Looking for a implement to remove ice

[etcallhome]

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]

Move to a warmer climate

 

[irvingj]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[jenkinsph]

Wel that may be the case but how about adding a big honkin set of snow chains to those little wheels.