Best Drill to match with 6" lazer auger

[hardwater diehard]

I just purchased a new Strikemaster 6" lazer hand auger ...I'm looking to match it a cordless drill . My question is which dril is best bang for the buck .I'm certain some fellow members have already tacled this question. I'd like to keep cost to a minimum as its probably will be a uni-tasker for me .

[wipike]

Everyone's got a brand they love/hate. 

IMO - owning a 6" lazer and using a drill with it - I recommend at least an 18V cordless Hammerdrill.  You'll never use the hammerdrill function on the ice, but they're typically rated for more torque and have a better/stronger gearbox in them. 

Brands, I recommend Rigid.  I know there's others, and there are better, but Rigid is the ONLY company I've found that will warrenty the batteries for life if bought as a set.  You're going to be facing $100+ batteries for the drill.  Wouldn't it be nice to know that you can have them rebuilt for $20 when they crap out?

Again, everyone has their favorites.  Rigid is mine (and my NiCAD - gasp, terrible, how could it possibly work?! - is still running fine 7 years later and on it's 3rd set of batteries).

[3300]

Brands, I recommend Rigid.  I know there's others, and there are better, but Rigid is the ONLY company I've found that will warrenty the batteries for life if bought as a set.  You're going to be facing $100+ batteries for the drill.  Wouldn't it be nice to know that you can have them rebuilt for $20 when they crap out?

ditto on life time warranty rigid if bought from home depot (brick and mortar or online). there is no charge if its not your fault. they charge 35$ up front (last i heard if you bring it back to home depot. not if you send it in) that is reimbursed if its their fault or just wore out. they warranty all of it not just the batteries. if you get water in it tho, its on you. i am looking to build neoprene rubber jacket for mine this year. still looking for a decent site to get it from 36" x 36". closed cell 1/4".
i use their 24 volt hammer drill with battery meter built in and two batteries, easily gets you thru a day full of drilling.
i too use the same auger and their 4" for scouting.

keeping costs down would mean look at long term.
short term, there are lots of upfront cheap ones to pick from.
if you go cheap, look at what the batteries will cost when they reach end of life (short runs times or fast self discharge).

[DLB]

I went up to Home Depot to buy some light bulbs......came home with a Ridgid 3 pack.....18 volt 2 speed drill, impact driver and a radio and 2 li-ion batteries all for $199.99 + tax.  Forgot the light bulbs.

[3300]

thats great!
i saw that package and thought about it, but i have too many of their drills.
you will be happy. just keep the water out. i wish some one would build neoprene jackets for drills. i am in the look out to make my own as it is. so far i use 2 or 3 large plastic grocery bags and loop it at the extra handle to keep it all in place. just drop the drill into a set of bags, loop one bag handle onto the extra drill handle and twist the other bag handle until its tight enough and loop it over the drills extra handle too.


if you need more run time on those compact batteries that came with that kit, the standard batteries should fit the drill and charger. just double check 1st

don't forget to send in the life time agreement papers to get it registered with them. if you forget you only get three years on all of it. still better than all of the rest with only one year.

also, if you change your mind, they give you ninety days to try rigid brand tools of  any kind out before its your to keep. just bring the receipt and tools.

[DLB]

Thanks 3300.....My intentions was to ask "Santa" for a drill.  I need one as I'm switching from a gas auger to the drill but when I saw that package, I remembered your post and picked it up.  The info on the box says its compatible with all 18 volt batteries.

[3300]

what brand adapter for the lazer hand augers I got a couple of them maybe I can go power

thinking i use the strike master adapter. i'll go look at it later to make sure
it has a plastic/fiber washer w/bungee cord attached to it that is a heel strap for when the drill chuck gets loose. they all do, so the auger doesn't go down the drink. just slips over the back of the drill.
i took it and ground three side on it so it can't spin in the chuck. can't remember what that part looked like new. maybe it had rounded corners in between the flats, so i made the flats larger by grinding them so there is no more rounded corners. it did slip some until i did that,
its black and maybe 8-10"
solid steel

[DLB]

Strike Master or IceMaster?  IceMaster is what you have described and its a local business here.  "Santa" has already been informed.

[3300]

Strike Master or IceMaster?  IceMaster is what you have described and its a local business here.  "Santa" has already been informed.

OK, i'll go look at it. but ice master does ring a bell

UPDATE:
ICE MASTER, not strike master
seems like it cost 20 bucks

just make sure to leave the extra handle on it as it will save it from a swim one day when you least expect it. i use mine as an ice anchor for windy days for my one man flip. just drill a hole all the way thru at an angle into the wind and leave maybe half the auger in water and toss the rope over it and let the rope hit the ice. that also keeps the battery and drill off the ice. you do have to check in on it to see if its going in or falling over because of solar heat heating the black auger. lion batteries don't like to be frozen and will lose charge, that goes for mp3 players and smart phones and tablets and blue tooth speakers ect. the bigger the battery the longer it takes to zap em.
some use like a royal crown bag with hand warmers in it. if you heat your shanty, the you could leave it in in the shanty to keep them warm.

also i use a product called GIBBS on every thing i own thats metal. will prevent rust ect. im on my 5th can. we get it at our local plumbing supply j&k Plumbing for 12$ + tax. i think it costs 17$ a can online. any way, i use it on the keyless chuck for the drill as it does see water, snow and ice.
great for fire arms too. if you leave finger prints on one it will not rust if you pretreat the metal first. just use it like wd-40

[MeanDrLily]

There are almost always good tool deals on Black Friday. I have my eye on this offering from Ace Hardware. It's only $99 on BF.

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12219697

[3300]

welcome to the shanty!

gotta love black friday/cyber monday/weekend

if your into black friday, check out  www.blackfriday.com

[hardwater diehard]

There are almost always good tool deals on Black Friday. I have my eye on this offering from Ace Hardware. It's only $99 on BF.

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12219697

    Went with this one I'm hoping this fits the bill...lil concerned about the Amps ...thought it was 1.1 as opposed to 3.3 ...? Nice and light any way .

[Cranked]

Bosch 36v Hammer drill has the highest torque in the business and that's really what matters.

I've been using one for a few years now with no issues.

http://www.boschtools.com/Products/Tools/Pages/boschproductdetail.aspx?pid=18636-02

[USMC 1371]

My Harbor Freight special won't work?

[smoyik]

Dewalt 20v max

[kc_]

My Harbor Freight special won't work?

it will for awhile

[jvanness]

Craftmans 19.2v diehard with 1/2 inch chuck. Plenty of torque, easy on pocket, batteries last quiet a while. Bout the drill/light combo for hundred bucks comes with 2 batteries so u charge both one in the gun one as a spare and good to go

[matzilla]

i'm using this one with my 5" mora and sweedish blades
http://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardware/power-tools/drills/masterforce-flexpower-20-volt-1-2-drill-driver/p-1909355-c-9072.htm

Works great

[kc_]

Lowes has a hitachi 18volt with flashlight and 2 batteries for 79.00. Doesn't get much better than that.