High Quality Snow Shovel

[jatoxico]

I have two snow blowers but always need to have a shovel. Cracks started developing on my current shovel (plastic w/ a metal edge) and was never really up to the task.

Any recommendations on a good quality shovel that can take some abuse? I always seem to wear them out getting too enthusiastic when chopping out frozen plow spoil by the mailbox or getting ice up off the asphalt.

Bonus, if I spend the extra money to buy a good one now it won't snow for the rest of the season so there's that.

 

[Jags]

I use a regular old aluminum grain shovel for final clean up. The one I use is probably 30+ years old and shows no signs of giving up the ghost. For clean up I am usually throwing the snow somewhere as opposed to pushing it. Grain shovels are designed to throw.

 

[lindnova]

Depends on if you are lifting or pushing. My go to shovel is the Snowplow. It is a pusher but light enough to throw also in the narrower sizes. It is really tough and comes with a warranty. They are made in Minnesota and a few independent shops and Ace Hardware carry them. They come in 24",30".. up to 48" wide. Wide is good for small snows and wide walks. The 30" is best universal size for a strong person. After I hurt my shoulder I now use a 24". 24" throws easier also. With some speed you can push the snow and a lot of it will throw a few feet meaning less to lift. I have first hand experience pushing and chopping and these things hold up to commercial use. http://www.jmenterprises.com/

They other one that I like is the Structron blizzard buster. Black Abs with yellow fiberglass handle. Works real good, but not as durable and you can't chop ice with it or it will break. Easy to use for commercial - saves on shoulders and backs. (broken link removed to http://www.seymourtoolsonline.com/store/index.php?cPath=438_3245)

Plan on spending at least $30 - $50 for the good commercial ones. The discount, Menards, Home depot ones are junk as far as I am concerned. I would break them in the first use they way I shovel.

Lifting and throwing the aluminum scoop is best as Jags pointed out. I am 6'-4" and will use a scoop if I am shoveling real deep. Good for the hardpack at the mailbox or driveway end also. I would get a scoop and a snowplow to match the tool for the job.

 

[bassJAM]

I like a steel blade "snow pusher" like this one.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ames-1639...bucket_id=irsbucketdefault&findingMethod=p13n

I think I got mine from Home Depot. Seems to work pretty good for snow up to 6" where I can still push snow the full width of my driveway. I haven't dealt with anything deeper than that, but if the snow was too thick or heavy I'd probably opt for an aluminum grain shovel.

 

[TMonter]

I'm on my second year with one of the blue polycarbonate jobs from Costco. I typically have to buy a new shovel every 5-7 years when the old one cracks.

The grain shovels definitely have the edge in longevity, but the soft metal edge is a problem on asphalt unless you find one with a steel edge.

 

[jatoxico]

Thanks for all the replies. The grain shovel type looks like a work horse and might also like to pick up one that doubles as a pusher since sometimes that can be quicker than getting out the single stage machine. How is the aluminum as far as sticky snow? Need a coat of non-stick or are they good as long as they are cold?

 

[Jags]

Keep it cold. I generally don't have too much trouble with it sticking but the shovel hangs in an unheated building

 

[Whitepine2]

I use a regular old aluminum grain shovel for final clean up. The one I use is probably 30+ years old and shows no signs of giving up the ghost. For clean up I am usually throwing the snow somewhere as opposed to pushing it. Grain shovels are designed to throw.

Only way to go will last a lifetime I use mine to side scoop in light snow wide enough and light.Just make sure you get a good on and not a Chinese job. P.S. don't let anyone borrow as you will never get it back.

 

[DanCorcoran]

Check this month's Consumer Reports. They give an assessment of the pros and cons of the various styles. Then their recommendation.

 

[Ashful]

If you like the grain shovel, try a coal shovel. Maybe not as popular outside of Pennsylvania ("coal country"), but it's basically a heavier steel version of what Jags calls a grain shovel, with perhaps a very slightly smaller mouth.

There are two versions, short handle and long handle. Both are steel, to withstand the abuse of plunging into coal.



I also have a grain shovel, which I keep in the bed of the pickup, this time of year. I've used it to dig out a half dozen other people this year, never myself... but you can never know when you might need it.

 

[motorcycle07]

The aluminum grain shovels tend to dull, dent, and bur when used over rocks or metal (like nails in a deck). If you just do smooth cement it would probably last quite a while, but a nicked up shovel is frustrating to try and do a good job shoveling with.

 

[TMonter]

The aluminum grain shovels tend to dull, dent, and bur when used over rocks or metal (like nails in a deck). If you just do smooth cement it would probably last quite a while, but a nicked up shovel is frustrating to try and do a good job shoveling with.

Hence why I recommended the finding one with a steel edge or the suggestion of a coal shovel above was excellent.

 

[ironpony]

I like my plastic grain shovel, snow sticks less and glides better over rough surfaces. I have a lot of pavers I clear.

 

[CenterTree]

If you like the grain shovel, try a coal shovel. View attachment 127827

.

I have one of those I got from my Grand Father. Built for a life time and then some. Way too heavy though. I don't shovel snow with it ever. Also I find the snow sticks to it too often.

It is GREAT for scraping the gravel/cinders off the side of the road in the spring though.

The aluminum grain shovel gets a curled edge if ya use it on pavement.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I'm like Jags. A 14" aluminum scoop shovel will probably outlast you and for shoveling, I've not found anything that makes the task easier. I think our shovel is about 40 years old now at least.

 

[Ashful]

I think part of the preference is locale, and what type of snow/ice you get. I have and use an aluminum grain shovel, but it does take a beating, trying to chip up the ice we so frequently get around here. I have two coal shovels, both of which were my fathers, and will probably be used by my grandkids. They're a little heavier than a grain shovel, but I usually don't mind the exercise.

 

[blades]

As I do commercial I haven't found anything plastic wise that lasts more than 2 seasons metal edge included. Big bucks for cheap junk seems to be the mantra now days. Bought 3 new shovels about 25 each, I/2 through seson had to repair each one already. yech.

 

[Gunny]

Agree with most on the aluminum grain shovel. Been using them for years. The coal shovels are also great for mulch in the spring time. Mulch is light so the weight of the shovel get's off set. My god, I sure do miss mulch this time of year. Looking forward to doing some mulching. Man I sound sad.

 

[TreePointer]

I don't do commercial shoveling, but I do shovel a lot and I use all plastic/poly shovels. I shovel on brick, concrete, and sometimes asphalt. That metal edge will stuck a lot more and kick the shovel back at me, while the plastic head rarely will do this. I also like a certain curvature of the shovel. The good ones will throw the snow ahead if you push fast. The one I like is with the red shaft and black bade and grip (I've noticed two blade shapes with one being much better than the other). They also make a good dust/dirt pan when sweeping out the garage/barn/driveway. If I need to chop ice or other nasty stuff, I use a different tool.

The second type of shovel I like is the wide one with a double handle (wide with single handle isn't as easy to maneuver). As mentioned, it's great for large areas with light to moderate snows. It looks like the one I purchased a few years ago is discontinued, but there are similar double handled models available:

http://www.amazon.com/Garant-APP36K...g=RElUxpmcEeOo-R7tkVD5Sg0_vtWR2_0_0_0&ie=UTF8

 

[Whitepine2]

Another good use of the aluminum grain shovel , I have a P&M boiler and I use this when cleaning out the ash,it
sets under the clean outs and I pull the ash into it. It's wide and light easy to hold up and fit in bottom all be it's self.

Whitepine2

 

[paul bunion]

I have a coal shovel and a straight spade that were my grandfathers. The spade works wonders for chipping off ice. Either with its weight alone, dropped straight onto the ice or run under to chip it off the driveway. The coal shovel works well on ice that wants to come up when it has a little layer of water under it. Every tool has its place. I wouldn't want to shovel snow with either of them.

 

[Firewood Bandit]

Depends on if you are lifting or pushing. My go to shovel is the Snowplow. It is a pusher but light enough to throw also in the narrower sizes. It is really tough and comes with a warranty. They are made in Minnesota and a few independent shops and Ace Hardware carry them. They come in 24",30".. up to 48" wide. Wide is good for small snows and wide walks. The 30" is best universal size for a strong person. After I hurt my shoulder I now use a 24". 24" throws easier also. With some speed you can push the snow and a lot of it will throw a few feet meaning less to lift. I have first hand experience pushing and chopping and these things hold up to commercial use. http://www.jmenterprises.com/

I agree these are great shovels and have used them commercially. I have a couple for residential use myself. These plastic will outwear steel.

 

[peakbagger]

I use a plastic grain shovel, I used t use aluminum but its real noisy when scraping the driveway and the edge catches on the pavement. The plastic one glides over the pavement. I get about 3 years out of the plastic ones as the edges do wear back and occasionally they will crack. The trade off is they are a lot easier to use, so I don't mind the occasional replacement

 

[Minnesota Marty]

Thought I would chime in too: I am a two-shovel guy. One for lighter snow and thus pushing. I am a fan of the plastic variety for that for weight and ease of handling. The second is the long handle aluminum grain shovel for scooping and moving over/on top of the snowbank. The last tool that is use is a good ice chopper.
One final thought that "the boss" reminded me here that the eskimos have multiple words for snow. Something like 15 different words for snow. I guess when you spend the majority of your life in snow you learn how to communicate it more precisely.
We just got dumped on again 8" in my gauge of the heavy wet variety. Long handle aluminum grain shovel, let's roll.

 

[Pdesjr]

Here is a tip. If you shovel off a wood deck use a plastic shovel without a metal edge. The metal can chew up your nice deck. I keep a cheap plastic one outside the back door for just the deck. A cheap 10$ one works great