My idea of proper RPMs is a two part answer: 1) no faster than the snow can
be pushed through in the auger housing and 2) and discharge impeller should
go as fast as possible without self-destructing.

I have never had a manufactured blower that I thought was properly geared
for either.

tHAT

On 06 Jan 2005 04:36:34 GMT, (JWDoyleJr) wrote:

Anyone that's had
to deal with this wet heavy snow knows that even the best 2 stage snowblower
will moan an groan and struggle to throw this stuff anywhere. I've
purchased three new snowblowers over the years hoping more powerful engines

I assume that your machines are self-propelled, with speed set up for "normal"
snow up to the height of the auger. That means that when you charge compacted
snow, you are feeding it a lot more material than it is designed to handle.

One solution would be to change the sprockets/pulleys to give slower speed over
the ground, thus feeding it more dainty bites of snow. If you are really
ambitious, you might look at "cone" pulleys, so a quick swap of the drive belt
from one drive ratio to the other gives you a regular speed and a creeper
speed. If your "clutch" is a belt tightener, this might be pretty easy.

Virtually all snow blowers on the market the last 20 years or so have
"variable speed" drives, usually with indexes for 5-8 speeds forward,
and the low gear is pretty low. The beaters do tend to turn too fast
in comparison to the impeller,for heavy snow. This ratio cannot,
however, be easily changed as the majority of blowers use a worm gear
case with the impeller on the input side, and the auger on the output
with no external gears, sprockets, or chains to change.

In article ,
"TheMan" wrote:

I live on one of the busiest street in our city, during the fun snow filled
months of Wisconsin the city plow come by often enough to keep the end of my
driveway filled with snow, that rapidly turns to slush. Anyone that's had
to deal with this wet heavy snow knows that even the best 2 stage snowblower
will moan an groan and struggle to throw this stuff anywhere. I've
purchased three new snowblowers over the years hoping more powerful engines
would help, but no luck.

If it's slush it must be close to freezing/melting. Have you considered
heat to melt it and let gravity run it away? Could you borrow a
salamander to test the idea?

--
Free men own guns, slaves don't
www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/5357/

On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 03:21:21 GMT, "TheMan" wrote:

I live on one of the busiest street in our city, during the fun snow filled
months of Wisconsin the city plow come by often enough to keep the end of my
driveway filled with snow, that rapidly turns to slush. Anyone that's had
to deal with this wet heavy snow knows that even the best 2 stage snowblower
will moan an groan and struggle to throw this stuff anywhere. I've
purchased three new snowblowers over the years hoping more powerful engines
would help, but no luck.

I consider myself lucky if half of the time the snow just pours out of the
chute enough to keep the engine running. As you can imagine after spending
a considerable amount effort and swearing at the snowplow driver every time
he makes another pass, I've concocted a number of extreme ideas that range
from targeting the snowplow/driver with various contraptions (or weaponry)
to designing an elaborate hydraulically operated metal shield that protects
the end of the driveway when the snowplow comes by and then catapults any
remaining snow across the street into my neighbors driveway (or back at the
snowplow..must most likely that cop that watches me to be certian not a
flake of snow is lands back in the street)

However rational thought usually takes over and I figured this group might
have some good ideas about how to modify my snowblower to better handle
slush. I've tried painting, polishing, waxing and even spraying non stick
coating on the inside of the chute with no great success.

Perhaps I should build a chute out of stainless steel? PVC or other plastic?
Should I try to make a different size pully for the auger/thrower assembly
(bigger/smaller/lighter?) Nitrous Oxide for the engine? Add more blades
the the wheel that "throws" the snow?

Sure in 20 years, I'll retire to Arizona, but for now I need to figure
something out before a snowplower driver ends up a statistic.... :-)

Flame thrower.

Gunner

"Gunner, you are the same ridiculous liberal f--k you ever where."
Scipio

"TheMan" wrote in message
...
I live on one of the busiest street in our city, during the fun snow filled
months of Wisconsin the city plow come by often enough to keep the end of
my
driveway filled with snow, that rapidly turns to slush. Anyone that's had
to deal with this wet heavy snow knows that even the best 2 stage
snowblower
will moan an groan and struggle to throw this stuff anywhere. I've
purchased three new snowblowers over the years hoping more powerful
engines
would help, but no luck.

I consider myself lucky if half of the time the snow just pours out of the
chute enough to keep the engine running. As you can imagine after
spending
a considerable amount effort and swearing at the snowplow driver every
time
he makes another pass, I've concocted a number of extreme ideas that range
from targeting the snowplow/driver with various contraptions (or weaponry)
to designing an elaborate hydraulically operated metal shield that
protects
the end of the driveway when the snowplow comes by and then catapults any
remaining snow across the street into my neighbors driveway (or back at
the
snowplow..must most likely that cop that watches me to be certian not a
flake of snow is lands back in the street)

However rational thought usually takes over and I figured this group might
have some good ideas about how to modify my snowblower to better handle
slush. I've tried painting, polishing, waxing and even spraying non stick
coating on the inside of the chute with no great success.

Perhaps I should build a chute out of stainless steel? PVC or other
plastic?
Should I try to make a different size pully for the auger/thrower assembly
(bigger/smaller/lighter?) Nitrous Oxide for the engine? Add more blades
the the wheel that "throws" the snow?

Sure in 20 years, I'll retire to Arizona, but for now I need to figure
something out before a snowplower driver ends up a statistic.... :-)

Just an idea a friend had and it seems to work great, while cleaning out his
garage he found an old piece of crazy carpet his kids had discarded. He pop
riveted into the inside of the snowblower chute. Now his 25 year old machine
blows snow like it ever did before but it works a lot better on slush than
my new machine. something to think about

On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 03:21:21 GMT, "TheMan" wrote:

I live on one of the busiest street in our city, during the fun snow filled
months of Wisconsin the city plow come by often enough to keep the end of my
driveway filled with snow, that rapidly turns to slush. Anyone that's had
to deal with this wet heavy snow knows that even the best 2 stage snowblower
will moan an groan and struggle to throw this stuff anywhere. I've
purchased three new snowblowers over the years hoping more powerful engines
would help, but no luck.

I consider myself lucky if half of the time the snow just pours out of the
chute enough to keep the engine running. As you can imagine after spending
a considerable amount effort and swearing at the snowplow driver every time
he makes another pass, I've concocted a number of extreme ideas that range
from targeting the snowplow/driver with various contraptions (or weaponry)
to designing an elaborate hydraulically operated metal shield that protects
the end of the driveway when the snowplow comes by and then catapults any
remaining snow across the street into my neighbors driveway (or back at the
snowplow..must most likely that cop that watches me to be certian not a
flake of snow is lands back in the street)

However rational thought usually takes over and I figured this group might
have some good ideas about how to modify my snowblower to better handle
slush. I've tried painting, polishing, waxing and even spraying non stick
coating on the inside of the chute with no great success.

Perhaps I should build a chute out of stainless steel? PVC or other plastic?
Should I try to make a different size pully for the auger/thrower assembly
(bigger/smaller/lighter?) Nitrous Oxide for the engine? Add more blades
the the wheel that "throws" the snow?

Sure in 20 years, I'll retire to Arizona, but for now I need to figure
something out before a snowplower driver ends up a statistic.... :-)





http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91033

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=39953

or if you want to make it yourself:

http://agronomy.ucdavis.edu/LTRAS/itech/flame.html

Mike Patterson
Please remove the spamtrap to email me.
"I always wanted to be somebody...I should have been more specific..." - Lily Tomlin

However rational thought usually takes over and I figured this group might
have some good ideas about how to modify my snowblower to better handle
slush. I've tried painting, polishing, waxing and even spraying non stick

I have a toro single stage with a curved rotor. It moves slush easily.
The curved rotor will even throw water. This is one case where a single
stage really excells.

chuck

Anyone that's had
to deal with this wet heavy snow knows that even the best 2 stage snowblower
will moan an groan and struggle to throw this stuff anywhere. BRBR

You have touched on a universal problem that borders on the concept of trying
to "push a rope uphill" It may be that it just can't be done. BUT, I think
you are on the right track with horsepower and non stick spray. Are you only
spraying the chute? I know that helps, but I think the problem happens in the
impeller area first. If the slush sticks to the blades as well as the chamber
wall, it will lose velocity and therefore jam up in the chute. See if spraying
the impeller and chamber area along with the chute helps. I have also had some
luck with only cutting in with half the width of the auger area, this in a
sense doubles my horsepower to snow ratio and seems to keep things going a
little better. Another trick I use to help beat the snowplow man is to use my
snowblower to clear the edge of the road to the shoulder or curb area about 20
feet down from my driveway on his approach side. If I get this when blowing is
still efficient, it limits what he can plow back in.

That would probably work, howerver my driveway is about 13' across and it's
not unusual for this slush to be 12" deep and anywhere from 1-3 feet from
front to back... it's quite a challenge...


"Nick Hull" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"TheMan" wrote:

I live on one of the busiest street in our city, during the fun snow
filled
months of Wisconsin the city plow come by often enough to keep the end
of my
driveway filled with snow, that rapidly turns to slush. Anyone that's
had
to deal with this wet heavy snow knows that even the best 2 stage
snowblower
will moan an groan and struggle to throw this stuff anywhere. I've
purchased three new snowblowers over the years hoping more powerful
engines
would help, but no luck.

If it's slush it must be close to freezing/melting. Have you considered
heat to melt it and let gravity run it away? Could you borrow a
salamander to test the idea?

--
Free men own guns, slaves don't
www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/5357/

"Gunner" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 03:21:21 GMT, "TheMan" wrote:
Flame thrower.

Gunner


For the snow or the snowplow driver? ;-)

Yes, it is self propelled and I have the most luck at the slowest speed
setting, taking small "bites" and waiting for the slush to discharge before
I take another "bite" forward.

The cone pulley idea sounds good....perhaps even switching from regular
driveway mode to "end of the driveway slush zone!"

"JWDoyleJr" wrote in message
...
Anyone that's had
to deal with this wet heavy snow knows that even the best 2 stage
snowblower
will moan an groan and struggle to throw this stuff anywhere. I've
purchased three new snowblowers over the years hoping more powerful
engines

I assume that your machines are self-propelled, with speed set up for
"normal"
snow up to the height of the auger. That means that when you charge
compacted
snow, you are feeding it a lot more material than it is designed to
handle.

One solution would be to change the sprockets/pulleys to give slower speed
over
the ground, thus feeding it more dainty bites of snow. If you are really
ambitious, you might look at "cone" pulleys, so a quick swap of the drive
belt
from one drive ratio to the other gives you a regular speed and a creeper
speed. If your "clutch" is a belt tightener, this might be pretty easy.

That sounds easy enough to try...not sure the why that would work? Does it
have to be thick or thin carpet?
"Bob and Joanne Cameron" wrote in message
...

"TheMan" wrote in message
...
I live on one of the busiest street in our city, during the fun snow
filled
months of Wisconsin the city plow come by often enough to keep the end
of
my
driveway filled with snow, that rapidly turns to slush. Anyone that's
had
to deal with this wet heavy snow knows that even the best 2 stage
snowblower
will moan an groan and struggle to throw this stuff anywhere. I've
purchased three new snowblowers over the years hoping more powerful
engines
would help, but no luck.

I consider myself lucky if half of the time the snow just pours out of
the
chute enough to keep the engine running. As you can imagine after
spending
a considerable amount effort and swearing at the snowplow driver every
time
he makes another pass, I've concocted a number of extreme ideas that
range
from targeting the snowplow/driver with various contraptions (or
weaponry)
to designing an elaborate hydraulically operated metal shield that
protects
the end of the driveway when the snowplow comes by and then catapults
any
remaining snow across the street into my neighbors driveway (or back at
the
snowplow..must most likely that cop that watches me to be certian not a
flake of snow is lands back in the street)

However rational thought usually takes over and I figured this group
might
have some good ideas about how to modify my snowblower to better handle
slush. I've tried painting, polishing, waxing and even spraying non
stick
coating on the inside of the chute with no great success.

Perhaps I should build a chute out of stainless steel? PVC or other
plastic?
Should I try to make a different size pully for the auger/thrower
assembly
(bigger/smaller/lighter?) Nitrous Oxide for the engine? Add more
blades
the the wheel that "throws" the snow?

Sure in 20 years, I'll retire to Arizona, but for now I need to figure
something out before a snowplower driver ends up a statistic.... :-)

Just an idea a friend had and it seems to work great, while cleaning out
his
garage he found an old piece of crazy carpet his kids had discarded. He
pop
riveted into the inside of the snowblower chute. Now his 25 year old
machine
blows snow like it ever did before but it works a lot better on slush than
my new machine. something to think about

I'm guessing the rotator is the "wheel" or the part that throws the snow?
"Charles A. Sherwood" wrote in message
...
However rational thought usually takes over and I figured this group
might
have some good ideas about how to modify my snowblower to better handle
slush. I've tried painting, polishing, waxing and even spraying non
stick

I have a toro single stage with a curved rotor. It moves slush easily.
The curved rotor will even throw water. This is one case where a single
stage really excells.

chuck

Wow, and I thought Gunner was kidding.

Problem is the slush is often 1 foot deep and 1-3 feet across the end of
12-13' wide driveway, I would imagine it would take a lot of time to melt
that down... But maybe not. Worse thing that would happen is the puddle
would freeze, but heck that happens every Feb anyway... I'll have to
experiment with propane torch just to see how fast it can melt the
stuff....anytime we get to play with fire for a "good" reason is fine with
me! :-)

Tim


"Mike Patterson" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 03:21:21 GMT, "TheMan" wrote:

I live on one of the busiest street in our city, during the fun snow
filled
months of Wisconsin the city plow come by often enough to keep the end of
my
driveway filled with snow, that rapidly turns to slush. Anyone that's
had
to deal with this wet heavy snow knows that even the best 2 stage
snowblower
will moan an groan and struggle to throw this stuff anywhere. I've
purchased three new snowblowers over the years hoping more powerful
engines
would help, but no luck.

I consider myself lucky if half of the time the snow just pours out of
the
chute enough to keep the engine running. As you can imagine after
spending
a considerable amount effort and swearing at the snowplow driver every
time
he makes another pass, I've concocted a number of extreme ideas that
range
from targeting the snowplow/driver with various contraptions (or
weaponry)
to designing an elaborate hydraulically operated metal shield that
protects
the end of the driveway when the snowplow comes by and then catapults any
remaining snow across the street into my neighbors driveway (or back at
the
snowplow..must most likely that cop that watches me to be certian not a
flake of snow is lands back in the street)

However rational thought usually takes over and I figured this group
might
have some good ideas about how to modify my snowblower to better handle
slush. I've tried painting, polishing, waxing and even spraying non
stick
coating on the inside of the chute with no great success.

Perhaps I should build a chute out of stainless steel? PVC or other
plastic?
Should I try to make a different size pully for the auger/thrower
assembly
(bigger/smaller/lighter?) Nitrous Oxide for the engine? Add more blades
the the wheel that "throws" the snow?

Sure in 20 years, I'll retire to Arizona, but for now I need to figure
something out before a snowplower driver ends up a statistic.... :-)





http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91033

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=39953

or if you want to make it yourself:

http://agronomy.ucdavis.edu/LTRAS/itech/flame.html

Mike Patterson
Please remove the spamtrap to email me.
"I always wanted to be somebody...I should have been more specific..." -
Lily Tomlin

If you could lay a metal stove pipe on the end of your driveway before
the snowplow arrives and let him bury the pipe under slush, maybe you
could hook up a salamander to the pipe and melt everything?

In article ,
"TheMan" wrote:

That would probably work, howerver my driveway is about 13' across and it's
not unusual for this slush to be 12" deep and anywhere from 1-3 feet from
front to back... it's quite a challenge...


"Nick Hull" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"TheMan" wrote:

I live on one of the busiest street in our city, during the fun snow
filled
months of Wisconsin the city plow come by often enough to keep the end
of my
driveway filled with snow, that rapidly turns to slush. Anyone that's
had
to deal with this wet heavy snow knows that even the best 2 stage
snowblower
will moan an groan and struggle to throw this stuff anywhere. I've
purchased three new snowblowers over the years hoping more powerful
engines
would help, but no luck.

If it's slush it must be close to freezing/melting. Have you considered
heat to melt it and let gravity run it away? Could you borrow a
salamander to test the idea?

--
Free men own guns, slaves don't
www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/5357/

I can get a shovel at Home Depot or Menards, but where the heck do you get a
good pair of hands? :-)


"Ignoramus7928" wrote in message
...
My own opinion on the semi frozen heavy slush issue is that the really
appropriate tool here is a good spoon like shovel and a pair of hands.
For frozen slush, an ice breaker (?) tool plus shovel. Homeowner sized
powered devices simply do not cut it.

i

On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 16:14:02 GMT, "TheMan" wrote:


"Gunner" wrote in message
.. .
On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 03:21:21 GMT, "TheMan" wrote:
Flame thrower.

Gunner


For the snow or the snowplow driver? ;-)

Both of course!

Nothing like venturing into the Flaming Cul de Sac to keep the plow
guy attentive to his duties.

Or freezing the mounded snow around mailboxes...
Gunner

"Gunner, you are the same ridiculous liberal f--k you ever where."
Scipio

Hey I think you may have just given me a great idea. What if there was a
buckle in the road right before my driveway? The plow would have to slow
down every time he passed... Now how to make the pavement buckle? :-


"Gunner" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 16:14:02 GMT, "TheMan" wrote:


"Gunner" wrote in message
.. .
On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 03:21:21 GMT, "TheMan" wrote:
Flame thrower.

Gunner


For the snow or the snowplow driver? ;-)

Both of course!

Nothing like venturing into the Flaming Cul de Sac to keep the plow
guy attentive to his duties.

Or freezing the mounded snow around mailboxes...
Gunner

"Gunner, you are the same ridiculous liberal f--k you ever where."
Scipio

Make a cardboard sign saying "Paying $20 for snow shovelling" and
wait near the local high school parking lot around 3:30 PM.

just a thought



On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 16:31:25 GMT, "TheMan" wrote:

I can get a shovel at Home Depot or Menards, but where the heck do you get a
good pair of hands? :-)


"Ignoramus7928" wrote in message
...
My own opinion on the semi frozen heavy slush issue is that the really
appropriate tool here is a good spoon like shovel and a pair of hands.
For frozen slush, an ice breaker (?) tool plus shovel. Homeowner sized
powered devices simply do not cut it.

i


Mike Patterson
Please remove the spamtrap to email me.
"I always wanted to be somebody...I should have been more specific..." - Lily Tomlin

Make a cardboard sign saying "Paying $20 for snow shovelling" and
wait near the local high school parking lot around 3:30 PM.

just a thought



On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 16:31:25 GMT, "TheMan" wrote:

I can get a shovel at Home Depot or Menards, but where the heck do you get a
good pair of hands? :-)


"Ignoramus7928" wrote in message
...
My own opinion on the semi frozen heavy slush issue is that the really
appropriate tool here is a good spoon like shovel and a pair of hands.
For frozen slush, an ice breaker (?) tool plus shovel. Homeowner sized
powered devices simply do not cut it.

i


Mike Patterson
Please remove the spamtrap to email me.
"I always wanted to be somebody...I should have been more specific..." - Lily Tomlin

I had the same problem with my 24" 5Hp unit. Here in S.E. CT we often
get snow followed by sleet, freezing rain and rain, just like it is
outside right this minute!

I solved the problem by hiring a service to come and polw the white
s**t out of the way.

An laternative might be http://simonperry.org/dst/archives/001910.html
click on the "home made flamethrower" link.

Strange though, when I am in Oshkosh every summer for the EAA
convention there is never a slush problem.

Errol Groff

Instructor, Machine Tool Department

H.H. Ellis Technical High School
643 Upper Maple Street
Dantieson, CT 06239

New England Model Engineering Society
http://newenglandmodelengineeringsociety.org/









On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 03:21:21 GMT, "TheMan" wrote:

I live on one of the busiest street in our city, during the fun snow filled
months of Wisconsin the city plow come by often enough to keep the end of my
driveway filled with snow, that rapidly turns to slush. Anyone that's had
to deal with this wet heavy snow knows that even the best 2 stage snowblower
will moan an groan and struggle to throw this stuff anywhere. I've
purchased three new snowblowers over the years hoping more powerful engines
would help, but no luck.

On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 16:18:38 GMT, "TheMan" wrote:

Just an idea a friend had and it seems to work great, while cleaning out
his garage he found an old piece of crazy carpet his kids had discarded.

That sounds easy enough to try...not sure the why that would work? Does it
have to be thick or thin carpet?

IIRC Crazy Carpet was a trade name for a kids toy made out of a slick
plastic. Basically just a sheet of slippery plastic with a handgrip at
the front you could hold onto to keep from sliding off. A commercial
version of the old flattened cardboard box kids have slid down hills
with for generations.

On 06 Jan 2005 16:04:17 GMT, (John213a) wrote:

Another trick I use to help beat the snowplow man is to use my
snowblower to clear the edge of the road to the shoulder or curb area about 20
feet down from my driveway on his approach side. If I get this when blowing is
still efficient, it limits what he can plow back in.
This drives SWMBO up the wall to see me out plowing the street but I
never have a problem getting out of the driveway. I keep the bank cut
back to the curb, all the way upstream to the neighbours drive.
Gerry :-)}
London, Canada

On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 16:13:21 GMT, "TheMan" wrote:

That would probably work, howerver my driveway is about 13' across and it's
not unusual for this slush to be 12" deep and anywhere from 1-3 feet from
front to back... it's quite a challenge...


You have life easy.
I live on a corner - and the plow dumps a ridge up to 3-4 feet deep
and six feet wide across my driveway. And he leaves that 4 foot deep
pile 3 feet out from the curb the first time round. I blow out my
driveway, and the plow comes down the street, instead of around the
corner, and piles all of THAT into my driveway too. SO - when I blow
my driveway out the FIRST time, I also blow about 35 feet of that
ridge up onto the boulevard while it is still "relatively" soft and
blowable, before it freezes into huge moon rocks in the end of my
driveway.

That way I only have to do it once.
AWFULL hard on a 30+ year old 5HP 26" blower.

"Nick Hull" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"TheMan" wrote:

I live on one of the busiest street in our city, during the fun snow
filled
months of Wisconsin the city plow come by often enough to keep the end
of my
driveway filled with snow, that rapidly turns to slush. Anyone that's
had
to deal with this wet heavy snow knows that even the best 2 stage
snowblower
will moan an groan and struggle to throw this stuff anywhere. I've
purchased three new snowblowers over the years hoping more powerful
engines
would help, but no luck.

If it's slush it must be close to freezing/melting. Have you considered
heat to melt it and let gravity run it away? Could you borrow a
salamander to test the idea?

--
Free men own guns, slaves don't
www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/5357/

On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 11:28:42 -0500, Nick Hull
wrote:

If you could lay a metal stove pipe on the end of your driveway before
the snowplow arrives and let him bury the pipe under slush, maybe you
could hook up a salamander to the pipe and melt everything?


If I don't blow the whole shebang, melting it would just make a big
lake, as the plow covers the catch basin 20 feet from my driveway too.
A good thaw without clearing THAT makes a real mess.

A good freeze right after, and it is a huge skating rink.


In article ,
"TheMan" wrote:

That would probably work, howerver my driveway is about 13' across and it's
not unusual for this slush to be 12" deep and anywhere from 1-3 feet from
front to back... it's quite a challenge...


"Nick Hull" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"TheMan" wrote:

I live on one of the busiest street in our city, during the fun snow
filled
months of Wisconsin the city plow come by often enough to keep the end
of my
driveway filled with snow, that rapidly turns to slush. Anyone that's
had
to deal with this wet heavy snow knows that even the best 2 stage
snowblower
will moan an groan and struggle to throw this stuff anywhere. I've
purchased three new snowblowers over the years hoping more powerful
engines
would help, but no luck.

If it's slush it must be close to freezing/melting. Have you considered
heat to melt it and let gravity run it away? Could you borrow a
salamander to test the idea?

Lazy kids these days, I'd have to pay $50 to the spoiled brats and settle
for a half assed job at that.


"Ignoramus7928" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 16:35:56 -0500, Mike Patterson
wrote:
Make a cardboard sign saying "Paying $20 for snow shovelling" and
wait near the local high school parking lot around 3:30 PM.

just a thought

And after work is completed, use flamethrower to avoid paying.

Just a thought.

i



On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 16:31:25 GMT, "TheMan" wrote:

I can get a shovel at Home Depot or Menards, but where the heck do you
get a
good pair of hands? :-)


"Ignoramus7928" wrote in message
...
My own opinion on the semi frozen heavy slush issue is that the really
appropriate tool here is a good spoon like shovel and a pair of hands.
For frozen slush, an ice breaker (?) tool plus shovel. Homeowner sized
powered devices simply do not cut it.

i


Mike Patterson
Please remove the spamtrap to email me.
"I always wanted to be somebody...I should have been more specific..." -
Lily Tomlin


--

Gotcha, line the shoot with something slippery....

"John Ings" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 16:18:38 GMT, "TheMan" wrote:

Just an idea a friend had and it seems to work great, while cleaning
out
his garage he found an old piece of crazy carpet his kids had
discarded.

That sounds easy enough to try...not sure the why that would work? Does
it
have to be thick or thin carpet?

IIRC Crazy Carpet was a trade name for a kids toy made out of a slick
plastic. Basically just a sheet of slippery plastic with a handgrip at
the front you could hold onto to keep from sliding off. A commercial
version of the old flattened cardboard box kids have slid down hills
with for generations.

My house is in a similar location...I'm the first house right after the
corner lot....However the corner lot is empty, that is it has no driveway,
so like you I get a ton more snow that should have been pushed into someone
else's driveway right into mine...This is where my crazy idea of blocking
the end of my driveway with a portable/collapsible wall came into place- the
plow would have to push it all into the driveway after mine, problem is that
I actually like that neighbor.. Now if I could dump it all into the a-hole
that lives next to him.... :-)



wrote in message
...
On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 16:13:21 GMT, "TheMan" wrote:

That would probably work, howerver my driveway is about 13' across and
it's
not unusual for this slush to be 12" deep and anywhere from 1-3 feet from
front to back... it's quite a challenge...


You have life easy.
I live on a corner - and the plow dumps a ridge up to 3-4 feet deep
and six feet wide across my driveway. And he leaves that 4 foot deep
pile 3 feet out from the curb the first time round. I blow out my
driveway, and the plow comes down the street, instead of around the
corner, and piles all of THAT into my driveway too. SO - when I blow
my driveway out the FIRST time, I also blow about 35 feet of that
ridge up onto the boulevard while it is still "relatively" soft and
blowable, before it freezes into huge moon rocks in the end of my
driveway.

That way I only have to do it once.
AWFULL hard on a 30+ year old 5HP 26" blower.

"Nick Hull" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"TheMan" wrote:

I live on one of the busiest street in our city, during the fun snow
filled
months of Wisconsin the city plow come by often enough to keep the
end
of my
driveway filled with snow, that rapidly turns to slush. Anyone
that's
had
to deal with this wet heavy snow knows that even the best 2 stage
snowblower
will moan an groan and struggle to throw this stuff anywhere. I've
purchased three new snowblowers over the years hoping more powerful
engines
would help, but no luck.

If it's slush it must be close to freezing/melting. Have you
considered
heat to melt it and let gravity run it away? Could you borrow a
salamander to test the idea?

--
Free men own guns, slaves don't
www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/5357/

I usually have a frozen puddle at the end/bottom of the driveway after
clearing it all out anyway, either from the melting snow from the 4-6' high
piles of slush or from the wet road. At this point I'd pay money to have
the city put a drain in right next to my driveway...

wrote in message
...
On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 11:28:42 -0500, Nick Hull
wrote:

If you could lay a metal stove pipe on the end of your driveway before
the snowplow arrives and let him bury the pipe under slush, maybe you
could hook up a salamander to the pipe and melt everything?


If I don't blow the whole shebang, melting it would just make a big
lake, as the plow covers the catch basin 20 feet from my driveway too.
A good thaw without clearing THAT makes a real mess.

A good freeze right after, and it is a huge skating rink.


In article ,
"TheMan" wrote:

That would probably work, howerver my driveway is about 13' across and
it's
not unusual for this slush to be 12" deep and anywhere from 1-3 feet
from
front to back... it's quite a challenge...


"Nick Hull" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"TheMan" wrote:

I live on one of the busiest street in our city, during the fun
snow
filled
months of Wisconsin the city plow come by often enough to keep the
end
of my
driveway filled with snow, that rapidly turns to slush. Anyone
that's
had
to deal with this wet heavy snow knows that even the best 2 stage
snowblower
will moan an groan and struggle to throw this stuff anywhere. I've
purchased three new snowblowers over the years hoping more powerful
engines
would help, but no luck.

If it's slush it must be close to freezing/melting. Have you
considered
heat to melt it and let gravity run it away? Could you borrow a
salamander to test the idea?

Nick Hull wrote:

In article ,
"TheMan" wrote:


I live on one of the busiest street in our city, during the fun snow filled
months of Wisconsin the city plow come by often enough to keep the end of my
driveway filled with snow, that rapidly turns to slush. Anyone that's had
to deal with this wet heavy snow knows that even the best 2 stage snowblower
will moan an groan and struggle to throw this stuff anywhere. I've
purchased three new snowblowers over the years hoping more powerful engines
would help, but no luck.


If it's slush it must be close to freezing/melting. Have you considered
heat to melt it and let gravity run it away? Could you borrow a
salamander to test the idea?

Living in the Redwoods, it is easy. Chain saw the lump into small blocks and
move them into an ICE fence that protects the driveway from the city plow!

At least it should have some salt or chemical in the mix, but high walls
freeze nicely...

Martin
--
Martin Eastburn, Barbara Eastburn
@ home at Lion's Lair with our computer
NRA LOH, NRA Life
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder

Oh, and of course, don't forget that they've been known to use large
jet engine trucks at airports to blow and melt snow off runways...
I'll have to Google a link for that some day...

kinda like this?
http://gas-turbines.com/snowjet/snowjet.htm

though this one looks more practical:
http://gas-turbines.com/hornet.htm

:^)
--Glenn Lyford

Glenn Lyford wrote:
....
http://gas-turbines.com/hornet.htm

I liked the "no moving parts" (except the 750 CFM diesel compressor!)

In article ,
Gunner wrote:

Nothing like venturing into the Flaming Cul de Sac to keep the plow
guy attentive to his duties.

http://forums.somethingawful.com/sho...e6c12e5db992c7
21eef704b&threadid=1107178&perpage=40&pagenumber=1

--
B.B. --I am not a goat! thegoat4 at airmail dot net
http://web2.airmail.net/thegoat4/

On Fri, 07 Jan 2005 04:18:10 GMT, "TheMan" wrote:

I usually have a frozen puddle at the end/bottom of the driveway after
clearing it all out anyway, either from the melting snow from the 4-6' high
piles of slush or from the wet road. At this point I'd pay money to have
the city put a drain in right next to my driveway...

I find it handy even though the grating is about an inch above the
road surface, a little creative modification of the packed snow and I
have the drainage patern pretty much under control.
Gerry :-)}
London, Canada

On Fri, 07 Jan 2005 05:36:59 GMT, "Martin H. Eastburn"
wrote:

Nick Hull wrote:

In article ,
"TheMan" wrote:


I live on one of the busiest street in our city, during the fun snow filled
months of Wisconsin the city plow come by often enough to keep the end of my
driveway filled with snow, that rapidly turns to slush. Anyone that's had
to deal with this wet heavy snow knows that even the best 2 stage snowblower
will moan an groan and struggle to throw this stuff anywhere. I've
purchased three new snowblowers over the years hoping more powerful engines
would help, but no luck.


If it's slush it must be close to freezing/melting. Have you considered
heat to melt it and let gravity run it away? Could you borrow a
salamander to test the idea?

Living in the Redwoods, it is easy. Chain saw the lump into small blocks and
move them into an ICE fence that protects the driveway from the city plow!

This is similar to what I used to do at my previous residence, we had
no sidewalk until about the third snowfall, when the sidewalk plow
would use up about 15% of my available snow storage area. Although I
never blocked the plowed path completely, by spring, the bobcat
mounted plow had to grunt pretty y hard to get between my frozen wall
and the bank left by the street plow.
Gerry :-)}
London, Canada

On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 15:57:16 -0800, John Ings
wrote:

On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 16:18:38 GMT, "TheMan" wrote:

Just an idea a friend had and it seems to work great, while cleaning out
his garage he found an old piece of crazy carpet his kids had discarded.

That sounds easy enough to try...not sure the why that would work? Does it
have to be thick or thin carpet?

IIRC Crazy Carpet was a trade name for a kids toy made out of a slick
plastic. Basically just a sheet of slippery plastic with a handgrip at
the front you could hold onto to keep from sliding off. A commercial
version of the old flattened cardboard box kids have slid down hills
with for generations.

Uncle used to slide on an old license plate until grandmother found
out why his pants wore out so quickly!
Gerry :-)}
London, Canada

On 6 Jan 2005 15:49:39 GMT, (Charles A.
Sherwood) wrote:

However rational thought usually takes over and I figured this group might
have some good ideas about how to modify my snowblower to better handle
slush. I've tried painting, polishing, waxing and even spraying non stick

I have a toro single stage with a curved rotor. It moves slush easily.
The curved rotor will even throw water. This is one case where a single
stage really excells.

chuck

Last night I cleared the end of the driveway and 30' of curb of the
plowed stuff. I used the little single stage I inherited from the
previous homeowner (he moved to Florida, left his snow stuff). No
problem, just rammed it into it slow enough that it didn't stall, and
could break up the 6"^3 clumps.

Pete Keillor