auger ice up

[jcrow931]

i have a 8" strikemaster hand auger when ever its cold it ices up and wont cut. i was thinking of using ski/snoboard wax.  has anybody done this, what do you do?

[pikeking]

It's the tip that gets filled up with ice. If you break the ice off the tip it should cut. When you do drill through always move the auger up and down in the hole to clean it off.

[GrizlyGarou]

I've had that happen a few times. I leave the blade end pointing at the sun and it happens less. Cranking it backwards while you push on it really hard clears the ice off sometimes, too.

[JustOsmo]

Whatever you do dont use your ice spoon to bang the auger to use vibrations to clear it of ice. I did and now i have chipped paint coming off and its rusting where the chips are.

[jeepsw1]

i use a silicone spray, but you have to re-apply every few uses.

[squ1rr31_]

Either use silicone spray or I've used turtle wax on the auger itself. Just keep your hands away from the blade. You don't even have to touch the thing and it will cut you, I sliced my hand open last winter and it bled like crazy. If someone walked by that hole they had to have thought I shoved a dead body down it.

[jcrow931]

ive tried silicone and like you said it works great for a couple days. i am looking for a more long term solution(a month or so).  hadnt thought of car wax proubably cheaper than ski/ snowboard wax, will give that a try first. thanks for all your help.

[Mainedog]

At the start of each season, I coat my auger bits with teflon spray.
Works pretty well.  Just do it a week or two before you need it so that
It thoroughly dries.

MD

[Ice Hopper]

I've tried everything, waxing, silicone, I even have a 5" strikemaster that was Teflon powder coated$$$$, but In a tourney, I don't want to deal with augers that won't cut. The cheapest thing you can do is simply spray the auger with Pam or some other cooking spray. It works great!

But the most important thing is how you handle your. Like was said earlier, after you break thru, plunge the auger down and then up hard in one clean motion. Once out of the hole, give the flighting (spiral flutes) one hood kick. fateful not to kick the blades. Do not touch the blades to the snow or slush. I kick a spot clean of all snow and lay the auger down.

I also carry a little rubber mallet with me to bang big buildup off. We drill hundreds of holes when were pre fishing for tourneys, keeping the auger cutting efficiently is a must.

Hope this helps, just things I've learned over the years.

[Bigbait]

Look at the toy I found in the swamp

[jcrow931]

thats my kind of auger. hopefully it has cup holders!

[lenz]

get a power auger, problem solved.


burp

lenz