Anyone ever tried a composit deck board as a cutting edge?
[FLAME SUIT ON]
I'm in the market for a new cutting edge and looked into the poly ones that go for $300+. I don't want to pay that much. Started thinking about substitutes.
Has anyone ever tried other materials? It seems to me a composite deck board is similar in dimensions and FAR cheaper. Would it last a few snows sandwiched between a metal plate and the plow? It's cheap enough and easy enough to work with to fashion a new one every snow.
Yes, I realize this is probably one of the dumber questions ever asked. I really do.
I know you are a rookie plower but some things you just don't half axx.
Des Moines can get some extended snow fall and how are you going to justify pulling off your sub route to go change your worn out
mickey mouse cutting edge?? The money you think you'll save will be lost in down time in a situation like this when you COULD BE
plowing but nope......... back at the shop.
I know you are a rookie plower but some things you just don't half axx.
Des Moines can get some extended snow fall and how are you going to justify pulling off your sub route to go change your worn out
mickey mouse cutting edge?? The money you think you'll save will be lost in down time in a situation like this when you COULD BE
plowing but nope......... back at the shop.
I was thinking of using in conjunction with a steel cutting edge. Sandwiched between that steel edge and the blade in a way that the steel wouldn't contact the ground until the bottom inch of the composite board wore down. Then the steel would be there for the rest of the day.
I was thinking of using in conjunction with a steel cutting edge. Sandwiched between that steel edge and the blade in a way that the steel wouldn't contact the ground until the bottom inch of the composite board wore down. Then the steel would be there for the rest of the day.
Nothing wrong with brainstorming,but that 1" of deck board will either break or wear down within the 1st hour of use.
It depends on what "poly" your talking about?....but typically UHMW polythylene is going to be cheaper than polyurethane. I would recommend 1.5in thick material (regardless of which "poly" you choose to go with)....or doubled up 3/4 in thick material. For my situation, I prefer uhmw polythylene over polyurethane.
And as you mentioned, use your exsisting steel edge as a template.
It depends on what "poly" your talking about?....but typically UHMW polythylene is going to be cheaper than polyurethane. I would recommend 1.5in thick material (regardless of which "poly" you choose to go with)....or doubled up 3/4 in thick material. For my situation, I prefer uhmw polythylene over polyurethane.
And as you mentioned, use your exsisting steel edge as a template.
So is the UMHW in the link the same stuff that these $350 plow edges are made of? Wow, I could at least 6 1" thick ones for my blade for $41 if that's the case.
OK, that link is $41 per SQUARE FOOT. So $1600 per 4'x10' sheet. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is!
I did find a place nearby that lines dump truck beds with "Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene" and has a scrap pile they sell at $3 a pound. Going to check that out at lunch.
Snocrete, thanks for the tip, but the guy at the dumpbed place had never hear of "polythylene" and said they used "UHMW polyethylene" and had sold it or plowers before.
Last edited by DesMoines2500; 11-20-2012 at 08:58 AM..
So is the UMHW in the link the same stuff that these $350 plow edges are made of? Wow, I could at least 6 1" thick ones for my blade for $41 if that's the case.
Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene
Is that the good stuff?!
Wouldn't that be $970 for a full sheet?? 4' X 10' X $24.25 sq/ft = $970
composite deck boards are really britle, even more so in the cold. I've dropped several off of fork lifts when I worked at the lumber yard. none ever survived without breaking. id guess that as soon as you hit....even bumped anything half as hard that would make the plow trip, you'd be busting that cutting edge to pieces. it'd be cheaper to go to the scrap yard and buy a piece of hot rolled flat bar for 50 cents/lbs and cut it and drill the holes yourself. I'm sure regular mild steel isn't nearly as hard as the cutting edges you'd buy at the plow store, but I bet it's cheaper and outta last awhile.
I'm in the market for a new cutting edge and looked into the poly ones that go for $300+. I don't want to pay that much. Started thinking about substitutes.
Has anyone ever tried other materials? It seems to me a composite deck board is similar in dimensions and FAR cheaper. Would it last a few snows sandwiched between a metal plate and the plow? It's cheap enough and easy enough to work with to fashion a new one every snow.
Yes, I realize this is probably one of the dumber questions ever asked. I really do.
OK, that link is $41 per SQUARE FOOT. So $1600 per 4'x10' sheet. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is!
I did find a place nearby that lines dump truck beds with "Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene" and has a scrap pile they sell at $3 a pound. Going to check that out at lunch.
Snocrete, thanks for the tip, but the guy at the dumpbed place had never hear of "polythylene" and said they used "UHMW polyethylene" and had sold it or plowers before.
huh....well whatever...guess I've been calling it by the wrong name all these yrs...regardless I know it works well, and I'm sure we're talking about the same thing. Glad I could help, and good luck! Post a pic when you get it done!
Take my word, DONT use a composite deck board, Trust me, I'm a handyman & build quit a few decks & fences every year. It would not work, to could leave marks & it will break, you would not get as clean scrape as you'd like either. Time to fart aroud would far exeed the price of a proper cutting edge, buy a real one, you will regret it if you use anything else.
...regardless I know it works well, and I'm sure we're talking about the same thing. Glad I could help, and good luck! Post a pic when you get it done!
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