hand augers?

[jimmyclaude]

What would you say that is the ideal size hand auger.  I have a 4" that is great for packing light, but the hole freeze up quick when 10 degrees out.   The 8" will kill you if you want more than a few holes.

[gumpy2]

I think you answered your own question.....6" 

[BrianV]

I have a Finbore 6".

Can do a hole in <20 sec, and it has some staying power.

[mcflyfisher]

I have a 4" lazer and a 6" lazer.  The 4" is nice for just getting a hole in the ice to drop the transducer in, but for fishing it is not the answer.  I used to think a 5" would the best answer, but after landing a crappie that was just shy of 14 through a 4" hole, I don't think the 5" is big enough either. 

[jimmyclaude]

I have one spot that I hike 45 min.into and thought a 8" lazer would be the ticket until I borrowed one last week end. I'm thinking anything over a 7" you would want a power auger. 

[dkfry]

I have the 4" (which actually cuts 4.5") and 6" Finbore and a 5" Lazer all with offset handles. If I had to pick one hand auger to use all the time for multiple species it would be my 6" Finbore.

[moshpitbull]

just got and used a lazer strikemaster 6" little shrinkage to the hole and its like night and day with that thing as opposed to my buddys 8" the curved cutting blades make a big difference

[PIKEHUNTER69]

the best hand augers allways have a motor!  only cuz im lazy

[mongosmash]

i bought the laser 8" and let me tell you that if i had to drill any more then the 6 holes i drilled with it, I'd had to kill someone. i went down to the sporting shop and asked the kid behind the counter and got one of those free looks. so i went to the tackle shop and ask him, he told me that the 7" blades would fit and it would make life on the ice good again. well he was right i like my now new 7" auger. it's not quite as fast as my best friends 6" but when he's walking back to base I'm only 2 steps behind. i will not turn anything bigger then a 7'. not even to see how the nils 8" works, well maybe the nils 8" i might.

[jimmyclaude]

So... The seven inch blades fit the eight inch auger.... Hmmmmmmm 8)

[mongosmash]

yes and it speeds the auger up like no tomorrow. the duff between the 8+7 night and day. the hole is  not much diff either. look at one the blades on the eight hang out almost an inch on both sides. the seven has almost no over hanging blade so it moves the ice chips faster and leaves a cleaner hole to.

[jimmyclaude]

I checked out the fin-bore and it looks like the same design as the laser.  The micro looks interesting with fewer flights making it more compact.

[mongosmash]

the big diff is the fin bore has the off set handle. i've touched both and looked at them very close, thats the only diff. my next auger is going to be the nils 8. the laser is better then the mora the fin bore the as good as the laser and the nils is the best in hand augers. that my minds eye.

[Guycanfish]

the big diff is the fin bore has the off set handle. i've touched both and looked at them very close, thats the only diff. my next auger is going to be the nils 8. the laser is better then the mora the fin bore the as good as the laser and the nils is the best in hand augers. that my minds eye.

Pricey,,,
4 1/2" Hand Auger - $89.95               
6" Hand Auger - $109.95               
8" Hand Auger - $144.95               
8" Hand Auger(Power Point) - $149.95               
Nils Master Blade Sharpening Service - Click Here


Replacement Cutting Heads
8" Replacement Cutting head with Powerpoint - $79.95
8" Replacement Cutting head - $69.95
6" Replacement Cutting head with Powerpoint - $54.95
6" Replacement Cutting head - $44.95               
4.5" Replacement Cutting head - $39.95

[jimmyclaude]

hey, are the mora and fin-bore both Rapala products?

[mongosmash]

Pricey,,,
4 1/2" Hand Auger - $89.95               
6" Hand Auger - $109.95               
8" Hand Auger - $144.95               
8" Hand Auger(Power Point) - $149.95               
Nils Master Blade Sharpening Service - Click Here


Replacement Cutting Heads
8" Replacement Cutting head with Powerpoint - $79.95
8" Replacement Cutting head - $69.95
6" Replacement Cutting head with Powerpoint - $54.95
6" Replacement Cutting head - $44.95               
4.5" Replacement Cutting head - $39.95

theirs a thread that brakes down the price. your right the up front $ is more but the running $ is cheaper. their are guys getting 4-6 years on one sharpen. one cutting head will last 5 years before it has to be resharpened. my Mora has to be sharpened almost every year, then after three years I get them changed.

Mora 8" 75$
resharpen every year 15$x5=75$
new blades after every three years 40$x2=80$

nils 8" 144$
resharpen 0$
the head will last 5 years

you do the math this looks like it works to me.

this doesn't count if you drop or hit the bottom.
i still think its worth the price. i watched two kids drill holes while their dad was setting up the traps. they had no problem it was cool to see.

[reddot]

check out the Normark FinBore III.  Its $79.99 at FISH307.  Its made by Mora who made the original Lazers.  Its all Swedish made including blades.  I think the only hand auger better is Nils.  Awesome auger for the price.

[evobassfish]

if you like a bigger whole and less work go with the 8" nils. I have a 6" lazer with swedish blades and my 8" nils cuts just as fast if not faster. good luck!

[jimmyclaude]

I started out with a 6" Mora many years ago and you are right. sharpening and blade changes drove me nuts.
It was still better than the spud bar I used before the auger.

  Then I got (and still have) a 49cc 8" strikemaster power auger.  I now use this only if in a group and no one else has a power auger.  Frustated with the Mora I gave it away.

Now I am evolving back to the hand augers and got a 4" lazer 5 seasons ago and have done nothing but drill holes and fish with it.  I figure that I would get a bigger one for reasons stated earlier.

[mr.clean]

Jimmy a six inch is the best all around choice I have accumulated three hand augers over the years 8" Mora , 6"&8" Lazers .I use the 6" Lazer the majority of the time. If I was fishing for walleye or lake trout I would go with 8 inches. There is a difference in cutting ease and speed with each increase in size. Your fitness level also plays a role while never a fast hole cutter I have gotten slower also working as a custodian for thirty years has taken its toll on my arms ans shoulders.
  Mora and Lazer are form the same manufacturer and sold by Strike Master. Just be sure to check the packaging you want an auger and blades made in Sweden. There are numerous posts/threads about the poor quality of the Chinese made models especially the blades. Strike Master now offers off set handles I believe some people claim augers with this type of handle cut easier and faster. Personally I have not tried one yet so can not comment.
 Steve

[jimmyclaude]

Off set handles?  Is that like the ergonomic shovel handle? 

[mr.clean]

Jimmy check out Fish 307's website they have a picture of the Normark Finbore auger with the off set handle.This should help you more then someone trying to describe it.
 Steve
                  www.fish307.com

[jimmyclaude]

Thanks for the hyperlink Steve.  Have you tried the off set yet?

[mr.clean]

No Jimmy I have not tried off set handles yet, so i can not say how much if any difference they make in drilling a hole.

[jimmyclaude]

Any one know if the off set handle makes a difference?

[Overly Hackled]

Old Duffer here who has gone from spud to all sorts of augers and sizes over the years. Got a 6 inch Nils and have never looked back. Lots of great intel her for ya Jim.These guys have spent a lot of time on the ice and are giving youand any one else who reads this thread some good info.


 

[jimmyclaude]

Overly Hackled,  Same here but anyone who thinks they know every thing is a fool.