Lazer Hand Auger - Time for new blades?

[Chode2235]

I have had my Lazer hand auger for 4 years now, and am still on my first set of blades. I have checked them out throughout the season(s) and they still feel and look sharp. The still cut holes well, although it feels a little tougher than it used to.

But for the most part they look new. Am I going to benefit from a blade change? How often do you guys change your blades, and what do you look for to let you know its time to change them?

Thanks.

[Fever]

hey Chode... I have actually sharpened my hand auger blades before with a large (higher quality) sharpening stone. be sure to sharpen the right side though... that was a tough lesson learned. Blades are probably cheap so if you don't feel like sharpening I'd pick some up as soon as the drilling starts to feel more difficult. There is about 17-20 inches of ice now and that may be exactly why it feels more difficult... good luck.

Fever

[CSP88]

Even though they feel sharp, if it is cutting harder than it used too, you would definitely benefit from new blades. How often you need to change blades depends on how many holes you drill in a season and the type of ice you drill in. When I notice a difference in the cutting performance is when I change out my blades. With new blades the lazer will cut without much effort. Strikemaster has a blade exchange program which will save you some money on getting your blades replaced.

Chad

[Chode2235]

Yeah, with all the ice we have made the last week or so it likely serves me right to get some new sharp blades.

[slipperybob]

I'm running a few years on my hand lazer too and this year I noticed it not shaving ice nearly as fast as I remember from prior years.

[PmDavis300]

i just got mine last season and last time i went out it wasnt grabing on to the ice, so i had to spend like 3 minutes spinning my auger just to get a couple inches into the ice. then eventually it would grab on and start cutting the ice like normal. anyone know whats going on here?

[Jaspernuts]

I would start with new blades

[slipperybob]

 Originally Posted By: PmDavis300

i just got mine last season and last time i went out it wasnt grabing on to the ice, so i had to spend like 3 minutes spinning my auger just to get a couple inches into the ice. then eventually it would grab on and start cutting the ice like normal. anyone know whats going on here?

Somtimes it's ice on the bottom of the blade preventing the edge from shaving into the ice. Usually that happens from after drilling one hole. It can happen from the start of the first hole. Since blade is melting ice, then ice freezes onto blade.

When you get enough of the auger down the hole, the screw grabs onto the sides of the hole, giving you that little extra down leverage and it continues drilling down. That's why I never apply unnessary down force while hand drilling. Let the auger do the work.

[PmDavis300]

i see well that would make sense seeing as i keep it in my freezing cold garage

[slipperybob]

It's much easier for me to use the hand auger when temps are from 10F to about 25F. Warmer than that and my hand auger sticks a lot, or ice shaving sticks to it a lot. Colder and it's just harder on the fingers and I get a lot of freeze on auger while looking for next spot to drill.