Homemade wooden snowplow - thoughts?

[troverman]

I have a Kubota MX6000 cab tractor. Normally I use a 7' rear blade for snow plowing. However, it is a pain to be looking behind you all the time. What do you guys think of making a wooden front plow?

Here's what I'm thinking:
1.) Buy a 1/4" SSQA metal plate
2.) Buy a 4x8' sheet of 5/8" flooring plywood ; cut it in half the long way for two sheets of 2' x 8'
3.) Using large thick washers and heavy duty bolts, bolt the doubled-up sheets of plywood to the SSQA plate. Next, screw a couple of 2x4x8 boards to the plywood "plow" just above and below the plate, for some additional rigidity.
4.) Use a couple of pieces of angle iron 8' long - one on the back and one on the top, bolted together through the wood at the bottom, as a cutting edge of sorts and to protect the wood.
5.) Paint everything for a bit of waterproofing effect

Obviously this "plow" might now last for more than a season or two, but the only thing needing to be replaced would be the wood. It seems like minimal effort to have a functioning front plow. A couple of wooden wings on the front would essentially create a snow pusher. The whole setup would be light enough to where the wood would just break before any loader arms got bent or anything like that, but still heavy enough to put the loader in "float" and scrape the snow.

I'm open to suggestions or criticisms and thoughts. Just an idea I had running through my head.

 

[m5guy]

You can buy a used snow blade for the price of the plywood

 

[troverman]

I have not seen any used snow blades with SSQA for cheap money at all.
I actually have a 9' Fisher hydraulic angle plow that I could weld a SSQA plate to, but I think that's a bit too heavy for my tractor and risking bending the arms, despite the plow having a trip edge. One sheet of 5/8 Advantech is $53 and the SSQA plate is about $120 shipped. The angle iron might run me $75 for the two pieces, plus a few bolts and washers. I don't think I could have a functioning plow for less than $250.

 

[dodge man]

I don’t think you will be happy with it even for one season. I made a ballast box out of wood and it worked but always seemed on the edge of falling apart. I just live with the rear blade. A rear blade and end loader make a decent combination.

 

[sd455dan]

I have a Kubota MX6000 cab tractor. Normally I use a 7' rear blade for snow plowing. However, it is a pain to be looking behind you all the time. What do you guys think of making a wooden front plow?

Here's what I'm thinking:
1.) Buy a 1/4" SSQA metal plate
2.) Buy a 4x8' sheet of 5/8" flooring plywood ; cut it in half the long way for two sheets of 2' x 8'
3.) Using large thick washers and heavy duty bolts, bolt the doubled-up sheets of plywood to the SSQA plate. Next, screw a couple of 2x4x8 boards to the plywood "plow" just above and below the plate, for some additional rigidity.
4.) Use a couple of pieces of angle iron 8' long - one on the back and one on the top, bolted together through the wood at the bottom, as a cutting edge of sorts and to protect the wood.
5.) Paint everything for a bit of waterproofing effect

Obviously this "plow" might now last for more than a season or two, but the only thing needing to be replaced would be the wood. It seems like minimal effort to have a functioning front plow. A couple of wooden wings on the front would essentially create a snow pusher. The whole setup would be light enough to where the wood would just break before any loader arms got bent or anything like that, but still heavy enough to put the loader in "float" and scrape the snow.

I'm open to suggestions or criticisms and thoughts. Just an idea I had running through my head.

Early on, I built a home made plow from a 55 gallon barrel split in half and then welded in the center to double the width put a blade on the bottom and built a welded cage around the back side from angle and straight steel.
It lasted 2 plowings before the forces crushed it and I took it to the recycler. Something tells me wood would be even less tough but who knows. Ended up buying Meyers, Western plow and skid steer blade over the years.

ps. Plows without trip springs can end up in a disaster.
Something "Has" to give if you catch the plow blade on an immovable object

 

[troverman]

Reason I ask is because a friend told me her dad did this using an interior door that he had from a remodel project. Somehow attached it to his bucket and supposedly works great. I don't have a door but figured I could "make" one pretty easily.

 

[m5guy]

We have several junk auctions around here, that run every week. An old truck snow plow can be had for $100 maybe a few dollars more if it has a mount with it.

 

[KennyG]

I think it will destroy itself in short order by scraping against the ground. For the same amount of work, try this. Adapt a 3 point quick hitch (think Harbor Freight) to your loader, reverse your rear blade and mount it on the front. (I assume your blade rotates 360 degrees.)

I think I have the best solution. I found a used 60 inch ATV blade for $100 and frame mounted it. Works like a charm.

 

[troverman]

I've got a 60" Polaris ATV snow blade which I don't use because the ATV is too light for the heavy snow we often get. A 60" blade on the front of my tractor would be silly and the rear wheels would be in unplowed snow.

I could consider the 3-point SSQA adapter, my rear blade does go all the way around.

 

[bigtiller]

Sounds better than this one...