Festool SNOW2000

[Steven in Iowa]

I'm in the middle of the big snow storm in the Midwest tonight, and I sure wish Festool made a BIG snow blower that worked like their dust extractors. ;D

 

[Per Swenson]

That's cool,

I got a thing for snowblowers.

No. Really.

I am pretty sure it ain't right. Freudian, maybe. But there it is.

Here is the one I really lust for.....http://atvsnowblowers.com/

I would just have to move north a hundred miles to justify it,

but, I would then find myself out of that economic zone of affordability.

North, where there are only two seasons. June, July, and unemployment.

Per

 

[Eli]

When I was a kid, growing up in Vermont, my Dad bought a truck just for plowing. It was a limited edition Dodge, called a Sno-Fighter. It was white with a bumblebee safety stripe down the side and a big yellow plow. Man, that thing was so fun. I used to ride in the passenger seat. I put my feet up on the dash so I wouldn't get thrown when we hit the bank at the end of the road. When I got to be twelve he let me plow the drive. Other than that and snowball fights, I don't miss snow much. My kids might never see a single flake of it, we have a frost free refrigerator.

That ATV looks awesome. In ten years when I move even further out into the bush, I'm looking forward to riding the perimeter in an ATV. There's just no end of cool PTO attachments for those things.

 

[Tinker]

When I was a kid, growing up in Vermont, my Dad bought a truck just for plowing. It was a limited edition Dodge, called a Sno-Fighter. It was white with a bumblebee safety stripe down the side and a big yellow plow. Man, that thing was so fun. I used to ride in the passenger seat. I put my feet up on the dash so I wouldn't get thrown when we hit the bank at the end of the road. When I got to be twelve he let me plow the drive. Other than that and snowball fights, I don't miss snow much. My kids might never see a single flake of it, we have a frost free refrigerator.

That ATV looks awesome. In ten years when I move even further out into the bush, I'm looking forward to riding the perimeter in an ATV. There's just no end of cool PTO attachments for those things.

I, myself, grew up with an armstrong, back powered, hickory boomed type snow plow.  Nearly every morning, for a week after any snow storm, the first chore of day, other than caring for the animals, was to "plow" the long driveway so the milk truck could get in to the milk house to pick up the four or five milk cans.  We would cut the snow into blocks and stack neatly to south side of driveway.  It had to be south side.  If we stacked to the north, the snow would drift in even deeper the next morning.  In the evening, after school, we would use those blocks of snow to make igloos and sno forts. In that way, sno removal became fun.  :-X

When my own kids were growing up, I had graduated to the fun of making money with sno removal.  When the kids were small, they would insist to go out with me while i plowed.  If there was no school the next day, they would sometimes ride all nite with me.  i would stack blankets and other goodies on the front (only) seat of the truck so they could see out the front window.  later in the nite they would sack out til daybreak on top of the blankets.

When my son was about ten, he would drive the truck on some of the dead end roads as I spread sand off the back of the truck.  Before allowing him to do that, i went over a lot of rules and also ways to avoid problems if an emergency might arise.  One time, we headed down a very steep driveway with a sharp left turn towards the bottom.  after the turn, the road got realy steep as it headed towards a fork of two driveways.  He started to slide.  as he slid, he hit the brakes once.  the truck gained speed as I moved to the front of the load to see what was happening. Once the truck started to slide, he correctly eased off on the brakes. As i observed the two driveways approaching at a faster and faster speed, I hoped he would take the driveway to the left.  That one ended up in a large flat area.  the other to the right headed down another very steep (steeper than where we were already sliding, or rolling) slope with a dangerous hook at the bottom.  I managed to refrain from yelling, but just watched with my heart pounding.  He had been told, as well as obsrerved how i would handle such a situation.  He went left and the truck came to a harmless stop.

We discussed what had happened and looked over the rest of the two driveways and determined how to get safely down the second one.  i got on the back again, David at the wheel again, and we finished the job with no further excitement.  David was about 12 or 13 at the time.  He is now in the sno plow/sanding biz with his dad.  Only we both drive our own trucks and then i finish off with the sanding with a nice big two yard hopper with gas engine on the back of my truck.  much more fun than using that old armstrong spreader with backpowered hickory boom equipment of days gone by.

Both my kids had to learn to drive my trucks in our own driveway before they were allowed to go out on the roads with cars.  Of all the driveways I plow, mine is the most difficult to maneuver around in.  They both knew how to play with the sno plow long before they were old enough to go for drivers licenses.  I have many stories of their adventures with my toys.  My son's toys are now big enough to pick up my own toys and toss them into any sno bank.  my daughter had some adventures where she worked a few years ago when she was the olnly one in her office who knew how to drive a large truck, i mean with 20' box on back, airbrakes, deisel engine, dual wheels, split transmission, etc etc. 

Now, i see that ATV with that blower on the front, I have just put it on my list to Santa.  Of course, there are a few goodies from Festool elves that are just a tad higher on the list.  : ;D
Tinker

 

[NVFlyAngler]

We purchased the Festool of snow throwers (IMO) three years ago from Ariens. With a 3 year warranty and reviews saying there were 20 - 30 year old units still in regular service, it wasn't a terribly difficult decision. Besides the color and mission, the qualities sound kinda familiar, don't ya think? Oh, wait, Festools don't have OHV engines, do they?  ;D 

 

[EdL]

;D ;D

 

[greg mann]

Tinker,

How times have changed. My BIL had a dairy farm for years and my nephew ran farm equipment from a very early age. He also sorted pop bottles on occasion at a party store about a mile away. In the winter my BIL always rigged up one of the 4wd John Deeres with a plow so the milk trucks could get in and my nephew would use it to plow out the party store parking lot as well. One day, one of the relatives came to visit and noticed the tractor in the party store parking lot on his way to the farm. Thinking is was my BIL that was at the store, he expressed some surprise upon finding him home. "Oh, Ted just drove down there to sort bottles." was the explanation. To which the relative replied, "He's the only teenager I know that drives a $100,00 vehicle to work." 

 

[TahoeTwoBears]

Guys, guys, guys, (and gals),

To have a snowblower, you need snow. If you don't have enough, then a shovel will suffice. Here's a few pics to illustrate the point. 

Me looking for the car.............

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My wife finishing digging out the car.......

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My wife after having finished digging out the drive.............

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Happy Holidays,

Mike

Elji, See what you'd have to look forward to if you left sunny San Diego for Northern Calif.?

 

[woodshopdemos]

That's cool,

I got a thing for snowblowers.

... I would just have to move north a hundred miles to justify it,

but, I would then find myself out of that economic zone of affordability.

North, where there are only two seasons. June, July, and unemployment.

Per

My old Branchville would have been enough for you. I had no idea there was so much snow in NJ. From Nov to March, fuel oil truck could not get to house. I would drive trusty Subaru with 6 Jerry cans for oil to the oil depot. Bought 26" snow blower but finally opted for plowing service at $50 a run...usually would be t here 3 or 4 time a snow fall at $50....so not everyone was unemployed.

 

[Per Swenson]

Hi John,

For the Folks that unfamiliar,

Branchville New jersey is 25 miles and 25 years North of my House.

Whole 'nother world up there.

Per

 

[pteubel]

Guys, guys, guys, (and gals),

To have a snowblower, you need snow. If you don't have enough, then a shovel will suffice. Here's a few pics to illustrate the point. 

YOW! Now that's a $&#@-load of snow. What's with the plastic on the cars? I'm guessing they were stored and several snowfalls accumulation buried them.

 

[TahoeTwoBears]

You're right about the plastic. That was a Mini van that I had for a bit. Wanted the engine/tranny unit to go in my Mini Moke. It's a Cooper S 1275. Finally got it all done, but the engine isn't in the Moke yet. Maybe next summer. Seems like too many other things take precedent over toy car restorations. 

 

[Tinker]

Tahoe 2B's,
That was a bit o' shovelin'.  I noticed the type shovels you used.  Those are the only snow shovels I have ever used.  Those big jobbers (what are they? 2' wide)that i see so many using are probably biggest cause of heart attacks.  I know (knew) several people who succombed while using the wide snow shovels.  The way I use the type you are using is to cut snow into blocks that can be handled and tossed easilly.  The cutting is sort of a rest period between shoveling.  One doesn't get over exerted and one can last so much longer(both body and mind).  Of course the best part of the equation is who you got to finish the job.  Man, you are right on  : ;D
Tinker

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Tohoe 2B's,

Were you living there in, I think, 1995?  That year I visited Yosemite and on first day the Eastern entrance road was opened for the season - just after July 4th.  They had had >300 inches of snow the past winter, and even after settling until July, the cuts on both sides of the road were easily 12 - 13 feet deep.  That drive up the eastern side of the mountain range was filled with spectactular frozen, white vistas, and when we passed over the top and down into the park, there were waterfalls everywhere, including many not marked on any map of the park.  The entire valley where Yosemite falls plunges ~3000 feet was filled with clear water, many of the parking areas couldn't be used.  I think you need one of those super snow blowers!

Dave R.

 

[TahoeTwoBears]

Yes, we've been living here since 1974. We've seen a few good winters, but nothing in the last few years. As the gray hairs started to accumulate we've wound up with two Honda snowblowers. I've tried a bunch and I don't think I'd give up my Hondas. In fact now that I'm retired, my wife has decided to quit moving snow altogether!  ;D I can't blame her, she worked at it pretty hard for a lot of years. Many's the time I'd come home at night expecting to spend a few hours of moving snow, only to find the drive already cleared. Great wife, can't say enough good.

Dave, I don't remember the year, but my old climbing partner and I along with another friend skied the route through Yosemite that you are talking about. We started on the Leevinning side (by the old power house) up and over the top, coming down the Snow Creek drainage (or the next one over) across from Half Dome. Bivy'ed across from Half Dome with a full moon on it. Pretty. Took a few days, lots of fun memories including digging down to a phone booth that I found. I dialed 0 and an operator answered. I asked her to place a collect call to my wife, and she suddenly asked if I was calling from where she thought. Pretty fun stuff.

 

[Tinker]

Yes, we've been living here since 1974. We've seen a few good winters, but nothing in the last few years. As the gray hairs started to accumulate we've wound up with two Honda snowblowers. I've tried a bunch and I don't think I'd give up my Hondas. In fact now that I'm retired, my wife has decided to quit moving snow altogether!  ;D I can't blame her, she worked at it pretty hard for a lot of years. Many's the time I'd come home at night expecting to spend a few hours of moving snow, only to find the drive already cleared. Great wife, can't say enough good.

Dave, I don't remember the year, but my old climbing partner and I along with another friend skied the route through Yosemite that you are talking about. We started on the Leevinning side (by the old power house) up and over the top, coming down the Snow Creek drainage (or the next one over) across from Half Dome. Bivy'ed across from Half Dome with a full moon on it. Pretty. Took a few days, lots of fun memories including digging down to a phone booth that I found. I dialed 0 and an operator answered. I asked her to place a collect call to my wife, and she suddenly asked if I was calling from where she thought. Pretty fun stuff.

i buy a lot of small engined equipment.  If Honda makes a motor to fit, i gladly pay the extra for the Honda.  if those motors don't start, the operator is doing something wrong.  And they just go and go and go and go>>>>>>>>>>.  A desireable feature when the snow is up to your ears.

The camping sounds like a fun time.  I used to go camping in any weather as a kid, but when i tried with my son as he was growing up, my back problems made it less than enjoyable. 

I can just imagine digging DOWN to reach a phone booth.  I've only seen snow that deep in snow DRIFTS. Ain't those new fangled hand phones you can carry in your pocket great??? >>> except when they refuse to work>>> which is usually in an emergency.  As a matter of fact, mine won't work in my own yard  ???
Tinker

 

[ccmviking]

What is this "SNOW" that you speak of?

 

[TahoeTwoBears]

I thought you might get a further kick out of additional snow pics since we're in the process of getting hammered at the moment. In an earlier post I was able to show you my "shop" as it exists in the fall. While a mite chilly, it's got lots of room for me and my Festools.

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Unfortunately, during the spring and summer, my wife insists that I share the space with our deck furniture. As you can see, it severely cuts into the shop space. What's a guy to do?

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Hope you're all warm, dry, and enjoying the New Year!

Mike

 

[The Dude]

Mike, where is the Chai Latte?  Looks like perfect weather for a nice hot beverage!

t

 

[TahoeTwoBears]

Timmy,

Actually, on warm sunny days like the bottom pic, a cold beverage suits just fine. Plenty of solar rays to keep you warm.

Years back, my climbing partner and another friend and I skied across the Sierras into Yosemite valley. Took plenty of warm layered clothing, but really didn't expect the great weather we got. We couldn't strip down enough to stay cool, and we were just toasted a beet red (as below) by the time we got to the valley.

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Layering now means bringing cool stuff as well, or staying closer to home where it doesn't matter.  ;D