- and I challenge anyone with a 2 stage
gas blower to keep up with the 12-15amp electric.

Once you get over a foot, the Snow Joe/Toro class of electrics lose
some of their 'luster'. In packed snow they don't work well at all.
[just break it up with a shovel, and scrape the pavement clean with
the little guys]

A couple things that I can do with my electric, and not my big gas
blower;
1. Cutting the tops off the snowbanks when they get over 8" high at
the end of driveway-- Just pick it up in one hand, and watch it dig
its way down- tossing that old snow 40feet into the woods.
2. Or doing the steps like it was a shovel.
3. Or emptying the puddle that sometimes forms at the bottom of the
driveway. [I'm on a hill and the state uses a ton of salt- sometimes
the river runs into the driveway. The single stage will toss that
slushy water right over the snowbanks.



It takes a thrower
to handle deep snow. Nothing electric is going to be as powerful as a
gasoline powered unit. Also note that electric units don't appear to be
self propelled so there would be more work involved in pushing it into
the snow.

On the level, they pull themselves into the snow. Not so much on a
steep hill-- but enough so it took a *lot* of snow to encourage me
into re-incarnating my old gas blower.

I'm with the OP-- For $300 or so, they are *amazing* little machines.

Jim

WW wrote the following:
"dgk" wrote in message
...

I have a little house in NYC so it never really paid for me to get a
snow blower. But I'm getting near 60 and decided that I really didn't
want to be lifting snow anymore. So last month I investigated some
snow blowers and ended up getting a small electric model called a Snow
Joe. Under $200, 13.5 amps, 18" width and around 10" intake height.

We got 18" of snow on Sunday and my little Snow Joe was overwhelmed
but performed heroically. It took a bit to figure out the best way to
approach that much snow, but once I did, Snow Joe did all that I could
ask. It did my driveway, my neighbor's driveway, and the sidewalk in
front of four houses (elderly neighbors).

It certainly wasn't effortless and I can see that having powered
wheels would make things oh so much easier, but really, for that
price, I couldn't have expected anything more.

This isn't to say that a Toro or some gas-powered monster wouldn't
have been better, but they cost a lot more. Nor do I know that this
won't die in the middle of the next storm; I certainly kept fearing
that it would die in this one but each time it was just the plug
coming loose.

And, best of all, the Significant Other has apologized for referring
to it as my "new toy". Ah, sweet victory!


I just bought a Toro Snow Shovel electric snow blower. Now I need some snow
to try it out. Only have a double wide driveway and a 42 x 13 deck that is
12 feet above ground. Need to shoot the snow over the railing. Instructions
say it will toss snow 15 feet.


That depends upon the wetness of the snow My tractor mounted snow blower
will toss dry snow 30 feet, with wet snow, maybe 10 feet..

Only cost $100 at Ace Hardware. Will update
if I ever get to use it. WW





--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

On Dec 29, 9:22*am, dgk wrote:
I have a little house in NYC so it never really paid for me to get a
snow blower. But I'm getting near 60 and decided that I really didn't
want to be lifting snow anymore. So last month I investigated some
snow blowers and ended up getting a small electric model called a Snow
Joe. Under $200, 13.5 amps, 18" width and around 10" intake height.

We got 18" of snow on Sunday and my little Snow Joe was overwhelmed
but performed heroically. It took a bit to figure out the best way to
approach that much snow, but once I did, Snow Joe did all that I could
ask. It did my driveway, my neighbor's driveway, and the sidewalk in
front of four houses (elderly neighbors).

It certainly wasn't effortless and I can see that having powered
wheels would make things oh so much easier, but really, for that
price, I couldn't have expected anything more.

This isn't to say that a Toro or some gas-powered monster wouldn't
have been better, but they cost a lot more. Nor do I know that this
won't die in the middle of the next storm; I certainly kept fearing
that it would die in this one but each time it was just the plug
coming loose.

And, best of all, the Significant Other has apologized for referring
to it as my "new toy". Ah, sweet victory!

"...but each time it was just the plug coming loose."

That's easy to prevent. See he

http://0.tqn.com/d/homerepair/1/5/5/D/-/-/cord_lock.jpg

On Wed, 29 Dec 2010 08:24:57 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

On Dec 29, 9:22*am, dgk wrote:
I have a little house in NYC so it never really paid for me to get a
snow blower. But I'm getting near 60 and decided that I really didn't
want to be lifting snow anymore. So last month I investigated some
snow blowers and ended up getting a small electric model called a Snow
Joe. Under $200, 13.5 amps, 18" width and around 10" intake height.

We got 18" of snow on Sunday and my little Snow Joe was overwhelmed
but performed heroically. It took a bit to figure out the best way to
approach that much snow, but once I did, Snow Joe did all that I could
ask. It did my driveway, my neighbor's driveway, and the sidewalk in
front of four houses (elderly neighbors).

It certainly wasn't effortless and I can see that having powered
wheels would make things oh so much easier, but really, for that
price, I couldn't have expected anything more.

This isn't to say that a Toro or some gas-powered monster wouldn't
have been better, but they cost a lot more. Nor do I know that this
won't die in the middle of the next storm; I certainly kept fearing
that it would die in this one but each time it was just the plug
coming loose.

And, best of all, the Significant Other has apologized for referring
to it as my "new toy". Ah, sweet victory!

"...but each time it was just the plug coming loose."

That's easy to prevent. See he

http://0.tqn.com/d/homerepair/1/5/5/D/-/-/cord_lock.jpg

Clever, but only for part of it did I need a second extention cord and
that connection never weakened. It was the connection into the Snow
Joe that kept coming loose. There is some sort of flapper thing that
you run the cord through so that it won't come loose:

http://www.pcrichard.com/catalog/pro...?modelNo=SJ620

It's that thing hanging off the handle just above the second
cross-bar. I didn't use it right though obviously. I'll figure it out
before the next snowfall. I hope.

dgk wrote:

-snip-
Joe that kept coming loose. There is some sort of flapper thing that
you run the cord through so that it won't come loose:

http://www.pcrichard.com/catalog/pro...?modelNo=SJ620

That's a nice looking machine. I looked at them 5-6 years ago and
they were a lot more 'Toy-like'. [The one with a headlight is $189
on Amazon-- $10 less than the un-headlighted one?g]


It's that thing hanging off the handle just above the second
cross-bar. I didn't use it right though obviously. I'll figure it out
before the next snowfall. I hope.

I just tie a loose 1/2hitch in the cord around the handle to take the
weight off the plug. I do it with the Toro blower and the Remington
tiller I use. They each have different, but equally ineffective ways
of holding the cord.


Jim

dgk wrote:

I have a little house in NYC so it never really paid for me to get a
snow blower. But I'm getting near 60 and decided that I really didn't
want to be lifting snow anymore. So last month I investigated some
snow blowers and ended up getting a small electric model called a Snow
Joe. Under $200, 13.5 amps, 18" width and around 10" intake height.

I've had the Toro version for many years. It just gets used now for
super wet snows, cutting the tops off snowbanks, or when my old beast
dies. But I did a lot of snow for 3 winters with just the electric
Toro.

We got 18" of snow on Sunday and my little Snow Joe was overwhelmed
but performed heroically. It took a bit to figure out the best way to
approach that much snow, but once I did, Snow Joe did all that I could
ask. It did my driveway, my neighbor's driveway, and the sidewalk in
front of four houses (elderly neighbors).

The first pass is tough-- but usually you can shave edges off to do
the rest. I put drift cutters on mine. Just screwed some
1/8x3/4 stock to each side. It will cut through a 24" bank. [or
tunnel through a 36"g]


It certainly wasn't effortless and I can see that having powered
wheels would make things oh so much easier, but really, for that
price, I couldn't have expected anything more.

This isn't to say that a Toro or some gas-powered monster wouldn't
have been better, but they cost a lot more. Nor do I know that this
won't die in the middle of the next storm; I certainly kept fearing
that it would die in this one but each time it was just the plug
coming loose.

I'm betting that the single stage in your area might be the better
choice. It works better on wet snow than a 2-stage-- and you
don't need to worry about storing gas & oil. And you can work on
the things, literally; 'on the kitchen table'.

And, best of all, the Significant Other has apologized for referring
to it as my "new toy". Ah, sweet victory!

I like mine because it is quiet enough and 'friendly' enough that both
my wife and kids have taken it for a spin or two. They won't touch
the 40 yr old, 7HP Bolens.

I'm not familiar with the snow joe- but suggest you get a spare paddle
and whatever breaks when you grab a large rock. I couldn't find
any parts locally for my electric Toro & had to wait a week the first
time around. Now I keep spare skids, paddle, blade, and the crazy
shear-mechanism on hand.

They are incredible little machines.

Jim

On Wed, 29 Dec 2010 12:16:45 -0500, Jim Elbrecht
wrote:


The first pass is tough-- but usually you can shave edges off to do
the rest. I put drift cutters on mine. Just screwed some
1/8x3/4 stock to each side. It will cut through a 24" bank. [or
tunnel through a 36"g]


That's what I found worked well. Force through the first path, and
then just keep edging 4-6" or so into it. A drift cutter is an
interesting idea, but I'm hoping we don't get many more snows like
that.

It certainly wasn't effortless and I can see that having powered
wheels would make things oh so much easier, but really, for that
price, I couldn't have expected anything more.

This isn't to say that a Toro or some gas-powered monster wouldn't
have been better, but they cost a lot more. Nor do I know that this
won't die in the middle of the next storm; I certainly kept fearing
that it would die in this one but each time it was just the plug
coming loose.

I'm betting that the single stage in your area might be the better
choice. It works better on wet snow than a 2-stage-- and you
don't need to worry about storing gas & oil. And you can work on
the things, literally; 'on the kitchen table'.

It was throwing the snow at least 10 feet - but it was so windy (~40
mph) that all it needed to do was get it up a few feet and that snow
was GONE.

And, best of all, the Significant Other has apologized for referring
to it as my "new toy". Ah, sweet victory!

I like mine because it is quiet enough and 'friendly' enough that both
my wife and kids have taken it for a spin or two. They won't touch
the 40 yr old, 7HP Bolens.

I'm not familiar with the snow joe- but suggest you get a spare paddle
and whatever breaks when you grab a large rock. I couldn't find
any parts locally for my electric Toro & had to wait a week the first
time around. Now I keep spare skids, paddle, blade, and the crazy
shear-mechanism on hand.

They are incredible little machines.

Jim

I'm not likely to hit a rock, I'm plowing a driveway and sidewalk -
but I did read in some reviews that it was a problem getting
replacement belts. The manual has instructions for replacing:

Rubber Plates
Scraper Bar
Belt
Skid Shoes

So it's probably a good idea to get those at least.

dgk wrote:

On Wed, 29 Dec 2010 12:16:45 -0500, Jim Elbrecht
wrote:
-snip-

I'm betting that the single stage in your area might be the better
choice. It works better on wet snow than a 2-stage-- and you
don't need to worry about storing gas & oil. And you can work on
the things, literally; 'on the kitchen table'.

It was throwing the snow at least 10 feet - but it was so windy (~40
mph) that all it needed to do was get it up a few feet and that snow
was GONE.

I would have expected it to throw it further. Try shooting to the
left and right - or straight ahead. Also vary the amount of snow
in the 'hopper'- keeping it full, but not packed is what works best on
mine.

Next time you get 5" of slush- look up and down the street at the guys
with big 2-stage blowers cleaning their chutes at every pass. [that
will make you feel better when you're fighting with day old snowbanks
that are solid blocks of ice.g]

-snip-

I'm not likely to hit a rock, I'm plowing a driveway and sidewalk -
but I did read in some reviews that it was a problem getting
replacement belts. The manual has instructions for replacing:

Rubber Plates
Scraper Bar
Belt
Skid Shoes

So it's probably a good idea to get those at least.

Find out what shears if you hit the immovable object. A frozen
newspaper-- dead cat-- homeless guy. . . . Maybe the belt just
burns out. But it should have something to protect the motor.
That's the piece you'll need 'all-of-a-sudden' at the worst possible
time.

Mine has a plastic paddle, where yours is metal and rubber. I had a
gas Toro with that style paddle. That sucker cleaned the pavement
better than a shovel. Good stuff.

My plastic one does a good job & I think it throws further than a
metal one would -- but the downside is- I went over a chunk of plywood
with a 20d nail sticking up out of it. The nail cut the paddle
into 2 pieces. At least I didn't step on it.

Jim

On Dec 31, 3:39*am, Jim Elbrecht wrote:
dgk wrote:
On Wed, 29 Dec 2010 12:16:45 -0500, Jim Elbrecht
wrote:
-snip-

I'm betting that the single stage in your area might be the better
choice. * * *It works better on wet snow than a 2-stage-- and you
don't need to worry about storing gas & oil. * *And you can work on
the things, literally; 'on the kitchen table'.

It was throwing the snow at least 10 feet - but it was so windy (~40
mph) that all it needed to do was get it up a few feet and that snow
was GONE.

I would have expected it to throw it further. *Try shooting to the
left and right - or straight ahead. * * *Also vary the amount of snow
in the 'hopper'- keeping it full, but not packed is what works best on
mine.

Next time you get 5" of slush- look up and down the street at the guys
with big 2-stage blowers cleaning their chutes at every pass. * [that
will make you feel better when you're fighting with day old snowbanks
that are solid blocks of ice.g]

-snip-



I'm not likely to hit a rock, I'm plowing a driveway and sidewalk -
but I did read in some reviews that it was a problem getting
replacement belts. The manual has instructions for replacing:

Rubber Plates
Scraper Bar
Belt
Skid Shoes

So it's probably a good idea to get those at least.

Find out what shears if you hit the immovable object. * A frozen
newspaper-- dead cat-- homeless guy. . . . * * *Maybe the belt just
burns out. * *But it should have something to protect the motor.
That's the piece you'll need 'all-of-a-sudden' at the worst possible
time.



Jim

Two years ago I had to replace an old (very) 5hp 2-stage because some
nerd brain had used a roll-pin in place of a shear pin. It rusted and
broke flush with the shaft. No way to get at it to try to drive or
drill it out exept to dismantle the enitre machine.

For those who are unfamiliar with "roll pins" they are a drive fit
into a hole. Have to driven out (or drilled).

I needed a bigger blower anyhow so it went down the road to my
nephews. Now have an 11 hp 2-stage and wishing for a bigger one -
that state plow berm is one royal PIA.

Harry K

I had similar experience with my electric snowblower. Takes
some getting used to. I learned to "bump" it into the snow,
and then pull back when the motor slows down. Blow the snow
with the wind. It does amazing work, and is much easier than
shovelling. I later got a gas snow blower. Reminds me, I've
got to gas it up some day and get it going.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"dgk" wrote in message
...
I have a little house in NYC so it never really paid for me
to get a
snow blower. But I'm getting near 60 and decided that I
really didn't
want to be lifting snow anymore. So last month I
investigated some
snow blowers and ended up getting a small electric model
called a Snow
Joe. Under $200, 13.5 amps, 18" width and around 10" intake
height.

We got 18" of snow on Sunday and my little Snow Joe was
overwhelmed
but performed heroically. It took a bit to figure out the
best way to
approach that much snow, but once I did, Snow Joe did all
that I could
ask. It did my driveway, my neighbor's driveway, and the
sidewalk in
front of four houses (elderly neighbors).

It certainly wasn't effortless and I can see that having
powered
wheels would make things oh so much easier, but really, for
that
price, I couldn't have expected anything more.

This isn't to say that a Toro or some gas-powered monster
wouldn't
have been better, but they cost a lot more. Nor do I know
that this
won't die in the middle of the next storm; I certainly kept
fearing
that it would die in this one but each time it was just the
plug
coming loose.

And, best of all, the Significant Other has apologized for
referring
to it as my "new toy". Ah, sweet victory!

On Dec 29, 9:22*am, dgk wrote:
I have a little house in NYC so it never really paid for me to get a
snow blower. But I'm getting near 60 and decided that I really didn't
want to be lifting snow anymore. So last month I investigated some
snow blowers and ended up getting a small electric model called a Snow
Joe. Under $200, 13.5 amps, 18" width and around 10" intake height.

We got 18" of snow on Sunday and my little Snow Joe was overwhelmed
but performed heroically. It took a bit to figure out the best way to
approach that much snow, but once I did, Snow Joe did all that I could
ask. It did my driveway, my neighbor's driveway, and the sidewalk in
front of four houses (elderly neighbors).

It certainly wasn't effortless and I can see that having powered
wheels would make things oh so much easier, but really, for that
price, I couldn't have expected anything more.

This isn't to say that a Toro or some gas-powered monster wouldn't
have been better, but they cost a lot more. Nor do I know that this
won't die in the middle of the next storm; I certainly kept fearing
that it would die in this one but each time it was just the plug
coming loose.

And, best of all, the Significant Other has apologized for referring
to it as my "new toy". Ah, sweet victory!

I hate cords.

Until either DeWalt or B&D comes out with an 18V Snow Blower so I can
use the batteries from my tools or trimmer, I'll stick with my 2
options:

Shovels or my Ariens Sno Tek 24"

I wonder how long an 18V Snow Blower would last. ;-)

On Wed, 29 Dec 2010 10:55:18 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

On Dec 29, 9:22*am, dgk wrote:
I have a little house in NYC so it never really paid for me to get a
snow blower. But I'm getting near 60 and decided that I really didn't
want to be lifting snow anymore. So last month I investigated some
snow blowers and ended up getting a small electric model called a Snow
Joe. Under $200, 13.5 amps, 18" width and around 10" intake height.

We got 18" of snow on Sunday and my little Snow Joe was overwhelmed
but performed heroically. It took a bit to figure out the best way to
approach that much snow, but once I did, Snow Joe did all that I could
ask. It did my driveway, my neighbor's driveway, and the sidewalk in
front of four houses (elderly neighbors).

It certainly wasn't effortless and I can see that having powered
wheels would make things oh so much easier, but really, for that
price, I couldn't have expected anything more.

This isn't to say that a Toro or some gas-powered monster wouldn't
have been better, but they cost a lot more. Nor do I know that this
won't die in the middle of the next storm; I certainly kept fearing
that it would die in this one but each time it was just the plug
coming loose.

And, best of all, the Significant Other has apologized for referring
to it as my "new toy". Ah, sweet victory!

I hate cords.

Until either DeWalt or B&D comes out with an 18V Snow Blower so I can
use the batteries from my tools or trimmer, I'll stick with my 2
options:

Shovels or my Ariens Sno Tek 24"

I wonder how long an 18V Snow Blower would last. ;-)

Which would you use and auger bit or a spade bit?