Snow Edge for FEL

[Huskerfan]

While the Ratchet Rake has frequently been discussed, does anyone have experience with the companion product Snow Edge for the FEL? Does the Edge wear well and can one push snow with it on paver sidewalks without damaging them?

 

[RjCorazza]

I bought the 5' snow edge before last season, and it worked well. The edge is very thick and held up well on smooth pavement, though I used it briefly on a tar / chip surface which really roughed up the edge. It should do fine on pavers. What I do like is that it is very well made and securely mounts, so I was able to use the loader to move piles of snow without taking the edge off. When I bought mine the replacement edges were only $60, so I bought a spare. That's pretty cheap for an edge.
My bucket last year was 5'-6" so the 5' snow edge was fine. This season I will be using a 6' bucket so I'm not sure I will like leaving 6" on each side not scraping pavement. It might be nice letting the raised 6" bucket hang over driveway edges though... We'll see.
Also, don't count on scraping packed snow down to clear pavement, especially when the edge gets inevitably rounded. I will flatten mine out on dry pavement when I get it out of the cargo box (soon).

 

[ray66v]

We bolt a piece of treated 2x4 to the bottom front edge of my dad's FEL bucket, every winter.

It lasts all winter, and then some.

$6 including the bolts.

 

[E3A]

Thanks to a member suggestion here I went the 2x4 route last year before trying the snow edge. I didn't have any holes in my bucket so I had to drill them first. Then I clamped the 2x4 to the bucket and drilled through it then counterbored the underside of the 2x4 so the bolt heads didn't rub the driveway. It made it all winter with moderate wear and a $2.50 piece of lumber gives me 2 of them. This year I'm going to make up 4 or 6 of them so I have them on hand and ready to go. That will last me many years. Maybe one year I'll spring for PT lumber, but the doug fir held up just fine - and I actually abused it on purpose to see if I could get it to break or splinter. It held up great.

The Snow Edge looks to be very well made as well. The trade-off would be the ease of mounting and removal vs. keeping the 2x bolted onto the bucket all winter.

 

[repair1]

I use 1-1/4" schedule 80 pvc pipe that I slit with a table saw. No drilling and it lasts all season on 300' of broom finished concrete.

 

[dickfoster]

Thanks to a member suggestion here I went the 2x4 route last year before trying the snow edge. I didn't have any holes in my bucket so I had to drill them first. Then I clamped the 2x4 to the bucket and drilled through it then counterbored the underside of the 2x4 so the bolt heads didn't rub the driveway. It made it all winter with moderate wear and a $2.50 piece of lumber gives me 2 of them. This year I'm going to make up 4 or 6 of them so I have them on hand and ready to go. That will last me many years. Maybe one year I'll spring for PT lumber, but the doug fir held up just fine - and I actually abused it on purpose to see if I could get it to break or splinter. It held up great.

The Snow Edge looks to be very well made as well. The trade-off would be the ease of mounting and removal vs. keeping the 2x bolted onto the bucket all winter.

I thought about using a 2X4 to replace the plastic edge on the snow edge when it wears out. Since it has all the holes needed, I wouldn't have to drill my bucket.

 

[thatguy]

I use 1-1/4" schedule 80 pvc pipe that I slit with a table saw. No drilling and it lasts all season on 300' of broom finished concrete.

how do you keep it on? just friction?

 

[tractchores]

Probably an odd question, but what are the downsides to not using anything? I've just been using my loader bucket edge for the last 4 or 5 years on a paved driveway with no ill effects. I haven't really noticed any wear on the bucket edge or damage to the pavement...

 

[BoylermanCT]

Probably an odd question, but what are the downsides to not using anything? I've just been using my loader bucket edge for the last 4 or 5 years on a paved driveway with no ill effects. I haven't really noticed any wear on the bucket edge or damage to the pavement...

Whether you realize it or not, you are wearing the bottom of the bucket, making it thinner over time. Having a sacrificial replaceable edge allows you to wear it out and then replace it rather than eventually having to replace your entire bucket. Since tractors move slowly, the wear will be much less than say on a plow on a pickup which plows at a much faster speed. There is also wear on the driveway itself. Using a wood or plastic PVC wear bar, as suggested by others will save wear and tear on your cement or asphalt driveway.

 

[E3A]

how do you keep it on? just friction?

I tried that one year. For me, it worked great when it was new but opened up after some back dragging. Halfway through a storm I found myself getting off the tractor a lot and looking for my piece of pipe in a snow pile. I probably would've had better results if I went to a bigger pipe so it would fit all the way over the bucket lip. I'm thinking that would've given it a better grip.

 

[tractchores]

Whether you realize it or not, you are wearing the bottom of the bucket, making it thinner over time. Having a sacrificial replaceable edge allows you to wear it out and then replace it rather than eventually having to replace your entire bucket. Since tractors move slowly, the wear will be much less than say on a plow on a pickup which plows at a much faster speed. There is also wear on the driveway itself. Using a wood or plastic PVC wear bar, as suggested by others will save wear and tear on your cement or asphalt driveway.

Thanks, makes sense. Maybe I'll try some of the tips mentioned here!

 

[E3A]

Probably an odd question, but what are the downsides to not using anything? I've just been using my loader bucket edge for the last 4 or 5 years on a paved driveway with no ill effects. I haven't really noticed any wear on the bucket edge or damage to the pavement...

My driveway has a decent grade from side to side to help move the water that comes off a hill. The bucket doesn't always land flat on the driveway, so I have some decent gouges in the pavement where one corner of the bucket caught the high side. Since then I've used some type of edge protection.

 

[repair1]

how do you keep it on? just friction?

Yes, just friction. I use a short scrap of 2 x 4 and a 3 lb. hammer to install it. I usually have a couple extra pieces cut as spares but I haven't needed to use one during the season. I should say I use a 3 pt snow blower to remove the snow and then float the bucket for the trip back up the driveway to clean up the edges. This works for me in my situation but your results may be different.

 

[thatguy]

Another pipe on FEL question.. when cutting it on a table saw - what type of blade is best? do you have to use a slower speed (i just got a shopsmith which is variable speed) so it doent melt/get too hot and stick to the blade?

Brian

 

[E3A]

Another pipe on FEL question.. when cutting it on a table saw - what type of blade is best? do you have to use a slower speed (i just got a shopsmith which is variable speed) so it doent melt/get too hot and stick to the blade?

Brian

Any carbide tipped wood blade will cut pvc or abs easily. I don't think you'll see any melting. I mounted the pipe to a 2x4 to run along the fence as a little insurance against rotating the pipe while I was feeding it.

 

[repair1]

Another pipe on FEL question.. when cutting it on a table saw - what type of blade is best? do you have to use a slower speed (i just got a shopsmith which is variable speed) so it doent melt/get too hot and stick to the blade?

Brian

Nothing special just a carbide tipped rip blade.

 

[mykleh]

anybody ever try the pvc pipe on a snowblower edge?? I have a 700' gravel driveway and until I get a good pack it can gouge you know the drill.. wondering if that would help for the first couple snows or if it warmed up and had to start over... my wife has started helping now that we have the heated cab of the toolcat and she struggles the most with the pitch of the blower on the front..

 

[ray66v]

anybody ever try the pvc pipe on a snowblower edge?? I have a 700' gravel driveway and until I get a good pack it can gouge you know the drill.. wondering if that would help for the first couple snows or if it warmed up and had to start over... my wife has started helping now that we have the heated cab of the toolcat and she struggles the most with the pitch of the blower on the front..

If the PVC breaks and goes through the snow blower, you will probably find out it was a bad idea. (Plastic gets brittle in frigid weather).

I have a steel pipe, with tabs welded on it to bolt it on, mounted on my plow. I would go that route.

It works very well, on my 325' of gravel drive, once I have packed down some snow.

 

[gladehound]

I use something called edge tamers. They are like little skis that you clamp on the edge of your bucket. I do a lot of snow removal on both gravel and asphalt and these work well on both. I used to use PVC but like others, kept breaking the pipes. If I need to scrape ice off the driveway, they come off in seconds with a ratchet. But I've learned to only scrape where I know the asphalt is completely flat and smooth - catch a crack in the asphalt and it rips up really easily.

I'd rate the edge tamers a "recommend" especially if your also doing any gravel areas.

 

[TheMan419]

I use something called edge tamers. They are like little skis that you clamp on the edge of your bucket. I do a lot of snow removal on both gravel and asphalt and these work well on both. I used to use PVC but like others, kept breaking the pipes. If I need to scrape ice off the driveway, they come off in seconds with a ratchet. But I've learned to only scrape where I know the asphalt is completely flat and smooth - catch a crack in the asphalt and it rips up really easily.

I'd rate the edge tamers a "recommend" especially if your also doing any gravel areas.

Which edge tamers did you get the 3 in or 4 in? I am going to get some before the snow flies here. I just take care of my own driveway. Gravel (well really limestone) and I ended up with a lot of it in the yard last year. I will also have to plow a path to the new barn for SWMBO. That will be over grass/weeds. I don't care terribly about the underlying plant life right now as that will be replanted in the spring regardless, but I do not want to tear up the ground.

The Edge Tamers seems like the solution I need. You give them 4 stars?