Jump to content

  • GUESTS

    If you want access to members only forums on HSO, you will gain access only when you Sign-in or Sign-Up .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member. ?

Hand Auger Suggestions

RoldGold

By RoldGold
in Ice Fishing

 Share

Recommended Posts

laportian Community Regular

laportian

Posted
Posted

I have a 8 inch strike master. I like it early in the season when I'm scared I might fall thru. I put it away after the ice is 5 or 6 inches thick though. Cuts nice but the blades are junk. Seems like for as little as I actually use them I have to replace the blades every other year. Cheap made in china junk.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
FearNoFish Enthusiast

FearNoFish

Posted
Posted

I have used the mora augers (you get what you pay for) invested in a NILS auger and I will never look at anything else. Have not had to but the power head on at all this year. I bought mine from Cabelas I did send it off to get sharped right away because it was in the bargin cave.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Rippinlip Veteran

Rippinlip

Posted
Posted

Not doubting a bit that the Nils is the best.

I bought a 6" HT and saved a ton.

My justification was this, I only use it when the ice is less than 5-6" and after that it is only a back up to my Power Auger.

Cuts nice and quick and no issues.

If I was planning on drilling many, many holes through very thick ice I may have to re-think my choice, but for now very happy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
that_guy Collaborator

that_guy

Posted
Posted

I love my Nils! but what ever you get,it is important make sure it is the two handed kind, where you crank with both hands, much easier and faster than the kind that has a flat surface to lean on the top while cranking with your other hand..

to clarify this, you are referring to the offset handle correct? Not the inline one?

I was just thinking about this topic and was browsing online myself and wondered what the principle difference is between the two handle styles. Your post seems to clear that up for me if my assumption is correct.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
JIvers Mentor

JIvers

Posted
Posted

I have a 8 inch strike master. I like it early in the season when I'm scared I might fall thru. I put it away after the ice is 5 or 6 inches thick though. Cuts nice but the blades are junk. Seems like for as little as I actually use them I have to replace the blades every other year. Cheap made in china junk.

I retired my 8" Mora for this reason.

I don't know if it was just because the larger diameter of the 8" made it easier to notice any bit of dullness in the blades, or there was something about the design of the 8", but I went through blades way too quickly to justify keeping it in use.

The smaller diameter Moras don't seem to have this problem, although they don't cut as well as the Nils. For augers smaller than 8", it comes down to a question of quality vs. cost, IMO.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
cichlid_baby Enthusiast

cichlid_baby

Posted
Posted

I am thinking about getting a NILS hand auger.. in the 6 inch.. but I would rather have a 7 inch if I could find one.. not sure if it is even available..

My question is that.. I have only tried a couple of hand augers.. the Strikemaster and the Eskimo ones..

My problem with both of these were that it was hard to keep the auger centered during the beginning of the cut.... I found that as I was turning the handle around.. the drill was walking all over the area I was trying to drill... It seems that if I got the Strikemaster with the needle point then it probably would not walk around nearly as much in my estimation.. but I have not tried to know for sure...

The NILS does not have a point on the cutting head.. couple that with the offset handle which I have not had a chance to use either and I am not sure if it will be a good fit.

What are your experiences with the NILS in terms of blade walking? and the offset handle?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Cyberfish Veteran

Cyberfish

Posted
Posted

I think you got it! cool

to clarify this, you are referring to the offset handle correct? Not the inline one?

I was just thinking about this topic and was browsing online myself and wondered what the principle difference is between the two handle styles. Your post seems to clear that up for me if my assumption is correct.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Nilsfisher Collaborator

Nilsfisher

Posted
Posted

I have an 8" nils. I've had it for about 6 years now and have drilled about 150 holes and haven't had to sharpen the original bit head yet. I wish sometimes though that I got the 6". doing the math, it basically cuts half the ice area as the 8", so it would drill even faster and without any effort at all. I wouldn't get anything else but a nils, I've had others in the past and the nils is my favorite.

Just my 2 cents.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now ↓↓↓ or ask your question and then register. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Wanderer
      New boat question

      By Wanderer · Posted

      As a recovering machinist, I can appreciate that.  If the spec is 0.001 - 0.0015, then clearly the correct measurement is 0.00125, duh…
    • Crow Hunter
      New boat question

      By Crow Hunter · Posted

      I just figured that it is easy enough to just get a 3 bank so when the boat is not in use I can keep all 3 batteries charged. I have not bough a charger yet, maybe I will give it some more thought. Edit: After thinking this over, with the size, weight, and heat output of the charger (as well as the cost) I think it makes sense to just buy a 2 bank charger, I have a smaller charger i can use on the starting battery when the boat is sitting at home. Forgive me, for i am a retired engineer and I have to obsess over everything...
    • Wanderer
      New boat question

      By Wanderer · Posted

      Congrats on the motor!  I think you’ll like it.   I can’t say much on the charger location but I’ve seen them under the lid in back compartments and under center rod lockers.  160 degrees is more than I expected to hear.   Curious why you’re opting for a 3 bank charger with a 24V trolling motor.  Unless you don’t feel you be running you big motor enough to keep that battery up as well?
    • Crow Hunter
      New boat question

      By Crow Hunter · Posted

      I did buy an Minnkota Ulterra, thanks for the recommendations. I had a bunch of Cabela"s bucks saved up, which helped. Now i need to get an onboard battery charger. Where do you guys mount these things in your boat? The manufacturer I am looking at {Noco genius) says tht their 3-bank charger will run at 160 degrees, seems like a lot of heat in an enclosed compartment? Thanks for any input on this.
    • Duffman
      Random Daily Pics

      By Duffman · Posted

      You're very lucky a troop of Sea Monkey's didn't carry you away.   
    • bobbymalone
      Random Daily Pics

      By bobbymalone · Posted

      Wasn't terrible at a state park beach. Antelope island maybe.  I wouldn't recommend it as a beach destination tho.  Figured I was there, I'm getting in it.
    • SledNeck
      Random Daily Pics

      By SledNeck · Posted

      The water looked and smelled disgusting with hundreds of thousands of birds sh*tting in there.  About as gross as the Salton Sea. When I duck hunted there I didn't even want to touch the water.
    • bobbymalone
      Random Daily Pics

      By bobbymalone · Posted

      It's kinda gross with the algae in the summer but I got in it anyway.  Wanted to see the increased bouyancy at work.  You can kinda tuck yourself into a ball and you'll just float with your head above water.  When dry off you look diamond encrusted with the salt.
    • Macgyver55
      Random Daily Pics

      By Macgyver55 · Posted

      We went to the flats too. I dipped a tire on the rental car onto it just to say I’ve been there,but it was still pretty soft from winter melt. After seeing some moron in a BMW suv get dragged out of the muck I had no intention of repeating his stupidity. 
    • SledNeck
      Random Daily Pics

      By SledNeck · Posted

      I've been out on the flats. It's like being on a different planet 

  • Topics

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

  I accept