Preferred hand auger?

[Jorgie]

I currently have a Strikemaster Mora auger. But the blades are really dull and I don't like that its only a 6" diameter. So I'm thinking about getting a new auger. What do you recommend? The Strikemaster Lasers look pretty nice, but I've never used one.

[HarryG]

I have a 6" lazer and it works really well. You can't go wrong with the lazer. There is another hand auger that has an offset handle. I think it is made by Polar, but I can't say for sure. I wonder if Nils sells the hand auger for their power auger. That way you could buy the power unit at a later time if you so desired.

[Pantherburn]

I got an 8" Lazer hand auger last winter for early ice use and it works well. The 6" cuts much quicker with less effort and I wish I would have tried the 6" before I purchased the 8". We do mostly panfishing so the 6" would have been the way to go for me but live and learn I guess. The 8" is nice up to about a foot of ice. I have punched a couple of holes when the ice is 2+ feet but it is tougher than I expected. It limited the holes I punched and ultimately fished. If you are looking to hole hop and need to pound out a bunch of holes, I would steer you to the 6" Lazer. Both are nice and work great but the 6" is markedly easier. Now if you are a walleye/pike guy then the 8" would be the way to go but if pannies are your pleasure, go with the 6".

[Jorgie]

I would like the ease of use of the 6", but I fish for other species besides panfish. And I plan on trying my had at laker fishing this winter, so I think an 8" might be the ticket.

[DEADhead]

I've got an 8" Lazer and it works flawlessly. you won't be disappointed. A hand auger is nice for early ice, or when packing light is the only way to go.

[charliepete2]

Up until last Febraury all I had was a 6" lazer. It works great. I pulled a 34" Northern through a 6" hole. It does take a little finesse, but it's doable. Compared to my buddies 8" version my lazer is like greased lightning.

[Gissert]

The lazers are excellent augers. You should also give the Nils Master line a look. They are extremely fast, and should you so decide, you can buy the powerhead later and bolt it to the shaft.

[Duffman]

I have the Nils 8" hand auger, works great. In fact it was quite late into the ice season last year before I even broke out the power auger. My buddies who have Lazer hand augers are quite impressed with it. Being able to use both arms to auger with makes a lot of difference, especially with an 8" dia blade. It's the most expensive hand auger out there, but I think it's money well spent. And as others have said, you can buy a powerhead in the future and have the best of both worlds. If my Strikemaster Lazermag ever needs replacing, that's the route I'd go, but I have a feeling that may be a big "If".

[Ralph Wiggum]

I'll jump on the bandwagon. My 6" Lazer is slick as snot.

[fishinalot]

I like the Strikemaster 6" Lazer. It cuts ice like butter up to 10" thick very fast, and can re-open holes in a permant fish house.

[Tyler Holm]

I love my 8" Laser. Anything less than 10" of ice and its with me.

[Sonicrunch]

Quote:

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the blades are really dull

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Right there is your whole problem.

Sharp blades (and I mean razor sharp) Will cut thru ice faster than a powered auger with somewhat sharp blades.

I am not kidding you one bit.

Stick with the 6"

It's lighter and cuts faster.

[Jorgie]

Quote:

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Quote:

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the blades are really dull

---

Right there is your whole problem.

Sharp blades (and I mean razor sharp) Will cut thru ice faster than a powered auger with somewhat sharp blades.

I am not kidding you one bit.

Stick with the 6"

It's lighter and cuts faster.

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Yeah, I knew that was the problem. But someone told me recently that auger blades shouldn't really be resharpened, that I should just buy new ones. Is this true? I thought I could just bring them to a bait shop or some small engine shop to get them sharpened.

I started thinking about getting a new auger when I was told to buy new blades. I figured if I had to spend 20 bucks or so on new blades, maybe a new auger would work better than my current one.

[HarryG]

I don't think it helps to sharpen auger blades. It may help on an old dull Mora auger but the new designs need a more precise angle. I buy new blades or trade them in. Well worth it.

[Northlander]

I have a Strikemaster Lazer Auger and I thought it was fast and easy to use. Then I got my Nilsmaster 8" power auger with the hand auger handle and man I didnt know how easy cutting holes could be with a hand auger. The Nils is very fast cutting and I would recomend that one to anyone. Once you get the 2 handed trick down you can fly.

If your serious about a hand auger get yourself a Nilsmaster.