[AT] OT: Weather ramble-Plow vs. bucket

[HaliganBar at aol.com]

Well Bruce I can happily report that the LL Bean Boot Socks and my Bean 
Hunting Boots did a fine job keeping my feet warm and dry. The new Balaclava and my 
knit cap kept my head and ears warm. It worked out to be a much better 
combination than a hood because it doesn't impair my peripheral vision.

Funny you should mention the limitations of a bucket for snow removal...I was 
thinking the same thing today. I have a regular 5' material bucket on my 
tractor now. It doesn't hold much and the rear wheels stick out an additional 6" 
on each side of it. So between the snow that spills out the sides and the edges 
that get mashed by the rear wheels, I spend a lot of time "cleaning up." My 
first thought was to get a plow and mount it in the bucket so I could plow with 
it or disconnect it quickly and use the bucket to move banks or scoop areas 
that don't lend themselves to a plow. The down side of the plow is that it 
would stick out a lot and may push the front end around when the plow is angled

My second thought is to build a snow bucket for winter use. I'd make it 6 1/2 
or 7 feet wide. Maybe use some expanded metal on the upper parts to save 
weight and would probably be a lot of fun to fabricate. The only down side would 
be moving the wet, heavy snow we somtimes get.

So, what do you guys think..plow or big bucket?
Karl

In a message dated 1/23/05 7:37:16 PM Eastern Standard Time, ROBBRUT at aol.com 
writes:

<< Well Karl, I could have used some of those nice warm-up goodies today when 
 I 
 was moving the 10-11 inches we got here in Media Pa.
 Especially since I still have the tail-end of the worse case of flu I've  
 ever had.
 It's been in possession of my strength and most of my mind (lots of  fever) 
 since last Wed. night.
 Anyhow, when the snow stopped, I got my trusty Kubota B 7200 cleared  off 
and 
 went to work clearing my 150 ft long drive (and of course the big  mound the 
 plowtrucks leave at the bottom).
 The Kubota travels back and forth between here and my cabin fairly  
 regularly, and even with its bucket and backhoe it's light and an easy  tow.
 As we all come to realize pretty quick when trying it, the bucket isn't the  
 best method for clearing snow, and since I never quite got around to rigging 
a 
  up proper snow plow for it, It took a while longer (including the "dance" 
 needed  to get the wife's car moved from its position smack in the center of 
the 
  driveway at one of the few spots where it is flanked by vegetation on both  
 sides, blocking "go-around" attempts) than a plow would have.
 It was a bit windy and 21 degrees, but sunshine galore so it didn't feel to  
 bad, until......
 Just as I was moving the last bit, I spied my neighbor with a hand shovel,  
 about to tackle the mound at the end of his drive.
 I asked if he needed me to take a couple of scoops to break him out, and  
 after the proper amount of mild refusal, he gave in.
 So I drove over, and soon saw that in addition to the mound, he had an  
 unplowed driveway with two snowed-in cars at the top.
 Fast forward another hour and 10 minutes and I finally got to park the  toy.
 I really HAVE to listen to my inner voice the next it tells me to  "make 
hay" 
 on making a plow when I can, 'cause I know the job(s) would have been  1/2 
 the time or less, and I wouldn't be sitting here with a sore throat !
 Although, the Eagles DID win !
 -Bruce Thompson >>