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With the onset of winter, the owners of the private sector and public utilities have a new concern – Snow removal. Moreover, it is necessary to clean not only sidewalks, but also the roofs of buildings. Many tools have been invented to carry out these works. Each snow scraper differs in shape, size, as well as the material from which it is made.
Varieties of snow shovels
The most common and familiar to all snow removal tools are shovels. The forms and designs of this simple inventory are constantly being improved. Modern modernized shovels have folding handles, are made from lightweight materials, and are even equipped with a wheel.
Let’s start the review of snow removal equipment with a wooden tool. This shovel is characterized by a wide scoop and a long handle. The classic model can be used instead of a scraper. So that the edge of the plywood scoop does not wear out, it is framed with a steel tape.
Metal shovels are more reliable, but the convenience of their use depends on the material of manufacture. Ordinary steel is not well suited for the tool. Water-saturated snow will constantly stick to the scoop, plus susceptibility to corrosion. Shovels made of galvanized steel do not rust, but as long as the protective coating remains intact. Aluminum is an excellent material for a snow shovel. Such a metal scoop is resistant to corrosion, has a light weight and snow does not stick to it well.
A popular material for modern snow shovels is composite plastic. Snow does not stick to such a scoop, it is quite durable, and, most importantly, it is light in weight. Plastic shovels do not corrode and are not saturated with water from wet snow. The edge of the scoop is protected by a steel edge against abrasion. With care, a plastic shovel will last for five years.
A folding plastic shovel is most often in demand by motorists. The tool fits in the trunk and you can always carry it with you. The handle consists of two parts connected by a hinged mechanism. To fix the elements in working condition, the handle has a sliding sleeve.
Another version of the folding shovel differs in the design of the handle. It was made telescopic. Such inventory is similarly convenient for transportation in the trunk of a car. A shovel can be taken with you to the country in a bag.
Have you seen a snow shovel on wheels? Yes, there are such instances. More precisely, the design has one wheel of large diameter. It is fixed to the handle on the axis at the point of location of the hinged connection of the two elements of the handle. The role of the scoop is played by a plastic bucket, which is a shovel and a scraper at the same time. Bicycle handles are fixed at the second end of the handle. During work, a person rolls a tool around the site, and snow is raked into a bucket. To unload, simply push the handles down. At this time, the bucket with snow rises and throws it forward.
Snow scrapers
The second popular tool for clearing snow after shovels are scrapers. This type of implement similarly has a simple design with a handle or a complex mechanism on wheels.
Let’s start the review of the models with the simplest scraper, called the shovel. The snow removal tool also has another name – a scraper. The scraper consists of a wide bucket, to which a U-shaped handle is attached. During operation, the scraper is pushed forward by hands. Snow is collected in the bucket, which is then unloaded by tilting the scraper.
For those who wish to use the scraper like a shovel, manufacturers have come up with a modified tool. The design feature is the shape of the scoop. The bucket can be used to rake and throw snow.
The mechanized snow removal tool is a screw scraper. Its advantage is that there is no need to unload the snow. The working mechanism of the scraper is an auger with spiral knives. During rotation, they resemble a meat grinder. The man pushes the scraper in front of him. The rotating auger scoops up the snow and throws it to the side. The tool is effective only for cleaning loose snow up to 15 cm thick. It will not take a thick and packed layer.
To clear large areas of snow, a manual bulldozer on four wheels was created. The design of the scraper resembles a cart with a handle. The blade is fixed in front. The angle of rotation is regulated by a rod. This mechanized scraper will cope even with an icy layer of snow.
The manual bulldozer on two wheels differs in maneuverability. The scraper is easy to lift with the handle to overcome ledges on the road. There are models with adjustable and non-adjustable blade angle.
Electric snow plows
Electric scrapers help to effectively deal with snow drifts. They can be made in the form of a full-fledged snow blower or a small shredder with an elongated handle. The working mechanism is a screw. An electric motor is responsible for its rotation. Spiral knives rake in the snow, crush it, and then throw it far to the side through the sleeve.
Electric scrapers are used to remove snow from the roof, but it is impossible to climb onto a pitched roof with such a tool. Snowblowers and hand shredders clean the large flat roofs of multi-storey buildings and industrial buildings.
Telescopic scrapers for removing snow from pitched roofs
Removing snow from the roof has always been a challenge. It is difficult to climb a slippery surface with a simple shovel, and you can, in general, fly off a pitched roof. To solve this problem, there is a special design of scrapers with a sliding handle. The telescopic handle allows you to reach the highest point of the pitched roof directly from the ground with a scraper. A person pushes the handle according to the principle of a folding fishing rod to the desired length. The design of the scraper itself can be made in the form of a piece of rectangular plastic, fixed perpendicular to the handle. The inconvenience of such a scraper is the high labor costs, as well as the risk of head injury from snow falling from the roof.
A more convenient design has a telescopic scraper, the working part of which is made in the form of a frame. Attached to the bottom lintel is a long strip of tarpaulin, plastic, or any synthetic fabric. During operation, a person pushes the frame along the surface of the roofing from the bottom up. The lower element of the frame cuts the layer of snow, and it slides down to the ground along a hanging strip.
Working with a frame scraper requires minimal labor. The tool can be pushed even by an elderly person or teenager. The frame will not damage the roofing. You just need to be careful when approaching the ridge bar. With a strong push of the scraper, it can be torn off and then you will definitely have to climb onto the roof.
The disadvantage of the telescopic scraper is the limited scope. The scraper is only needed to remove snow from the roof. It will not be used for any other work.
Rules for choosing snow removal equipment
An improperly selected tool can not only delay the time of snow removal, but also cause pain in the back, as well as the hip joint. Before buying or manufacturing a scraper, you need to familiarize yourself with the upcoming volumes of work. After that, they are determined with the type of tool, taking into account its design features:
- An important parameter is weight. Especially when it comes to shovels. It is better to give preference to plastic or aluminum models. The lighter the shovel, the less force you have to put in to throw snow. Scrapers and blades on wheels are easier on the go. Their weight rests partly on the person’s hands.
- Bucket size affects harvesting speed. The wider and deeper it is, the more snow you can capture in one pass. However, it must be taken into account that it will be necessary to increase efforts, which contributes to rapid fatigue. The ease of handling the tool depends on the size and shape of the handle. A bad handle will overload the human body while working even with a small bucket.
- The shape and design of the bucket affects the comfort of the tool and the quality of cleaning. The working part of all scrapers and shovels comes with one or three sides. The first type of scoop is designed more for raking snow. Throwing such a shovel is inconvenient, since one tailgate is not able to hold a lot of loose snow. Additional side boards of the second type of the scoop prevent falling out of snow mass on the sides. There are homemade scrapers even without a back side. They will not be able to throw snow, but only move forward. When choosing a shovel scraper or a plastic shovel, you need to make sure that there are stiffeners. They enhance the strength of the scoop, plus they serve as skis. Thanks to these strips, the bucket moves more easily in the snow.
- Edges are usually installed on shovels and scrapers. The aluminum strip is applied on plastic and wooden scoops. It protects the work surface from abrasion. The plastic edges are removable. Such nozzles wear out quickly, but they are needed for gentle cleaning of paving slabs, roofing, painted objects. The edge made of steel is designed to remove icy and packed snow.
Given all the nuances considered, it will be possible to choose a convenient and effective tool for work.
The video provides an overview of snow shovels:
Many owners are accustomed to making their own snow removal equipment. It turns out no worse than the factory counterpart, and sometimes even surpasses it.