sidewalk spreaders

[Matthew Bowman]

I'm looking for opinions/experiences with push spreaders for calcium chloride on walks. Which ones work well, and which should be avoided? I also need to get a spreader for our atv set up - any suggestions. Thanks.

[snowplowjay]

We have been running LESCO pneumatic tire models for years now. We service and grease them all at the beginning and end of each season and we have had good luck with them...


Jay

[bam]

we also ran the lescos a few years ago. however at $400 a piece they're too expensive. we also had a few walk off the job, replaced with $20 scotts spreaders. I found a happy medium. earthway has a whole line of broadcast spreaders. shemin nurseries and a whole bunch of other vendors have them. the 2170 was $119 or $129. It holds 100Lbs. I think we have about 22 now. they held up pretty well. I'll probably have to replace 3 this year. But as far as I know, none got stolen.

So check on line, at Northern, Grainger, Russos, etc. and try one out.

Don't waste your money on the junk at Home Depot. Some of my guys tryed that, and the labor to buy and replace them each storm, far exceeds getting a somewhat quality spreader.

[snonut12]

I have Earthway C24SS with the salt shield. It is a stainless steel spreader and it works nicely for doing sidewalks and small driveways. The salt shield is three sided and can be flipped up/down so you can spread in either wide and narrow path. I've used it for spreading rock salt and calcium chloride without a problem. The spreader has a sticker saying to remove auger hairpin when using it for spreading salt but I find it work much better with the hairpin. Just keep a few spare hairpins as they sometime will "disappear".

[T-Zab]

Anyone try out the Buyers unit ? They look pretty good. I may try one.
T

[Wizard]

Anyone use the earthway or buyers spreaders to spread wet products? I'm going to be experimenting with mag soaked rock salt on sidewalks, and likely my scotts spreaders wont spread it, it'll probably bridge. Oh wait, silly me, I'll just have to put a vibrator on it :rolling

[snonut12]

Brenda, I've tried to spread Magic Salt with the Earthway but it was no sucess. It will only spread a few grains of salt if you shake the spreader. It has three small holes opening so it is not large enough for spreading wet product. But a vibrator might work. :haha

[Wizard]

But a vibrator might work. :haha

I see Mark hasn't discovered this thread... As soon as he does, this one will go to the gutter too on the vibrator joke... :rolling

The scotts spreaders have one variable opening, so they may work better than the earthway afterall... Hmmm

[Mark Oomkes]

I see Mark hasn't discovered this thread... As soon as he does, this one will go to the gutter too on the vibrator joke... :rolling

Since I haven't been doing my job, just the vibrator joke? Snonut had a couple openings in there too.

For example if you shake the spreader

For an answer to the question, the only ones we have had good luck using with either Magic or Extreme Melt are the spreaders with one large opening (I almost used a different term, but I wanted to keep this thread at least PG-13). They come in painted frame and stainless frame models. Long lasting, no problems with the gears although the hoppers still crack when they fall and some issues with the agitator pin getting lost. They're a little spendy, as Fred would say, but worth it. Got really sick of only getting about 1 good season out of the Earthway's.

Here's a link to the ones we have been using:

http://www.prizelawnspreaders.com/viewItem.do?itemId=EST-6

[Wizard]

Here's a link to the ones we have been using:

http://www.prizelawnspreaders.com/viewItem.do?itemId=EST-6

But for $370, I can buy a lot of Scotts spreaders... I have one that's been used for 3 years. It's getting real rusty, and I had to put a screw in the shaft when the spinner started slipping (save it Mark), but it still works... Hard to justify spending that much money when the cheapos work fine... Besides, the less I spend on salt spreaders, the more I can spend on lights!!! :zoom

BTW Mark, you missed the 3 small holes part of snonut's post too! :rolling

[Mark Oomkes]

Nope, that's what I meant about the PG-13 part. :grinz

Yeah, but you're gonna shake the rust right off that thing with the vibrator. ;)

[T-Zab]

:funnypost Wow you guys are sick puppy's.
I have used cheapo's as well, I have a couple year old scotts that works like crap as well. If the bags are kept dry it does okay/kinda. Fluid film will extend the life of these things big time. I started "Luben" her up all last season, and she shows no signs of additional rust now.
T

[hillndale]

These I believe are also a good option. They have wider openings and not the holes:
http://www.agri-fab.com/spreader45_0210_101.html

or pricier

http://www.meyerproducts.com/products/spreaders-hotshot.asp

more:
http://www.angelos-supplies.com/plowparts/spreaders.pg

hillndale

[Mark Oomkes]

So Matthew, aren't you glad you asked a simple question?