Ready for snow?

[sqrlgtr 1,952]

6 hours ago, 953 nut said:

Freezing rain bringing down power lines is our worst fear and that seems to be the most prevalent prediction. A lot of our local electrical distribution right of way cross deep valleys and goes up steep mountain sides

This is only thing I dread. Kinda wouldnt care to play in snow a little but do not want any of the ice  no no no...

[ebinmaine 76,713]

Our latest forecast. Still two whole days out so who knows...

 

We're located at the "bu" in the word "Fryeburg"

 

 

 

 

 

[Bar Nuthin 2,110]

Even with decent gloves on, my bony little fingers can't deal with the cold anymore. After about 10 minutes, the pain is excruciating. 

 

So, I upgraded to these mittens - really good reviews. Guessing they'll get put to the test this weekend.

 

[ebinmaine 76,713]

3 minutes ago, Bar Nuthin said:

Even with decent gloves on, my bony little fingers can't deal with the cold anymore. After about 10 minutes, the pain is excruciating. 

 

So, I upgraded to these mittens - really good reviews. Guessing they'll get put to the test this weekend.

 

 

 

I have poor circulation in my extremities. Not Raynaud's exactly, but same symptoms.  

I've bought about 73 billion pairs of gloves mittens and socks for experimentation.  

 

For me... These are good. But not great. The fingers in some are separated by the internal insulation. Others have them in a single pocket. The latter is what you want. 

If you have light duty glove liners to put inside the mittens that'll help.  

 

 

[squonk 45,138]

Mittens without the individual fingerholes. The fingers keep each other warm! 

 

Filled up the 953 and 857 last weekend. Today filled up the Ariens and Power King, plugged in 2 mag heaters on the King's hyd. tank and put the shop heat on low. 

[sqrlgtr 1,952]

35 minutes ago, Bar Nuthin said:

Even with decent gloves on, my bony little fingers can't deal with the cold anymore. After about 10 minutes, the pain is excruciating. 

 

So, I upgraded to these mittens - really good reviews. Guessing they'll get put to the test this weekend.

 

I think a lot of has to do with getting older. I remember in my younger days the cold didn't bother me, but now I just can't take it very long at time.

 

[SylvanLakeWH 30,258]

Bought Mrs Sylvan rechargeable battery heated gloves, socks and vest last year for Christmas... game changer.  
 

We walk every night. She was always cold... now she's toasty... even in this sub-zero weather... 

 

Dewalt and Milwaukee make heated vests / coats that use their respective batteries, so that's another option...

 

Just a thought...

[ebinmaine 76,713]

1 hour ago, squonk said:

plugged in 2 mag heaters

 

How long you leave them on a cast iron engine block?

[ebinmaine 76,713]

1 hour ago, sqrlgtr said:

I think a lot of has to do with getting older. I remember in my younger days the cold didn't bother me, but now I just can't take it very long at time.

 

 

Our bodies certainly change as we add clock time but mine is the opposite. I can NOT tolerate the heat. 

 

In the cold I can always wear more clothes.  

 

 

1 hour ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

heated vests

Have a vest. Works good. Tried socks. Meh.....

 

We use the temp hand and foot warmers. Just bought a case of the feets ones.  

[squonk 45,138]

I'll leave these on the oil tank for about a day and a half with this storm. Lots of oil to heat and it has to migrate. 

[Bill D 2,526]

9 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

Our bodies certainly change as we add clock time but mine is the opposite. I can NOT tolerate the heat. 

 

In the cold I can always wear more clothes.  

 

 

Have a vest. Works good. Tried socks. Meh.....

 

We use the temp hand and foot warmers. Just bought a case of the feets ones.  

I can't tolerate the heat either.  Much easier to get warm than cool down.  I can always layer up in the cold.  In the heat,  I can only take off so much before the neighbors stop talking to me, or call the police.😄

Edited 3 hours ago by Bill D

[ebinmaine 76,713]

6 minutes ago, Bill D said:

I can't tolerate the heat either.  Much easier to get warm than cool down.  I can always layer up in the cold.  In the heat,  I can only take off so much before the neighbors stop talking to me, or call the police.😄

 

 

[adsm08 4,056]

I suppose we are:

 

 

I couldn't get our generator to run, nor the neighbor's walk-behind blower. Both run bottle fed, but have not been run in a few years, so I suspect that clogged main jets is the culprit for both. Gonna try to deal with that before the storm hits, but it's supposed to be down to 7 tomorrow morning. I'm also really hoping neither is needed in this storm.

[adsm08 4,056]

10 hours ago, 953 nut said:

Freezing rain bringing down power lines is our worst fear and that seems to be the most prevalent prediction.

 

The regular host of the morning show I like is off this week, and the head meteorologist of the affiliated TV station has been filling it.

 

This morning they were talking about how there were a bunch of line service trucks staging at the gas station across from the radio station, getting ready to head south to help with expected storm damage.

[sqrlgtr 1,952]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

 

How long you leave them on a cast iron engine block?

I've wondered this also.The ones I seen that are about the right size for the engines we use say they go up to 450 degress and just wonder about them getting to hot. I would hate to vaporize my oil out . Web sayz motor oil will start to boil around 450 but starts to vaporize/evaporate around 300 IDK?

Edited 2 hours ago by sqrlgtr

[kpinnc 16,724]

36 minutes ago, adsm08 said:

This morning they were talking about how there were a bunch of line service trucks staging at the gas station across from the radio station, getting ready to head south to help with expected storm damage.

 

This whole thread is one of many that I can't say much on because we (in NC) just don't get snow and winter weather like many of you do. 

 

That being said, if this incoming storm is anywhere close to what they are forecasting, we're gonna get slammed in a bad way. No snow, but sleet and up to an inch of freezing rain followed by several days of single digit cold. Whatever we get is gonna hang around. 

 

My wife started early with the prep work. We got plenty of food, and a couple heaters with enough fuel for several days. I have about 55+ hours of fuel for my generator (all my gas cans) just for the evenings. We will hopefully be fine for several days if needs be. 

 

It's been over 20 years since we had a bad ice storm. Some folks were without power for weeks back then. Typically our long power outages come in summer after bad thunderstorms. At least then folks don't freeze to death...

 

Looks like areas west of us may actually get more freezing rain than we will. I would ask all of us to remember those folks in your prayers. This is not something we southerners are used to dealing with and it could get very bad. 

 

Forgive the hijack. Just seemed like a good place to put this. 

Edited 2 hours ago by kpinnc

[Ed Kennell 44,205]

3 hours ago, Bar Nuthin said:

After about 10 minutes, the pain is excruciating.

Same here for my hands and feet.    Mine were nearly frozen when I was a 12yo.   I never lost any parts but they were white. I remember mother put my hands and feet in a wash tub of cold water and added warm water very slowly till the color came back.   

These glove/mittons with a zippered pocket for chemical hand warmers is the only thing that works to keep my hands warm and still be able to fully use my hands.

The rubber boots with 1/4" thick felt liners work for my feet.

 

 

[c-series don 10,986]

I got the 417-A with two stage blower out for the first time this year. Last year I serviced it and never used it, but it looks like tomorrow it will be put to work. The C-175 was blocking the 417 in and when I moved it I noticed it wasn’t charging so I brought it in the shop to have a look. The 418-C is ready to go, I’ll probably use that first until it gets deep and then use the blower. Not pictured is the C-160 automatic with 56” plow as a back up, the C-141 8-Speed with loader to pile snow. C-141 8-Speed with C48 Sweepster rotary broom for clean up and the GT-1848 with 50” grader blade in case I need to scrape some ice. So I think I have this snow removal thing covered! Now if I could just have an attachment that does the front steps instead of me shoveling!! Be safe out there everyone 👍🏻

[wallfish 18,893]

4 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Our latest forecast. Still two whole days out so who knows...

They're saying 20" or + for us here!. Ugh!!!  We usually get more in this little area due to the elevation.

The older I get the more I dislike winter. And yes the colder I feel too. Been freezing my $%^  off and this next week temps looks brutal to be working outside.

 

Got battery gloves and they work well, just not for long periods of time, like past 2+ hours they start to fade

 

[ebinmaine 76,713]

9 minutes ago, c-series don said:

Now if I could just have an attachment that does the front steps instead of me shoveling

 

Couple thoughts...

 

A. Make the wife/swmbo/ball n chain clean em?

 

 

 

 

B. Careful use of the FEL?

[TonyToro Jr. 2,255]

Anywhere from 12-25” is expected here. Today brought the C-121 in and changed the oil and greased it. Also added a rear work light and put different tires with chains on it. Tommorow bringing the C-145 up to change the oil  and that one should be ready. Also going to flip flop this year and have the snowblower on the c-121 annd have the blade on the c-145 as it has been on all season and see what happens as I don’t really want to plow snow with no hydraulic lift any more!  

Ill update tommorow with the fleet ready!

[wallfish 18,893]

11 hours ago, 953 nut said:

Freezing rain bringing down power lines is our worst fear and that seems to be the most prevalent prediction.

Heavy freezing of everything is the worst!!!!!  That's exactly how that backhoe build was born. Ice had ripped the power line down from our house to the pole and even the vertical house portion was on the ground. 3 weeks+ without power, maybe, but I can't remember. What I do remember is the ridiculous quotes to bury the power lines to put everything underground instead of aerial. EFFF That!!!  I'll dig my own trench was the solution since the 416-8 loader tractor was already there to put it on. 2 summers of hard labor in the evenings after work and voila, a backhoe to dig my own trench!  4 ft deep about 100 ft long and I beat on that thing hard since it's pretty boney with rocks around here. Ripped the stabilizer arms off and had to beef those up afterwards. But that tractor definitely proved itself capable again and again since we did many projects like a few retaining walls and big stone steps. @ebinmaine Eric has it now and I hope it serves them well. A true work horse of a garden tractor! 

[Blue Chips 587]

IF I'm using the NWS map correctly, it looks like the total snow prediction for the storm here in Brunswick is currently about 16 inches. It appears that Kittery might get up to 20 inches. Maybe 17 inches for @ebinmaine?

 

Of course it's a bit early to place bets. There's already quite a bit of leftover snow on the ground, so we should end up with some pretty big piles.

 

 

With the cold temps, I'm hoping that the snow will be light and fluffy. My snowblower tractor (522xi) isn't quite back together yet, since I decided to spruce up the rest of the sheet metal on it and replace the foam padding around the fuel tank, so I can always use Mr. Case (our loader/backhoe) again. However, I'm toying with the idea of experimenting with my Husqvarna backpack leaf blower, as long as the wind direction cooperates and it doesn't blow the snow onto the road or our front porch (or back on me and convert me to a snowman). It might just make a big white mess, but it should be easy to find out.

 

I don't see any ice storms predicted for our area, which is fine with me, as we've been there, done that more than once, and I don't like them at all.

 

2 hours ago, squonk said:

I'll leave these on the oil tank for about a day and a half with this storm. Lots of oil to heat and it has to migrate. 

 

I'll plug in the oil pan heater and block heater on Mr. Case, since he lives outside and doesn't have glow plugs or ether injection, and he's also due for a new battery, so I may leave the trickle charger/maintainer on him overnight.

 

 

 

Edited 54 minutes ago by Blue Chips

[Lane Ranger 11,714]

Had a scare today!  Went. Out to start my B-8 which is my snowplow tractor this year!  I have it just outside the garage door covered and it was 8 drgrees at 4 oclock this afternoon.   I just wanted to check gas oil, lights etc to be ready for Saturday annd Sunday snows!  
 

 

i normally do a couple of my neighbors who are  older than me so then can get out to Drs , grocery, etc

 

Well when i went to start my B-80 i had trouble getting a good ignition.  Plenty of battery and it was strong.  I finally decided to look at the spark plug!

 

 

It was pretty gummed up and carbon loaded.  So i just decided to put in a new plug.   I had one of my led headlights go bad too so i changed it.

 

We are suppose to start getting snow around noon to 1 o’clock tomorrow but supposed to be about 3 or 4 degrees in am after sunrise!  

I should be all set tomorrow!  Warm clothing and short snowplow sessions will be the key tomorrow!

 

 

 

[wallfish 18,893]

9 minutes ago, Blue Chips said:

 I'm toying with the idea of experimenting with my Husqvarna backpack leaf blower

Works well for light fluffy stuff a couple of inches deep. You'll have to get it quite few times for 16"+

I use a small battery powered blower for light fluffy stuff about 1" deep and as long as it's cold like this, it works very well. Wind can certainly put a damper on that too. Like peeing against the wind. LOL