hand broom or snowblower?

[blurrybill]

We set records for continuous snow cover last year in central Iowa, with 7-8 school cancellations before Christmas. That said, this year has been "balmy," with only 2" TOTAL thus far. Two days ago, we got about 3/4" inch of snow. While driving down the street, I noticed that one neighbor was sweeping the driveway with a push broom; the guy next door had his snowblower fired up and was "working away" clearing the dusting. I wish I had a camera to capture the moment when they met at the property line. I really wanted to stop and ask the one with the blower if the chute had clogged, yet, but I held back. That MUST have been a new machine purchased after last year's horror (I hope). Had to laugh, especially with my obsession with learning about all this equipment -tractors, loaders, mowers, other attachments- that I have so little knowledge about/experience with... Guess it keeps things in perspective a bit. BTW, felt really good sweeping the drive and sidewalk with my old garage broom -- cost a heck of a lot less that the 25K I'm expecting to spend this Spring! Guess we can handle some things still without red, blue, orange, or green paint.

Bill

 

[Egon]

Bill:
My snow shovel has a blue handle on it. Not only that it's soon gona have to clear about 6 inches of white accumulation off of our driveway.
Got your tool box sorted out yet?
Egon

 

[blurrybill]

Egon,

Thanks for asking.
Some of the toolboxes alone cost as much as my garden tractor! I went to a Sears store and was HUGELY disappointed in the quality of their toolboxes. I have a 20 year old Homak box (without a top chest) that I bought at a PACE store (they were purchased by Sam's). Now, I wish I would have sprung for the top --it's a very heavy box with thick metal and heavyduty castors. Much better constructed that the Sears stuff I saw. Of course, I don't have the tools for the tractor yet. But, I don't have the tractor, either! I did learn from that other post that I'll need both metric and standard tools. It's all fun to think about and this site has been great. I'll keep you posted as things develop. Hope when I get my tractor, I'll still be able to sweep the light snow without using the FEL!

Bill

 

[PaulinSD]

Yesterday, I shoveled off our drive after a 1/4" dusting. While I wouldn't get out the 955 to do that, I'm not really a big fan of any tool with a wooden handle.

Paul

 

[Egon]

Bill
For that light stuff you can get a rotary broom thats tractor mount. Good exuse for another attachment.
Egon

 

[blurrybill]

The dangerous part of this site is how helpful everybody can be spending other people's money! I'll run upstairs and let my wife know your suggestion. Any bets on the reply? So far, so good -- she's actually excited about getting the tractor! Let's see, discretion IS the better part of valor.