Wheelhouse newbie question

[FishFindHer]

Hubby and I finally took the plunge this year on a new ice castle. I've browsed old posts on this topic, but hoping I can get some other opinions...what is the best way to drill the holes?

We currently have a gas auger (may look into electric auger down the road). I've read that some people mark the holes, drill outside then back up & drop down. This seems like the "cleanest" way (no mess & exhaust in the house), but seems like it would be hard to align the house exactly over the holes again?

Others drill inside either with the house all the way or partially up, then lower down... and still others drop all the way down & use a slush bucket (do these actually work as advertised?). For those who drill inside, how bad does the exhaust get? Does it take long to air out if you open the door/windows? We will probably just be drilling 4 holes most of the time. 8x16 house.

Thanks in advance to you more experienced wheelhouse owners

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

It'll take about 5 mins with all your windows open to clear the exhaust. Marking holes, moving the house forward, and trying to line everything back up doesn't work with my personality type

When there is under 15-18" of ice, I lower my house 3/4 down, drill the holes, and set the house down on the slush pile. Sometimes I push some of the excess under the house.

Over about 18" I use the slush bucket. They are spendy, but work as advertised. It is a two person job, ideally. Once the slush bucket comes out I like to set up on a patch of ice without much snow.

People have used gas augers in wheel houses since the beginning of time. They work, but your clothes, bedding, carpet, etc will smell like exhaust after the first hole. I really like my ION electric auger. I always start my furnace so my house is warm when I get to the lake. The electric auger means I don't have to let all my heat out to drill holes.

[AlligatorDundee]

Slush bucket and electric auger

the best tools

You can buy.

[two cups]

About 4 years ago I started using amsoil sabre 100to1 oil. It really does work good with very little smoke. I warm the auger up out side while cranking the house down part way then drill the holes. I also was going to buy an electric auger but the amsoil works really good. My auger even runs better and when I set it down I don't have that oil dripping out on the ground. I do leave the door open when I drill the holes. I don't smell exhaust in my house that got in the fabrics. The slush bucket works but I hate using them and they take up space in the truck or fish house. L&M has the amsoil sabre oil in stock. Rick

[Jigging Joe]

I bought a 4 stroke auger, works great and hardly no smell.

[FishFindHer]

Thanks, guys! We'll probably look harder at an electric auger down the road (next chunk of money needs to go toward a generator), but in the meantime we'll try the oil. Glad to hear the slush bucket works in real world applications.

I also like the idea of pre-warming the house, the sooner you can get fishing, the better

[Iambjm]

I have used the drill first and backup method with good results. I place 2 buckets on the ice right behind the wheels, mark the holes, pull forward, drill holes and then back up till I bump the buckets. Both my husband and I have asthma and it is very hard on us drilling in the wheelhouse even with Amsoil. I plan on buying an electric this year, I have also used the slush bucket and like it. I prefer to leave the house up a bit, drill holes and then lower onto the slush, it makes a nice tight fit.

Hubby has to stay in the car till the house is warmed up (he is disabled) so my methods give the house a chance to heat up before I finally set it on the ice.

[Iambjm]

I see you are also from GR, if you are ever up at Red Lake look for a bright Yellow Yetti with a orange Ford Escape parked by it that be me.

[castmaster]

One other option to consider is using one of the cordless drill attachments. Since your only drilling 4 holes battery life would be no issue, no fumes and I am guessing most folks already have a cordless drill around the house.

[FishFindHer]

Lambjm: oh, good idea on the buckets...I was thinking wheel chocks or something, but buckets might be even better. So nice that you guys have found a good method to get out and enjoy fishing despite health issues. Yes, we plan to be at Red for the first part of the season for sure. Red ice castle (walleye tracker) and white Chevy

Castmaster: A cordless drill can power an auger? Hmmm....will have to look into that...

[westrush]

I drill the hole with the shack up then I drop it down the slush helps seal the holes up . Not sure why anyone would mark the hole then move off and drill look like a lot of extra work . 15 + year in my wheel house

And I also use a electric StrikeMaster no Smoke !!

[The_King48]

I drill in my house with a 10" Jiffy.... I kinda like the two stroke smell. It only takes a few minutes to air out.

[Iambjm]

I drill the hole with the shack up then I drop it down the slush helps seal the holes up . Not sure why anyone would mark the hole then move off and drill look like a lot of extra work . 15 + year in my wheel house

And I also use a electric StrikeMaster no Smoke !!

I was doing it because of the health problems my husband and I have. I have this really sensitive sniffer too and I can smell that odor for hours afterwards. Anyone who has ever had an asthma attack will understand. Electric for me this winter.

[castmaster]

Yep, best to use 1n 18V or bigger drill. Clam even came out with their own adapter system this year. Might be worth looking into.

Since Clam is a sponsor hopefully this link will be ok even though its not in the Ice Team forum.

http://clamoutdoors.com/ice_fishing/augers/augerconversionkit.html

[Ron Vroom]

I back mine to the spot I want to be,and move the whole rig back and forth a couple time to make sure my wheels are straight, then I chock 1 wheel both front and back so it won't move that inch or 2 when you put the vehicle in park. I then mark the holes with my slush inhaler, remove the front chock and pull ahead just enough to clear the marks, making sure I don't turn the steering wheel at all. Drill the holes, and remove the slush with my inhaler. So much easier, quicker doing this outside and no mess to clean uo in the house. If you want, you can leave slush around holes. I don't, because I place inner tubes around each to drop house down on which makes a perfect seal around each hole. Then back up til wheel hits back chock and replace forward chock to prevent house from moving as you unhitch, then lower house. I wager that I will be fishing before anyone who drills inside.

[FishFindHer]

Thanks again all, looks like we have lots of options. Guess we'll just experiment with different things until we find what works for us (and/or until we can afford extra "toys", lol).

P.S. I'm about done with this rain...when is the ice making weather coming back?!

[FHFO]

If you drill then drop does it end up over holes? I think mine moves forward when dropped.

[BigDogRob]

My Ice Castle drops right on.drill, drop, slush inhaler, fish. Works very well.

[Boar]

its all in when you drop your tounge, I lower mine half way, then drill. longer houses like mine will move forward a bit. I lower the tounge first then drill and sides drop me right on the holes.

[thefarmer]

I bought a nils auger with the drill adapter built in, first weekend with the setup. I drop the house all the way down and take my stack of 9 hole sleeves and put in the hole so I don't get any slush on the floor. After the hole is drilled I run the auger in reverse and push all the slush down the hole. Works pretty slick. Leaving the 4 stroke at home from now on.