Snow plow replacement blades are an essential part of your winter maintenance routine. They are the cutting tool that clears your driveway and walkways of snow and ice, so they need to be in good condition to do their job. A sharp blade will clear snow quickly without creating a deep groove in the pavement. This can help prevent potholes and cracks that can form as the asphalt contracts in colder weather.
The Importance of a Sharp Blade
Your blade is the most important part of your snowplow, so you must keep them sharp. To sharpen your blades, use a file, grinder, or stone, and then apply an oil or paste to coat the blade to prevent rusting. You can sharpen a blade to various degrees depending on the severity of the groove or pothole in the pavement.
A sharp blade will clear snow without creating a deep groove in the pavement. This can help prevent potholes and cracks that form as asphalt contracts in colder weather. In addition, a sharp blade will reduce the stress on your snowplow truck engine since you won’t have as much work for it to do when clearing snow from your driveway and walkways.
Here are tips to keep your blades sharp:
Maintain the Blade
You want to invest in snowplow blades that are made of durable materials. This will help the blade last longer and stay sharper for longer. Some blades may even be made with tungsten steel or carbide, which means they’ll last even longer.
You can maintain the blade by having it professionally sharpened when necessary. You can also sharpen it yourself with a tool designed for this purpose. Another method is to switch out your blades every few months during the winter season. The blade should always be replaced when it shows signs of wear and tear or when the material breaks down.
Should you find that your snowplow blades have become dull, then you may need to replace them with a new set. It is possible that your current set of blades has broken down and won’t do a good enough job anymore, no matter how many times they are sharpened and maintained.
Buying Replacement Blades
Snowplow blades need to be replaced every two to three years, depending on how often they’re used. For example, it’s time to buy new blades if they are worn down and need replacement after a few seasons on the snowplow.
When buying snow plow replacement blades, choose a blade that will fit your machine specifications for depth and width. The blade must be made of metal or steel because most ice will shatter when going through plastic or wood. Be sure to get a quality blade to withstand the winter weather.
When to Replace Blades
When you should replace your blades varies depending on the amount of wear and tear, the type of blade, and if you have metal or rubber blades.
If your snowplow replacement blades have a lot of nicks in them or start to bend when they’re used, it’s time to replace them. You can also tell when to replace your blades by looking at their color. Blades gradually lose their protective coating from regular use, allowing salt and water from the ice and snow to chafe away at their metal edges. When this happens, you will notice rust spots forming on the bottom side of your blade facing the pavement. Metal plow blades are usually safe for another year after these rust spots appear. However, rubber blades should be replaced at this point because they are more sensitive to corrosion than metals.
Where to Store Blades
A garage is the best location for blades in cold climates because it is protected from snow and ice accumulation. Blades should never be stored indoors near furnace vents or fireplaces because the heat will cause them to lose their edge and rapidly take on an uneven shape.
Blades can be made sharper by honing them with a strop or sharpening stone before storing them for the winter. If a blade has been dropped and damaged or badly nicked, it’s not a good idea to store it. The damage will worsen as you use it during the winter, so you’ll have to replace it sooner than you normally would.
When snowplow replacement blades are removed from storage, they should be wiped down with a clean cloth moistened with mineral spirits, kerosene, or acetone before putting them back into storage. If there are any small rust spots on the blade, they should be scrubbed off with a wire brush before wiping down the blade’s surface to prevent corrosion buildup that could dull its edge when used again next season.
