Bought a snow shovel today

[john70t]

Best snow shovel (so far) is a $8 pos from meijers.
-Super lightweight. Under four pounds easy.
-No sticking with every push.
-Good on the back.
-Wide scoop from pushing downhill.
-Delicate enough to feel and take care. Bounces off the ice nubs. Easy to replace.

[pete3799]

Shovel?
I thought you're supposed to push it.

[Racerbvd]

I know how to use one of those.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Hijacking my own thread:
T-minus 12 (or so) hours and counting-

[PetrolBlueSC]

I wish we were getting your weather. Tip: spray snow shovel with WD-40 to keep it from sticking. We use a variety of shovels here, plastic traditional push, Al and plastic grain, square dirt shovel, etc. All have broken or worn out at some time. Just need the variety so you can pick the right shovel for the right job, plastic for decks, grain for the roof (picking up and throwing rather than pushing), traditional for fresh snow on driveway, or square dirt shovel for packed snow and ice on the driveway.

[mikester]

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by peteremsley

yeah, wd40 is a great tip. it sucks when you lift the same snow over your shoulder 20 times. ridiculous and fantastic at the same time that a snow shovel thread is 3 pages deep

I would have thought it would have died and fallen off the board with 3 post tops... but now I dream big - 12345-last page.... type dreams!
Oh...to dream!

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by 911SauCy

It's also a relief to know that I'm not the only person who buys something, inspects the craftsmanship and anticipates where/how issues will arise.

This is especially important with Russian wives.

Well, any wives for that matter.

[pavulon]

I run an older Honda 1332 and 3 different shovels-- the 2 plastic yo-ho pushers needed to be rehab'd not long after being put to work

The 1332 demolishes snow...30 ft roosts of snow when the serious stuff has fallen. Neighbors have various cub cadets and JD's. It's not fair to compare them. I've not seen an Ariens around here yet but am told they are also serious about moving snow. The 2015 Hondas have a bunch of improvements.

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by peteremsley

I run a $15 shovel and a 16 year old son

And a big whip?????????

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

Sounds like a good plan, I am so sick and tired, of being sick and tired during the Winters in Northern Ohio....weeks on end without seeing the sun, constant temps under 20 degrees, enough snow to make the commute hell, but not enough for Winter sports. From December through March, I have a permanent grimmace on my face from the battering winds, subzero temps, and slippery conditions.

I really think I will be looking to migrate South about 500 miles when retirement time arrives.

My kid brother moved south of Lynchburg VA to escape winter. They're expecting a foot or more tomorrow. BUT it certainly won't last long there.

[devodave]

Originally Posted by pavulon

I run an older Honda 1332 and 3 different shovels-- the 2 plastic yo-ho pushers needed to be rehab'd not long after being put to work

The 1332 demolishes snow...30 ft roosts of snow when the serious stuff has fallen. Neighbors have various cub cadets and JD's. It's not fair to compare them. I've not seen an Ariens around here yet but am told they are also serious about moving snow. The 2015 Hondas have a bunch of improvements.

I looked for a Honda when I replaced our older JD a few years back, but they were hard to find and not many folks here run them. Using a JD 1330 that does a pretty good job. Takes about an hour to get the minimal done, about 2 if I hit all the paths. The best shovels I have found have been the $15 plastic blade ones with a steel strip riveted to the front (best ergonomics), but could not find one last year. I am trying a True Temper alum bade version that seems OK. Also use a flat steel bladed shovel for concrete and asphalt aprons.

Last year it started getting really old and I started to seriously consider a warmer clime for retirement!

[Scuba Steve]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

From December through March, I have a permanent grimmace on my face from the battering winds, subzero temps, and slippery conditions.

I have the same grimace from July to September in the hot and humid south. Forget going outside when it's in the low 90s but humidity bumps the index up to 120+

[Paul_Heery]

[911SauCy]

pavulon..

Is that a late model unit? Looks like it means business and between how smooth Hondas run and the tracks I bet it rocks.

Used my FIL's late model (3yo max) Ariens, 12hp, large 40+" width last year, went though 8" at full speed and didn't skip a beat. But, when I comes to real depth the thing is a dog. We got 30" one year and my FIL was telling me it was bogging/cutting the engine, took him an entire day to clear his drive.

My 25y/o TroyBuilt 8hp Techummy powered 28" unit drove under the 30", whatever it didn't push through went over the top so I did need to go over the drive twice but it didn't skip a beat. Don't make 'em like they used to.

[pavulon]

It's about 4 years old now. Had a tracked Honda 724 and it was just too small for my needs. Honda made 1132's for awhile but changed to 1332 for what I assume was good reason. The current models have some improvements primarily in the way of electric chute, auger height adjustments, power maneuverability and an LED light. A fella could see that as more to go wrong or have faith that Honda engineered and manufactured the changes well. There was a wall outlet electric start option offered for mine but honestly even the 13HP version is easy to pull start (but mine sits in a 50F degree garage). I suspect the new ones have a battery with all the electric adjustments and retain electric start of some sort as an option. I will say that turning and managing a tracked blower can be a bit of a workout but that is off-set by the way it brutalizes the white stuff. It's easy to be distracted by the work the thing is doing and makes me appreciate the power contained in $2 of gasoline.

Lastly, In the event a 1332 leaves one underwhelmed (we won't talk about marriage, the two binder receipt system and pricing), there is 1336 that is a tracked hybrid that may have you appreciating how well your Troy Built has served you even more!!

Originally Posted by 911SauCy

pavulon..

Is that a late model unit? Looks like it means business and between how smooth Hondas run and the tracks I bet it rocks.

Used my FIL's late model (3yo max) Ariens, 12hp, large 40+" width last year, went though 8" at full speed and didn't skip a beat. But, when I comes to real depth the thing is a dog. We got 30" one year and my FIL was telling me it was bogging/cutting the engine, took him an entire day to clear his drive.

My 25y/o TroyBuilt 8hp Techummy powered 28" unit drove under the 30", whatever it didn't push through went over the top so I did need to go over the drive twice but it didn't skip a beat. Don't make 'em like they used to.

[cabmandone]

Oooooh, so now we're onto things with tracks and a snowblower. Well, mine... still bigger!

[pete3799]

Mine is bigger than yours

[pavulon]

Why mess around?

Disclaimer: camera guy should stick to his day job-

[LEAKYSEALS951]

^I love that video! I remember when I was restoring my snowblower and would search youtube for videos- and I would watch that at work. I would think "I am the only person on the planet watching this!"