Is this snow thrower safe to use on wood decks? Is the point of contact with the surface you are clearing metal, plastic or rubber?
1058888
The surface I am clearing is concrete and asphalt so I don't know what it would do to wood. However that said the rotating blade does not come in contact with the surface directly. There is a leading edge that scoops the snow into the blade.
1058889
It is plastic. I don't know if the plastic strip on the bottom would get tripped up by the slots between the boards on a deck. I do know that mine got ripped off when I hit a plastic landscaping strip hidden under the snow and I can't get it back on.
1058890
The auger blades have a rubber rim so contact with the deck surface should be no problem. Behind and below the auger blades is a stationary hard plastic "scraper" that should just slide along the deck surface, assuming that it is level. You will be pushing the machine so you can control how fast and with how much pressure that plastic scraper moves along the deck surface. The machine is very light and easy to control.
1127282
It has wheels. They are plastic and do not roll great. Will work fine on your deck, but do not try to lift the front and cut above the snow. The snow will blow down and out at you while you are pushing it. Wet snow will not blow very far away.
2209367
It pulls the snow nicely off the roof with not much excess.I like the fact with the rollers it is not tearing up the shingles as much. Same principal as the skids on the snowblower.Lots of snow in New England! Very happy with the rake's performance.It is also rigged construction .
2079278
The machine will pick up rocks and throw them just like snow. You'd need to be careful where the discharge is going. You can also push down on the handle slightly and skim just above the surface of what you are clearing to not catch any rocks. With a little practice and care you could do it safely.
1115368
We've had a ton of heavy, wet-to-frozen layers of snow this year and this thing does cut right through it. It wouldn't cut through a pile of straight-up ice, but it's pretty heavy-duty and sturdy. Not sure if it would scratch your patio, but likely not if there's a coating of ice over it. We use it on concrete sidewalks, driveway, and patios. Not sure how it would be on a wooden structure such as a deck.
71924
As I'm sure you know, the unit is very light weight. My suggestion is to be patient. I have used it once and learned this. It will clear it off. I have also learned that if the snow has already been walked on or driven over that ice will have built up on the concrete surface and it is very difficult to remove. I ended up using a square nose shovel.
257033
What about snow? If I leave this around my deck will the harsh winter damage it? I live in Colorado.
473854
The wheels are not for traction, they keep the blade at the perfect angle and make pushing up to 2 inches of snow easy. A couple times I pushed 3 inches of very light puffy snow but after that its snow-thrower time. A couple times last year we got around 5 inches, I pushed it once at about 2 in and again at about 3 (light snow) inches. I live in western PA and only used my snow-thrower 2 times all last winter. this is a good quality product, I can clear my 350 foot driveway (2inches of snow) in the time it takes me to get the snow-thrower out of the shed, started and make one pass
2212926
That's a two part answer! It is heavy duty, not really. However if you are talking about being able to get the snow off, then it works perfectly. Snow is not the problem. The issue is if there is wet snow, sleet or rain. When water gets between the material and the car or wind shield, it will freeze there. At that point you have a greater chance for the material to rip. I have found that if you take a warm cup of water and pour it over the spots that have frozen, then you are in good shape and it will come off easier. Simply, if you know that it will just snow, then use it! You'll have no issues. If it is any other type of precipitation, then use with caution or use the warm water trick. Overall, it works for me and I am happy with it.
735102
I use Windex. It works wonderfully on the glass and the metal. My unit is on my screened porch. It does get an occasional snow drift in the heart of the winter. I do cover the unit with 55 gallon plastic leaf bag to protect it from the cold and snow. It still looks new.
2113469
I just went out in my 8 below zero garage and checked. The rims are plastic, and the tires are "balloon tires" not plastic wheels; they have air valves for refilling if they happen to get low. I still have 4-5 feet of snow on the ground, and I may not get the opportunity to use my spreader until May.Bob-North Smithfield, RI
2118484
It's good for both. I have read various sources that indicate not to use power washers on wood decks. Other people say that's not an issue. My own experience with wood decks is that you can gouge the wood if you aren't paying attention.
211357
The blade is made of plastic. It is an amazing tool for clearing snow. It is strong and sturdy and designed so that you do not hurt your back while using it. It is best for drier, fluffier snow.
691615
it has a one year warranty and the auger is plastic however it takes a beating. I found the problem with this item after many hours of use the support handle shown mid way on the pole, broke off. I purchased a ice chipper handle that is used to attach to ice chippers and it fits nicely to the pole and I did not lose any time. With the snow we received in CT this item worked great and I am glad I purchased it before the snow dropped. It worked great on wood decks and did not hurt the finish.
2284469
Every steel snow blower I've seen has always had runners on the edges that keep the blade a fraction of an inch above the surface. If there was no gap, you'd wear out the blade very quickly and most likely, unevenly. It would also pick up ever little piece of debris in its path and eventually damage the snow blower. The runners also allow it to be adjusted even higher for people with stone driveways. I believe the instructions say to lay a piece of cardboard down and adjust the runners so the blade skims across the cardboard. This means the machine will leave a thin coat of snow the thickness of a piece of cardboard box. I've found the thin layer of snow evaporates by the end of the day in most cases. If the snow is very wet or temps rise above freezing there may be enough water left over to refreeze into ice. You have to remember, a snow blower is just one tool in your arsenal against the ravages of winter. Consider it as you would a whitewash brush. It covers a large area with little effort but lacks the detail ability of a smaller detail brush... your shovel.
1210509
I use a Garelick snow rake on my solar panels -it works great. However, I put a few layers of duct tape on the bottom and side sharp edges. This prevents the sharp metal edges from touching the solar panels. When you are handling a 21 foot pole, the snow rake doesn't always land on the rollers. The rake sometimes comes down at an angle. Whatever you do, don't come down hard on the solar panels.
1429513
The auger is made of a rigid plastic. It works great if you get to the snow before it hardens.