Barrel Converted To Snow Blade

Barrel Converted To Snow Blade SNOWBLOWERS Snowblowers 29-6-40 Brian Hoadley, Stonington, Conn., converted a 55-gal. plastic barrel and an old semi truck tire into a low-cost, 7-ft. wide snow blade that he uses behind his 4-WD Chevrolet Astro van. It attaches to the van's receiver hitch. He simply moves snow driving in reverse. "Almost everything I used I picked up along local highways as lost junk. My total cost, including nuts, bolts and other materials, was $10 at most." He cut the barrel vertically into three equal pieces and bolted them together end to end, using the top and bottom parts of the barrel for the blade ends. The middle section overlaps the other two sections. He cut out the tread of the tire making a 7-in. strip that he bolted onto the bottom edge of the blade, to make it flexible for following close to the ground. An angle iron bracket extends across the back of the blade for support. A piece of 2-in. sq. steel tubing fits into the receiver hitch. The blade sets at a slight angle to move snow off to one side. A 3-in. high curved strip of old tire is bolted to the top of the blade to keep snow from rolling over the blade. A vertical tube at one end of the blade provides reinforcement. "It works great on any kind of slush or snow," says Hoadley. "The plastic is lightweight and super flexible and won't break no matter how cold the weather. It's so slick that even wet snow doesn't stick to it. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Brian W. Hoadley, 149 Elm St., Stonington, Ct. 06378 (ph 860 535-3718; bwhcourier @sbcglobal.net).

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