FEL snow edge

repair1 · Dec 16, 2013

I have a concrete drive and I would like to put a plastic or rubber wear strip on the bucket to protect the driveway and the loader. I like the Ratchet Rake snow edge but not the price. I am going to try the plastic pipe trick (schedule 80 PVC) but I think it will grind down very quickly. Does anyone have any better NO WELD ideas?

Thanks

joeyd · Dec 16, 2013

I use the plastic pipe trick on my 60" ATV blade and it works for about a season on my gravel driveway. I have seen threads about rubber horse mats cut to size and bolted to the FEL or blade. I also remember seeing an advertisement for a guard made of cutting board type material but I do not remember on which site. Do a search here or scan the snow removal thread and see what pops up.

4310 · Dec 16, 2013

I just tried the PVC pipe trick this past weekend on my FEL and rear grader blade, although I used 1 1/2" ABS plastic pipe because I had read on here that PVC was too brittle in cold temps.

That being said, the ABS that I had on the FEL cracked lengthwise after about 20 minutes of usage. The piece that I put on the blade is still going strong. There is some wear but I think it should last a while longer. Well worth the experiment I think. I got a 10' piece from Menards for $7 and cut it in half.

Half of my drive (150ish feet) is concrete the other is gravel. The rear blade did a pretty good job moving the snow but it tended to ride over top of the packed stuff, like tire tracks and such. The FEL seemed to do a better job of digging in but then again it broke. I was using it in float too.

Now I'm thinking about drilling 3 or 4 holes in the lip of the bucket and bolting on a metal pipe to it somehow. Maybe having some brackets welded to the pipe or something. In theory it would be more durable than the ABS or PVC but i don't know if having holes in my bucket would come back to bite me later on when I'm using it for other things.

Anyone ever tried that?

ray66v · Dec 16, 2013

My dad has done this for many years: Bolt a 2x4 or similar, to the bottom of the bucket, near or under the cutting edge.

If you counter sink the bolt heads, you can use it for the entire season, without any concern at all about damage to your driveway.

He didn't want to do it at first, because it was my idea. Now, many years later, he loves it, because thinks it was his idea. :duh:

MIKE R · Dec 16, 2013

The 2x4 sounds like an interesting idea.

Danno1 · Dec 17, 2013

.

"Cutting board material" is called Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW-PE, or sometimes just UHMW). It can be had from most plastic supply houses and also from McMaster-Carr. It costs a lot more than a PVC pipe or a 2x4 but it will last many years. And it also can be worked with common wood working tools. Drilled, cut, etc.

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BuilderML · Dec 17, 2013

I have been using the pvc pipe over bucket edge along with the rear blade. Works great but doesn't last when hitting something hard. Can't blame it after all its cold and its plastic. So today i called up my local metal work shop. I am having them make up 3 pieces of 1 1/2" steel pipe with a 1/2" slot cut the length of the pipe to slide over the edges. 2 pcs for me and 1 for father in law. I figure once i get the pipe i'll have to weld on some tabs and figure out a way to hold it on.
$185 for 1-7' and 2-5' pieces. I think its fair. If i keep breaking plastic pipe i figure i'll be spending that much over time anyways.

ray66v · Dec 17, 2013

BuilderML said:
I have been using the pvc pipe over bucket edge along with the rear blade. Works great but doesn't last when hitting something hard. Can't blame it after all its cold and its plastic. So today i called up my local metal work shop. I am having them make up 3 pieces of 1 1/2" steel pipe with a 1/2" slot cut the length of the pipe to slide over the edges. 2 pcs for me and 1 for father in law. I figure once i get the pipe i'll have to weld on some tabs and figure out a way to hold it on.
$185 for 1-7' and 2-5' pieces. I think its fair. If i keep breaking plastic pipe i figure i'll be spending that much over time anyways.

You don't have to slit a steel pipe. Just weld tabs on it, and bolt it on.

nk3t · Dec 21, 2013

I have been contemplating the purchase of a snow edge for a long time. I rarely get snow, but have shoveled my drive way too many times. The plastic pipe sounded like a good idea, but people talk of cracking and falling off.

Since I already own the ratchet rake, I felt it would be good quality. I ordered the snow edge Thursday morning, and it was sitting on the porch Friday afternoon, one day later. The shipping weight was 80 pounds. The packing was well done to protect the urethane edge.

Now all I need is snow.