drilling holes in house

[larryz]

I finally was able to buy a new drop down house this summer. I was wondering if anyone could give me any input on the best auger to use and/or the best method for drilling holes. My old Eskimo blows a little oil through the exhaust. Any other suggestions concerning fishing from or outfitting a drop down would also be appreciated. Thanks

[hanson]

Quote:

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My old Eskimo blows a little oil through the exhaust.

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All augers have a tendency to do this with regular oil. I used the little bottles of Strikemaster oil in my auger for years and I always had oil blowing out the exhaust, as well as a black sticky residue that would leak or drip from the exhaust.

I would suggest switching your oil to Amsoil Saber. You can mix it leaner (100-1), it smokes much less, and you will NOT have that black goop getting spit out the exhaust. This will be much friendlier in your house.

If you really "need" a new auger, I would have 2 suggestions for augering inside a hard house.

1- Strikemaster Strike-Lite 4 stroke

2- Electric auger

With the Strike-Lite, I would replace the plastic flighted shaft ASAP with a standard metal Lazer shaft since the plastic flighting is so easily damaged. You will gain all the advantages of a 4 stroke including no exhaust smell in your fish house.

Advantages to an electric are obvious- no exhaust, no smell, and quiet. You already have the batteries in the house as well to run the auger off of.

[MNfan]

What is the best electric auger? Is anybody going to come with a 9" or 10" electric auger?

[Freewheeler]

The best advice I can give you on drilling holes with a drop down style fish house is this. Don't drill inside your house! Unless you're a real wrench head and loves the smell of gas/oil in all of the interior including bedding and clothing. I have had a drop down house now for six years and it still smells new. Whereas my friends house stinks to say the least. Not drilling in the house is easily accomplished by driving up to your spot straight ahead,then back up[straight]using your mirrors, staying in your orignal tracks. At this point, I pull the drop pins and lower the house close to the ice.[a few inches above snow line will do] Go in and take off your covers, mark your holes[some guys use a shot of spraypaint,others just mark by hand] Drive straight ahead so all holes are now visable behind the house and drill. You can now clean and deice them shovel off that area[for banking] then back up over your cleaned holes and your fishing, without any stink or accidental scrapes against the sides of your holes in the floor. You can lower the house down when you are exactly over them! Sounds like a lot of stuff but youll be doing that anyway, so its just the sequence of when you do what. After making a big investment like you did in your house I'd think you would want your investment to lastas long as it could for you. Once you do it this way it becomes second nature and is very easy to do. And, it pays off come trade in time! Hope this will help you.

[LMITOUT]

Best thing I ever did was pick up a Catch Cover Slush Bucket to catch all the ice shavings when drilling. It wasn't that bad in the beginning of the season, but when the ice got thicker I ended up with a ice pile at every hole. That Slush Bucket catches almost all the ice and clean up is a breeze!!

I open all the windows and prop the door open when I'm drilling to let the fumes out. I'm usually carrying stuff in for a while when I get there and don't turn the heat on until the holes are drilled and most of the goodies are carried in for the weekend or even just for the day. With a little breeze it clears out quick enough.

[Hazzard]

I use the strikemaster electra lazer 8" and the catch cover auger mate. With this combo you have no smoke in the house and the carpet will stay dry.Another thing you can do is turn on your heater at the lake access or near by bait shop so when you go to drop your house down and drill the holes it's all ready warm, and will stay that way since you dont have to open the windows to air out the fumes.

[fishinalot]

Duke is right with the smokeless oil and a Catch Cover mini-mate for the slush!

[McGurk]

I use Amsoil Saber in a SM 2hp head; no streaks at any of the 6 holes in the 2 years of using it. As was said; open the windows and door while popping holes and after you are done for a couple of minutes and you'll have little smell from the Amsoil Saber mixed gas, too.

Cheapest fix ever!

[Down2Earth]

IMO if you're going to be redrilling holes that have froze shut I would go with the ice catching tubs and a jiffy. I have yet to see a better auger for redrilling previous holes that have frozen shut.

[dirtking]

I use the strikemaster electra lazer 8" - absolutly love that auger

[larryz]

Thanks for all the replies. I guess I will have to try a couple things and see what works for me. Thanks again!