retroremakes
January 15th, 2010, 21:20
Growing up in upstate New York, I know something about ice, snow and struggling through waist high drifts piled up by the city snow plows with a woefully inadequate Toro snowblower. God, I wish I had some of this crap back then.
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/500x_546u46rurthdfd.jpg (http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/546u46rurthdfd.jpg)This is how Russians melt snow and ice during their intense winters—by strapping a Klimov VK-1 engine from Mig-15 onto a truck. I think one of these would have taken care of the snow at the end of my driveway (and probably my entire lawn, neighbors lawn, and the woods behind my house) no problem. [Link (http://gizmodo.com/5332274/in-russia-snowblowers-use-mig+15-jets/gallery/)]
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/500x_handlebar_flamethrower.jpg (http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/handlebar_flamethrower.jpg)This homemade flamethrower was designed to kill mosquitoes in the home, but I think it's safer to use one of these outside on the ice covering your front steps. Then again, maybe not (http://gizmodo.com/5116790/if-you-melt-ice-with-a-blowtorch-you-will-set-your-house-on-fire). [Link (http://gizmodo.com/5443981/diy-mosquito+killing-house+burning-flame+throwing-handlebars)]
Now THIS is what I really needed for my driveway—and autonomous Roomba-esque show shovel. The I-Shovel can automatically detect snowfall accumulation and clear the driveway when it determines that the depth is significant enough for action.
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/500x_GutterGloveIceBreaker.jpgI remember icicles the size of swords hanging from my gutters during the winter. Needless to say, that is some dangerous shit—and all that ice is hard on the gutters themselves. The solution could be to install Guttergloves to melt the ice before it accumulates. [Gutterglove (http://www.gutterglove.com/) via Link (http://gizmodo.com/5345208/gutterglove-icebreaker-melts-deadly-icicle-spikes)]
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/500x_ice_scraper_2.jpg (http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/ice_scraper_2.jpg)I've never used one of these before, but an electric ice scraper with a heating element makes sense. Although, I doubt that most of these things really crank out enough heat to be practical. [Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Catalog-Source-Electric-Ice-Scraper/dp/B000T9OMPQ)]
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/500x_windshield_cover.jpgIt doesn't get any simpler than this guys—if you don't have a garage, put a windshield cover on your car to prevent that situation where you're late for work, and you frantically scrape out just enough of a spot on the windshield to see, but your peephole kind of fogs up going down the road and you wind up in a ditch. Yeah, we've all been there. [Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002N4G71W/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000AP0KD2&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=16YVZW1N41J47F7F5NGS)]
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/500x_snobootz.jpgDealing with chains and snow tires is a pain in the ass. Supposedly, these fabric and rubber Snowbootz are easier to install and provide great traction in the snow and ice. Consumer Reports (http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2009/02/test-snobootz-winter-traction-aid-for-car-tires.html) didn't agree with that assessment completely, but they did find that the system worked well on ice and packed snow—but not so well on soft snow. So, at the very least, it should prevent this type of situation (http://jalopnik.com/5435703/morons-bail-from-car-while-it-slides-on-ice). [Snowbootz (http://www.snobootz.com/howitworks.php)]
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/500x_ice_drop.jpg (http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/ice_drop.jpg)If you can't beat the ice, you might as well make it work for you. The Eternal Ice Drop is basically a spherical glass bulb with frozen water inside that you use to chill cognac. The idea is to perfectly chill the drink without watering it down. [5.5 Designers (http://www.cinqcinqdesigners.com/) via Link (http://gizmodo.com/5426300/eternal-ice-drop-makes-for-a-perfect-cognac)]
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/500x_rkt_sled3.jpg (http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/rkt_sled3.JPG)Remember that scene in [I]National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation where Chevy Chase blazes down a hill on a greased-up sled? Well, Ky Michaelson is living that with his homemade rocket sled. This thing should eliminate snow and ice, leaving nothing but a flaming streak of Earth in your wake. [Rocketman (http://www.the-rocketman.com/rkt_sled.html) via Link (http://gizmodo.com/5118306/the-rocket-sled-that-made-winter-cry)]
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/500x_reversible_cleat_boots.jpg (http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/reversible_cleat_boots.jpg)Have you ever busted your ass slipping on ice in the driveway? It's painful and embarrassing. One way to conveniently prevent that problem is to wear a pair of boots with reversible cleats. When you're outside, the cleats can be turned to reveal steel studs that provide traction. When heading back indoors, the cleats can be turned around to a flat, rubber side. [Hammacher (http://www.hammacher.com/Product/77249?promo=Category-NewArrivals&catid=60) via Link (http://gizmodo.com/5445502/boots-with-reversible-cleats-keep-you-from-starring-in-disaster-on-ice)]
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http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/500x_546u46rurthdfd.jpg (http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/546u46rurthdfd.jpg)This is how Russians melt snow and ice during their intense winters—by strapping a Klimov VK-1 engine from Mig-15 onto a truck. I think one of these would have taken care of the snow at the end of my driveway (and probably my entire lawn, neighbors lawn, and the woods behind my house) no problem. [Link (http://gizmodo.com/5332274/in-russia-snowblowers-use-mig+15-jets/gallery/)]
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/500x_handlebar_flamethrower.jpg (http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/handlebar_flamethrower.jpg)This homemade flamethrower was designed to kill mosquitoes in the home, but I think it's safer to use one of these outside on the ice covering your front steps. Then again, maybe not (http://gizmodo.com/5116790/if-you-melt-ice-with-a-blowtorch-you-will-set-your-house-on-fire). [Link (http://gizmodo.com/5443981/diy-mosquito+killing-house+burning-flame+throwing-handlebars)]
Now THIS is what I really needed for my driveway—and autonomous Roomba-esque show shovel. The I-Shovel can automatically detect snowfall accumulation and clear the driveway when it determines that the depth is significant enough for action.
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/500x_GutterGloveIceBreaker.jpgI remember icicles the size of swords hanging from my gutters during the winter. Needless to say, that is some dangerous shit—and all that ice is hard on the gutters themselves. The solution could be to install Guttergloves to melt the ice before it accumulates. [Gutterglove (http://www.gutterglove.com/) via Link (http://gizmodo.com/5345208/gutterglove-icebreaker-melts-deadly-icicle-spikes)]
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/500x_ice_scraper_2.jpg (http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/ice_scraper_2.jpg)I've never used one of these before, but an electric ice scraper with a heating element makes sense. Although, I doubt that most of these things really crank out enough heat to be practical. [Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Catalog-Source-Electric-Ice-Scraper/dp/B000T9OMPQ)]
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/500x_windshield_cover.jpgIt doesn't get any simpler than this guys—if you don't have a garage, put a windshield cover on your car to prevent that situation where you're late for work, and you frantically scrape out just enough of a spot on the windshield to see, but your peephole kind of fogs up going down the road and you wind up in a ditch. Yeah, we've all been there. [Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002N4G71W/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000AP0KD2&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=16YVZW1N41J47F7F5NGS)]
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/500x_snobootz.jpgDealing with chains and snow tires is a pain in the ass. Supposedly, these fabric and rubber Snowbootz are easier to install and provide great traction in the snow and ice. Consumer Reports (http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2009/02/test-snobootz-winter-traction-aid-for-car-tires.html) didn't agree with that assessment completely, but they did find that the system worked well on ice and packed snow—but not so well on soft snow. So, at the very least, it should prevent this type of situation (http://jalopnik.com/5435703/morons-bail-from-car-while-it-slides-on-ice). [Snowbootz (http://www.snobootz.com/howitworks.php)]
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/500x_ice_drop.jpg (http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/ice_drop.jpg)If you can't beat the ice, you might as well make it work for you. The Eternal Ice Drop is basically a spherical glass bulb with frozen water inside that you use to chill cognac. The idea is to perfectly chill the drink without watering it down. [5.5 Designers (http://www.cinqcinqdesigners.com/) via Link (http://gizmodo.com/5426300/eternal-ice-drop-makes-for-a-perfect-cognac)]
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/500x_rkt_sled3.jpg (http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/rkt_sled3.JPG)Remember that scene in [I]National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation where Chevy Chase blazes down a hill on a greased-up sled? Well, Ky Michaelson is living that with his homemade rocket sled. This thing should eliminate snow and ice, leaving nothing but a flaming streak of Earth in your wake. [Rocketman (http://www.the-rocketman.com/rkt_sled.html) via Link (http://gizmodo.com/5118306/the-rocket-sled-that-made-winter-cry)]
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/500x_reversible_cleat_boots.jpg (http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/reversible_cleat_boots.jpg)Have you ever busted your ass slipping on ice in the driveway? It's painful and embarrassing. One way to conveniently prevent that problem is to wear a pair of boots with reversible cleats. When you're outside, the cleats can be turned to reveal steel studs that provide traction. When heading back indoors, the cleats can be turned around to a flat, rubber side. [Hammacher (http://www.hammacher.com/Product/77249?promo=Category-NewArrivals&catid=60) via Link (http://gizmodo.com/5445502/boots-with-reversible-cleats-keep-you-from-starring-in-disaster-on-ice)]
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