K Drill, How They Doing?

[Hawg]

Please, this is not a Ion vs SM vs Battery life thread. I'm curious now that some of you have been using them for a while if you like them. I'm not convinced they need specifically a M18 Milwaukee drill either but I'm sure they want a good drill on them with low speed. How you doing with yours? Owners only please, not all the opinions people.

[Trump34]

I just got my 6" K Drill yesterday and have to pick up my Milwaukee drill at UPS tonight. I paired it with a Clam drill plate for added convenience and to take some of the pressure off the drill. My plan is to test it tomorrow afternoon and see what it will do with 2 fully charged batteries. When the first battery dies I will charge it while drilling and swap it out immediately when the second one dies. I'm hoping to get 300" on each fresh battery and finish of the last hole with the first battery. I will give you a report ASAP.

[Hawg]

Thanks Trump, looking forward to it. I watched the video and they always keep pulling it up to clear the drill. That sure looks like it could make a mess in a house. Ion doesn't need to do that, I'm curious about that point in particular. This time of year should be the acid test.

[McGurk]

Trump34, FYI there is a good chance you will need an adapter for the clam plate to work as the shafts for the KDrill and the Mora/SM augers are different sizes.

[Trump34]

Trump34, FYI there is a good chance you will need an adapter for the clam plate to work as the shafts for the KDrill and t7he Mora/SM augers are different sizes.

Thank you for the heads up. I was lucky enough to notice the adapter when I ordered the auger.

Got it together and testing tonight.

[Gus]

Fishing buddy and I have been using K-drill all season. Started the first weekend in December with a 6" and DeWalt Brushless with 5AH batteries. The kdrill has been amazing since the first hole. 12" of ice that weekend, and we never killed the battery on day 1. Lost track of the hole count above 60 someplace. Day 2 that weekend we did some more scouting than day 1. Never killed the battery after over 70 holes, however it was on it's last bar. However the eye opening part, was how effortless scouting and drilling holes was with the kdrill. It is so light, it's no effort at all to just walk around with one eye on the GPS, and the other hand holding the whole kdrill setup. We started experimenting with drilling offsetting holes as well. No problems for kdrill. So that 6" can now become more or less however many holes you would like to overlap. The kdrill cuts smooth! It breaks through the ice like butter, and with 10 seconds on in reverse, you have a clean hole!

Fast forward a month, and I ordered the 8" kdrill, Dewalt brushless hammer drill, and a clam drill plate. I went with the 8" because the six works so well, and I knew I would be drilling holes in my wheel house with this auger and I prefer an 8" for this. (I also have the six inch clam auger, which I use for hole hopping) The 8" definatley takes more battery power and drill power, but it does work very well. Nice smooth holes, reverse, and it will cut as many holes as I need in a weekend for wheel house fishing, plus some. In 18" of ice, I was getting 25-30 holes per 4AH battery. (I'll be switching to the 5AH batteries after I wear out these 4's I got with the drill) In 32 inches of ice (by the tape measure) I can get 10-14 holes per 4AH battery. Getting onto this leg of winter, I'm not hole hopping like I do earlier in the year, so I really haven't killed the battery yet with the 8" drill on it. Only guessing vs the battery gauge meter. After 8 holes in 32 inches of ice, I'm down to 1 bar sometimes 2. The 8" kdrill, with extension, and a clam plate will get you 50 inches of ice clearance. Great for the wheel house.

Here's the caution on the 8" kdrill in thick ice (over 25" in my drilling). You HAVE to clear the ice shavings from the hole as you drill by lifting up and clearing. If you don't, by the time you break through and water mixes with the ice shavings, it will be almost like a glue that will bind up the auger unless you can pull it out. Hard on the drill. IF you clear the holes and keep the snow to a minimum, no problems. And No problems in less than 2 feet of ice. At least not that I noticed. Throw the drill in reverse, and nice clean wheel house holes. Easy drilling with clean break through. I have not yet tried to re-drill holes, but they claim you can. I never leave my wheel house in one spot long enough to require this.

comparing the 6" krill to the 8" kdrill to the 6" clam auger:

8" uses more battery, but is completely doable for my kind of fishing. Plenty of holes on 2 batteries to get through more than what I need in a day or even typical weekend. I can always recharge a battery if needed.

6" kdrill, drills smooth and fast. Way more holes than I'll need. Overlapping holes is no problem. Battery life is great. Smooth break through, and light weight package make drilling a pleasure.

6" clam. This is a little faster than the 6" kdrill. However, it is a little heavier, shorter, requires an extension, and does not drill as smooth. Hole sides are more jagged and breakthrough can sometimes be a bit rough, just like a strikemaster laser. Not always, but sometimes. Overall though, I have no problems with this bit. It's just not quite at the overall level, as the kdrill. Price is much less however.

I have not used a power auger this season. I loaned mine out to friends just so they would see some ice time this season.

I have turned into such a fan of the K-drill and how easy it is to drill holes. How well it has worked for me. How easy on the back if you have a bad back like I'm getting, that I am about ready to sell all of my other augers.

Now, here are the other augers I have in my garage to choose from:

2 stroke laser mag

4 stroke strike lite

Big Volt for the wheel house

Hand augers for light duty work.

I didn't try to save money by my setup in the Kdrill, in fact if you add up what I had to put into the auger, quality drill, large capacity battery, clam plate, It easily adds up to more than any of those other augers cost. I just love how fun drilling can be with the kdrill and dewalt setup I have. I really see no reason to worry about a gas or propane augers and maintenance again.(yes I had a jiffy propane too, but sold that) I will gladly buy a new battery for a drill which I can use in the off season, whenever necessary.

I am not paid by anybody for my thoughts, I have paid full retail price for everything. I am a fan of kdrill after my first season of use from 12" to 32" of ice.

Fire away at questions, I'd be happy to answer.

[Trump34]

24 holes... 28 inches of ice.

I got 650 inches on the first two batteries and finished off the last hole with the battery that had been on the charger for 7 minutes. It takes about 30 minutes to completely charge a battery. Even hole hopping you should never run out of juice. I also left the batteries outside for 2 hours at +14 before using them.

I cleared each hole about 3 times and it did spray a few chips. The way the auger is designed you get very little if any water above the ice. If you are careful the only thing you would have to deal with are a few dry shavings.

I'm extremely pleased and impressed with the way it performed.

[McGurk]

Wow, now that was a post. Good writeup.

[Hawg]

Thank you guys. I REALLY like my Ion but want reverse. I'm still a little nervous about clearing the chips in thick ice. Being able to just drill and hit reverse is my goal. Is the 8inch a full 8, not 7 3/4 like Ion? One more thing, is the Clam plate needed? In the Vex videos they don't use one. Do they make enough difference to justify the cost? Do you leave the chuck on the drill with the plate?

[Gus]

I just put my tape measure across it, and it's either right on at 8 or just a touch less. The power point makes it hard to get a true straight line.

Clam plate is not needed, but I think it helps keep you drilling straight and saves on the wrists. After drilling 60 holes without it, I could feel it in the wrists. But that was without the handle on the hammer drill also... so that may be enough. The chuck does need to come off the drill for the clam plate.

The clearing of chips ends up necessary in deeper ice, really, because lack of torque in a drill. Knowing that you are dealing with a task that is likely pushing near the limits of a cordless drill, there are some concessions. To me, the benefits outweigh them, but to others perhaps not. In the six inch configuration and in less than 2 feet of ice on the 8, I never felt underpowered, but I still keep in mind what I'm working with.

I've never used an Ion, so I really can't help tell you how they would stack up to each other. I'm guessing the ion would have more grunt to it as it is designed entirely to be an ice auger. I know my Big volt will rip my arms off if I'm not careful. But it's also heavy and not portable at all.

[Hawg]

Thanks Gus.

[Trump34]

Update...

Went down to the river and re-drilled 7 holes and it worked flawlessly...my 10 YO was able to re-drill 2 holes and drill 2 fresh holes by himself. It did get away from him on the first attempt but didn't take him long to figure it out.

To put it in his words... "Dad, this thing is fricken awesome"

[bee]

I would like to put one of those on my Tanaka.

[.204]

[bee]

I thought they were an ice auger! Nice. Saving my pennies

[.204]

yeah we tested it on a livestock pond before trusting it over the nils for the hour trip to the lake. Not very pretty water. I can assure you it smelled way worse than it looked.