Make a Snow Rake From Your Shop Broom

With 30 inches of snow on the ground and another 12 inches forecast, removing the existing snow from a low pitched roof was necessary to prevent a costly ice dam and interior damage. An old shop broom, a scrap of 3/8" plywood, a telescoping handle and a few feet of 12 gauge electrical wire transformed an old shop push broom into an effective snow rake.

Find Your Broom

Remove the Handle

Drill a Hole in Your Plywood

The scrap piece of 3/8" plywood used in this example is 6 inches by 21 inches and a 1 1/2inch hole was bored on the center line to allow clearance for the handle.

Attach the Plywood to the Broom Head

drill and screw the plywood onto the head of the broom using four #7 x 1 5/8" deck screws

Drill Plywood for Braces

Drill a 3/16" hole in each of the four corners of the plywood to accommodate the wire brace.

Add Braces

String two pieces, each 30" long, of 12 guage electrical wire through the holes from the bristle side of the broom

Secure the Braces

Secure the electrical wire to the telescoping handle with a hose clamp. Bend about an inch of each wire back toward the broom head and secure with a second, larger hose clamp on the broom head side of the first clamp.

Put It to Work

Pulling snow off a roof is easier and safer than getting on top with a shovel. The 3/8 inch thickness of the plywood provides sufficient strength and it is light enough to allow a full 16 foot extension of the handle.