Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 17

Thread: How Snow Shovelling is like Woodworking

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Libertyville, IL (Chicago - North)
    Posts
    360

    How Snow Shovelling is like Woodworking

    We had about 10" of fresh snow this AM. I was unable to get the 48" UHMW pusher through it. That beast is like my transitional jointer with the 2 5/8" blade -- gets it done fast... in some cases. Today I had to bring out the classic steel 24" pusher. That's like my #5 with a heavy camber. It does a good job of rough clearing, but can't get it up and off the drive. So I followed with the scoop shovel. I suppose that's like a #4.

    Three inches of powder is like working green wood. Today's snow had an inch of slush at the bottom. That makes it more like working maple. Happily, I did not need the ice chipper today. That's only needed for frozen slush, like a scraper on reversing grain.

    I was working my way across the driveway much as one would work across a board. I typically skew my pusher, about the same as a jack plane and overlap my cuts just as I would work my way over a board. No tire tracks today. They are like knots.

    I also find it easier to get out there a couple or few times, taking light cuts, rather than waiting for the snow to finish and trying to take it all in a single pass.

    I have been known to sharpen a shovel, and I certainly file off the curled up corners of the blade. At the beginning of the season I will also put some ski wax on the shovels. Can we call that fettling?

    As I was finishing, my neighbor was firing up his riding mower with snow-thrower attachment. I prefer to do my driveway using Neanderthal tools and techniques. But there are times I would like to have him do the rough dimensioning with his power tool.

    Let it snow!

  2. #2
    Bill,

    I understand the planes but what is this Snow Shovel of which you speak?

    BTW, It's in the high 80s and low 90s this week...But it is a dry heat.

    ken

  3. #3
    Well Ken, it's like this.... So far today we have 11" of partly cloudy and it's coming down now at about 2-3" per hour. I expect that before the storm is over we'll get 2 feet as predicted. It's been a mellow and unexpected day off from work. Had freshly made beef stew for lunch. I'll wait until tonight when the snow stops to go out and fire up the snowblower. With a 100ft hill driveway there is no way I'm hand shoveling Neander or not.
    Dave Anderson

    Chester, NH

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Philadelphia, PA
    Posts
    97
    After my third trip out in a rare Philadelphia storm, Bill your post practically sang to me. I truly appreciate when my neighbor cuts a rut down everyone's sidewalk on the block but I'm also happy in the summer time when I don't have to store a big snowblower in my one-care garage shop!

    Maybe, since I only have and use a curved metal shovel, I'm following the Paul Sellers-esque style of a No4 for every job?

    -Jake
    Please Pick One of the Following:

    Built Correctly & Within Budget / Within Budget & Done Quickly / Done Quickly & Built Correctly

  5. #5
    Interesting Thread. This is the first winter I don't shovel since it is forbidden by my Cardiologist and the little woman! I hired a guy who did the last little storm and should be coming today..................waiting/wondering if he is coming is worse than shoveling...................a lot like hiring someone to do a small woodworking job for you when you would rather do it yourself! LOL

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Lewiston, Idaho
    Posts
    28,504
    I am a complete neander when it comes to shoveling snow. Our drive way is only 50' long.
    Ken

    So much to learn, so little time.....

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Bedford, NH
    Posts
    1,286
    I usually snow blow my driveway (150' long), but with the forecast of 14"-18" of heavy wet snow with wind gusts to 50 mph, I decided to hire someone to plow the driveway. I'll still have to do the walkways around the house plus the walkout from the finished basement. This time around I'm going to wait until well after the driveway is plowed to trim out the driveway. It is usually the case that with the amount of wind I get at my place the snow is blown after the driveway is cleared into the driveway filling it up again. This time I'll wait until the wind stops. Glad we're not planning on going anywhere for a while.
    Thoughts entering one's mind need not exit one's mouth!
    As I age my memory fades .... and that's a load off my mind!

    "We Live In The Land Of The Free, Only Because Of The Brave"
    “The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living."
    "
    Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    Poughkeepsie, NY
    Posts
    207
    I have a short handled transfer (aka coal) shovel in the trunk of my car. For shoveling out the one or two feet behind it, left by the plow. Apartment living does have it's perks

  9. #9
    Dry heat my butt its still to hot to early and you sweat like heck
    Oh I lived in NH for 40 years for 20 of those year my driveway was 900+feet up hill well down hill on the first pass and I did it with a snowblower. It was a dirt not paved drive and very steep. Fun Fun

    Quote Originally Posted by ken hatch View Post
    Bill,

    I understand the planes but what is this Snow Shovel of which you speak?

    BTW, It's in the high 80s and low 90s this week...But it is a dry heat.

    ken
    Last edited by Bert Kemp; 03-14-2017 at 11:29 PM.
    If the Help and advice you received here was of any VALUE to you PLEASE! Become a Contributor
    Rabbit RL_XX_6040-60 watt Laser engraving/cutting machine Oh wait its a 3D Printer my bad LOL
    Lasercut 5.3
    CorelDraw X5

    10" Miter Saw with slide
    10" Table Saw
    8" bench mount 5 speed Drill Press
    Dremel, 3x21 Belt Sander


  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    MT
    Posts
    698
    I thought your analogy was spot-on. We have had the 4th snowiest winter on record here and I am tired of shoveling. Was supposed to fly to Philly yesterday for a meeting - trip got postponed. I am glad. Our snow here is actually disappearing rapidly.

    -Kris-

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    The Hartland of Michigan
    Posts
    7,628
    I can't remember if I used the snow thrower once or twice this winter. Same with the shovel.
    Everyone else is getting it except southern Mi. The storm that hit the east left us with maybe 2".
    In Feb. there was a report that every state except Florida had snow.
    Never, under any circumstances, consume a laxative and sleeping pill, on the same night

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Bellingham, Washington
    Posts
    1,149
    My driveway is ~100 feet long. We so seldom get snow, although we got a bit more than usual this year, that I never shovel it. Just drive my Subaru (in reverse because that's the way it's parked) out. Since our rural road is never plowed I don't have to drive over a plow bump. It's great not to have to remove snow.
    Bracken's Pond Woodworks[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Virginia and Kentucky
    Posts
    3,364
    I use a starter assisted snow blower when lots of snow falls.....no Neander tools unless it's just a dusting.

  14. #14
    16" of the stuff. I'd much rather be woodworking than using a snowblower to move it from where it is to where it needs to go.

  15. #15
    This didn't feel anything like woodworking.


Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •