Snow Attachments ABS Plastic Pipe Snow Blade Edge

[JB4310]

I am not surprised at the abs vs pvc cold weather brittleness testing.
But generally I consider pvc superior to abs in the construction field, just not in this application as proven by the tests shown here.

After seeing all these blades with pipe installed, at first I thought it was kinda silly but out of desperation I tried it myself. I used 1.5" with a single blade kerf, slid it on length wise from one end. Put it on my 60" rear blade to help with our first wet snowfall on unfrozen gravel yard areas.

Wasn't blown away by it as my first attempt with weighted blade dropped in full float caused considerable digging in not as bad as with no pipe, and this ground was uncharacteristically soft.
I could lower it a little lighter where it would still scrape but not dig in, I only made a few passes so the jury's still out on my opinion.
Ended up having to go over everything with 6ft rake cause it was so messed up, mixed all the stone and slush evenly, good thing cause now it's frozen solid.

 

[foggy1111]

OK....been reading on this thread....and see some clarification is needed in a few areas.

HDPE is High Density Poly Ethylene

LDPE is Low Density Poly Ethylene

UMHW PE is ultra high molecular weight poly ethylene which is a higher-yet densisty than HDPE

When chosen correctly, these are some pretty high performance plastics with a relatively low cost.

Schedule xx pipe refers to the wall thickness of steel pipe and was long ago established for strength criteria for the plumbing industry (I think). All of the various schedules (sch 5, 10, 40, 80) of the same size pipe are the same outside diameter (OD) just the inside diameter and wall thickness changes with a different schedule number. Plastic pipe is made to the same dimential specs as the steel standard - from many years ago (I beleive).

All plastics are not created equally. The physical and chemical properties of some of today's plastics is phenomenal. Now....if engineers would only pick the right ones.....and not be so tight.

 

[dcyrilc]

I am not surprised at the abs vs pvc cold weather brittleness testing.
But generally I consider pvc superior to abs in the construction field, just not in this application as proven by the tests shown here.

After seeing all these blades with pipe installed, at first I thought it was kinda silly but out of desperation I tried it myself. I used 1.5" with a single blade kerf, slid it on length wise from one end. Put it on my 60" rear blade to help with our first wet snowfall on unfrozen gravel yard areas.

Wasn't blown away by it as my first attempt with weighted blade dropped in full float caused considerable digging in not as bad as with no pipe, and this ground was uncharacteristically soft.
I could lower it a little lighter where it would still scrape but not dig in, I only made a few passes so the jury's still out on my opinion.
Ended up having to go over everything with 6ft rake cause it was so messed up, mixed all the stone and slush evenly, good thing cause now it's frozen solid.

Try the 3" next time the ground is soft. You should find that it doesn't dig in as bad. The larger diameter will tend to slide ove the ground better without digging in.

 

[mjncad]

Now....if engineers would only pick the right ones.....and not be so tight.

Blame the bean counters, not the engineers. My bean counter wife and I have had numerous discussions on this issue.

 

[mjncad]

You must be related to patrickg!!

LOL...Nope; but I'm curious as to why I gave you that impression. I do read Patrick's posts.

 

[studor]

JB4310 -- the weight is probably part of the issue. When iI use my back blade for snow I have just the blade and the pipe --seems heavy enough on its own to drag the snow without digging in -- JMHO

 

[JB4310]

JB4310 -- the weight is probably part of the issue. When iI use my back blade for snow I have just the blade and the pipe --seems heavy enough on its own to darg the snow without digging in -- JMHO

Yeah I have the weight on there to help with pulling the blade reversed, also just for that same reason of not digging into soft ground. I even had 4 of those heavy weights on there, but it still didn't clean that great

 

[adirondacktrac]

A PVC Backblade Installation Report: A quick update on the durability of my 1-1/2" PVC experience. We had about 15" of new snow on unfrozen gravel and grassy parking areas. At about 0 deg. F, I had good clearing performance with my 72" KK backplade and also the similarly shod FEL bucket; no torn surfaces and no splits, no dings and no breaks in the PVC pipe. That's not to say the problems experienced by a Michigan member won't hit me here in northern NY, but after 4 hours of plowing, so far, so good. Have some tough plastic well pipe in reserve when and if the PVC tanks.

 

[bp fick]

A PVC Backblade Installation Report: A quick update on the durability of my 1-1/2" PVC experience. We had about 15" of new snow on unfrozen gravel and grassy parking areas. At about 0 deg. F, I had good clearing performance with my 72" KK backplade and also the similarly shod FEL bucket; no torn surfaces and no splits, no dings and no breaks in the PVC pipe. That's not to say the problems experienced by a Michigan member won't hit me here in northern NY, but after 4 hours of plowing, so far, so good. Have some tough plastic well pipe in reserve when and if the PVC tanks.

Well, Clearly, there's only one logical explanation for this.
The rocks you all have over there in NY are much softer than the rocks we have over here in MI.
Gosh, I hope it isn't yet another Deere vs. Kubota thing. I hadn't considered that variable.

 

[Steve C]

Well, Clearly, there's only one logical explanation for this.
The rocks you all have over there in NY are much softer than the rocks we have over here in MI.
Gosh, I hope it isn't yet another Deere vs. Kubota thing. I hadn't considered that variable.

I think your theory about the rocks is correct. After all they are hard enough in Michigan to make grindstones out of. And we have Grindstone City to prove it!

The only thing harder than grindstones are frozen grindstones.