First time plowing snow

[Mallard1]

Just like everyone else in much of the south we are covered in snow. We have 7 down now with 6-8 more coming today. I need to open the driveway up so my wife can get out Saturday. I have my 7 blade hooked up and my bucket on. Any tips or tricks to not screw up my gravel driveway or general advice. I have it cocked to a 45ｰ angle throwing it to the right for now. Haven稚 plowed any yet though, going to start tomorrow when it痴 all on the ground

 

[fruitcakesa]

If you have skid shoes for the plow use them to set your blade an inch or so above the ground so you will leave a layer above the gravel.
If no shoes, then same deal with the inch clearance but you will have to adjust the blade up or down if the ground is uneven.

 

[crazyal]

You can use your bucket but keep it tilted up so the edge doesn't dig into the gravel. Also be careful not to run into something, like ledge, as your loader isn't designed for that kind of impact. A blade without shoes to keep it from digging in is going to dig you plenty of gravel unless the ground is frozen (which I doubt). Start off not being aggressive and as you get a feel for it then you can try to get closer to the gravel. You can also back drag with the loader to finish up. Just angle it at about 45 degrees and leave the loader in float.

 

[mcfarmall]

Adjust your top link to its shortest length. This will bring the rake angle of the cutting edge of the blade closer to perpendicular to the driveway surface which effectively reduces the cutting rake angle like on a lathe tool. By approaching a zero degree rake angle you will be less likely to cut into the driveway surface.

Think of it like a straight razor... the flatter the blade is to your face, the more aggressively it will cut your whiskers. As you pivot the razor closer to 90 degrees the less cutting action will occur. If you continue to pivot the blade past perpendicular then all you are going to do is smear the shaving cream off your face like frosting a cake.

 

[Mallard1]

Thanks for the help, this blade is light but doesn稚 have skid shoes. I don稚 have any ledges or anything to worry about except trees. Right now we have 9in on the ground and supposed to keep snowing until tomorrow morning. It is a very powdery snow so far.

If I want to make two passes each way down the driveway do I start in the center and move out or do the outside then move the center over and then move it to the outside?

 

[George2615]

As mentioned, you can slightly tip the bucket front edge up to plow. I've been doing it for years. On the rear blade spin it 180 * so it won't dig in.

 

[Mallard1]

Adjust your top link to its shortest length. This will bring the rake angle of the cutting edge of the blade closer to perpendicular to the driveway surface which effectively reduces the cutting rake angle like on a lathe tool. By approaching a zero degree rake angle you will be less likely to cut into the driveway surface.

Think of it like a straight razor... the flatter the blade is to your face, the more aggressively it will cut your whiskers. As you pivot the razor closer to 90 degrees the less cutting action will occur. If you continue to pivot the blade past perpendicular then all you are going to do is smear the shaving cream off your face like frosting a cake.

The way I set it up in my shop is with the blade frame square to the ground, so I can spin the blade and it will stay parallel to the floor. If I shorten the top link up I will need to adjust the side link to keep the blade parallel to the ground. I also have both lift arms setup so they will float in the slot to try and help keep it level.

Do I need to put any silicone spray or anything on the blade?

 

[LD48750]

Another trick you can use is slit a section of PVC pipe & slip it over the cutting edge of your plow.

It will glide over the gravel & still remove the snow.

I have bolted a section of angle iron on for a more permanent solution.

 

[Thomas]

All good advice given but most of be patient and take your time until you get the feel for it.

 

[fishheadbob]

Plowing isn't terribly difficult but like a lot of things it takes a while to get good at it. All I'd suggest is tip your bucket up just a little so you don't spend the spring raking gravel back into your driveway. I mostly plow using a back blade as in my experience that can do less of a number on your gravel. Play with your 3ph as you go so you're not digging but just skimming the surface; maybe even stop and look now and then before you make a lot of work for yourself later. Enjoy it, you will maybe never have to do it again.

"If snow doesn't give you joy you will have less joy in your life but just as much snow."