My Other Car is a ZAMBONI
 

The ice in the driveway is getting a little out of control. The rain/slush/freeze routine is making it a skating rink! Sand freezes in, salt doesn't seem to help. Chipping the ice away works if you can get it, but that's pretty intense work!

Has anyone found a solution to cut down on the ice buildup?

A little off topic but relevant to the name of the thread: does anyone know of a way to "zamboni" a pond? There have to be some clever engineer-types out there who have thought this one through.

Sand
 

One turn on my driveway is pure ice. Even though it is flat, my car just wouldn't make the turn at any speed. The only thing I've found to work is sand - and many applications. Thank goodness its snowing a bit today. It will at least provide some surface for the tires to grab on.

Assuming a dirt or gravel driveway:

I kept several buckets of that grey rock chips in the garage. When the ice built up, I would sprinkle a generous amount along with some rock salt. The salt would start softening the ice and the stone would pick up the suns heat to "nestle" into the ice giving the tires something to latch onto for grip. Then Spring cleanup was either they sunk into the mud or could rake them up and store for next ice situation.

It's a sad statement when you're looking for snow to make the ice easier to drive on... ;)

Assuming cold enough to freeze water and keep it frozen and taking care to avoid thin-ice places:

I always used the Zamboni idea of laying down new water. Identify your skating area by building a mound of snow and get it to freeze into a dam or pool wall. Once your skating area is set, then at night slosh out a few bukets of water. Nothing deep, just a layer. It may take several nights but soon a nice smooth surface builds up. Then subsequent snow removal is easier (and necessary as you don't want to slosh 10 inches of water to cover the fresh snow. Another idea is a pump. The AC to DC adapters can handle a small pump. plug it into your car, run the extension cord and a small submersible pump and short length of garden hose will work.

It may be a little work, but I aways got thanked by the family and friends that used it.

My Other Car is a ZAMBONI
 

"My Other Car is a ZAMBONI"

The exact phrase of the plate bracket on my sister's car. In Annapolis, MD, a very good friend of theirs used to drive the Zamboni at the Naval Academy.

Angela - The honest answer to your question: Wait four weeks.

We've done layers of salt/sand/cat litter - it's helped.

Other than that, we walk like little old ladies from the cars to the door... :D

F-l-o-r-i-d-a ! :D

My Driveway is an Olympic LUGE RUN!
 

http://www.quicktopic.com/forum_imag.../image_875.jpg
Under the snow is a sheet of ice! photo by RLW

You could turn that negative into a positive McDude by offering luge rides for a fee."Come ride the huge McLuge"!

The huge McLuge, I'm in!

I've managed on at least 4 occasions to turn my paved driveway into a beach with sand. Its been effective, but I can't wait to have to clean it up.

Reminds me, time to call the city and ask them to fill the sand drums, again. :rolleye1:

white stuff
 

Here in SE Conn, we wonder what all that white stuff is used for. I understand that some have a snowmobile that is trapped in a tent and can't get it out as there is too much white stuff.

I caved in the bumper cover on my jeep, by sliding on the ice in my own driveway. Then I called the sandman. For $100 he made a big mess for me to clean in the spring. Then it rained for two days and froze over the sand. Now it's going to snow again. I can't win.

Well I'm sure that bumber cover is cheap, right? It's only plastic.