Snow Attachments ABS Plastic Pipe Snow Blade Edge

[JerryK]

What really busts up the PVC, is when you get a lot of wet slush..drive over it...and it freezes into ridges up and down the drive. Bounce the PVC pipe a few times off that surface at speed when it is cold...and that's the end of that. The ABS will take alot more abuse, but will finally suscumb to the same fate..... Besides, it is a lot easier to find the broken pieces of the black ABS...than the white pieces of the PVC.... :n)

 

[adirondacktrac]

Man, am I glad I don't have to contend with grindstones Size of rocks or grindstones aside, I think this initial plowing had a lot more to do with the fact that a rookie at this driving backwards using a back blade goes alot slower than you folks with plows on the front. Anyway, I fully expect I will hit something or drop the blade too hard when it is -15F and that will be the end of the PVC. Til then, I just confirm what everybody has been saying, that the use of the pipe over the plow blade, whether PVC, ABS or HMWPE is a darn sight better than, once spring rolls around, having to repair all the damage you would otherwise do. Thanks to all the members for an unending stream of great advice and discussion.
Bill

 

[bp fick]

Man, am I glad I don't have to contend with grindstones Size of rocks or grindstones aside, I think this initial plowing had a lot more to do with the fact that a rookie at this driving backwards using a back blade goes alot slower than you folks with plows on the front. Anyway, I fully expect I will hit something or drop the blade too hard when it is -15F and that will be the end of the PVC. Til then, I just confirm what everybody has been saying, that the use of the pipe over the plow blade, whether PVC, ABS or HMWPE is a darn sight better than, once spring rolls around, having to repair all the damage you would otherwise do. Thanks to all the members for an unending stream of great advice and discussion.
Bill

Bill, you are right. Speed kills!!! Low temps too. But, When plowing out a long lane in deep snow, momentum is your friend.

Yes, a plastic edge is a life saver on unfrozen gravel. Again, the diameter chosen impacts the float versus cut in a big way. The angle of ascent and descent changes dramatically by moving up from 1.5" to 2" to 3". The larger the diameter, the more it floats. Simple geometry.

Pick your pipe, change your results.

 

[CowwFace]

Steve,

OK, it was first made into pipe in 1955, while Sputnik launched the space age in 1957, so HDPE technically pre-dates the space age by two years. Mea Culpa!

I'm quite happy, so far, with my ABS.

How much snow did you guys get down that way?

I'm going with ABS, ... and i'll put a six pack of Miller in the bucket when I plow...

... I'll have six pack ABS!! bbwwwaaaaahhhahahaha!!!

Carry on,
Phill

 

[MichiganIron]

We make a Bull Nose cutting edge for snow blades and loader buckets. We use 2" Schedule 40 Steel for the Bull Nose cutting edges. The pipe is Plasma Spit for the cutting edge with/or without attachment tabs.

The Bull Noses work great for plowing on pre-frozen gravel surfaces. Those first couple snows can be tough before the gravel is well frozen. We make them for any plow blade or loader bucket.

 

[adirondacktrac]

I'm going with ABS, ... and i'll put a six pack of Miller in the bucket when I plow...

... I'll have six pack ABS!! bbwwwaaaaahhhahahaha!!!

Carry on,
Phill

I like that idea, I am going out to get my six pack of Saranac Pale ale and forget about going to the gym in the morning. Had my fill of plowing anyway.

 

[JJZ 109]

Of course the local Lowe's & Home Depot carry strictly PVC in 1 1/2" and larger sizes.
However, I did find some black poly in 1 inch by 5 feet lengths at Lowe's and the same diameter by 2 foot lengths at H D. So I got some at each place. For the low cost I'll give it a shot.
I think I may be interested in Michigan Iron's product, but I couldn't seem to find it on their website. Might just be my poor navigational skills.
I'd be interested in a pic and a price for one of these for a Kubota LA 403/5' loader.

 

[studor]

JJZ -- hop across the border --lots of ABS here
Cowwface -- from long experience if you put a six pack in the loader you have broken six pack ABS course with that beer it would only hurt a little bit -- not like breaking a good beer (just joshin ya)

 

[bp fick]

Of course the local Lowe's & Home Depot carry strictly PVC in 1 1/2" and larger sizes.
However, I did find some black poly in 1 inch by 5 feet lengths at Lowe's and the same diameter by 2 foot lengths at H D. So I got some at each place. For the low cost I'll give it a shot.
.

On both Lowe's and Home Depot's website, you can "choose your store" while shopping online. Some stores stock the ABS and some do not. The "choose your store" feature is useful find a store near you, if you have an option, that stocks the ABS. Don't forget plumbing supply stores. Call ahead.

 

[JJZ 109]

On both Lowe's and Home Depot's website, you can "choose your store" while shopping online. Some stores stock the ABS and some do not. The "choose your store" feature is useful find a store near you, if you have an option, that stocks the ABS. Don't forget plumbing supply stores. Call ahead.

I did in fact do that just before I hit the store and lo and behold, the local place stocked none. I had to be at a nearby place anyway, so I went into both Lowe's and Home Deopt and found the smaller stuff. I'll give this one inch stuff a shot and then I'll have to make a trip to a "real" plumbing supply house.

 

[JJZ 109]

Here's an idea that I may try, how about some opinions?
Take the appropriate length of 1 1/2" black iron, have a welding shop cut a 1/4" (or so) groove down the length of it. Then at home I'd drill a hole in the top side of either end. Weld a nut over the hole and then insert a bolt (with double nut to lock it) and secure to the blade/bucket.
I'm thinking that it may be more secure and sturdy than ABS and no holes will be necessary in the bucket or blade.
Any suggestions or improvements on the plan are appreciated.

 

[adirondacktrac]

Here's an idea that I may try, how about some opinions?
Take the appropriate length of 1 1/2" black iron, have a welding shop cut a 1/4" (or so) groove down the length of it. Then at home I'd drill a hole in the top side of either end. Weld a nut over the hole and then insert a bolt (with double nut to lock it) and secure to the blade/bucket.
I'm thinking that it may be more secure and sturdy than ABS and no holes will be necessary in the bucket or blade.
Any suggestions or improvements on the plan are appreciated.

Just a thought based on last weekend's plowing with 1-1/2" pvc (concededly not the optimum choice), but one that worked well enough to make me reluctant to jump into the various iron or steel pipe configurations. When the PVC tanks, I will replace with tougher material, til then, at under $2.00 for the piece on my backblade, I am not thinking I want to get too elaborate. The PVC, or the ABS when you find it, is going to be easy on and off. Just my $.02 worth.

 

[JJZ 109]

I installed the 1"x5' poly that I found at Lowe's onto the loader tonight. I also found some 1 1/4" at the local Home Depot, but it was only in 2' lengths. But I did go ahead and buy 3 pieces of it. I took 2 of them and slid them onto the outboard leading edges of a Buhler Farm King 60 inch blower, leaving a gap in the center just to see if that'll save some gouging while the ground is still so soft.
No frost in the ground here yet and what little snow we had wasn't enough to have to move. It's completely gone now anyway. I'll try the patience method and give this black poly stuff a shot. If it works I'll have to hit a plumbing supply store for some ABS or HDPE.

 

[ayelvington]

Grainger has 3" schedule 40 ABS in 10' lengths. Order it through your local Tractor Supply Company and the shipping to the store is FREE! I ordered mine on Monday and it arrived on Tuesday.

It ROCKS! My neighbor did the cutting on his table saw, and I put it on my back blade last night. This morning I went over mud, gravel, snow and ice with it and it is none the worse for wear. Definitely gentler and kinder to grass and gravel than the cutting edge.

Two items of note:

1. I had to remove my cutting edge to get the slotted ABS onto the blade. Not a big deal, but something to keep in mind.

2. If you angle your blade (who doesn't?), the ABS will try and creep off over time. Adding 3" to each end and putting a carriage bolt through the ABS would provide a nice stop to keep that from happening.

This is a great idea, and I'll be putting a piece on my FEL later on.

Many thanks to all!

 

[bp fick]

Grainger has 3" schedule 40 ABS in 10' lengths. Order it through your local Tractor Supply Company and the shipping to the store is FREE! I ordered mine on Monday and it arrived on Tuesday.

It ROCKS! My neighbor did the cutting on his table saw, and I put it on my back blade last night. This morning I went over mud, gravel, snow and ice with it and it is none the worse for wear. Definitely gentler and kinder to grass and gravel than the cutting edge.

Two items of note:

1. I had to remove my cutting edge to get the slotted ABS onto the blade. Not a big deal, but something to keep in mind.

2. If you angle your blade (who doesn't?), the ABS will try and creep off over time. Adding 3" to each end and putting a carriage bolt through the ABS would provide a nice stop to keep that from happening.

This is a great idea, and I'll be putting a piece on my FEL later on.

Many thanks to all!

YMMV. I did NOT have to remove my blade edge. Also, it absolutely does not wiggle, move, slip, or slide one iota. The smaller diameter pipe seems to have more grip. Again, YMMV

We have had enough snow, season total now approaching 30", and with our temps, the base is now well frozen and I'll likely remove the ABS until spring.

 

[ayelvington]

I had to take the cutting edge off because the bolts got in the way... Mine only moves when I have the blade angled... No matter, neither are difficult to deal with, and the solution is cheap and effective!

Thanks,

Al

 

[studor]

I had to take the cutting edge off because the bolts got in the way... Mine only moves when I have the blade angled...

I found the bigger diameter does not hold on as well as the smaller sizes and can get in the way of bolts etc -- that why I settled on 2" (that and I had some free from furnace replacements) Slides on, stays put, comes off in the spring The bolt through the end will work -- you can tread the ABS if you want to be fancy

 

[Low Bucket]

I may try the plastic pipe on my blade.

 

[Just Bob]

There's a good thread on this over on the Kubota forum. Here's a link to my solution posted there;

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/154709-skid-pads-needed-necessary-4.html#post1799551

 

[eepete]

I put a 2" ABS pipe on my 54" front blade on my JD 318. We had about 1.5" of snow/slush last night. After about 75 feet, the ABS pipe broke. The gravel in the driveway is a mix of everything from some railroad ballast to .5" washed stones. It's only 2 years old, and some of the base still hangs around. No local quarries with screen crusher run for a top coat of .5" with rock dust.

I think if you had snow instead of slush, and smallish rocks in the driveway it would work OK (and clearly it has for many!). It was $10 to try it, what a deal. Might try it again (still have 1/2 of the 10' section left) once the driveway is all small stone, more level, and we have something close to snow.

Pete