Toro 38361 Power Shovel 7.5 Amp Electric Snow Thrower
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List Price: Our Price: $79.00 You Save: $70.99 (47%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $48.95 (click here) Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Toro 38361 Power Shovel 7.5 Amp Electric Snow Thrower
Customer Review: Why you need to read this review before you buy this
Summary: 1 Stars
I live in chicago and for those of you who have lived here know we get tons of snow. Our winters are brutal.
I just bought a single family house and needed something to really help me while small enough so that it's not a problem to store.
After reading great reviews of this product I thought I would give it a try.
Bought this @ amazon.
A few days after it arrived we had a snow storm which dumped about 4 to 5 inches of snow on us.
I took it out, to give it a try.
First of all, I am a pretty fit guy, so I thought using this product (based on the reviews) would be a breeze.
While this product is not that heavy, its not light either. I have to have a strong back to handle this product.
After I plugged it in, I found out the reason why I had to return this.
It is extremely painful to use. There is a huge design flaw. The botton which powers this unit is extremely tiny. While in cold, in wind, its really hard to keep it in locked position while trying to keep the cord out of the way.
Then the snow moves in one direction, (forward) so you have to retrace your steps, bring back the cord then start all over again. The tiny bottom is extremely hard to use. It does not lock, or is easily accessible to the hand.
You have to use all your might (or have at least 2 people) one to manage the cord while you use all your strength to use this.
I give it 0 stars if I had the option.
Please, don't buy this. You will regret it bigtime. There are other options out there which you should look at.
I hadn't thrown the box due to which I could return it. Otherwise I'd be in trouble.
Please, please don't buy this, it will break your back and will leave you frustrated in the snow.
Customer Review: The selling point for me was the "see it in action" video clip
Summary: 5 Stars
I got this product a day earlier than expected - thanks Amazon! We, in Chicago, were supposed to get a blizzard but it didn't happen, thank goodness, because the 100 foot Coleman Cable extension cord didn't arrive until the following day (as promised). We did get a light snowfall and already cleared the sidewalk and garage, but I couldn't wait to try it out so with only a light layer of snow, which could be blamed on the wind, I was out there giving it a shot.
The most difficult time I had was untangling the extension cord... twice! I also purchased the Bayco Cord Storage Reel, and, after finally getting the whole thing untangled, followed another reviewer's advice and folded the cord in half, then wound it onto the reel beginning with the middle of the cord so that the part where you plug it in would be on the outside. It worked well, but as an FYI, if you're going to unwind the cord from the reel, be sure not to unwind it on top of itself as you'll end up having to untangle it all over again - 100 feet is really longer than I thought!
So when I finally got to using the snow thrower, it was actually really easy. Except no matter which direction I went, the snow kept blowing right back on top of me. I guess the wind kept changing directions.
It seems it might be built for right-handed users as there's a switch on the left side of the handle, where one's thumb would be, that needs to be pressed while squeezing the trigger with the fingers. But I had no problems using my left hand as my palm took care of that switch while my fingers held down the trigger.
All in all, it's a great product and instead of having to use a shovel to manually clear all the snow, with this show thrower, all you'll need is a broom to clear the light dusting that the wind blows back.
Customer Review: Decent little tool
Summary: 4 Stars
Bought this Toro Power Shovel in time for our big snow season this year. Assembly was a snap (adjust the height), and just plugged it in. This thing definitely throws snow pretty good. By the time we first used it, we'd already had a couple snows, and the stuff underneath was pretty packed on the driveway. Contrary to other suggestions, we don't just use this for our patio, deck and stairs. We used it for our sidewalks AND driveway. This thing makes clearing a straight path a BREEZE! If you just like to clear a walkway, this is a definite BUY. However, we used it to clear a good-sized driveway (about 60 or 70 feet long).
It worked pretty good to get underneath some of the packed snow. You know how snow plows always dump snow at the end of your driveway, so you have a mountain of slush to get through to get out? Well, this thing made easy work of cleaning that out. It probably took 5 or 10 minutes to clear the end of the driveway from all that snow. The shovel isn't supposed to be able to get through dense, deep snow piles like that, but it did.
Worse thing about it is that you cannot aim the snow. It would have been great had they made the casing deflect-able in one direction or another. Also, you have to hold the button and the trigger at the same time to make it run. You can't just turn it "on." Guess it's a safety thing. Also, this is an open auger, so you definitely have to watch your feet when you put this thing down. The cord is a bit of a pain to deal with, so this would have been great in a gas model. Otherwise, it saves you from having to shovel and then lift and throw the snow. Shovel-lift-throw. Shovel-lift-throw. No more. You push it in the direction you want the snow to go, and it goes. Takes some getting used to, but will save your back.
Customer Review: The best money you ever spent
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my first time using a snow thrower/blower of any kind. I've been shoveling snow by hand through more than 25 New England winters. What a difference!
I hesitated to buy something sooner because of the price and size of the machines my neighbors use. But my driveway is not too large (one car width, 35 feet long) so I figured a small blower might do the trick.
I've used the Toro Power Shovel twice this past week. It was simple to use right out of the box, with no assembly and very few instructions. It is lightweight enough for anyone to use, and adjusts to any person's height (I'm 6'3"). It cleared 6 inches of snow right down to the pavement, even getting up the wet, compact stuff very well. I was able to clear deeper snow by shaving off the top 6 inch layer and then clearing the bottom layer - no problem at all.
It took about 10 minutes to get the technique down. It works best if you stand still and clear a small semicircle area in front of your feet, then move forward and clear more... similar to how you use a vacuum cleaner... as opposed to clearing long rows in the way you would mow a lawn. The machine has a lot of power and throws the snow upward at about 45 degrees, and outward 12-20 feet in front of the machine. It tends to pulverize the snow into a fine stream, so if it's windy make sure you aren't pointing into the wind, or you will get coated with snow quickly.
There is no maintenance needed and no tune up required. The machine works just as well as advertised in the product description. I couldn't be happier and highly recommend this product.
***UPDATE*** Two years later I am still loving this machine. I have used it at least a dozen times; it works great and has never broken down.
Customer Review: Serves no purpose for me.
Summary: 2 Stars
I live on a corner property in NYC, Queens.
Lets start with the positive. This snow shovel is fast. In the blizzard of Dec, 2010, it helped me clear the sidewalk faster than if I had to shovel. Take into account, it was the first time I was using it and maybe the newness and excitement helped.
Negatives:
1) Cannot adjust direction of throw.
There is no adjustment of directions for throwing the snow. This means you are at the mercy of the wind, even a small shift in wind means your face and coat will be filled with wet snow. Staying upwind is not as easy as it sounds especially if the wind changes directions or blow in a curve.
If my neighbor shovel his sidewalk before I do, then when I started to shovel with this thing, it just dumps the snow on his shoveled sidewalk. If I change directions, then all the snow is blowing back towards me and the area I just shoveled.
2)Much heavier than a shovel
This snow shovel is useless for light snow, because it is so heavy and you need to hookup the cord and work out wind direction etc. Light snow a regular shovel is much easier to push around and clean the snow.
In deeper snow, you need to shave the top off, this means you have to light this 13 lbs shovel and hold it up over the powdery snow to shave the top off.
Ideally you should use this as a vacuum cleaner. Pulling this shovel back for another pass is also a hassle.
This shovel has no wheel.
I guess if you live in an area where there is little to no traffic and the houses are far apart etc this might be a good idea.
For NYC I have no recommendations, but Toro Power Shovel does not solve my snow problem. I am still looking.