Looking for a implement to remove ice

ttstraw · Dec 31, 2009

Ok folks I want to run something past you before I make a purchase. The situation is this; leave that thin layer of snow on the driveway so the rear blade doesnt take the gravel off and sure enough we get a warm snap with some rain and then cold again. Now I have a bob sled run instead of a driveway, this happens at least 2 twice a year and sometimes more. I was thinking that a box blade with the rippers set at the lowest might work to rip that inch or two of ice up and allow it to be removed. Has anyone tried this before? Wouldnt mind having the box blade and if this is another viable use then it may be an easier purchase.

Dutch445 · Dec 31, 2009

easier to get a load of small stone, and spread
it on top, it'll give you traction, and loosen some of
that ice. i'm afraid that if that base is still cold,
you will pull up large hunks of gravel with the ice
with the rippers.....

Egon · Dec 31, 2009

Is that what is called "Catch 22" ?

JB4310 · Dec 31, 2009

Depending how thick and hard the ice is, it could be like dragging those rippers over concrete, not gonna do much but scratch it.

If the ice was only an inch, sitting on totally unbound crushed stone, in other words the stone is not all frozen together with the surface ice. You might be able to get under it, but it would be a mess.

Most likely you'll have to treat the surface, like Dutch mentioned, if you had a pile of the same stuff as what's on the drive now, you could still justify getting the box by using it to drag the gravel on the surface, then in the spring you have a little extra material on the surface, nothing to clean up.

JB.

JOELENAHAN · Dec 31, 2009

A TPH spreader with ice melt would be the answer, but this could be very expensive(cost of the ice melt). Buy the box blade and try it out for yourself. I have never tried using my BB to break up ice with the rippers, but I have my BB on most of the year just because it is the best ballast I have. Do you know anyone who burns coal? I am fortunate to have an endless supply of ashes. When icy conditions come about, I fill my loader with ashes and spread them with a shovel or slowly dump them in the icy spots. Once the sun heats them, they break up the ice enough to get some traction. The only problem I have with the ashes is if I put them too close to the front door, seems the wife is bitching that they somehow make it into th house. Go figure.

ttstraw · Jan 1, 2010

The drive is mostly dirt with stone in certain areas and usually there is bare or close to bare dirt on the crown so I think the rippers would be able to get under the ice. My neighbor has been buy cinder this year since we have had two pretty bad situations already this year. Biggest reason I want to get the BB is to try and dress up the dirt/stone drive just figured if it would work on the ice it would be another check on the "plus" side.

bc realtor · Jan 1, 2010

A standard 3 pt spreader and some sand may be the best route?

hr3 · Jan 1, 2010

I'v used my BB for removing ice from my drive,,works ok. It takes a few passes and gets most of it up.. I don't use the rippers though..

dirt ditch · Jan 1, 2010

Depending on the thickness of the ice and how cold it is I don't know if the rippers of a BB could penetrate it, let alone break it up. If they did, there is a good chance of popping out chunks of the road beneath the ice.

Spreading sand mixed with a small amount of salt or other form of ice melt will give some traction and melt ice down to the low 20 degrees Fahrenheit. When the sun is out, the sand will absorb more radiation than the ice is reflecting and help speed up the melting process.

Egon · Jan 1, 2010

A standard 3 pt spreader and some sand may be the best route?

This may be one of the best alternatives.

etcallhome · Jan 1, 2010

I do my neighbors parking area has gravel lot for about 5 cars ,then a very small asphalt drive and then rest is grass. The sun very seldom hits this lot and most of the time it is a sheet of ice. Every time it warms a little I get over there and try to remove as much as I can with front blade or RB just so it doesn't get a couple of inches thick. Like the other said you may try bb and it may do OK but just for traction, spreader and some sand or small gravel may just do the trick. If people have driven in the church parking lot before I get a chance to plow ,it leaves alot of ruts on every tire track, come Sunday morning we just spread a little gravel on main walking area . Around here it is just winter and you learn to watch your footing.

Happy New Year

Have fun and be safe !!!

Deerlope · Jan 1, 2010

Move to a warmer climate

irvingj · Jan 1, 2010

Same thing happens perodically to my drive... which goes uphill to get out, and the slope faces north.

When icy, I spread sand. I'm fortunate that my taxes help pay for a sandpile that the town supplies, free to residents, at the town garage: "Driveway Sand-Pails Only"

I use plastic bags, and spread by holding like a bagpipe, walkin' & shakin'. Works well. They do mix a bit of salt in it, so it adheres pretty well. I always keep 7 to 9 bags of it, about 25 lbs each, in my garage during the winter (have to!).

Eventually, the sanded layer will be covered by new, dry, packed snow. Good to go. Interestingly, as it begins to melt in the spring, the trapped sand particles --in layers-- will become exposed; kind of a "self-sanding" driveway!

I don't even try to remove built-up ice until things begin to thaw in the spring, then use the backhoe or FEL if I have to.

harpoonalt · Jan 1, 2010

Ripping up the ice will have a lot of gravel coming with it and make a big mess. After starting you'll wish you hadn't. Sanding or an ice melter is your best bet. Unless your driveway is huge, you can do a lot of spreading by hand rather quickly. I use a small garden scoop and just fling it out onto the road. I have a colored slate in my drive so I use ice melter there. You don't have to eliminate all the ice as much as get it roughed up enough so you have traction. Simple solutions are usually the best.

MarkV · Jan 1, 2010

I would think that if the ice were that slick and the rippers could get a grip under the ice you would lose traction and go no where.

MarkV

Tig · Jan 1, 2010

Sand and/or ashes from your fireplace. Sand gives immediate traction. Ashes some what less but with lye to lower the melting point. Both will catch heat from the sun and work to break down the ice.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned a landscape rake during the thaw to rough up the surface. Never tried it myself but it sounds like it would help.

mbohuntr · Jan 1, 2010

I use the stuff the sanders put down. My drive was about 10-15 degrees., I went to the supplier and bought a half p/u load. Good stuff, no clean up.

jenkinsph · Jan 1, 2010

I would think for a small driveway you could use a walk behind spin spreader to put out sand and ice melt. Another possibility is a pull type spin spreader behind a riding mower. These small spreaders won't throw the salt and sand nearly as far so you can keep it all on the driveway. Easier to deal with in bad weather, no hitching and unhitching either.

If you have alot of area to cover then I would consider the 3 pt spin spreader but I know mine will throw sand a long way and this can be more of a problem than you might think.

Tig · Jan 1, 2010

The problem I find with the pull/push spreaders that I have had is that they rely on traction to drive the spreader. When you get it out on the ice you quickly realize that it was made for summer use on your lawn.

Bigger one's may work better though.