We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
DIY

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is a Two-Stage Snow Blower?

By Lori Kilchermann
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 17,812
Share

A two-stage snow blower is a machine used to remove snow by blowing it away from the machine. The mechanical design of the two-stage snow blower uses a horizontal auger as a first stage to feed snow into the actual blower component of the machine, which is the second stage. Spinning at a high rate of speed, the blower uses attached paddles to move the snow up and away from the machine via a directional chute. There are two distinct types of two-stage snow blower designs: a self-propelled version that is operated by a person on foot, and a vehicle-mounted version that is typically found on tractors, riding lawn mowers and trucks or heavy equipment.

In the world of mechanized snow removal, the two-stage snow blower sits on the top of the ladder when it comes to hand-operated snow removal equipment. Unlike a single-stage snow thrower, the two-stage snow blower is able to blow the snow much further away from the path of the machine as it divides the snow removal duties between the two stages. In a single-stage machine, a single, rotating paddle both sweeps the snow into the machine and throws it out of the top of the machine. This type of machine, while working satisfactorily in light snow falls, is not well--equipped to clear deep and heavy snow.

The typical walk-behind, two-stage snow blower uses a gasoline-powered engine to power the snow blower component as well as to power the drive system of the machine. Using wheels or tracks to propel the snow blower forward, the front of the machine is essentially an open chute that funnels the snow into the rear blower unit. The chute uses an auger or series of augers depending on the size of the snow blower, to dig into and break up the deep snow as the drive system pushes the machine into the snow. The snow is then pushed into the second stage or the blower, which spins at a rate of speed equal to or in excess of the speed of the running engine.

As the snow makes contact with the spinning blower, it is directed upwards through a curved discharge chute and away from the machine. The discharge chute can be aimed in a 180° range of direction to deliver the blown snow to the best area to keep it out of the way. Most two-stage snow blower machines use a transmission with multiple forward and reverse gears to aid in the maneuvering of the machine.

Share
HomeQuestionsAnswered is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.homequestionsanswered.com/what-is-a-two-stage-snow-blower.htm
Copy this link
HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.