Difficulty Level: 3/5, Finding Tequila in Moscow
The basic idea is to make a giant cheese slicer. The slicer cuts the bottom from under the snow and lets it slip-and-slide off the roof. The primary issue solved is “ice damming”. If you have a warm roof the melt can come down under the snow to the end of the roof and freeze. Then it backs up under the shingles and leaks.
Note: the surface of the snow holds it together on the roof, so if it has set up for a while you should flip the tool over and use the handle to break the surface into slices, then run the slicer underneath.
- – 3 ten foot lengths of 3/4 inch EMT pipe and bender
- – pipe/tube cutter – Two roller blade wheels with axels
- – Two 1/4 inch washers
- – 1/4 inch aluminum dowel
- – paper clip or tiny cotter pin
- – 3/4 inch tent T fitting
- – 3/4 inch tent sleeve fitting
- – An old blue tarp
Form a “D” shape with the first two bends and cut the pipe with equal length legs. If you have the T fitting, you can slide it onto the pipe prior to the second bend. See below.
Bending the tips down 30 degrees. As you push the slicer upward this holds the wheels down on the roof.
Crush the pipe until the axel will fit all the way through it and the wheel
Drill a hole for the axel. Mine were 1/4 inch.
Drill a 1/4 inch hole on each side of the “D” above the wheel for the dowel Cut the dowel two inches longer than the outer width of the “D” in your pipe.
Crush/fatten one end of the dowel in your vise and drill a hole in the other for the cotter pin
Cut the tarp perpendicular to the hem and to the inner width of the “D” in your pipe. Singe the edges.
Slide the dowel into one pipe end, through the hem to the other end.
Make a mini cotter pin out of the paper clip for the other end of the dowel
DIYPutin 