Snow Shovel Hack

[asemery]

I added a loop of cotton clothesline to my snow shovel. I used a constrictor knot near the blade and made the loop so it reaches to the handle. It makes shoveling SO much easier. You don't have to bend to grab the handle to toss a bladeful of snow. You can adjust the position of the lower knot along the wooden shaft and change the size of the loop to suit yourself. Hold the black handle in one hand and grab the loop in the other. Maintain an upright position and save strain on your back.
It made the clearing of the recent humungus snowfall (eastern Pennsylvania, USA) much quicker and with less strain.

 

[mete]

The back is not designed for lifting !!! My snow shovel has a blade about 12" square with a 5' lng handle.Lifting is done with the arms . Much better !

 

[22-rimfire]

Interesting idea. I use a plastic shovel with wood handle from the hardware store. It is what my Dad would have called a coal or grain shovel. Works very well except for chipping ice.

 

[Sharp Guy]

Interesting idea. I use a plastic shovel with wood handle from the hardware store. It is what my Dad would have called a coal or grain shovel. Works very well except for chipping ice.

I had a snow shovel that I think was very similar. It had a nice big plastic scoop with sides so the snow didn't slide off before you had the chance to throw it. Best shovel I used in all my years shoveling the stuff. I moved south last summer so I left my trusty scooper with my son.

I always used my legs and arms to lift the snow, especially when it was heart attack snow.

 

[sideways]

You are doing it wrong.
[video=youtube_share;xPKtsHwtQts]http://youtu.be/xPKtsHwtQts[/video]

 

[22-rimfire]

The only problem with the Fiskars`is what if you need to lift the snow up and away from say your sidewalk or driveway.

 

[sideways]

Run it up a snow ramp.

 

[22-rimfire]

Why not`?

 

[sideways]

I'll never go back to a shovel (unless I need to clear some narrow stairs where the scoop won't fit) or do the maintenance of a snowblower.

The scoops you don't lift are that good. Just make sure it is sized right so you can run it with a straight back.

 

[22-rimfire]

Sideways, if we got more snow, I would give it a try because my driveway is gently sloped to the street and might work well.

 

[taldesta]

Run it up a snow ramp.

It might be a Canadian thing
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My take is that this hack is a DIY that helps with the basic problem of straight stick handles on snow or garden shovels. A google for 'snow shovel attachment' will show many commercial items like the 'Heft' and others that attach to straight handled implements to lessen back strain.


No expert ... but no stranger either to snow, shovels, ice chippers or snowblowers, I just couldn't resist chiming in on this one.


Preferred for big jobs - snowblower, hands down.


The D-handle snow sleigh (a large,light scoop) is a workhorse. It picks up a huge load of snow, glides with an easy push along the 'ground' and if I need to deposit the snow up and over a bank, I just use momentum, push down on the D and the scoop glides uphill. I also use this scoop as a sleigh to pull 5 gal water jugs and gear at times.


For cutting into banks, tidying up, I would use my light, wide, ergonomic shovel ...


These pics are from a time just a few years ago when some local boys loaned me their hunt camp so I could be closer to my aging dad over winter. I moved down from my home near Algonquin Park ... and the snow fell, and fell and fell ...







Cutting the walkpath to the road with the ergonomic shovel








Then some serious work cutting into the banks and with the scoop to get the vehicle out. A little narrow winding track with high banks ... so I backed out with the hatch open






Here you can see one of the ramps where the scoop carried the snow up and over the bank




This is my lifetime favourite snowstorm - so far!

 

[sideways]

Yes!

That's what I'm talking about, and that's a sexy snow ramp!

Thank you for sharing those pictures. They do a great job of illustrating snow removal up north. And you've even got the dogs for scale.

 

[wildwilly2]

What 22-rimfire said if you have to shovel and throw the snow a grain scoop shovel works a lot better than a snow shovel which is more of a snow pusher.And I know A little about it I've got paid to do it for the last 40 years, Semi retired now but put in 71 hours moving snow this week 34 inches here

 

[Plainsman]

One word-snowblower!

But for those that can't afford one, this shovel helps with the throwing or piling! lol!

https://www.google.com/search?q=snow+shovel&prmd=sivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjF3PWhns_KAhVHl4MKHcmGDm8Q_AUICCgC#imgrc=ZtF1fRJEJaAlSM%3A

 

[taldesta]

HUH? I can barely hear you ..... over the noise



I am not familiar with the grain scoop shovel ... can someone shed light for me? I am happy to use any snow removal tool possible. no kidding.

Susan

 

[wildwilly2]

http://ace.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pACE3-1245598t181.jpg or http://ace.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pACE-961216reg.jpg The aluminum is lighter cuts into packed snow better sometimes the snow will stick to it spraying with cooking spray helps.The plastic is a little heavier doesn't slice into the snow as nice.

 

[22-rimfire]

I use these shovels year around. Have both the aluminum and plastic versions as well as different sizes. First tried the plastic ones because they are "non-sparking" in potentially flamable environments. Have the traditional flat shovels too with short and long handles. Not much for digging, but I have spades for that. Just another tool....

 

[taldesta]

Yes!

That's what I'm talking about, and that's a sexy snow ramp!

Welcome. I enjoyed the challenge and pictures are a constant in my life ....

Interesting idea. I use a plastic shovel with wood handle from the hardware store. It is what my Dad would have called a coal or grain shovel. Works very well except for chipping ice.

I wonder ... is the grain shovel a shape that works or is it the lighter material?

What 22-rimfire said if you have to shovel and throw the snow a grain scoop shovel works a lot better than a snow shovel which is more of a snow pusher.And I know A little about it I've got paid to do it for the last 40 years, Semi retired now but put in 71 hours moving snow this week 34 inches here

Thanks for the link.



My ergonomic shovel is light and easy on the back ... but I only use it when the 'sleigh' can't do the bank-cutting and tidy work. And with any luck at all, at my age, the snowblower starts and I get some walking behind exercise and the shovels rest on the porch!

 

[taldesta]

I use these shovels year around. Have both the aluminum and plastic versions as well as different sizes. First tried the plastic ones because they are "non-sparking" in potentially flamable environments. Have the traditional flat shovels too with short and long handles. Not much for digging, but I have spades for that. Just another tool....

Thank heavens snow is not flammable! Just sayin' I'd be toast.

 

[22-rimfire]

I wonder ... is the grain shovel a shape that works or is it the lighter material?

I think it is both. The plastic ones are surprisingly strong. When I first started using them, I figured I'd break one on the first job. The shape works because it keeps loose material from falling off the edges of the shovel. It is also a volume thing as well.

The traditional snow shovel really sucks as far as I'm concerned except in wet or crusty snow. These ones with the ergo handles probably work better. But I'm not going to buy one to use two or three times a year when I am comfortable with the other shovels. I know that I have one of the damn things in my garage anyway.... A lifetime's worth of crap in there. Probably moved it two or three times already from house to house....

A common use was to shovel up stuff like oil dry or saw dust saturated with gasoline or diesel fuel. That's why the non-sparking issue was important and then I discovered they are really strong anyway.