When comparing Briggs & Stratton 922EXD (model 1696506) vs Snow Joe iON21SB-PRO, the Slant community recommends Briggs & Stratton 922EXD (model 1696506) for most people. In the question“What are the best snow blowers under $600?” Briggs & Stratton 922EXD (model 1696506) is ranked 2nd while Snow Joe iON21SB-PRO is ranked 3rd. The most important reason people chose Briggs & Stratton 922EXD (model 1696506) is:
In addition to the standard rubber blades, the auger of this snow blower is fitted with a metal snow shredder which makes this machine perfect for cleaning dense and icy snow. The shredder has a total of 14 metal surfaces.
Specs
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Pros
Pro It's great for packed and icy snow
In addition to the standard rubber blades, the auger of this snow blower is fitted with a metal snow shredder which makes this machine perfect for cleaning dense and icy snow. The shredder has a total of 14 metal surfaces.
Pro It's great for heavy jobs
The 22" wide auger makes this snow blower perfect for someone who needs to clean a medium-sized 4 - 8 car driveway or a long sidewalk. The powerful self-propelled auger can handle inclined surfaces and clean up to 12.5" of snow on a single pass.
Pro You don't need to be strong to work with it
The amount of force needed to move the snow blower is reduced significantly. The auger blades are made to reach the ground and propel the machine while in contact with the snow. As a result, you will experience less muscle fatigue.
Pro The controls are glove-friendly
While working with this machine you will never need to take off your gloves . This snow blower has massive buttons, knobs, plugs, and levers, thus all the controls can be used comfortably while wearing the gloves.
Pro It's suitable for working in low temperatures
As this snow blower has a freeze resistant rewind starter, it is guaranteed to start in temperatures as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, you can use the electric start feature if the temperature dips even lower. Just plug a 110 - 120 VAC power cord to the machine, and it will start with a press of a button.
Pro It's easy to assemble
It will take you around 10 minutes to assemble this machine, the process requires absolutely no tools. Once the four knobs are screwed in, the machine is up and ready to be used.
Pro It's easy to store
Once the snow season is over, you will just need a 24” x 23.8” x 23” space to store the machine. This snow blower will take approximately the same amount of space a regular vacuum cleaner does.
Pro It doesn't scratch wooden surfaces
As the blades and the scraper are made from rubber, the machine is also suitable for cleaning wooden porches and back decks without damaging them.
Pro It's perfect for small jobs
This snow blower has enough battery capacity for cleaning 8" snow from small 2 - 4 car driveways and sidewalks. A single charge gives you around 20 minutes of runtime (under maximum load) which is enough for moving up to 6 tons of snow. For example, a standard four car driveway (40' x 20') can accumulate around 4.3 tons of settled snow (its average density is around 300 kg/m3), if the depth of the snow is around 8".
Pro A battery and a charger are included
In contrast to most battery-powered tools that are sold without the batteries, the Snow Joe iON21SB-PRO kit includes both a battery and a charger, eliminating the need for buying them separately.
Pro No cables and fumes
One of the most noticeable advantages of a battery-powered machine is the fact that the operator does not have to deal with the hazardous and toxic fumes that are produced by gasoline engines or with any power cables.
Pro It will not disturb your neighbors
As the machine runs a quiet electric motor, it is perfect for working late in the evening or early in the morning. It produces substantially less noise than the regular gasoline powered snow blowers, which are rated around 80 - 90 dB (equivalent of a diesel truck 1 m away).
Cons
Con Gasoline engine requires extra maintenance
Compared to the electric snow blowers, this machine requires much more maintenance. You need to constantly monitor the level of motor oil, occasionally change the spark plugs, and check the air-filters. On top of this, storing the unit outside the now season requires the operator to fully remove the gasoline from the system.
Con It's limited to daytime use only
As this machine has absolutely no headlights, it is unusable at night or in low-light situations.
Con It has limited working time
Even though the stated runtime of this unit is 65 minutes (according to the manual), do not expect the battery to last more than 20 minutes, under the full load. The only way to increase the runtime of this unit is to purchase an additional battery (it will cost you another $100).
Con It's bad for compacted or icy snow
The rubber blades of this machine will not make their way through icy or compacted snow. It is best to use this unit while snow is still ‘fresh’ and powdery.
Con You need to be gentle with this unit
Almost the entire body of the Snow Joe iON21SB-PRO is made of plastic. The user must take into the account that plastic tends to become fragile when exposed to low temperatures.