Windy & I decided our Christmas presents to each other would be to split the expense of a snow blower. We're both getting old & fat, and if Joizey is gonna get 12" deep snowfalls or worse we don't want to drop dead on the driveway. Did some scouting at the local places, checked out a few features and models, and talked to a few people who had some experience owning one.

Well, the electric ones were tossed by the wayside nearly immediately. The thought of low maintenance (no oil or spark plug changes) was appealing at first until a few conversations and a little reading told me that they aren't very powerful at all and would only be good for the small accumulations that are easily shoveled.

We were hoping to stay under $500 but didn't see anything that looked sturdy enough, nor could do what I needed it to. Well, there was one online for $430 but it wasn't a name I was familiar with and it cost $130 to ship, defeating the cyber discount. Having a double driveway means the snow has to be tossed pretty far so I wanted a two stage system with a large snow chute. I also didn't want the side mount worm gear that adjusts the direction of the chute - the base was plastic and I was told they can crack in the cold if you crank them too hard. Luckily, 4 stroke motors seem standard since there's no way I want Windy mixing gas & oil. Electric start is a sweet feature too. After a brilliant tip from Windy (she remembered my nephew works at a store that's famous for tools) we ended up with what I hope is a winner:

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-24inch-208cc-dual-stage-snow-thrower/p-07188173000P



If you're thinking that the next few winters are mild, thank me because I probably just bought South Jersey 3 straight years of light snowfall.

…. and yes, I bought extra shear pins.

 

Money well spent. I'm about to make the same kind of purchase. Cheap compared to the sore muscles and loss of income due to some stupid injury incurred while scooping the white crap. I have a very long driveway and office property. I can't seem to hire anybody that will do a decent job or can be depended upon to get the job done before business hours.

 

Double driveway on a corner lot here. Lots of pavement that needs clearing - a heart attack waiting to happen.

 

I have also discovered that if you wait long enough it tends to go away on it's own!

 

I can't lose either way - we're either prepared for blizzards or we'll have beach front property in a decade.

I guess we could just snow bird to Florida and ignore it, but I doubt either of our employers would like a 4 month disappearing act each winter.

 

I'm self employed so my boss would like it. Unfortunately I'm in a business that is production generated and I'm the only producer.

 

This beast will throw wet snow across the road.

 

Guess I shouldn't complain about having to clean the pool.

 

You could've made your own from scrap timber

 

I have always had luck with TORO'S.

 

If the weather gets really bad -

 

Really really bad...........

(Stuart has probably climbed on this )

 

Ok! Yours IS bigger than mine

 

You should be able to create your own ski jumping hill with this one.

 

I would like to see a few flakes this year here in NC.. we normally miss out on most of the snow as the Mtn's steal it all before it makes it close to Charlotte...

 

Gotta be from Russia. Only Russians do things like that.