Building An Ice Fishing Chisel

[minky]

Has anyone ever built their own ice fishing chisel? I have a cutter bar from road grater for the cutting edge. Any tips or pics would be great!

[Wanderer]

Mine was built about 20 years ago with a chunk of leaf spring (hardened steel), rod stock for a shaft and a piston wrist pin for the top handle.  The thing is bullet proof.

[minky]

It sounds bullet proof! I think the bottom half of my mine will be solid round or hex stock. The upper part of the handle would be heavy wall tubing with a t handle at the end.

[bobbymalone]

Depending how big you make it, I think the t handle will be awkward, prone to catching on stuff like your jacket, and it's unlikely to be held in a way that makes it useful.  

 

I would put a hole or something for a wrist strap.  And if I was trying to be fancy I would give the upper part a coat of some gritty plasti-dip or a good wrap of hockey tape.

[Mike89]

11 hours ago, Wanderer said:

Mine was built about 20 years ago with a chunk of leaf spring (hardened steel), rod stock for a shaft and a piston wrist pin for the top handle.  The thing is bullet proof.

 

 

mine is about the same and it works!!!

[smurfy]

i've built/made about 8 of them.  took a piece of mild steel flat bar formed the chisled head by grinding the angle. had it hardened then took 1 1/2 or 2 inch pipe. cut out a slot for the flat bar fit it, welded it up. then took a plumbing end cap, steel, welded that to the pipe, then took a big washer, ground it to fit the end cap, welded it to end cap, then tied a rope to it.

[smurfy]

If you can zoom in it's leaning up against my spear house, the red thing.

[minky]

Nice smurfy, she is a beast!

[Duffman]

 

 

Edited January 17, 2019 by Duffman

[Wanderer]

18 hours ago, bobbymalone said:

Depending how big you make it, I think the t handle will be awkward, prone to catching on stuff like your jacket, and it's unlikely to be held in a way that makes it useful.  

 

I would put a hole or something for a wrist strap.  And if I was trying to be fancy I would give the upper part a coat of some gritty plasti-dip or a good wrap of hockey tape.

 

The T handle made by welding the wrist pin on the top is actually very comfortable and functional.  Since it was hollow, I ran a strap through it to wrap around my hand/wrist if I get to point where I’m worried it might go in the drink.

 

Otherwise I didn’t care much about fanciness; just function. I’m throwing a bad pic up cuz it’s cold out and the season of going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark. 

 

Yah, Leech, I know... if it were any good I’d have that ice chiseled away by now!   

 

I did the rest of the driveway last night...

Edited January 17, 2019 by Wanderer

[smurfy]

2 hours ago, minky said:

Nice smurfy, she is a beast!

Thanks, I have 3 and I think that's my little one!

[birdguy]

I had a buddy make this one for me. I had him weld a large hex nut to the top of the handle to put a strap through.

[minky]

Love the chisel and the dog!

[papadarv]

Built mine multi purpose. Nephew broke a winch, bit heavy on Fire Ball. I had a 1 1/4" pipe that bent lifting the side of house to get a Jack under to raise broken side. Got a 60" 1 1/4 solid steel shaft, welded a 1/4" thick chisel bit and a bull nose ring to attach rope. Lifted a greatfull guy's Ice Castle that broke a cable last year. Bit heavy at 26# so don't chip too much ice with it but it's a great Crowbar.

[leech~~]

17 hours ago, Duffman said:

 

 

 

Duff, chiming in with Real world solutions!

[minky]

Duff, I think people might injure them selves using this. It is very aggressive looking, you would be the only one on the lake with one!

[Duffman]

I understand, but some of us need to be ready for the zombie apocalypse.   

 

I do dig all of the homemade stuff that us outdoor folks make.

Much more personal than just buying stuff.

You all make some nice spuds!