rotary broom and ice scraper

[Destructo_D]

Just got off the phone with the guys from quick attach. They used to make a reversable broom but too many people were trying to switch from one direction to the other without waiting for the broom to stop rotating. Thus, they would strip the splines on the shaft.

They said it is simple to do but any brooms sold that way did not have a warranty.

My next question is:
Do you guys perfer poly bristles or a mix of wire and poly.
I heard the wire cuts through snow and ice better.

Thanks dylan[/QUOTE

I work for a company in british columbia... we sell/make snowchains, sell: bucket wear parts.. ie, edges, teeth, choc bars, grader blades, scraper edges... we also sell replacement brooms for sweepers... all airports use 100% wire brooms to clear runways... wire digs up the packed snow better... but if I had a personal choice, I would use a combination poly/wire.. would clean up everything.. plus use it year round.

 

[dylan]

Thanks for the reply.

Are your wire brooms stainless steel? Just wondering if a wire broom will rust up and then leave stains everywhere?

On that same note, does the more aggressive action of the wire, poly mix destroy the pavement? I would imagine that if they use it at airports it would not do to much damage.

Thanks dylan

 

[CRJCaptain]

Hi Dylan

I've used the 68" Bobcat angle broom the last 4 winters to remove snow from a half mile long blacktop driveway. We typically get 3-4 inches per snowfall, so it's the ideal tool for that amount. The odd time we get 8+ inches I'll break out the bucket.
My broom has the poly bristles and they are still going strong...

See the attached images.

 

[dylan]

Four years! Wow, you must have accumulated some hours by now. thanks for the input.
Dylan

 

[Destructo_D]

Thanks for the reply.

Are your wire brooms stainless steel? Just wondering if a wire broom will rust up and then leave stains everywhere?

On that same note, does the more aggressive action of the wire, poly mix destroy the pavement? I would imagine that if they use it at airports it would not do to much damage.

Thanks dylan

Dylan... sorry for the delay... here are the broom specs right from the manufature's site.

I. Combination of Poly & Wire - Varying Sweeping Conditions
Poly and wire filaments used in combination to sweep a variety of conditions without changing cores.
Effective for sweeping in a general mixture of mild conditions.
II. Poly - Loose Debris & Dry Snow Sweeping Conditions
Made of .080 x .095 diameter virgin polypropylene. Typically this is the longest lasting filament and is
used for sweeping in all seasons. Poly filament provides maximum “flick action” due to better flexibility under
routine sweeping conditions found when sweeping light debris, dirt, sand, leaves, paper, etc.
III. Wire - Affixed Debris & Compacted Sweeping Conditions
Made of .028 diameter, high carbon galvanized spring steel. Wire is the strongest and most aggressive type
of filament due to very sharp tips that provide cutting action. Best used in wet or compacted snow and ice removal.



or go to www.united-rotary.com and you will see all the different type of brooms.

they are available in US and Canada

 

[dylan]

Great link thanks. They are actually located pretty close to me as well.

 

[petedegan]

i have used a couple different brooms on my toolcat- as i do lots of sidewalks. heavy foot trafific that packs snow near the univ of minnesota makes any other implement second rate. anyway i have tried the poly wire combo and it is too aggressive in my opinion. the wire stops the broom with too much down pressure, and also tears up the sod. if it is icy, i just go slower with poly. I would also recomend the bobcat broom over m-b or sweepster. It is much better built. one other thing- its easy to buy a used broom from a tractor or somthing else and adapt it to a toolcat. save yourself 4 grand if you have the time.

 

[dylan]

Thanks for the tip. that's exactly what I've been doing ... looking for a used 3ph broom to convert to toolcat use.

Thanks dylan

 

[Gadgetnut]

Greetings, ToolCat fans (and theoshin and CRJCaptain in particular)-- I've had a 68" Bobcat rotary broom here at my house on demo for a few days. Principal use is cleaning my long asphalt driveway of stuck on pine needles, debris, and moss. Stirred up quite a mess the first day-- lots of dust-- glad to have closed cab-- they make a rotary broom attachment for my Walker lawnmower, but I wouldn't want to be in the open air with all the flying debris-- but it cleaned the driveway extremely well.

I also have the sweeper here on demo -- the one that collects the debris into a hopper that you can empty like a combo bucket. That one glides along a steel cutting edge and it is too aggressive for the finish on my driveway.

The main reason I had the sweeper here was I wish there were a tool that in addition to the driveway cleaning, you could drive over grass areas to do a light de-thatching and pickup and collection of small debris like sticks, apples, leaves, etc. As noted above, sweeper with steel cutting edge, does not work on lawn areas.

Question: I like the performance of the 68" rotary broom but I'm wondering if the 84" broom might work better on the ToolCat. One problem I had was driving close enough to the stone walls along my driveway... I imagine with the 84" broom extending out beyond the width of the TC I could get a little closer. Thoughts on 68 versus 84 inch angle broom? theoshin, ToolCat handles the 84" just fine? Thanks.

 

[theoshin]

little did i know that my broom is used more than all my other attachments combined for the driveway. have found it excellent. only downside is a lot of dust at times which covers the tc. i run it at low rpms when dusty which helps but does not cure - the windshield wiper fluid keeps you going. it is absolutely amazing on pine needles, leaves, and small branches. my driveway is covered by pine/oaks and they drop all fall. it is also excellent on medium to dry snow under 4 inches. anything more and i use the snowblower and follow it with the broom to leave my driveway clean all winter long. i have used the snowblower 4 times this winter and the broom at least 20 times. we had quiet a few people get stuck at our house related to ice/snow on the steep part of the driveway in the past - not this year - it is concrete and covered by 100y/o white/red pine (very little sun) and it is clean this year thanks to the broom.

go with the 84 inch. the tc has no problem at all with it. i anlge it too so it really is not that wide in actual use. it is the attachment i would miss the most.

ts