Scarifying Ice

   / Scarifying Ice #11  
This might sound crazy, but it works amazingly well. If you have a wood burning appliance, use the ashes over ice, spread like salt. They don't have to be hot. The little edges of the ash dig into the ice giving amazing traction. Of course your drive is a little long for you to cover it, but you could make a path. I know, there's alot of raised eyebrows right now, but just try it this winter, you will be shocked. Now, Mama isn't going to like them being tracked into the house, so use caution there!
 
   / Scarifying Ice #12  
Invest in a beater four-wheel-drive plow truck with a sander on the back and chains on the tires. All it needs to do is go back and forth on the driveway.
 
   / Scarifying Ice
  • Thread Starter
#13  
Thanks to all of you for your responses. Lots of good ideas. Spreading sand/salt or woodburner ashes may be enough for me to handle 3 or 4 "critical" areas. We have been using the cleats on our shoes as we go between buildings when it gets really treacherous. But we were headed to town and the wife was sure she could get to the barn where the pickup resides without them. Wrong!
The serrated grader blades look they may be helpful on one of my rear blades. They may scratch up the ice surface enough to make it passable.
 
   / Scarifying Ice #14  
I find fine crushed stone or better bags of crushed slag sold at the local lumber yard best.
Dry sand on glare ice won't grip and it slides also the slightest thaw washes it away or it gets iced over easily.
Crushed stone protrudes ice and won't wash away.

I spread fine crushed stone or crushed slag with a walk behind seed broadcaster * applying like salt and pepper as it really takes very little for traction.
My drive is over 1000ft and hilly.
And yes, wood ash is also good traction but messy.

* My seed broadcaster is round cone shaped and has real tires (not plastic) and I also 'locked' the differential for better traction as that is what drives the spinner. Naturally the aggregate must be dry to work well.
One pass up and back is all I need to get good traction.
 
   / Scarifying Ice #15  
Sand would probably be the best and cheapest solution. Have you considered covering the sand with a cheap blue or brown tarp. State highway personnel keep their sand in shelters and out of the weather because they have to respond at a moments notice.
 
   / Scarifying Ice #16  
I have the exact same problem. My drive is only 1100 feet long but we are on a north slope in eastern Pa woods. I have had as much as 4" of ice on my hill. No, you can't drive on it and yes in the spring it just keeps melting and refreezing. Getting slicker everyday. Salt does not really work on ice that thick. I used to keep the blower set high and allow the snow pack to build up because it is so much easier to blow the snow with the pack of snow base. No stones to worry about. Plus it was good sledding when the kids were young. The down side of ice is just not worth it. I don't blow much anymore because I have a plow for my B26 but the problem is the same. It may sound like a pain but I now have a two step process to clear the drive. I plow with the B26 if the snow is more than a couple of inches. Yes I have a 3" pipe on the blade. This is very important for keeping your stones on the drive. Then I use a Simplicity garden tractor with a 4' stone rake on the back. On the inside of the stone rake I mounted thick rubber. I angle the rake and run up and down the drive. In just a couple of minutes I can kick all the remaining snow off to the side. Sometimes I just do the hill. It works great and even if the ground is not frozen very few stones get moved. When I am done you can see the stone through the snow. If I get any packed areas from the tractor I salt them. If we only have a small storm I will run up and down the drive with the stone rake to prevent any snow pack. My neighbors must think I am an obsessive nut because I will clear 1/2 inch. I just can't let it build up on the hill. Thing is it really does go quickly. I run full speed and am done in 15 minutes. If it wasn't for the hill I wouldn't care about the ice.

One other trick with the stones is to not push the snow all the way off the edge of the drive. Just to the edge.Then when the snow melts the stones are still on the drive. I only care about that in areas of the drive where there is lawn. This doesn't work however when we get a lot of snow that stays around all winter. Sooner or later you have to move the piles back so you can get ready for the next snow.

I like plowing snow but by spring I am done with it. Here in eastern Pa we don't really get many bad winters. Last year was bad. The year I bought my snow plow we got no snow. Oh one other thing when I was young, poor and had no equipment we just parked at the end of the drive. Sometimes I wonder if that wasn't easier. Gonna ask the wife about that. Well there is only one way to find out. Hold my beer while I go ask.

Hope this helps.
 
   / Scarifying Ice #17  
I have similar problem from time to time with my driveway. I found using my 6' box scraper with only two scafiers lowered works well. Using it with all the scafiers down disperses the weight to much so they dont dig in. With two down, they dig through the ice and depending on conditions, into the gravel slightly. The gravel spreads onto the ice, and even the torn up ice helps a bit with traction.

I also use a style of chain like Rustyiron posted. Without them, I couldnt do anything in the snow (L45 with R4's)

If you decide to use salt on a dirt driveway, use it lightly or you can end up with a soft muddy mess at times.
 
   / Scarifying Ice #18  
Interesting you only use the chains on the front tires. Does that work well?

Little jab. You are due for and oil change.

This went to the wrong place I thought I was replying to rustyiron.
 
   / Scarifying Ice #19  
These "ice chaines" are more like ice magnets, expensive but you'd almost think that you were on dry pavement with them. These are "trygg" brand. They will last years & years for your use.

Tractor, Grader & Loader Studded Chains

Do you just run the chains on the front? I know a lot of people are nervous about even putting chains on the fronts.
 
   / Scarifying Ice #20  
Interesting you only use the chains on the front tires. Does that work well?

Little jab. You are due for and oil change.

This went to the wrong place I thought I was replying to rustyiron.


:laughing: That's an old pic. for the oil change date. Yes I only have them on the front. They came from c/l for $300, new chains for the rear (18.4x30) are just under $1500!! :eek:
Luke, I just try to use good sence operating (with my fingers crossed) and it's only during snow plowing duty. Mainly for steering control and one hill I have. I figure once you get that 5 tons rolling, the actual snow plowing load is not that great, ya just gotta maintain your momentum.
 

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