The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: Izzy on February 03, 2018, 10:37:05 pm

Title: Snow shovel - plastic or aluminium?
Post by: Izzy on February 03, 2018, 10:37:05 pm

For years I have shovelled snow with an ordinary steel headed shovel. I found it on a roundabout.....presumably it had fallen off a vehicle. It has a lovely worn wooden handle but is heavy and very dry snow freezes to the blade which isn’t smooth anymore.


I have decided to invest in either an aluminium grain shovel or a plastic snow shovel with a metal reinforced edge. Which do you think would be the better tool for the job?

Title: Re: Snow shovel - plastic or aluminium?
Post by: Buttermilk on February 04, 2018, 07:49:44 am

The grain shovel will be of more use at other times of the year.  I use mine for emptying the muck trailer after doing the horses fields.  I have broken the plastic snow ones trying to do other jobs.

Title: Re: Snow shovel - plastic or aluminium?
Post by: chrismahon on February 04, 2018, 07:53:48 am

We have a 35 year old plastic snow shovel which works well on the rare occasions it is used. As you say it does need a metal edge as ours is wearing out. But I am suspicious of the quality of modern plastic because of the practice of adding reclaimed material to the melt. A 10% addition results in a 50% reduction in the material properties, so you could end up with a brittle product which readily disintegrates.


I'd go for the aluminium.

Title: Re: Snow shovel - plastic or aluminium?
Post by: Backinwellies on February 04, 2018, 07:57:08 am

If I really needed a snow shovel enough to test metal vs plastic down here in S wales..... I think you would be needing a snow plough up there Izzy  :roflanim:   so sorry cant help

Title: Re: Snow shovel - plastic or aluminium?
Post by: Glencairn on February 04, 2018, 08:21:06 am

A Gorilla shovel:

https://redgorilla.red/gorilla-shovel/p33