Which Snowplow Cutting Edge is Right for the Job?

The type of material used probably isn't the first thing on your mind when shopping for a new snowplow. You're probably too busy thinking about all the time and effort you're going to save when you upgrade to a real piece of snow management equipment. But the material used in the cutting blade of your new plow is important and can make a huge difference in terms of performance and equipment lifespan.

Shopping for a new snowplow can be difficult if you don't have all your facts, and that includes knowing what type of material you want in a cutting edge. Your friends at Scott's Power Equipment have put together this short article so you can read up on cutting edges. Read on for more information or head into one of our locations in Bridgeton, Arnold, Wentzville, and East St. Louis, Missouri.

Urethane Cutting Edge

Urethane is a popular choice in a plow cutting edge for many reasons. Perhaps foremost is their minimal ground impact, making them ideal if not totally necessary for many snow management jobs. Steel edges can wear down driveway sealant or else damage landscaping. Just having the option of switching to a urethane cutting edge can drastically expand your potential customer base.

Urethane has other benefits, like quiet operation. If you live in an area with regular and heavy snowfall, you've probably heard your fair share of steel on pavement early on a winter morning. Urethane edges offer a quieter plow and decrease cab vibration, making them fantastic for snow management professionals working in and around apartments, hospitals, and other areas where a low noise level might be appreciated. 

Urethane cutting edges also offer the ability to keep a base layer of snow on a gravel surface because of how they glide over frozen ground. They perform best on fresh snow and slush on account of the material's ability to mold to the ground surface, creating the same effect as a squeegee over a wet glass surface. Finally, urethane is light, durable, and flexible while remaining heavy duty, meaning you get extra cushioning if you happen to impact an obstacle. 

Steel Cutting Edge

Steel is rigid, abrasion-resistant, and looks great on the front-end of your plowing vehicle. Steel is what you'll find on the majority of cutting edges, usually because it costs less than urethane. Steel edges give the best scraping ability for the widest range of applications, from getting under packed ice to just scraping fresh snowfall from a parking lot quickly. That means a better clean from start to finish with less salt or other ice-melting product, which translates into a faster plow with reduced cost. 

Steel tends to last longer than urethane and other polymer materials, though that might not be the case if you're working extremely rough surfaces. Gravel, cement, and paving stones all wear down a steel cutting edge at different rates, making steel less than ideal for these specific surfaces. However, steel is better for those rougher conditions and especially when snow is hard-packed or full of ice. This is where steel's rigidity comes into play, making short work of these plowing conditions.

Whether you want a steel cutting edge for packed-in snow and ice, or a urethane edge for quiet operation, you'll find the snowplow cutting edge that's right for you at Scott's Power Equipment. We have locations throughout Missouri, including Bridgeton, Arnold, Wentzville, and East St. Louis. We also proudly serve the greater St. Louis area. Come in today and take a look at our selection of new and used snowplows and accessories!