Most Efficient/Effective/Reliable Hand Auger

[Gillgrabber]

Another vote for Nils.  As was stated earlier I always protect the blades so they don't get dull or wrecked.  It out-drills every other hand auger I've seen and even some power augers.  I've had people walk up after watching us drill and ask what kind of auger it was saying they'd never seen a hand auger drill that fast.  Believe me when I say you won't be disappointed.

[Mainedog]

Nils

[FISHFORPIKE]

Someone on the MA boards said the Nils Blades can be a biatch because if anything happens to them they wont cut... worrys me.

If anything bad happens to any blade it quits cutting.  Take care of it and it will cut.  I understand some don't want to pay for a Nils, but IMO, you won't get the quality any other way.    Sometimes real life experience is the only way to make a good judgement - I made that move last year and I like the Nils.

[Shienar]

hey check it out
vid made by a fellow IS member he doenst cut a hole with the Eskimo
but he does leave a comment about it a the bottom
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaVx-GMMdsc
30 sec for 17in of ice seems pretty good to me
and is slower that what i have heard from most people who have a nils

[bart]

Another vote for Nils.  As was stated earlier I always protect the blades so they don't get dull or wrecked.  It out-drills every other hand auger I've seen and even some power augers.  I've had people walk up after watching us drill and ask what kind of auger it was saying they'd never seen a hand auger drill that fast.  Believe me when I say you won't be disappointed.

I've also have had people asked me the same thing.

[andercee]

I have the 8" Nils and it cuts easy.  A smaller diameter hole would cut even faster.  Someone said make sure you educate your buddy auger care and that is probably the most important rule!    My buddy hit a rock with my old auger and that pretty much ended our day.  We did get a couple holes done with hatchet and a rock.

[fishercat]

6" Nils been there done that got one and love it.

[Mainehazmt]

Lazer or fin bore     Blades are far cheaper than the nils!

[Caseman]

I vote for the lazer. 

I know most here like the nils and it is a very good auger.   but If you dull or mess up the blade you will have to send it in.  Unless you have a place near you that sells them. And I know that the blades are not cheap. 

That was the deal breaker for me.     I am very happy with the lazer and if I was to mess up the blades I just go to any place the sells strikemaster augers and pick up another set. I have 3 places near me.   And I think the blades are only $40.

[lake snake]

Another vote for the Nils.

[Tainterslayer]

I have a Nils and it RIPS through the ice. Super fast.
I have also heard good things about the Lazers but they don't have offset handles. I say get a Nils, but only if you are careful with the blades. Almost no one sharpens them and you can't just run to the store for blades. They last awhile but not if you hit a patch of sand.

[fishlessman]

my 8 inch nils cuts an inch every 2 seconds, a 6 inch should scream thru the ice. its the best auger ive ever used and my jiffey 30 has been staying home

[Bellybuster]

I just bought a new finbore II, I wanted the nils but pretty hard to find in Canada...
   The FinBore looks like a good auger and the blades are easy to find at any retailer...funny, I was able to find a nils blade assy but couldn't find an auger at all

[Polarised]

8" Nils, you won't be sorry.

[coreyl302]

Lazor with sweedish blades. I have the 6" and love it. I do not even bring out my 10" jiffy until there is more than 18" of ice.

X2 Couldn't be more true

[fin-n-feather]

Have a 6" Mora, bought a 6" Nils last year with recomendations from friends here on the Shanty.  There is not even no comparison.  The Nils is in a totally different league hands down!!!  Fin

[Caseman]

lol.
You cant compair the Nils to the mora.  The mora sucks.     

The reason they made the mora is so you could always find one at a garage sale.  .     

[CMMahy]

I've never had any complaints with my 8" Finbor II/Mora, even drilling 39" of ice....

[Caseman]

I've never had any complaints with my 8" Finbor II/Mora, even drilling 39" of ice....

(Image removed from quote.)

I was talking about this mora

http://strikemaster.com/mora_hand.html

And I am pretty sure fin was talking about the same

[CMMahy]

The Finbor II uses the same blades as the Mora, they even have "Mora" engraved right into them. The only difference I can see is the Finbor has a folding handle, not the telescoping one. The Finbor III uses the special, curved blades.

[coreyl302]

My only problem with the Nills is blade replacement. The cost of the blade for the nills is a litte steep for me $80 without shipping. I havent had any luck looking around the local shops. A new 7" or 8" Lazer is around $80. How often will blades last?

[edmonds]

My only problem with the Nills is blade replacement. The cost of the blade for the nills is a litte steep for me $80 without shipping. I havent had any luck looking around the local shops. A new 7" or 8" Lazer is around $80. How often will blades last?

I have had my eight inch nils for three seasons now and it cuts just like the day I bought it.  You just have to take care of it and it will last a long time.

[FISHFORPIKE]

I have one spare head for my 8" Nils.  The two of them will be all I ever need; heck, I'll bet my great, great, grandkids will using this auger and the same two heads.
I just get one sharpened every year.  Unless you drill into some rocks, or other wise ruin one, you will never wear a nils head out.
Yes they are pricey - yes they are the best.  

[Hardwater Problem]

I have heard nothing but good things about nils... for years guys on this site have been raving about them.  I have a mora, they are inexpensive and available almost everywhere.  I always use a 8" hole for no specific reason, just what I have always owned.  We pulled a 5-6 lb walleye through a 8" hole last year, I am certain it would have fit through a six.  Lastly, I bought a hand auger (eskimo) at scheels last year as a back up because it was only 40 bucks.  I can tell you I would rather head butt a hole through the ice, and it would probably get done faster!!!

[mbart]

NorMark Fin-Bore, twin grip offset handle design is more efficent than the knob/grip handle on the Lazer or Mora.

[topher7694]

Nilsmaster

[rjm123]

everyone i fish with uses moras. they are cheap, durable, and user friendly. used a strikemaster a few times, not bad, but at $20-$30 bucks more than a mora, why?

[JustOsmo]

i got a 8" nils. thanks for the input guys. only problem i have is the plastic cover is oval and not round which makes it a tight fit. Blades touch the sides. Is that bad?

[wiskeyfish]

nah my buddy's nils is the same way, no issues.

[FISHFORPIKE]

i got a 8" nils. thanks for the input guys. only problem i have is the plastic cover is oval and not round which makes it a tight fit. Blades touch the sides. Is that bad?

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