Alan
Member
- Location
- NW Vermont (Milton)
The last few years I have gone to using mostly pure salt almsot exclusively. The game paln is that we slat as soon as there is snow enough to start a brine. Then we plow after a couple inches more accululate. I'm finding that I get quicker "black" that way than if I wait and salt after a storm. The only sand I use is on the ocasional gravel drive that ices up or during a serious ice storm. I find I have way less to clean up in the spring and early salting uses less salt overall than witing until afterwards. Other people here use sand by the truckload, I'm inclined to think that is due to "we've always done it that way" mentality. I find my costs run about the same, I'm not in a position to put up my own sand supply so I'm buying from another contractor. Sand/salt mix is running $30/yd while straight salt is $60/ton. Next year I will be putting up a supply of Magic/salt. From my limited use this year it seems to go further, so the time and cost of mixing Magic will be well worth it, not to mention how well the mix flows in the spreader. If I manage to build my ultimate plow rig I will put up a pile of Magic/sand as well, even if I have to load by hand for a season. As it is now I store my salt in an old truck body and load out with an auger. I have to shovel tot he auger but it is relatively easy and doesn't take all that long to load a ton or so.