The final word on the "What's the best hand Auger" question...

[smallieobsession]

I have seen (and offered my opinion) a number of posts each year re: "which hand auger is the best...?"...well, I offer my weekend experience as the proof to what I've known for three years now.

We were on URL this weekend and had 2 power augers go down with problems. I own two Nils Master hand augers - a 6" and an 8" - and happened to throw the 8" one in the back of the burban just for fun since I had never used it on more than maybe 12-14" of ice I thought I might play with it while I was up there to see how it did on the big ice. Well, as I said, we had trouble with the power augers so I pulled out the 8" Nils Master and punched the first hole in 34", yes, I said THIRTY FOUR INCHES of ice in under a minute - that's less than 60 seconds. We punched 16 holes with it in 34" of ice. Yes, your arms were tired after a couple of holes but it wasn't from pushing down because it requires absolutely ZERO downward pressure. Your arms are tired because the thing cuts so fast you are really cranking that thing around fast. You could go slow and not get very tired at all. Just to be clear here...its not like we went for the world record or anything either. We just drilled holes like anyone would with it and it was fast and efficient. Remember, this was the 8" model too. I'll bet the 6" one would go even faster.

There were a couple of guys less than 50 yards away that started drilling holes with a power auger at the same time - we had four drilled and were scooping them out long before they got their four drilled with the power auger.

I'm not suggesting that we would want to use a hand auger all the time on ice this thick but it sure saved the day for us and I think, proved the point on the unmatched cutting power of the Nils. I can only imagine this sucker with the power head on it...whoa.

I live in SE MN where we don't get 34 inches of ice so think how this baby works on the 15 or so that we do. I have no reason to carry the weight of a power auger down here at all and I don't.

If anyone has drilled through 34 inches of ice in 60 seconds with another brand of hand auger and lived to tell about it, I invite your response. Otherwise, well just crown the Nils as king and leave it as that. Deal?

Note to moderator: pin this puppy to the top like the Vex/Marcum debate to save others the trouble .

Sincerely,

Smallie

[PierBridge]

I already responded to this.....

Let's try again.

I actually prefer the 6" StrikeMaster Lazer hand Auger for drilling through 20" plus ice, being able to lean on the auger really helps and is way less tiring then the 4 1/2" Nils hand auger we have used lately.

[Northlander]

I also have a 8" lazer and a 8" Nils. The Nils is much faster and easier to use once you get the hang of using both hands and just not cranking with 1 and leaning on the other.

1st few times out every year with the Nils I start wanting to go back to the old 1 handed method but then I realize what Im doing and start using both arms. After a few holes Im back in action.

Both a great hand augers though and you cant go wrong with either.

[PierBridge]

I'm pretty sure your not drilling through 25"s of ice with an 8" hand auger Northlander something tells me you are using your power head this time a year.

I agree the Nils cuts awesome I have drilled 50 plus holes with the 4 1/2 Nils this year and it works and cuts fast but over 20"s the Lazer is much easier on the body and more importantly the Ticker no comparision really the technic with the Nils feels like a Chinese water torcher and kills your shoulders compared to the Lazer and thats with the 4 1/2.... try drilling 4 holes with each through 25"s you'll find out quick what I mean.