Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Hi!
I got the big beast for the heavy snow. But we still get allot of 1t o 2-3 inches of slush.  I don't want to look like a fool making a racket with a big red 2 stage SB for such a joke’y snow…

Nobody is coming out with a shovel, because it’s not heavy enough, and they let the children shovel it. But the fact is, the kids are not always shoveling, and if they do, they don’t clean it well, they sort of play with shovel.  I don’t have the time. I come home after a day of work; I want to see that snow “away” a.s.a.p. And after a day the remaining snow turn into sleet/ice/black ice.

Also, even when we do get an overnight snow with 10+ inches, I have these couple long steps, which makes hard to use the big 2 stage. My driveway and walk path till the steps is flat and paved and I can use the 2 stage with ease.

So I have two reasons why I started thinking of getting a SS.

1)      To clear the steps

2)      To clear the so called “joke” snow

If I decide to buy a SS, should I buy the 1800 Power Curve (38381)? Will that do a job enough compared to the Toro 418 gas?

or should  I get The Power Shovel (38361)?  is thet good enough and will do both task well?

Help me out guys…I need some suggestions.

We have a 6 car drive way and I have to walk 92 feet till the steps… extension cords should not be an issue.

Here is a picture of the long walk, and the steps.

The long steps and the normal house steps

A SS blower is a great compliment to your snow removal arsenal. I'd suggest you get a either a new Toro 621 or 421 (depending on your snowfall amounts) or a used SS of your choosing off of CL. A nice Toro CCR 2000 or 3000 is always a good choice or a Honda HS621 if you really want to go for broke! I've used a 2 stage exclusively for the past 35 + years and started to use a SS last year. Having both a 2 stage and a single stage makes your clean up job much easier and less fatiguing than always having to use a big 2 stage blower.

The older I get the more I appreciate the lighter, easier to handle single stage blowers for anything less than 8". Most early and late winter storms involve snowfall amounts in the 4" - 8" range which is ideal for a single stage machine. Not having to bull around a 250 - 300 lb. beast for less than 8" makes life a whole lot easier and less painful the next day. Don't get me wrong as I do appreciate my big 9 HP, 28" Bucket 2 stage but only when the weather Gods have deemed it necessary to use (i.e. 8+ inches of heavy, wet or EOD type of snow)! I love the winter (and all seasons for that matter) so any tool that can make my life easier is my friend!

I'd agree with FrankMA a Toro 421 or 621 would be an ideal choice for smaller snowfalls. Up where I am I use the big 2 stage for everything. But a Toro SS would be ideal for 2-4 inches. It will probablt throw teh slush a decent distance. For 2-4 inches I have ot run my 2 stage in 5th or 6th gear to clear the snow properly. A single stage would rip right through it.

You'll be surprised how much snow a good SS machine can handle.  Sure, up to eight inches is probably ideal but in a pinch, it could handle more.  All depends on the type of snow.  I prefer to use the SS machines.  They are most definitely less fatiguing and are surprisingly effective.  Even an inexpensive used SS machine is a blessing to have. Did I say they were actually fun to use as well?

What about the electric ss? Won't they do the job ? I thing of using it to clean the outside house stairs as well, and the gas ones are heavy!

I was going to mention that. I have an old Toro Powercurve 1800 electric single stage. I used it last winter to clear off my deck (I have a 2-stage for the driveway). The deck is not a big area, but we got a ton of snow in New England last winter. I was impressed with how it did. Granted, the snow was not packed down, and I cleared it after each storm. I'd be more leery of using it for EOD. But it did well with the deck. It's also very light and easy to move around (I have to carry it up the stairs to my deck, which is about 10' off the ground). It might be a useful option for you. Very convenient (plug in the cord and go), and it sure beat shoveling the deck after each of the big storms we kept getting!

But if you don't want to deal with cords, or you want more power, etc, and don't mind more weight, a small gas single stage might be good. I just got a small gas single stage, a 3 hp, 22" 2-stroke Ariens (SS322). It's pretty light as things go, I guess. But at 60 lbs, it's a lot heavier than my ~25 lb electric, and also more awkward to pick up. I haven't gotten to try it yet, unfortunately. But even my little gas one (many are 5+ hp now) will be more powerful than the Powercurve 1800. A 15 amp circuit (1800W) can provide about 2.4hp max, to give a power comparison for the electrics. I don't know how much snow you typically get. But getting a gas single stage one up the single steps between the long flat sections should not be a big deal. I don't think the Powercurve 1800 or the gas ones would be very useful on the steps themselves (the stairs going right to the house). Maybe the Power Shovel would be OK?

Personally, I'd pick a unit by how it would do on the long flat sections with the individual steps, and just shovel the stairs that go right up to the house. Getting something really small like the Power Shovel, for the stairs, and then suffering along the 92 feet of walkway would seem like putting the cart before the horse :)

I would suggest getting the toro 418.  It seems like it would be perfect for your walkways.

Maybe it's just me but I don't see electricity and snow & slush going together very well.

I dunno....but at 3" slush.....I think I get better throw with the shovel. Just the way the auger/chute is.....I never had good luck

For your setup, I would just shovel a path on the stepped concrete. Hard to say for the rest, cause at 1-3" slush...bearing my few tries with the SS and having it just come up the chute and just drop, I end up shoveling a path. Generally if it's slushy enough, the sun does melt it away...

I whold get the power shovel for the steps it's self, cus I'm sick and tired of getting the snow down from the first step, then the next, then the next is already a foot deep. With a Power shovel, I can go Zooooom.... Job done. For the long steps and driveway: I think the 1800 electric should be fine, in case it can't handle it, I could fire up the big 1028. Also, it happanes allot, that I'm away with my family from Friday afternoon, and when I come home Saturday about 1:00am and find a foot of snow, I need a way to quickly open a path for my wife and baby caridge. I'm dead scared from my neighbors to fire up a 305cc B&S mid night... They may wake up and get it in to my wife the. Next day, then I get it from her... So by having the 1800 electric, I could at least open a path to walk up home, mid night. A gas ss is about $400. Power shovel $100. 1800 is $300. Same $400 for the electric combo. Feel free to criticize me if you feel I'm wrong. I never used a snowblower in my life, so I'm guessing here... Your all long time pro's.

Not crazy about electric OPE of any type.  Something to do with electricity, extension cords, moisture on the ground and me.   However, in your situation where noise might be an issue, it might just be your only choice.