looking at a new hand auger...

[skippie]

I am going to get a new hand auger for early ice and stuff, I have it down to two of them, both 8". One is a Strike Master lazer and the other is the Nils. The price of a replacment on the nils is higher, but I want the best cut and fast cut, what do you think

[toughguy]

I am a SM guy but you'll get a faster cut with the Nills hand auger.

[deadeye]

Yeah I am hardcore strikemaster Guy too but since I have gotten a nils I got to say they are the shiznit.

I had a couple lazers and they were fantastic, but the nils is so much easier. Two hands/arms doing the work plus a more precise and sharper blade (thanks in part to to Frank ) makes a cutting a hole so much easier and faster.

Cutting a 8" hole with a nils is easier than cutting a 6" hole with a lazer. That is a true win win. Its hard to find something where you get more for less. The nils is a rare example of exactly that.

You really can't go wrong with either one honestly, but the nils is definitely the best of the best for hand augers.

[Perchy]

You will be completely amazed on how fast and effortlessly the Nils will cut a hole! I've had mine for several years now and it is still sharp. I always keep the cutting head covered. I also own a SM powered auger, sold my SM hand auger after seeing how well the Nils works.

[Dark Cloud]

Just and FYI for folks with a strikemaster or iffin you find a good deal on one... strikemaster does make an add-on offset handle. You'll have to get it direct but iv'e had one for 10-12 years and it makes all the diff in the world! The Nils are awesome and they do have a far better paint job on the augers though...

[Surface Tension]

"Best cut and fast cut"

Best cut as in, well they both make a hole in the ice but if you mean with the least amount of effort, for sure its Nils.

Fastest cut, again Nils.

Really there is no comparison.

Replacement blades aren't cheap for the Nils but at $42.95 I wouldn't call the Lazer blades cheap either.

For $20 plus shipping you can get your Nils blades sharpened. A Nils blade can be sharpened many times over if your not taking big chips out of the blade or if someone hasn't sharpened them incorrectly.

You might find if you get a NIls hand auger your not going to limit its use to only early ice.

[Mr.Seaguar]

Thanks for the info guys. I been studying on getting a Nils and only using it all winter. This really helps.

[joneshat11]

Considering I go to the power auger when the ice gets thicker than 5-6 inches it doesn't make any difference what brand. What's one more turn while only really being you'll use it 2 weeks out of the year.(normally) Not worth the extra money for Lazer or Nils just buy a blue SM.

Now, I guess if you don't have a power auger go with the Nils.

[skippie]

Thanks for the help, I think you sold me on the nils. Now all I need is ice...

[harvey lee]

Nils all the way.

[magic_minnow]

Nils. Where can you find one anyway?

[Northlander]

Nils all the way! I have mine sharpened by Surface Tension (Frank) and they cut as good or better than new.

[skippie]

Screw the Nils, I want a Mora Nova System hand auger...WOW!!!

[deadeye]

^ Pretty much the same as a Nils except that you can actually get Nils from various places in Minnesota instead of Sweden.

[SFC]

I agree with joneshat11 if its earlyice and u have a power auger it doesnt matter. 6 inches is nothing use a hatchet If u plan on using the hand auger all the time, I would go with the expert advice previously given.I am a 8 inch SM hand auger owner 36 to40 turns to 22-24 inches of ice.

[FishDC]

Bought a Nils last year and love it.

[Steve Foss]

Nils for me too, all the way. Cut with a Mora for years and dabbled with a Lazer. Nils is faster and easier. And there are times I need to cut through up to two feet of ice by hand (inside the BWCAW).

[Redlantern]

Nils. I've had the Mora and the Strikemaster. Strikemaster is good, Mora isn't much to talk about but beats using a spud. Nils is definetly the way to go.