Equipment Highlight – Scag Windstorm
Yellowstone Pavement Solutions utilizes a number of different pieces of equipment for our asphalt maintenance work – each serves a purpose. From shovels to high power machinery, YPS relies on these tools to keep your asphalt in the best condition possible.
In this blog, I am going to talk about one of our team’s personal favorites, the Scag Windstorm stand on blower.
The Windstorm is a commercial grade blower that we use to remove dirt, dust, and mud from the asphalt during our prep for sealcoating. In order to get the most out of sealcoat, the area must be cleaned thoroughly beforehand. At YPS, one of the things we believe sets us apart from other companies is our thoroughness when it comes to preparing asphalt for sealing. Proper prep work is essential for longer lasting sealcoat adhesion.
When you look at the spec sheet for the Windstorm, the power is pretty astounding. CFM (cubic feet per minute) is the rating system used to gauge the power of the air coming out of a blower. The Windstorm is a heavyweight, coming in at a peak CFM of 7500.
To put it in perspective, a typical backpack leaf blower has a CFM of 500-700. We rely on backpack blowers in tighter spots that the Windstorm can’t get into, but it does the bulk of the heavy lifting on larger lots.
The Windstorm features a 180 degree multi directional air output control on the dash, which allows the operator to have precise control over the direction of the blower. This is a good thing, because the Windstorm really blows dirt around.
Probably the most useful feature of this machine is the ability to ride on it. Most companies use blowers that they have to push by hand (we have a few ourselves). On smaller lots and driveways, these are fine. For larger lots and road systems, the Windstorm allows us to cover a lot of ground quickly, without sacrificing quality.
We purchased the Scag this season and it has quickly become an essential part of our prep work!
