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What's The Best Tactic For Shoveling Snow ?

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arwalden Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 12:25 PM
Original message
What's The Best Tactic For Shoveling Snow ?
Edited on Thu Feb-24-05 12:25 PM by arwalden
Is it better to wait until the snowstorm is over before shoveling it off of sidewalks and driveways? The benefit is ONE trip out into the cold... but it's harder work because the snow is deeper.

Or... would you shovel the first two inches... then go out again in a couple of hours and shovel another two inches (and so on until the storm is over). --- The benefit, easier work... but more trips into the cold.

(I don't think this little storm is going to be deep enough to make the snowblower worthwhile.)

-- Allen
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terrya Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 12:26 PM
Response to Original message
1. I'd wait for it to be over, then go out and shovel it.
It's harder work, overall, but you'll be making only one trip.
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VelmaD Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 12:26 PM
Response to Original message
2. Pay a neighbor kid...
to do it. :)
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A HERETIC I AM Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 06:03 PM
Response to Reply #2
23. My 1st thoughts exactly!
n/t
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barb162 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 12:27 PM
Response to Original message
3. I shovel more than once as it's a lot easier to move it when it's
less deep.
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trotsky Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 12:27 PM
Response to Original message
4. I like to do multiple trips.
Then you end up being able to push the snow most of the time, and only have to shovel/lift it sparingly.

And be sure to get one of those ergonomic shovels, they make a world of difference in easing strain on your back. I have one wide-blade straight shovel for pushing, and an egronomic for lifting.
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Drifter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 12:27 PM
Response to Original message
5. I always maintain ...
I'll shovel 2" of snow from driveway at night, even though there may be 5" more on the way by morning.

I view snow shoveling (when I'm not using the snowblower), as exercise not work.

Cheers
Drifter
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Worst Username Ever Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 12:29 PM
Response to Original message
6. I'll shovel once it hits 5-6 inches
and then wait till it is done and re-shovel. Too heavy otherwise. If it is a light snow, I'll wait it through.

Depends on the storm though. I've had windy ones where I will shovel out the sidewalk mid-storm, but the wind just covers it and it looks like I had not shoveled in the first place.
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johnnie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 12:29 PM
Response to Original message
7. Here is what I did
I hate shoveling snow, so I waited until my neighbor got a snowblower and now he does my drive whenever it snows. I had to wait four years, but it was worth it. :)
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Historic NY Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 02:11 PM
Response to Reply #7
19. I waited until all my buddys bought snowplows...
that way I never had too. My brother even bought one for his quad atv. Now they seem to see who will get here first. :eyes:
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LiberalEsto Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 12:40 PM
Response to Original message
8. Phyllis Diller used to say
"Cleaning the house while the kids are growing
is live shoveling the sidewalk before it stops snowing."


Note for the young'uns: Phyllis Diller was a well-know comedienne of the late 60s and 1970s.
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TlalocW Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 12:47 PM
Response to Original message
9. Get a big bag of bird seed
Throw a bunch onto your driveway like you would sand. That will help you grip the driveway better if you have to go somewhere, but it will also encourage birds to come down and eat the seed, and they'll eat a lot of the snow and tamp down a lot of the rest with their feet.

TlalocW
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Wcross Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 12:56 PM
Response to Original message
10. What I did was....
Moved south where it doesn't snow! My Dad still loves it up in Rochester, N.Y. where the snow falls on a regular basis. He is always excited when it snows so he can use his snowblower. He even looks for neighbors who need help and goes over there to blow snow.
You need to move to Dad's neighborhood!
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NashVegas Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 01:53 PM
Response to Reply #10
17. Me Too!
Great minds ..
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KamaAina Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 01:25 PM
Response to Original message
11. Move to Hawai'i. Use a toothpick.
Or a straw, if you're into snowblowers.

:-)
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RazzleCat Donating Member (336 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 01:34 PM
Response to Reply #11
12. Wait it out
I live in St. Louis, I know it will warm up enough in a day or so for it all to melt, so wait it out. On the other hand if we are stuck in some real cold, use the kid (the only real use for having an adolescent in your house).
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Nailzberg Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 01:34 PM
Response to Original message
13. Know people in Streets and San.
Them city plows will take care of your driveway in one pass!
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da_chimperor Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 01:41 PM
Response to Original message
14. Depends on the water content of the snow
If it's not that cold and the snow is wet, you'd be better of doing it now, then again once it's all over. If it's super-dry stuff, just do it all at once. I've had to shovel 2 feet of 'sierra cement' before, and it was awful. x(
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XNASA Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 01:50 PM
Response to Original message
15. If you're shoveling snow, and you're cold.......
...then you're not shoveling fast enough. So personally, I don't think that being out in the cold is much of a factor. It's not unusual for me remove my coat after about 20 minutes of robust shoveling.

But I'd try to stay ahead of the snow by not waiting too long. More than two or three inches and it gets difficult to manage.

There's lot's of factors, the density of the snow, the wind, the upcoming weather, etc......

Good luck! Let me know if you want me to bring the snow blower over. Or do you already have one? ;-)
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arwalden Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 05:53 PM
Response to Reply #15
20. Yep... It's Easy To Work Up A Sweat
We've already got a snow thrower... brand new... never been used. The blades are just as shiny as the day we brought it home. There just hasn't been enough snow around her to warrant cranking it up.

No doubt, the weather has taken a personal interest in whether or not it's convenient for me and now that we have a snow thrower every snow will be light. If we were to sell it, then the BIG ONE would come along. Right? :shrug:

Oh well... at least we're prepared.
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Beer Snob-50 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 01:53 PM
Response to Original message
16. depends on the forecast
the last one here was supposed to be 10 heavy inches so i did it twice.
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NashVegas Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 01:55 PM
Response to Original message
18. If It's Wet, Heavy Snow
Edited on Thu Feb-24-05 01:56 PM by Crisco
You don't want to be lifting often a shovel that weighs 10-15 pounds. You can seriously hurt yourself (back, heart if you have problems there) if you don't watch it.

Better: get a snow blower.
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AngryAmish Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 05:57 PM
Response to Original message
21. Machivellian snow shoveling
I got this neighbor, great guy. But he feels that every favor he does means he has one over on me and if I do him a favor he feels a great need to return a favor.

SO, the first snowfall of the year I get up at 5:00 a.m. and shovel both of our front walks. He feels a great need to reciprocate, so he does mine for the rest of the year. I will get up early sometimes if it is a light snow and make him feel the need to reciprocate again.

God, I'm a prick.
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arwalden Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 06:01 PM
Response to Reply #21
22. That Sounds Like You've Got A Good Neighbor...
... I think.
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bleedingheart Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 06:16 PM
Response to Reply #21
27. god that is so funny.....sinister yet neighborly...
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nothingshocksmeanymore Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 06:05 PM
Response to Original message
24. This way, of course
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CatholicEdHead Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 06:14 PM
Response to Original message
25. Wait until spring
so much easier.
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Cuban_Liberal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 06:15 PM
Response to Original message
26. 1.) Dress warmly.
2.) Step outside.

3.) Walk next door and give the neighbor kid $10 to do it.

;)
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benburch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-24-05 06:16 PM
Response to Original message
28. Wait for Spring.
I've found that unshovelled snow disappears by itself by mid-March.
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