In Brief: What is a 3-stage snow blower?
3-stage snow blowers combine serrated augers, an impeller fan, and a high-speed accelerator. It splits the jobs of drawing in, crushing ice and snow, and discharging the remains to three separate components. These are the heaviest-duty snow blower type out there, and they’re designed specifically for those living in areas with heavy snowfall.
With the wintry season just around the corner, it’s time to consider picking up a snow blower.
However, if you’re confused about what a 3-stage snow blower is, don’t be worried. Many people have trouble distinguishing 2-stagers from 3-stage models.
First of all, a 3-stage snow blower is a type of snow blower that destroys snow mounds and discharges them through a top-facing chute through a 3-step procedure. They’re mainly used in areas where snowfall is measured in feet and not just inches.
First, snow is drawn into the machine’s gearbox with the help of augers. These augers are serrated to help slice and dice snow for easier disposal later on.
The augers in a 3-stage snow blower are typically wider and taller than in other versions, allowing them to crush and draw in more snow with each rotation.
Second, the snow mounds and sheets of ice pass through a highs-speed accelerator. The accelerator’s main purpose in life is the crush compacted snow mounds and ice into a fine texture.
Despite it being the second step, it’s the unique component that turns a snow blower into a 3-stager.
Finally, all of the crushed snow and ice is passed through an impeller fan. The motor-driven fan draws in snow and ice and tosses them through the chute.
The fan is what adds extra throwing distance to keep your work area as clean as possible.
To give you a clearer idea, you can watch this Cub Cadet video on their 2X and 3X series comparing the performance differences between 2-stage and 3-stage snow blowers.
To summarize, a 3-stage snow blower gobbles and spits out snow using three main components: the augers, the accelerator, and the impeller fan.
Check out if that is the right one for you?
