Best tool to break up ice on my driveway?

[TridenT]

Face

 

[kranky]

Update on how things worked out?

 

[spaceman]

a stiff drink and a warm smile are good icebreakers

 

[Zebo]

hose to bottom of hot water tank. Done in 5 minutes. Your tank prolly needs a drain out anyway.

 

[highland145]

hose to bottom of hot water tank. Done in 5 minutes. Your tank prolly needs a drain out anyway.

That's a good one. :thumbsup:

 

[Zebo]

Alternatively I got a bad ass $1500 hilti that will make short work of ice. Takes up tile in seconds.

 

[EagleKeeper]

hose to bottom of hot water tank. Done in 5 minutes. Your tank prolly needs a drain out anyway.

If that does not work; one is doubly shafted.

One - being outside and then no hot shower.

Two - extra liquid to freeze - you have melted the ice - where does the liquid go? Ground is frozen - where will the water drain off to; it collected in the low lying area to begin with.

 

[Zebo]

If that does not work; one is doubly shafted.

One - being outside and then no hot shower.

Two - extra liquid to freeze - you have melted the ice - where does the liquid go? Ground is frozen - where will the water drain off to; it collected in the low lying area to begin with.

I've used this method. But our driveway was slopped. Sat it behind one tire for a couple min then the other. Water ran down and the down street.

 

[Mike Gayner]

Move somewhere warmer.

 

[Brigandier]

Lousiville Slugger

 

[Ninjahedge]

Only in the morning.

I love the smell.....


Seriously though? Sledgehammers only work when it is bitter cold and the ice can fracture easily, otherwise you just get a small circle of crushed ice right under the impact point. Oh, you also get ice-schrapnel, so be careful!

The best I found was using a metal spade. Scrape and get under whatever you can, scrape what you can off the top, and then come back. If it is above freezing, more will have softened/melted and you can get more off, if not, then use salt/de-icers. (BTW, Calcium Chloride flakes have not worked too well here. Rock salt worked better. I will have to look at some of the others later).

The only other thing that might work would be hot water. But I would use it to try and break the bond with the driveway NOT to melt or crack the ice itself. Pour a bit on the outer edge and see if that can get you under the ice to pry it up.

The only other thing I can think of would be to get some dark material like ashes or charcoal and spread that on the surface. If you get any light on it, it should melt it right down.....

 

[PingSpike]

How about a sign that says "don't walk here unless you sign a paper saying you won't sue me." Then just wait. Or do what I do and just don't do anything.

This is what I do. My first winter I about broke my back chipping only some of the ice off my driveway. (It works OK if you can break a hole and then get something under the ice to pop it out) After making a huge mess and wasting a whole lot of time, leaving me with a still shitty looking and partially ice covered driveway I bought studded tires, snow blowed more often and then wait for spring. I'll throw some sand down if it gets really bad but it is a time consuming and annoying task that basically will solve itself by waiting.