How do you know when it is time to switch auger blades?

[MidCoast]

I have a Strikemaster Lazer Pro 10 inches, and this will be my third season having it. I can't decide whether I should switch the blade or not for this season. I drill about 50 holes per season and on usually clean ice/snow without much sand or debris on it.

How do you know when it is time to switch blades? I know the obvious answer is when it doesn't cut as well anymore. Are there other tell signs?

[fishnowworknever]

If I were you, I'd get a spare set now and bring them along. Make sure to bring an allen wrench or whatever yours takes to get them off as well.

The auger might start jumping around or you feel the need to put more weight on the auger to get it to catch...otherwise like you said, it just won't cut ice like it should.

[hamms-scooter]

You should easily get more then 150 holes from a set of blades. I have drilled that many in an outing. I went 3 seasons on my lazer blades and only reason i had to buy new was because the blades were loose and I didn't figure it out till they were wore so uneven... I check that a little more often now. Good luck

[Bigtom]

I change all of mine every year. I like to always have fresh blades on so I have two spare sets for every auger. I love to watch people struggle trying to drill a hole and they have to lay on top of there auger and just laugh

[dougger222]

I may get a year out of set of blades if lucky. Rumor has it with the lazer when the blades wear dull just take one off.

As far as knowing when they are dull? When you have to push down on the auger to drill, or when it dances around in the hole.

[ski_otter]

I have the same question, I bought a couple sets of 8" lazer blades at the ice fishing show, honestly don't know if they were new or remanufactured, anyway, I've probably drilled around 250-350 holes on a new set and sometimes it doesn't feel like the blades are biting so if I wiggle the auger around a bit it'll bite.

I can't imagine that amount of drilling in 6-8 inches of good ice should begin to wear the blades out yet, but it doesn't seem like they always bite like I feel they should. If we ever get 24" I'm worried it'll take all day to drill a hole

*I bought the auger used before the season so I'm not sure if the previous owner leaned on it and bent the screw or not, the blades that were on it looked pretty used so I didn't even waste my time with them, any insight would be great

[Gissert]

With lazer style, you know the blades are getting dull when you have to apply a little down presure on the powerhead. You should need little or no pressure if your blades are good.

Another thing that can mess up lazer blades is drilling out old holes or my putting excessive down pressure on the auger while cutting. It can change the angle of the blade and cause them not to cut so well. I had a lazer that the angle was tweaked on and it was never the same again until I had Strikemaster reset it.

Another sign of worn blades can be holes that slant off to an angle, especially in thicker ice.

[ski_otter]

blades don't bother me much, I have another couple sets, I know the weight of the powerhead should make it cut

From what I've said should I put on a new set (250-350 holes in 5-8" of clean ice)?

Am I being picky or should I just go for a while until there is no bite at all and just keep a spare set on hand?

I have never had a new auger but my old eskimo bit so hard that I had to put my weight into it because the blades had so much bite that I couldn't keep it square otherwise

[Gissert]

As long as the blades bite and cut well, I'd leave them be. My brother ran a set for years w/o changing them. He was very careful to not bang them on the ice, not drill old holes, and not drill in dirty ice. Those blades easily had over a 1000 holes on them.

[harvey lee]

I am on year 3 or 4 with my Solo blades and I do fish quite a bit or shall I say more than the average cat.

I am still on the original blades. I know it is almost time as it is cutting a bit slower and when I get to the bottom of the hole, it grabs a bit and never did when they blades were new.

May just make it all of this winter also and then a change will be needed for sure.

I try to make sure I NEVER bump the cutting blades on the ice and I do not cut through much for sandy ice like Upper red.