The Snow Thrower Thread or Snow Blower thread

[onetwo_threefour]

nm

[Buff]

Originally Posted by THE SCUD

It's against the law to shovel your driveway onto the street. The general spirit of the bylaw is that the snow must remain where it was. IE if its on your property you must shovel it onto your property (aka the lawn). if it's on the road, sure push it to one side to get your driveway road access clear.

If any of my neighbours shovelled onto the road I'd go pee on their driveway.

What if you shovel it onto our neighbour's property? Do they have any bylaws regarding that? Not that it matters to me since I live in Lethbridge, and my neighbour has seen me pushing snow off of my driveway onto his adjacent front lawn.

[Bagor]

Bought a 9HP, 27" Ariens snowking with Ticumeseh engine in 2009 that I love. I see now that Ariens has changed to Briggs and Stratton engines.

The dealbreaker for me was when we got 420 odd cm in 2008.

Electric start is the way to go.

[Suave]

I have a little Toro 1800 electric snow blower, not the most manly, but it does the trick. Moved to London, Ont in the snow belt and figured it would be a practical size for when I move back to Calgary. I haven't had any issues clearing my double length driveway (though the neighbors clear it with their truck when we get the 3ft dumps).

Best part its light (25lbs), so even the wife can clear the snow. Wives, not just for kitchens and bedrooms anymore.

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/toro...wblower/918478

[stampsx2]

If you're a girl get a snow thrower. If you're a guy get something real like a snow blower. A good snow blower should be able to get the snow into your neighbors yard.

[macker]

Originally Posted by stampsx2

if you're a girl get a snow thrower. if you're a guy under 40 use a shovel or over 40 get something real like a snow blower. A good snow blower should be able to get the snow into your neighbors yard.

fyp

[stampsx2]

Good point. Shovel works. Have been using one for years.

[topfiverecords]

Too bad this one sold already.
http://blognostifier.blogspot.com/ &
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/11...tml?ref=canada
Was a Kijiji ad for a snowblower that went viral.

Do you like shoveling snow? Then stop reading this and go back to your pushups and granola because you are not someone that I want to talk to.

Let’s face it, we live in a place that attracts snow like Magnetic Hill attracts cars, only that ain’t an illusion out there. That’s 12 inches of snow piling up and, oh, what’s that sound? Why it’s the snow plow and it’s here to let you know that it hates you and all the time you spent to shovel your driveway. Did you want to get out of your house today? Were you expecting to get to work on time? Or even this week?

You gave it your best shot. You tried to shovel by yourself and I respect you for that. I did it, my parents did it, some of my best friends did it. But deep down inside, we all wanted to murder that neighbor with the snowblower who was finished and on his second beer while you were still trying to throw snow over a snowbank taller than you are.

So, here we are. You could murder your neighbour, which could ensure that you won’t need to shovel a driveway for 25 to life, but there are downsides to that too. What to do?

Here’s the deal. I have a snow blower and I want you to own it. I can tell you’re serious about this. It’s like I can almost see you: sitting there, your legs are probably crossed and your left hand is on your chin. Am I right? How’d I do that? The same way that I know that YOU ARE GOING TO BUY THIS SNOWBLOWER.

I want you to experience the rush that comes with smashing through a snowdrift and blowing that mother trucker out of the way. The elation of seeing the snow plow come back down your street and watching the look of despair as your OTHER neighbour gets his shovel out once more while you kick back with a hot cup of joe (you don’t have a drinking problem like that other guy).

Here’s what you do. You go to the bank. You collect $900. You get your buddy with a truck and you drive over here. You give me some cold hard cash and I give you a machine that will mess up a snowbank sumthin’ fierce. I’ve even got the manual for it, on account of I bought it brand new and I don’t throw that kind of thing away. Don't want to pay me $900? Convince me. Send me an offer and I'll either laugh at you and you'll never hear back from me or I'll counter.

You want a snow blower. You need a snow blower.

This isn’t some entry level snow blower that is just gonna move the snow two feet away. This is an 11 HP Briggs and Stratton machine of snow doom that will cut a 29 inch path of pure ecstasy. And it’s only 4 years old. I dare you to find a harder working 4 year old. My niece is five and she gets tired and cranky after just a few minutes of shoveling. This guy just goes and goes and goes.

You know what else? I greased it every year to help keep the water off it and the body in as good as shape as possible. It's greasier than me when I was 13, and that's saying something.

You know how many speeds it has? Six forward and two in reverse. It goes from “leisurely” slow up to “light speed”. Seriously, I’ve never gone further than five because it terrifies me. I kid you not, you could probably commute to work with it dragging you.

You know what else is crappy about clearing snow in the morning? That you have to do it in the dark. Well, not anymore! It has a halogen headlight that will light your way like some kind of moveable lighthouse (only better, because lighthouses won’t clear your driveway).

Oh, and since it’s the 21st century, this snow blower comes with an electric starter. Just plug that sucker in, push the button, and get ready to punch snow in the throat. If you want to experience what life was like in olden days, it comes with a back-up cord you could pull to start it, but forget that. The reason you’re getting this fearsome warrior was for the convenience, so why make it harder on yourself?

By this point, you’re probably wondering why I would sell my snowblower since the first snowpocalypse is upon us today. I’ll tell you why: because I heard it was time for you to man up and harness some mighty teeth and claws and chew your way to freedom, that’s why.

This is my snow blower. Make it your snow blower.

[vtec260]

I had 2 stage blower since 1987 and last year it went, so got a good use out of it. To replace it, I bought a single stage unit and I find single stage to be more practical. Sure, it cannot throw as far or for deep, wet snow, but it is more maneuverable, light, takes less space in the garage, scrapes down to the pavement, and is almost self-propelled. I bought one at Wal-mart last year, Poulan model for $288. If Wal-mart has same sale this winter, go get one. If you use it for 10 years, it's like $28/year+oil change+gas. Not a bad investment.

[prarieboy]

My neighbour came by today with his little single stage and cleared the remaining half of my driveway in about 5 minutes. I think it would have taken me 30 minutes to finish with a shovel.
I'm looking at a Craftsman 205cc single stage blower now.

Can't wait

[FurnaceFace]

There is a lazy ass near me who uses a freaking leaf blower to clean his place. Ran the GD thing for a good hour today. felt like going out there and introducing him to a shovel. He's got a front walk and sidewalk to do plus whatever he might do out back, no driveway to worry about. The guy could use the exercise and it would probably take him half the time with a shovel.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by YYC in LAX

no

Doesn't matter. Anyone who blows their snow on the street is a Law-breaking dick. It's illegal everywhere.

[Badgers Nose]

Reviving this classic - anyone using an EGO cordless blower? Push or self propelled?

I've had an EGO cordless push mower for about 10 years now and really like it. Seems the snow blower uses the same battery and that's appealing.

Yeah, yeah shovel FTW. Whatever. I am old. One of these seems a better investment than paying somebody to do the work.

[Slava]

I’ve had a snow blower of one type or another for years and it’s most definitely not shovel for the win. I originally got mine when I needed spine surgery, so I had a decent excuse, but you don’t need one.

I don’t have the electric blower you’re looking at, so I can’t opine on that.

[bc-chris]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Reviving this classic - anyone using an EGO cordless blower? Push or self propelled?

I've had an EGO cordless push mower for about 10 years now and really like it. Seems the snow blower uses the same battery and that's appealing.

Yeah, yeah shovel FTW. Whatever. I am old. One of these seems a better investment than paying somebody to do the work.

what is this 'snow' you speak of??

kelowna was +10 today... +11 tomorrow - just crazy!

the kids are sure hoping it cools down before christmas

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by bc-chris

what is this 'snow' you speak of??

kelowna was +10 today... +11 tomorrow - just crazy!

the kids are sure hoping it cools down before christmas

Ok, laugh it up. We'll see who's laughing when 'forest fire burns down my house' season comes.

[Ryan Coke]

I’ve used a gas single stage blower for the last 10 years on a pretty wide driveway, and the size was good for that. But I’m tired of maintaining (or maybe not maintaining) the gas machine, and am very close to getting a battery operated unit. I was looking at the Ego (same as you, to match my mower), but man is there a price premium on the ego stuff. I’m pretty tempted to get a greenworks in the 400-500 buck range, as opposed to the ego ($799 on sale). It doesn’t look like the quality/performance delta between the 2 is worth the price difference, but I’m interested in hearing anyone’s experience with them.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Reviving this classic - anyone using an EGO cordless blower? Push or self propelled?

I've had an EGO cordless push mower for about 10 years now and really like it. Seems the snow blower uses the same battery and that's appealing.

Yeah, yeah shovel FTW. Whatever. I am old. One of these seems a better investment than paying somebody to do the work.

I have this electric snow blower from EGO and it's fantastic. Metal auger too.
https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/e...-0600617p.html

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

I’ve used a gas single stage blower for the last 10 years on a pretty wide driveway, and the size was good for that. But I’m tired of maintaining (or maybe not maintaining) the gas machine, and am very close to getting a battery operated unit. I was looking at the Ego (same as you, to match my mower), but man is there a price premium on the ego stuff. I’m pretty tempted to get a greenworks in the 400-500 buck range, as opposed to the ego ($799 on sale). It doesn’t look like the quality/performance delta between the 2 is worth the price difference, but I’m interested in hearing anyone’s experience with them.

If you don't mind me asking, what's the issue with a single stage gas thrower that you want to get a battery one? I got a single stage Briggs & Stratton gas thrower 3 years ago for <$400 to replace a plug in electric one I used for 3 years (no more frozen extension cord annoyance and distance limitations). It's been great so far, albeit I've occasionally wondered whether to put in the effort and research to swap the auger from the rubber one to a metal one.

[Ryan Coke]

It worked great for my use case, it’s just the maintenance side of things. I didn’t do a good job of spring maintenance so in the winter it got to where it won’t start until I pull it apart and clean up the carb. I got it used and it worked with very little maintenance for 10 years so can’t complain about that. But a battery charge and then just a button push to start should be a lower time cost on maintenance.

I just pulled the trigger on an 80V greenworks for just over $400 all in, so I’ll report back after I’ve used it a few times.