Ideas on using drill for powering ice auger?

[mnhunter2]

Anyone like using there 18v drill to power the ice auger?

[chasineyes]

I'm curious as well. I don't see how it could work that great. Plus could you imagine if you forgot your drill and batteries outside overnight.. I'm guessing that wouldn't be good.

[outkast7222]

It works great, tons of people do it. Don't expect a cheapo Craftsman drill to do it long though. Spend the money and get a nice Dewalt, Hitachi or similar. I use the clam auger plate. With a GOOD drill and a big battery drilling holes in 6-10" of ice it will last all day. On 3' of ice a battery will drill 10 or so holes.

[JohnMickish]

http://clamoutdoors.com/store/clam/augers/ice-auger-conversion-kit-combo.html

This was the hottest new drill on the market last year. It works extremely well and is very light. They drill you use is the limiting factor. They will all be sold out by Xmas again this year.

[amateurfishing]

I use 20v dewalt on clam drill plate and I think it was a top 5 drill for said function last year. And I bought extra 2 pack batteries on clearance last winter. Keep in insulated cooler with hand wArmer on ice, I keep mine in big deep pockets on strikemaster suit and did just fine.

[hayseed]

As I've posted several times already. My Milwaukee Fuel 18 with 8" Nils conversion worked great for me last winter. I'll never go back to gas.

[hydro]

I haven't started my gas auger for two years. This is a 18V Hitachi on a 7" mora drill. Minus 17 degrees and 32" of ice. I drilled about 15 holes on that battery that day. Another test with 18" of ice and about 10 degrees produced 32 holes on one battery. If you are a 100 hole/day guy, stick to your gas auger.

[amateurfishing]

Its perfect for early/late ice but I personally dont use it after 12" cause im cautious with my cordless drill.

[JoeMX1825]

Had the Clam Drill Plate, it's worthless without spending $300 on a top of the line drill, keep an eye out for a used Ion, much better long term investment...

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Had the Clam Drill Plate, it's worthless without spending $300 on a top of the line drill, keep an eye out for a used Ion, much better long term investment...

What if you need/use a good cordless drill?

[JoeMX1825]

it felt like the drill was always being overworked when I had mine...it will probably work great the 1st year, but it's the 2nd,3rd year I'd be worried about the drill frying. If you take the drill plate & auger price ($150) plus a good ($300) drill price, you're at the Ion Auger price point, if you're patient and watch for deals (like I did) you can get an Ion much cheaper yet...

to each their own, I had a Clam plate, replaced it with an Ion, will never look back..

[amateurfishing]

No problems for me, im sure its much lighter than your ion also.

[MuskieJunkie]

it felt like the drill was always being overworked when I had mine...it will probably work great the 1st year, but it's the 2nd,3rd year I'd be worried about the drill frying. If you take the drill plate & auger price ($150) plus a good ($300) drill price, you're at the Ion Auger price point, if you're patient and watch for deals (like I did) you can get an Ion much cheaper yet..

I think you're over estimating your clam numbers and under estimating your ion numbers.

This argument has come up on here before. To compare the ion price to the clam auger plate price here is what I've posted before (I'm not getting into a ford vs chevy deal here just putting out the numbers for a fair comparison):

I paid 140 for the clam plate and auger and 260 for a 20v Dewalt hammer drill, impact driver and two batteries. So $400 (assuming the impact driver that came with the kit is worthless and that the drill has no value to me other than drilling holes in ice).

The ion is $500 and a spare battery is 150. So $650.

[B-man715]

I bought an Ion the first year they came out for under $400 at the ice show.

It drills more holes than I want to with just one battery.

[SkunkedAgain]

I used my 18v Dewalt with my 6" auger. It worked, but never really had the torque to go through more than a 4-6 inches of good ice. It also felt like the plastic drill casing was stressing. You do also need to keep the batteries warm or you won't get much battery life. Overall I did it a few times a few years ago and then decided to save my drill for intended purpose. I like my hand auger because it warms me up to drill a hole or two.

[outkast7222]

I used my 18v Dewalt with my 6" auger. It worked, but never really had the torque to go through more than a 4-6 inches of good ice. It also felt like the plastic drill casing was stressing. You do also need to keep the batteries warm or you won't get much battery life. Overall I did it a few times a few years ago and then decided to save my drill for intended purpose. I like my hand auger because it warms me up to drill a hole or two.

The Clam plate eliminates the case stressing.

[Hawg]

If you need an extra battery for your Ion OR two extra drill batteries you're not using it for what either is made for. That's gas/propane territory.

[SkunkedAgain]

The Clam plate eliminates the case stressing.

Thanks for the education. The problem with being an early adopter is you form an opinion and move on!

[JoeMX1825]

Got my ION for $325....Every spring there are deals out there for those willing to look...Clam plate is a great idea for thin early ice (reason why I purchased one early on) but anything beyond that it's underpowered and will kill your drill. Anybody arguing against that is either on Clam's payroll or has some mack daddy $400 drill they don't mind replacing in a few years...I sold my Clam plate after a few months....

[JoeMX1825]

If you need an extra battery for your Ion OR two extra drill batteries you're not using it for what either is made for. That's gas/propane territory.

Exactly, this obvious point always seems to get lost in the argument...

[mallardnwalleye]

What are the numbers on torque, RPM, Motor size AMPs and volts, gearing etc between a 20v Dewalt Heavy hammer drill, 18v Milwaukee heavy duty hammer drill, strikemaster 50V and ION?

I am really heading in the direction of electric this winter as a gas auger stinks of gas smell and exhaust fumes. I know I have had sniffer fish that never took the bait because of gas. Gas augers are heavy. Besides a 20 lb. propane tank they are the heaviest thing I carry. Lugging a large auger hole to hole when drilling tires one out when doing 20 + holes.

Who really drills 100 holes? at 3 minutes a hole: Starting, drilling, cleaning -slushing and moving to next hole, you're looking at 300 min. that's 5 HOURS not including fishing 3 minutes a hole which makes it 10 hrs!!!

I am usually at 20-30 holes when searching and 6-8 holes when I know my spot.

Maybe I'm missing something?

Let's put this question to rest. Who has the best set up for 30-40 hole/days, 8 inch auger, longevity, weight, cost??

Propane and gas are not an option.

Please use numbers, facts, and specific personal experience.

Thanks !!

[Hawg]

In my opinion, you would need to carry extra batteries at the least. For 30-40 8 inch holes I would get the light propane, they don't stink and really aren't that much heavier. I think you're a little over what an electric will do reliably and I'm a huge Ion fan, but for you I would go propane. Remember another reason permanent house guys like Ion's are that they turn slower and don't throw ice and water all over the house like gas or propane. I think if the Clam guys are going to be honest they would say the same thing, lets wait and see. They have a good product but you are definitely pushing what any electric can do.

[Lawrence Luoma]

In my opinion, you would need to carry extra batteries at the least. For 30-40 8 inch holes I would get the light propane, they don't stink and really aren't that much heavier. I think you're a little over what an electric will do reliably and I'm a huge Ion fan, but for you I would go propane. Remember another reason permanent house guys like Ion's are that they turn slower and don't throw ice and water all over the house like gas or propane. I think if the Clam guys are going to be honest they would say the same thing, lets wait and see. They have a good product but you are definitely pushing what any electric can do.

Hawg, here you go. Proof's in the pudding. I rocked over 5000 holes with this setup all season last year. Most of the year I was using a 5" Lazer or the 6" Clam auger. With the 7" Lazer bit in the video I rocked over 30 holes per 4Ah battery that day. I invite you and anyone who would like to check it out this season to come to a UPL weigh-in. Come watch the weigh-in and you can test out my setup after the event is over.

[harvey lee]

I thought I was going to purchase a Clam drill plate this winter as it has very good reviews.

After looking at the price plus the bit plus a very good rechargeable drill, the Ion may be the way to go. Plus I am afraid if I do not purchase a very good, expensive drill, won't be long and I will be buying another which then makes the drill plate a bit spendy.

[jigginjim]

The Ion, I feel is the best electric power auger on the market.