Just two questions......

[Paul of Hbg.]

How is the best way to sharpen hand (5") auger blades I mean just touch 'em up?
Is there a fast and simple way to measure ice thickness once your hole is cut
(my tape measure slips off the underside of the ice too easily)

[chukkrok]

If it's a strikemaster laser they make a sharpener,and get yourself an ice skimmer with a marked handle,or just mark it yourself then you will be able to see how thick the ice is easily

[Gills-only]

I measured from the plastic on my scoop and with magic marker mark a line every inch, then hook on bottom of ice and count the lines !! No wet hands or tape involved, also can measure fish !!

[SLAYERFISH]

I stick my hand in there. Each knuckle is 1 inch!

[Gills-only]

I stick my hand in there. Each knuckle is 1 inch!

.      I fish without gloves, but in this cold I won’t intentionally stick my hand in there !!

[todalake]

I measured from the plastic on my scoop and with magic marker mark a line every inch, then hook on bottom of ice and count the lines !! No wet hands or tape involved, also can measure fish !!

X2

[Oldbear]

A skimmer with measure on handle here and use a strike master hand sharpener, one of the V  notch kind.

[oleike]

just need to ask why is it so important how thick the ice is

[WYIfish]

just need to ask why is it so important how thick the ice is

If you fall in, let me know all about it. if you make it that is.

[LongPoleKole]

I've got a 6" eskimo hand auger that I regularly sharpen the blades on.  First time I tried, I just sharpened like I would a knife with a small wet stone... wrong answer.  Turns out you don't want to remove any metal from the bottom of the blade surface because you'll mess up their angle of attack, wont grab the ice and cut.  Just work the top of the blade and focus on preserving the existing angle.

[quackpot]

With back issues years back I used electrical tape to attach dipper to a old fishing rod. No bending over needed. Inch wide tape every other line is a inch. Set dipper in hole so it catches and know the thickness.

[jpr]

Just by a gaff that has the shaft premeasured or add your own ruler to it....helps measure the ice and your fish....saves the fingers on those toothy fish like pike.

[WYIfish]

Just by a gaff that has the shaft premeasured or add your own ruler to it....helps measure the ice and your fish....saves the fingers on those toothy fish like pike.

I use the multi purpose spud that is marked for fish and ice thickness. Pretty handy tool unless of course the ice is thicker than a foot. Glad I have an auger too.

[3300]

for sharpening auger blade's here is a redo of the best way to do them here. thanks goes to A7X, the OP. we lost the images thanks to photobucket.
https://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=309016.msg3699607#msg3699607

for quick ice measurements, i take my ice scoops and scratch one inch marks from the spoon and go up the handle and then mark them with a marker.
i do this to the opposite side of the handle and from the hook of the handle and go back towards the spoon so it can be used either way. great for measuring fish too!

you could do this to your auger shaft so the top of the flight would be touching the bottom edge of the ice hole. or just use a water proof tape at the 4" mark or other lengths. if you only use the one and it's under water you should be good to go.

[slipperybob]

Ice scoop...

[Super-ice-bird]

Most ice scoops that I’ve seen now days have inch marks etched in the handle from the manufacturer.

When blades dull on me I buy a new set and trash the old ones. I use to try to sharpen but could never get the angle right.

[FG Steve]

I'm no help for blade sharpening.

For ice measuring, another vote for the scoop.

For my $, the best scoop is the Frabill:



Easy-to-read measuring marks molded into the plastic.

As mentioned, there are lots of others.

[Gills-only]

I'm no help for blade sharpening.

For ice measuring, another vote for the scoop.

For my $, the best scoop is the Frabill:

(Image removed from quote.)

Easy-to-read measuring marks molded into the plastic.

As mentioned, there are lots of others.

.       Have same one , hard to see black on black , the marker really shows up on the alum handle

[stinkyfingers]

I stick my hand in there. Each knuckle is 1 inch!

Slayer has knuckles all the way up to his elbow.

[IlliniIce]

i use a rapala folding fish ruler
the flip up bump board catches on the bottom of the ice

[Huntindave]

Is there a fast and simple way to measure ice thickness once your hole is cut

I use a min/max gage.
If I am looking UP at the bottom of the ice,,,,, the ice is too thin.
If the gear case on the auger hits the top of the ice,,,,,, the ice is too thick.
       

[lefty2053]

I use a min/max gage.
If I am looking UP at the bottom of the ice,,,,, the ice is too thin.
If the gear case on the auger hits the top of the ice,,,,,, the ice is too thick.
       

[mrmercman]

X 2 Lefty.

[crdroste]

For sharpening auger blades I use a Lanksy Knife sharpener, it works great( Ive taken blades that were beat on by a metal ice scoop trying to get ice off that wouldnt cut well at all to blades that were ripping through the ice.) When sharpening you have to take the blades off the auger, but with the sharpener you are able to fine tune the angle of the blade in the sharpener, I use the fine stone for sharpening and adjust it so the stone lays flat with the top of the auger blade so you dont change the blade angle. 

[kasilofchrisn]

I'm no help for blade sharpening.

For ice measuring, another vote for the scoop.

For my $, the best scoop is the Frabill:

(Image removed from quote.)

Easy-to-read measuring marks molded into the plastic.

As mentioned, there are lots of others.

I have the same scoop it's great.
No bending over to scoop holes.
If a person can't read the marks use a paint pen or brush on paint in yellow or white to color the marks.
As for sharpening I use my Jiffy sharpener for my Jiffy blades.