This was my winter to buy a snow blower. If it might be yours, read on if you'd like for my new user report!
What I bought was this:
Toro 1800 18-Inch 12 Amp Electric Curve Snow Thrower #38025
I bought this machine because I was sitting in a friend's living room and there, right in front of me, was a brand new, still in-the-box Toro 1800 18-Inch 12 Amp Electric Curve Snow Thrower #38025. Well, I realized right then and there that I NEEDED a snow blower, what with my weakened condition ( a recent medical challenge) and all. Not to mention the several hours it takes to shovel my walkways and sidewalks (yes indeed, plural, my building faces two streets) when we get hit with two or three inches of snow.
Knowing that my friend is meticulous in his research (AND, Amazon shows 509 reviews, 308 5-star and 120 4-star), I just copied down the name and model number. A few weeks later and a few minutes on Amazon and I had a snow thrower on the way.
Just in time.
It arrived late last week, and an inch and change of snow arrived today. What a good day to put the snow thrower together!
Assembly was simple, with well-written instructions (rare!). Two people would make the job easier and quicker.
This is, just to emphasize, an ELECTRIC machine. All to the good for me, but if you need to be more than 150 feet out or don't have a power source, you'd be SOL.
By the way, you'll want heavy duty, exterior-rated, minimum 12 or 14 gauge (150') or 16 gauge (100') power cords. Just the right cord is featured on the Amazon page, at a good price. I already had two cords, a 12 gauge 100 footer and a 14 gauge 50'. I did fine. This machine likes power, so using a circuit that isn't doing anything else is a good idea. By the way, Toro says 150 feet is the limit, and I believe them.
So.
I just cleared that inch and change, basically down to the hard surface, easy and quick. Almost effortlessly, which is a good thing, given that I'm running about 65% of my normal energy this week.
The machine is light (24 pounds) and has well-placed handles, so up and down the stairs was easy, not to mention maneuvering through the snow. The chute is well designed, so placing snow was duck soup. The on-off switch (the only other control) is a simple squeeze handle, perfectly designed (which is how I feel about the whole machine). There's nothing not to like! Using it is similar to using an upright vacuum cleaner, with about the same noise level.
I was able to work in much warmer clothing, barely broke a sweat, expended much less effort, and didn't come in needing a shower, as was the case anytime I shoveled.
Just for a frame of reference, I cleared about 2,600 square feet, which is about evenly divided between brick walk and sidewalk. It's a lot of walkway!
Oh, the price of the machine is $300, and shipping is free. Worth every penny to me, given the time and work saved. I would have had to hire someone this year if shoveling was still the way.Get more detail about
Toro 1800 18-Inch 12 Amp Electric Curve Snow Thrower #38025.
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