i adjust the skid shoes so that the scraper blade cleans right to the pavement,just like a hand shovel would do.i keep my walking speed slow so as not to hit stress cracks to hard as well as cracks in an old blacktop driveway. I clean to the pavement so when the sun hits the pavement it'll dry off quicker and better. but if you blowoff a gravel drive then you should raise the scraper blade so you dont throw rocks.What height is best for keeping a two stage auger housing at above surface? Do you have to use the skids at all on smooth pavement?
I found a paint stir stick, like the ones you get for a 5 gallon bucket, is perfect. No more jamming into the sidewalk slabs and it is plenty close enough!