Ideas on using drill for powering ice auger?

[JoeMX1825]

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.

smart choice, it's what I did

[Hawg]

Lawrence, are you saying you cut 30 holes on Feb 1st last year on Mille Lacs with a 7in drill?

[brian6715]

We use the highest end Makita drills at work, and have for years with both NiCad and Lithium Ion, and whenever we get to something that requires a lot of torque we switch to a heavy duty corded electric drill. We do this because we learned that the 18V drills could not stand up to something that requires a lot of torque (we ended up burning two of them up by using 4" hole saws, on the same day). Are you going to get a couple hundred holes out of it with a normal sized auger? Maybe... but I would definitely budget to replace the drill if you choose to go the drill route.

Speaking from experience and replacing about eight 18V drills over the last 15 years, we found Makita held up better than DeWault and Porter Cable, for what it's worth.

[Lawrence Luoma]

Yes it was over 30 per 4Ah battery that day well over 24" of ice!! Just like in the video. That day I drilled well over 200 holes. With the 5" Lazer like I use during tourney's I was averaging 70-80 holes per 4Ah batter that time of year. Can't wait to see the battery life I get out of DeWalt's new 5Ah battery.

[mallardnwalleye]

What I am figuring out hear is that:

1. Yes, a drill, clam drill plate and hand auger set up can and will work well up to an 8 inch ho;le

2. You need to buy the HEAVY-est Hammer drill type in De Walt 20V, Milwaukee 18V or 28v, Bosch 36V. Most cost around $300 with charger -batteries

3. With a cordless drill set up you need to have a lazer or other type auger head that relies on turns not torque to cut the ice.

4. You need to be careful with your drill and cant get it really wet or bang and clang the brushless style drills around.

5.The cost of a heavy drill,clam plate, auger is about the same or slightly less than the ION or Strike master

6.The cordless drill set up is lighter than the ion or strikemaster

7.The ION and Strikemaster are engineered specifically for the job and it appears that they would last longer.

1. Price -slight + to cordless

2. Weight- ++ to cordless

3. Hole count/Battery- slight+ to ION,Strikemaster

4. Durability- ++ to Strkemaster, ION

No matter what this year I am going electric as gas stinks.

I am probably going to take the chance on the cordless drill set up as it's lightest.

I think the ION or Strikemaster would be a good choice for those who want electric benefits without the risk of wrecking an expensive drill. You are buying a somewhat risk free option that is built for drilling ice holes only.

Lawrence L. thanks for the input. You can't argue with your success and 5000 holes. I may get out to one of those tournaments as they are close to the metro and I could probably learn a lot from them.

[JoeMX1825]

There's a used Ion for sale right now on kraigs list, $400

[Lawrence Luoma]

mallardwalleye, the one stat that is missed on all this is extra batteries. Nothing worse than running an electric and running out of juice. So the hole count per battery is a big issue.

Extra Batteries

Strikemaster = $300

Ion = $150

DeWalt 20V 4.0Ah (2 Pack) = $117

DeWalt 20v 5.0Ah (2 Pack) = $179

Plus DeWalt batteries go on sale and are easy to find all season.

[Hawg]

Lawrence, my question was about 7in holes like the video said. Battery life decreases dramatically with each inch up. I have to believe you're not recommending them for reopening holes then either because of lazer style blades?

[JoeMX1825]

Plus DeWalt batteries go on sale and are easy to find all season.

So do Ion's...saw several last spring for $110 from major retailers online...

[Lawrence Luoma]

Lawrence, my question was about 7in holes like the video said. Battery life decreases dramatically with each inch up. I have to believe you're not recommending them for reopening holes then either because of lazer style blades?

Correct, I wouldn't recommend reopening holes with any dual blade designed augers in the first place. Even the ION's as it dramatically effects blade sharpness.

As for battery life yes it does decrease as you increase in auger size. Hopefully using a brushless drill and the 5Ah battery this season the numbers will even go dramatically back up. I'll try and get a report this season with all different types/sizes of augers and there performance once the ice gets around 12" with the drill plate. (If I don't remind me and I will.)

Time can only tell with these electric augers. I can only report the success I had with my setup last season and it was amazing. What is really cool is to see more auger companies creating new electric designs. Us anglers are only to benefit from using no more gas.

[mallardnwalleye]

I and I hope others will post their field results this winter.

We can only benefit from sharing this information and is what makes this forum so good.

Thanks to all who have so far.

I am definitely done with gas as I have spilt my last drop on my porty, in my truck and on my hands. Electric is the way to go!

[MuskieJunkie]

Got my ION for $325....

Where did you find that? Was it used? I can only find one place online selling Ions and they are $529 + $40 for shipping.

Again I think you're underestimating the price you can purchase an Ion for today.

[JoeMX1825]

Yes, I got mine used in the spring, only a handfull of holes drilled with it, not a scratch on the blades..

I know of several guys who got them under $400 brand new at the St. Paul Ice show, several fishing sites have them clearanced every spring, including Joe's..

of course looking right now they will be maxed priced....if you're willing to buy in the spring and keep it in your garage all summer, come fall you got a smoking deal and ready to start cutting holes...

[mallardnwalleye]

Lets talk retail prices to retail prices- I can get a almost new 18V 750 in/lb Milwaukee in a case with batteries for $210-

Reality for most is $299.00.

I keep noticing some leanings and sales shpeels going on. Lets make apples to apples comparisons.

[Hawg]

Lawrence, that blade statement is where Ion is a little under appreciated. Their blades reopen hols as well as they drill new ones. I've got 2 years on mine now and still sharp as new. I talked to Eskimo yesterday and they guesstimated about 20 holes in 2 ft of ice with the new 10 Inch but I think that's a pretty strong guess to. It took SM a long time to admit lazers were not good at reopening holes. Products like yours, Ion, and now even Strikemaster are still suffering from everybody that hated those initial 12 volt units. I think it's the biggest reason a lot pf people still are hesitant about ANY electric. Those of us that have them know they are all quality units we just like to think we have the best one.

[solbes]

Last year I ran a 6" Nils convertible. Cut through 24" of ice in 17 seconds, which was easily beating gas augers by a far margin. I was able to get a decent number of holes using a very mediocre-at-best Craftsman 18V with 1.5 Amphr NiCad battery. If you used the extra capacity LiIon battery setup (4AmpHr) with a spare, you'd be kicking butt all day out there. Very lightweight, very low torque. And if by chance you did run out of juice, slap on the hand auger conversion and you are still cutting holes in under 60 seconds with minimal effort.

If you are the type of ice angler that wants to drill 75 holes through 30" of ice, a gas auger is still probably your best bet.