Horse Mat for Soft Snow Blade Edge

[Soundguy]

We've made the huge squeege before as well.. using horse matt, or old heavy stiff conveyor belting... just no end to the good uses of conveyor belting.

Soundguy

 

[pajoube]

Many have mentioned conveyor belt, where do you find old belt material?
PJ

 

[Soundguy]

Try mines and const. co.

Soundguy

 

[pajoube]

Good idea, Butte is not far from Bozeman which has (or had) many mines which used belts.
PJ

 

[Slamfire]

If anybody wants raw materials, there are several pieces on I-75 south at the 60 mile marker in E. TN. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif They were off on the shoulder last night.

 

[mowingcorey]

I did something similiar to using a horse mat. I took a 6 ft piece of 2" pipe, had the welding class at the school where I work cut a 6 ft groove in it with a cutting torch, and then I lightly welded (each end and middle) to the bottom edge of my rear blade. It worked really well last winter in my rock drive. I liked it especially when I pushed snow into the grass. Has anyone else done this? I was able to cut the welds and use the blade to move dirt this summer.

 

[OkieG]

Wing126 mentions the same technique on pages one and two in <font color="red"> this </font> recent thread.

I'd like to find a few feet of pipe somewhere and give it a try.

OkieG

 

[rdonahue]

Why didn't I look here last month?! I ended up buying a piece or rubber 1/2" thick by 6" by 6' for about $20-$25. Funny thing is that I've got some old horse mats being used by some horses I don't really like. They wouldn't mind if I trimmed a little off. The only thing I did different is to get a 1/4" steel plate that's 3" by 6'. I drilled holes to match the bolt holes on the cutting edge. So now my rubber squeege is sandwiched between the cutting edge and the 1/4" plate. Makes it real secure. With this arrangement I could probably use 2 or 3 thicknesses of horse mat and make it real stiff. I bought some 5/8" by 3" bolts for $20 so I still have lots of room.

--Rick

 

[pajoube]

Welcome to TBN.
I did the same as you and used horse mat for the blade edge. I also used the steel plate 3" x 6ft. I feel that is the key to the edge being held firm while you are pushing some very heavy snow. I had not thought about doubling up on the horse mat but that is a thought if it starts to curl.
PJ

 

[Yankee]

Thought I'd throw in my 2 cents. I have a few horse mats that I use in the garage as tool mats (better than standing on concrete). I use a big pair of slip-joint pliers to move them. Just adjust to the thickness of the mat, grab an edge and haul. Works like a charm. I've even managed to get one into the bed of the pickup by myself, though that's a bit tougher.

Yankee Bill

 

[KevPH]

Here's another way to that skin cat. Buy 10" wide 2 ply belting from TSC. Cut/split belt to 5" wide. Drill holes and fit between the blade and the replaceable cut edge. The belt/wiper is about 1 inch lower than the replaceable cut edge.
The belt/scraper shows no wear, no noise in use. The wife is so happy with the results to her driveway! BTW, I was able to reuse the factory bolts/nuts. Cool Beans! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[pajoube]

Great idea with the slip-joint pliers. The mat is so heavy it is hard to hang on to and move. The pliers should do the trick /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
PJ

 

[Tom_W]

A friend got me a piece of heavy conveyor belt approx. 1/2" thick. I cut it to size with a utility knife and drilled holes in it. I made it about 3" longer than the metal cutting edge and it doesn't bend a bit.

 

[Zork]

Thats a super idea

 

[OkieG]

Tom,
Where did your friend go to find a piece of conveyer belt?

OkieG

 

[Ben_W]

Does anyone have experience to know if these rubber type edges remove much pea gravel on top of a seal coated driveway? I always have to have the metal plow blade about 3/4 to 1 inch off the ground. Wish I could get closer. Thanks

 

[pajoube]

Let me put it this way, my driveway is asphalt but on the end its gravel. With the horse mat I have not moved hardly any gravel from the driveway. Also when I plow off the driveway into the grass it does not damage the grass edges.
PJ

 

[markie61]

When plowing my in-law's and neighbor's bluestone gravel drives, I use the rear blade with the rubber edge and don't move much gravel. When I have done this, the ground was pretty frozen and the drive was frozen too.
Mark

 

[Tom_W]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Tom,
Where did your friend go to find a piece of conveyer belt?
)</font>

He works at an asphalt plant. It was a piece they were throwing away.

 

[Yankee]

Channel-locks is what I meant to say. The offset head, coupled with the ability to match the thickness of the mat gives you a good grab.

Yankee Bill