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07-29-2011, 03:06 AM
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2,186 posts, read 7,778,149 times
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Yard Machines 31B-040-800 Snow Fox 12.5-Inch 8.5 Amp Electric Snow Thrower
Rating: 4 out of 5
When I moved to my house, my first after a string of apartments, I spent the first three winters shoveling snow by hand. I don't have a huge amount to shovel, just the front and back stoops with a few steps, the sidewalks leading from the doors to the street and the garage, respectively, the community sidewalk in front of the house, and the modest-sized garage apron.
I would have continued on laboriously shoveling things by hand had I not received this snow blower as a gift. At first I was worried because it was an electric model, with a cord that needs to be trailing behind at all times. While this is a hassle (really a huge hassle until I got the knack of looping it over an arm as I tooled along), having a electric machine instead of gas saves untold annoyance. I can't imagine what I would be doing at 6am, needing to clear the driveway to get the car out, when I realize I'm out of gas for the snow blower. Actually I can imagine what I would do: I would have to shovel everything by hand.
The machine works very well. I've used it in snow up to 12 inches with no problem. It's quieter than a gas snow blower and I've never had trouble getting it started, even when it was very cold. It takes about a quarter of the time it took me to shovel by hand. It's easy to move from one area to another and easy to guide along, though I'm by not means a physically strong person.
My only real issue is with the snow throwing capabilities. If the blades aren't aimed straight ahead (straight into the path you will eventually have to get the snow off of), the machine won't get the snow anywhere near twenty-five feet away. When the chute is aimed out to the sides, the distance is closer to five or six feet. It's fine for narrow sidewalks, but not terribly useful on wider spaces like the garage apron.
However, the machine is so fast and inexpensive and easy that I don't let it bother me. For the money it's great for smaller spaces.
Review by professional reviewer, Oct. 2, 2010
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