Snow Attachments ABS Plastic Pipe Snow Blade Edge

[bx24d]

Forgive the redundant question or concern but.........I've used sched 40 PVC on a front and rear blade for several years and infrequently have shattered a piece or two off when I hit an iceberg. After reading the above posts, I went today to buy a piece of ABS pipe. I'm a novice around pipe but, just by holding the ABS in my hands, I can't believe that ABS will be more durable than schedule 40 PVC when used for blading snow in icy conditions. Can someone who knows something about pipes chime in (again)?

 

[ctgoldwing]

Forgive the redundant question or concern but.........I've used sched 40 PVC on a front and rear blade for several years and infrequently have shattered a piece or two off when I hit an iceberg. After reading the above posts, I went today to buy a piece of ABS pipe. I'm a novice around pipe but, just by holding the ABS in my hands, I can't believe that ABS will be more durable than schedule 40 PVC when used for blading snow in icy conditions. Can someone who knows something about pipes chime in (again)?

ABS pipe is a lot less brittle in cold weather than PVC

 

[bp fick]

I know in longer threads, things get lost. PVC's shatter point in 32 degrees. ABS is tougher, down to -40. That in a nutshell is the difference. There are even better plastics, but are more difficult to locate.

The illustration below shows the results of impact tests on ABS and PVC pipe at 32 F. Note, the ABS pipe has a good ductile impression resulting from the impact test. The PVC pipe shattered under the same test conditions:

TOP: ABS PIPE
BOTTOM: PVC PIPE
The impact strength of PVC is only one-half that of ABS at 72 F. And, one-third the strength of ABS at 40 F. The low temperature value of PVC is only 32 F. That is, it has lost its impact strength at this temperature. By comparison, the low temperature value of ABS is minus 40 F.

From MonarchPlastic.com

 

[JB4310]

Forgive the redundant question or concern but.........I've used sched 40 PVC on a front and rear blade for several years and infrequently have shattered a piece or two off when I hit an iceberg. After reading the above posts, I went today to buy a piece of ABS pipe. I'm a novice around pipe but, just by holding the ABS in my hands, I can't believe that ABS will be more durable than schedule 40 PVC when used for blading snow in icy conditions. Can someone who knows something about pipes chime in (again)?

You felt how lite it is compared to PVC, That's one of the reasons why I consider it inferior to PVC in plumbing and drainage work.
But as has been shown in this thread and ctgoldwing just mentioned it's more flexible, OP showed crush tests to bolster that fact.

I only use PVC in construction for a few reasons, 1st is it's much quieter when used for in house drains, especially thru lower floors coming from upper floors. Probably has to do with it being heavier and denser. Next only pvc has schd 40 fittings (at least I think) schd 40 fittings have glue sockets 2x deeper than reg DWV fittings, which is what's needed to get the pressure rating. We install alot of sump pumps and use pvc schd 40 exclusively, even though sump pump discharge is not considered a high pressure app, we're running these over finished rooms and to me it's not worth it to take the chance.

Also PVC joints are stronger, more permanent, I have seen, rarely, ABS joints come apart. The glue takes much longer to set up with ABS than with PVC. My Plumber and I always argue about which is better, he prefers ABS cause he can move his glued fittings around 10 minutes after putting them together, we all know you can't do that with PVC.

 

[SARG]

Forgive the redundant question or concern but.........I've used sched 40 PVC on a front and rear blade for several years and infrequently have shattered a piece or two off when I hit an iceberg. After reading the above posts, I went today to buy a piece of ABS pipe. I'm a novice around pipe but, just by holding the ABS in my hands, I can't believe that ABS will be more durable than schedule 40 PVC when used for blading snow in icy conditions. Can someone who knows something about pipes chime in (again)?

Were you sure the ABS pipe was schedule 40 as well ....or a lighter weight?

 

[bp fick]

My ABS pipe also "felt" somewhat lighter than the seemingly heavier "feel" of PVC.

There is no comparison between the two, both in lab testing and the real life testing on my plow. None. ABS blows PVC away.

 

[RAF]

Well this is the first time I have heard of using ABS for the FEL. I got a piece from work and slipped it on. We had about 20" of snow this week end and I had about 8 hrs of tractor time pushing snow from neighbor hood drive ways. 2 stone, 3 gravel, and 3 paved about 200' each. Each of these was done twice. The ABS is still usable and it only came off twice because I forgot it was on there and back dragged. I am getting another piece to have ready when this one fails. Who ever came up with this idea or at least posted it THANKS

It was a 68" piece of 3" ABS schedule 40 just in case anyone wanted to know.

 

[bx24d]

Were you sure the ABS pipe was schedule 40 as well ....or a lighter weight?

Not sure, didn't ask. As I recall, schedule 40 has to do with thickness. The ABS I purchased (about $9 for a 5 foot 4" diameter piece) seems to be as thick-walled as the schedule 40 PVC I used. It's just lighter, which is probably what worried me initially. But, as in the past, I trust the TBN consensus because it is generated out of experience........of which I am short on. Thanks and I'll let you know how I do in the next snow storm.

 

[Low Bucket]

I put a piece of ABS plastic pipe on my Meyer blade.-It worked nice on concrete.

 

[gazoo1]

WE USED ALSO 3 INCH ABS ON OUR FEL AND I DRILED OUT ABS AND USED TWO PINS SO THE PIPE DOSN'T COME LOOSE . WE USE THE PIPE IN SUMMER FOR FLATNING OUT DRY DIRT IN THE FIELD FOR PLANTING AS U USE THE PIPE IT HAS MORE USES THAN YOU MIGHT THINK.