Sharpening my own auger blades.

[DonBo]

Any reason I can't? Used to be pretty good with a file while sharpening my old broadheads.

[Cold_blood]

no i have a buddy that does it that way so you should be good and i mean if they are already dull they can't get worse

[Jethro80]

You can as long as you keep the angle of the blade, but you will never get the edge on there like a new one though.

[Tyler23]

yea you could prolly do that. but its hard to keep the right angle so it still cuts good. most saw blade sharping places will sharpin those anyway for a small fee

[opsirc]

agree the hard part is getting the right angle

[pikedreams]

Depends on the blade. I've done chipper blades with good sucess but lazer blades are a whole different story. Comercially they're done on a c&c machine because the bend and angle have to be so precise. It would be extremly difficult to duplicate by hand.

[hydro]

I used to sharpen my hand auger blades all the time. The problem is if you don't know what you are doing you will most likely make them worse, and a file will just ruin them. The hand auger blades have a "flat" profile on the bottom that I would take a couple of swipes over a hard Arkansas stone just to cut off any burrs. The top bevel is where you want to remove metal, and then very carefully to follow the changing angle across the blade. First cut was with a hard Arkansas stone, then black Arkansas, then to the strop. When they are sharp they take the hair off your arm without feeling a pull. The ones I sharpened worked very well and I still have some lying around to this day. Power auger blades would be basically the same procedure once you analyzed how the profiles work.

I used to pick the blades up at a local surplus store for 50 cents a pair and then just sharpen them up. Seems that the local auger vendor didn't actually "sharpen" the blades that were sent in but rather just replaced them.

[hondarider550]

Im sure that if you are careful you should be able to sharpen your own blades but keeping the angle is going to be the difficult area... Be careful and take your time...

[catflisher]

I am a woodworker and have lots of experience sharpening chisel and plane blades till you can shave with them...Tried doing my hand auger blades....Shave the hair right off my arms, but they just skidded on top of the ice and wouldn't dig in..

[Surface Tension]

If the blade has a radius, save yourself the time and headache and send it in. If you must, then be as unobtrusive as possible and just take off the burr thats stopping it from cutting. 600 grit paper gone about in a mindset for micro brain surgery or forget it. Start going to town on it and you'll make matters worse, and remember don't touch the backside. If you can get it to cut again by doing that resist the temptation to make it better.

A flat chipper blade is a lot easier and can be sharpened like a chisel. You can free hand the center point with a file if your good.

Things that shouldn't go near a blade are.

Knife sharpeners

Dremil tools

Files

[DonBo]

Well mine is a flat blade from an old Jiffy 3 hp. I put the file to it last night and it seems pretty sharp. I won't get to try it out till tomorrow or Saturday. I'll let you know how it worked.

[Phred52]

DonBo, Great if you can get an edge with a file that's that keen, Otherwise, using a VERY fine grit hone will do the job nicely. Strikemaster markets one called the 'Mora Hone" just for auger blades. That's how I've sharpened mine for years, even for the hand auger. You know they're sharp when you can shave arm hair with the blade. Phred52

[Justin Sander]

i have a jiffy stx that has one big flat blade and 2 small ones on the inside that dig. i sharpend them with a file. it worked pretty slick, and i have never done that before. since then i have cut probably 40 holes through 2 feet of ice. still cuts great

[deadeye]

Ya those chipper blades are nice, they file out so much easier than the lazer blades. If its sharp enough to cut you, going through the ice should be cake.

[trapperdirk]

I'm still wanting to get my Nils blades sharpened as it seems such a waste to throw them out .

TD

[Scott K]

Your in Luck!!! Here you go! Our own Surface Tension does a fine job of it!

http://fishingminnesota.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1222727#Post1222727

[trapperdirk]

I sent the good man an e-mail awhile back to see about doing my blades but never got a response so I just figgered he didn't want us redneck canucks using sharp tools .

TD

[Scott K]

I am sure he will get back to ya, I am sure it got lossed or something, I am sure it wasnt that he didnt want you to make swiss cheese out of all them northern lakes!

[DonBo]

Well, I must still have the touch with a file cause my auger cuts better than it has for a long time. Like new? Probably not, but I won't hesitate to do it again.

Thanks for all the advice!

[Phred52]

TO THE TOP!! (aka TTT)