Content
Snow removal in winter becomes a heavy burden for many private sector residents. During periods of heavy snowfall, it is necessary to clean the area daily, and sometimes several times a day. It takes a lot of effort and time. The snow removal process can be made easier and faster by partially mechanizing the process. So, you can replace the usual shovels and scrapers with a tool on wheels. A simple addition in the form of wheels will help you easily move heavy lumps of snow without much effort. You can buy a snow scraper on wheels or make one yourself. Good advice on choosing equipment and a detailed guide to making it can be found in our article.
How to choose a good wheel scraper
Manufacturers of garden tools constantly surprise us with their new products. One of them can be called a wheel scraper. This type of shovel is designed for effective snow removal. Like a regular scraper, it has a large tray for collecting snow and a handle or handle. A special feature of such equipment is the wheel axle attached to the bottom of the shovel. The manufacturing material and design of such a scraper may differ for each specific model. Let's try to understand in detail the wide variety of wheel scrapers.
Which scraper is the most reliable?
The durability and ease of use of a wheel scraper largely depends on the material from which it is made:
- A plastic shovel is very light and convenient, but, unfortunately, only high-quality polymer material can withstand severe frosts. The cost of high-quality plastic shovels is quite high.
- Metal scrapers can operate successfully for even several decades, but the disadvantage of metal is the bulkiness of the structure and its large weight. Of all the metal options, scrapers made of aluminum and duralumin have proven themselves to be the best.
- It will not be possible to find wooden scrapers for sale, but many craftsmen make such equipment on their own. Its disadvantages are fragility and significant mass. It is also worth considering that wet snow tends to stick to a wooden surface.
When purchasing a scraper on wheels, you need to carefully evaluate the price-quality ratio. If the budget allocated for the purchase is strictly limited, then it is better to purchase metal equipment. There is no doubt about its quality, and the price tag of such a shovel is quite affordable. A high-quality plastic shovel will be more convenient to use, but purchasing it will cost about 2-5 thousand rubles.
Variety of models
Choosing a convenient and productive scraper engine on wheels is not so easy, because the market offers a huge number of different models. Each of them has its own advantages, disadvantages, and features.
Most often, plastic scrapers are equipped with small wheels that help move snow from the collection site to the storage site by slightly tilting the shovel. In the photo below you can see such a scraper on small wheels:
It is worth noting that such equipment will only work effectively on a flat surface with a small layer of snow, since the maneuverability of small wheels is low.
More often, domestic and foreign manufacturers offer plastic scrapers on small wheels. The lion's share of the brand value can be invested in the price of such inventory. So, a shovel, 80 cm wide, made of frost-resistant plastic from Fiskars will cost the buyer 4-5 thousand rubles, while similar domestically made equipment costs only 2 thousand rubles.
A large wheel scraper is sometimes called a manual bulldozer. The shape of its bucket is non-standard. It is a curved, wide surface made of metal. A wheelbase and a handle are attached to it, allowing you to maneuver the structure. Such a scraper, without much human effort, can shovel a large volume of snow to the storage site, but it will not be possible to lift the load on such a bucket.
Scrapers can be equipped with two or four wheels. The ease of use and maneuverability of the shovel depend on their diameter. for clearing snow.
The design with 4 wheels has one significant drawback: the bucket is located at a certain height from the surface of the ground, which does not allow snow to be removed as cleanly as possible. The rigid four-wheel base does not allow tilting or lifting the scraper. This feature makes the scraper suitable only for working on a flat surface.
Another version of the wheel scraper was invented not so long ago in Europe. Its design provides for only one large diameter wheel.A handle is attached to its axis using a hinge. At one end of the handle there is a bucket for collecting snow, and at the other end there is a handle. You can see this design and the principle of its operation in the photo:
It is worth noting that working with such a scraper is really convenient: the large wheel has good maneuverability, and the large lever of action allows you to dump snow from the bucket with minimal effort. At first glance, the bulky design is easy to disassemble and does not take up much space during storage.
Today, many owners of private farmsteads have appreciated the dignity snow scrapers on wheels. Working with such a tool allows you to relieve the load from the worker’s shoulders, arms and back. The weight of the snow is transferred to the wheel during operation. It is this detail that you need to pay special attention to when purchasing a scraper. Wheels must be made of durable material. Rubber wheels withstand impacts, loads and low temperatures best. Their diameter should be as large as possible, because the permeability of the structure and the ease of its use depend on this.
The scraper handle is another important point of attention. A scraper with a wide bucket should have a U-shaped handle. This will allow you to make the most efficient efforts to move the bucket, but such equipment will not allow you to lift the shovel and makes the structure less maneuverable. The U-shaped handle and T-shaped handle must have a rubberized base to hold the tool. A special non-slip coating will make work convenient and comfortable.
It's easy to make a scraper
If you have no money in your wallet, and the snow is increasingly covering the yard, then it’s time to make a snow removal engine yourself. The manufacturing process of such a tool is simple and does not require special knowledge or experience. Thus, we will offer craftsmen two options for manufacturing scrapers on wheels.
Manual bulldozer
To create a manual bulldozer you will need:
- Two wheels. You can buy them or take them from an old stroller or cart.
- Sheet steel. It is preferable to use sheets with a thickness of at least 1 mm. Sheet metal can be replaced with a pipe with a diameter of 30-40 cm. It will need to be cut.
- Steel pipe, diameters 20-40 mm.
- Swivel loop.
To make a scraper similar to a manual bulldozer, in addition to materials, you need a grinder and a welding machine. For greater understanding, the scraper manufacturing process can be described in stages:
- You can make a work surface from a sheet of steel or pipe. The optimal dimensions of the working surface are 70 by 40 cm. You need to cut a piece of the required dimensions from the sheet and bend it. If you decide to use a pipe, you need to cut it with a grinder and straighten it a little.
- Cut 2 metal plates measuring 20 by 10 cm. Make 3 holes in the resulting parts, located one above the other. Weld the plates on the back side of the paper clip horizontally at a distance of 5-7 cm from each other.
- Cut a stem from a steel tube that matches the height of the worker.
- At the lower end of the handle, weld another metal plate vertically to the ground surface and at an angle of 120-1300 to the axis of the handle. The wheel axle and blade will be fixed on it.
- Weld a handle at the upper end of the handle.
- From a pipe with a diameter of 30 mm, cut a piece 60 cm long.The resulting tube must be used as a wheel axle.
- Make a hole in the plate welded on the handle, insert the wheel axle and weld it securely.
- Attach a rotating loop to the free end of the vertical plate. Secure its second flap to the back of the blade surface.
- Make a hook from thick wire. Insert it into the holes of the horizontal plates, thereby fixing the position of the blade.
You can see the design of such a scraper on wheels in the photo:
Making such a scraper with your own hands is not at all difficult. Anyone can cope with this task. For greater manufacturing accuracy, it is recommended to first make drawings and think through the sequence of actions.
Another option for making a scraper on wheels with your own hands can be seen in the video:
The video also shows the simplicity and effectiveness of using such equipment.
Conclusion
Thanks to the efforts of engineers and amateur craftsmen, the design of an ordinary snow shovel has undergone changes. Today on the market you can find various versions of this equipment, including shovels on wheels. They have high cross-country ability and productivity. Such scrapers can be purchased in a store or on the market, but when buying a tool, you should pay close attention to its quality. Do-it-yourself equipment will certainly be the most convenient and reliable to use.
