Another pipe-on-the-FEL for pushing snow

[Diamondpilot]

I had the same experience with the pipe opening up and falling off. I just gave up and went back to the old way.

Chris

 

[JJZ 109]

I had the same experience with the pipe opening up and falling off. I just gave up and went back to the old way.

Chris

Same here. The ABS thing just didn't work out. Lasted about 10 feet on the 60" blower and until the 2nd dump of snow with the FEL.
Maybe another day when I have time & inclination and feel like taking a piece of steel pipe to a welding shop for a rip cut will I devise another plan. This time of year I'd rather be in the house near the pellet stove than messing in the garage.

 

[DHD]

I got 10ft. of 2" ABS. Made two 5ft pieces first one lasted about 50 ft. then kept falling off when dumping snow from bucket. Second one lasted 150ft. Even though I was in the float mode, the snow/slush weight plus the bucket and loader arms I think was too much for the ABS.
It seemed to flatten out a little under the edge of the bucket, causing the slit in the pipe to widen enough that the pipe lost it's pinching power and would fall off when dumping the bucket.
Tried 1.5" pvc and it broke while I was trying to install it. So I didn't bother to pursue the pvc option any further.

 

[JB4310]

Yup same here, I reluctantly tried pipe on the cutting edge but was very surprised by how nice a job it did. Only problem was that as others have mentioned the plastic pipe would only last a brief time before it broke, opened up and fell off. Would have to be steel, not sure how to cut a 1/2" slot the full length of a steel pipe.

I tried 1.5, 2 and even 3 inch pipe, on 3 different blades, Now I have a 1/2 a garbage barrel of pipe pieces

JB.

 

[Eagleview]

A 4" angle grinder fitted with a Super Thin cutting wheel would be the easiest way . Two lines scribed on the pipe at the desired distance to follow and by making two cuts , a strip would be removed . A small chain welded at each end of the pipe and hooked to the top of the blade with turn buckles would keep it in place .

Make sure you cut away from yourself , never towards you as this will destroy the wheel in no time flat . Go steady , going too fast will result in brown dust and that is your wheel disintegrating .

 

[bp fick]

I had slightly better results than some posters here, but not much. Tried PVC, it shatters in the cold, although it doesn't distort. ABS doesn't shatter, but distorts in a heartbeat and then, stays behind in the snowbank. Tried it on front blade and rear blade. Same result.

I really want to try to slice a piece of scrap steel pipe. Why? A pipe edge, even if it didn't last, plowed beautifully on gravel without moving it. Excellent, except that it just didn't last in plastic. Metal cutting blade in a Skillsaw?

 

[Hozen]

I'm using my FEL to push snow and it's on asphalt, but I haven't had near the issues some have posted here...

I used 1" PVC conduit I had left over from a project. Used a 4" grinder to cut a 1/4" slot down the length and used a large rubber mallet to beat the pipe onto the cutting edge of the FEL. I've used the same piece of pipe all winter and we've had record snow around here. Now, I have had the ends of the pipe crack and some smaller pieces eventually break off, but it's nothing near shattering to pieces. It's worn quite well over my asphalt driveway.

 

[Bedlam]

Ive cut the legnthwise cuts fairly easily with a circular saw and metal cutting blade from wal mart.One blade cut me two 7 foot pieces.(Schedule 40)

 

[GuglioLS]

Metal pipe works with tab braces welded on top and bottom to keep the pipe centered on the cutting edge. LINK to my cutting edge guard




Larry

 

[Eagleview]

That's a work of art . You didn't steal it off Santa's Sleigh did you ?