looking at new augers and blades which is better nills or a fin-bore-3

[fish-kabob]

 i was wondering what you guys think is better after fish 307 carrying the finbore 3 last year do they stand up or are better then the nills?is my biggest questions i got to wait till October any how so what is better the fin bore three or the nills??  the hole reason i ask is the blade on the fin bore are cheaper then the nills but is the auger more reliable i heard some one bent one right out of  the box trying to drill a  hole in the ice lol's...

[MBrown4]

You are opening up a nonstop battle that's gone on year after year post after post.i own a nils.read reviews on it and pulled the trigger.i wanted a fin bore micro prior to that.some will say fin some will say nils.i tend to lean on reviews heavily and I have been very happy with my nils.havent sharpened it in 5 years.same factory edge.i may need to send it in this year though.im the kind of guy that would rather spend the extra 30 to get something to last me longer and more worry free.

[fish-kabob]

i already own  nills and when clearing the hole split the baled or cracked it  the edge of it caught on the bottom of the hole when clearing out the bottom of the hole out  my bad.  it still work a little till i got out ice fishing before the snow fell and used it for drilling a few holes  when there was dirt blown on the ice  early season.   i knew i mite be replacing the blade so i tried my hand at sharpening it.  and it has not worked since.   but at $100 for a brand new blade got me thinking do i want to pay this every time it happens.


so i  looked at jiffy propane 8 inch.  because of  this i found the blade to be about $75 bucks  which are expensive too.  but from what i hear are great augers but are not warranted as long as the eskimos or strike master augers. now i am looking at the eskimo s33 and z51 and z71.  the s33 are about $30 for the blades on eskimo's web site. also looking at the fin bore 3  in the 8 inch models. my nills is a 8 inch and i hear a lot of people have had problem with the 8 inch nills mainly the blades that's what got me thinking about a cheap bladed auger that cuts like a nills!     

my run of bad luck just tops it with the nils but $100 for a blade is  understandable  but for $109.99 for a new finbore3 in a  8 inch is why i ask about the auger  that and the blades are fairly cheap for the fin bore 3.  how long with the blades last season after season of sharpening for a new nills head is how i see it. sooner or later will be buying a new blade every so many seasons.. just like my old mora's i have had changed the blades every few seasons. 

the strike masters lasers worked great last year in a 5 inch the 8 inch was a pain the rump. that's why i ask about the fin bore does it cut as good  as the nills ? and will it last longer or should i just go with a power auger or a new blade for my nils? there is just so many options  i am just trying to weight them out. along with weed them out for what i don't want...

any  ways  thanks for the reply i don't want to turn it in to the this is better then this post just looking for honest points from owners   i know it's going to be a cold year this year it has to be cause it never warmed up!   don't want to get caught with my pants down trying to get blades or  a new auger... or what ever later on... any ways thanks for the info...   



if it is a power auger you suggest how do the lasers work with a cord less drill any good? like a 8 inch laser auger? or should i just get another nills blade or a power auger like the s33 there so much out there that my head is spinning lol's.











this answered some of my questions on the 8 inch laser and cordless drills..

 http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=273421.0

[FISHFORPIKE]

It don't matter what auger you get - if you drive it through dirt it's not going to be good.
I have both, Finbore 6" and NILs 8".  The NILs is a way stronger auger, in my opinion.  It's the best out there (by most reviewers opinions).  The Finbore is a good auger and if treated well, it will do a great job.
You don't need to spend 100$ on a new head for your NILs; just send it in to Frank ($20.00 + return freight) He is on this forum as "SHARPNILS".  Does a great job.  In my opinion, the sharpening service on the NILS vs. new blades for the Finbore or any other auger, is a wash.

[NYSporty]

I'd buy a new nils head and treat it nice. I believe one of the leading causes of a bad experience with a nils is operator error, they are not like other augers the will catch on the way out I give it a few extra fast cranks after I'm through to clear bulk ice chips then back it out . You can not lean on it when drilling it will roll the edge and render it useless. I have a 4" and 6" nils for general pan fish and walleye hunting if I know someone will need to use an auger or we are setting allot of tipups I take my 8" strikemaster with chipper blade she is bullet proof.
I have the icemaster adapter and drill for both nils and it just rips ice and pulls its self down through the ice.
PS No one uses my nils but me.

[gearheart]

I have a 6" fin bore 2 with a worn out head. It served me well for many a year.  I replaced it with an Eskimo 8" Sportsman about 25 years ago.  It still runs just fine but as i got older it seemed to get heavier so I ressurrected the fin bore by upgrading to a fin 3 head. Had this head been available 25 years ago I would never have bought the Eskimo.  It shaves the ice into large chips and cuts with very little effort.  It also weighs 1/4 or less than the Eskimo.  I go to places where walking is the only option and  a minimalist approach makes sense unless you can con someone else into dragging all your stuff.

[fish-kabob]

some awesome points. and  thank you! most of all on the fin bore exactly what i wanted to hear. i priced a 6 inch finbore 3 for $130  and the nills is selling for $140 for the 6 inch nills the blades are a little cheaper on the 6 inch compared to the 8 inch. is why i am looking at it. and since you guys say the nills is better then the fin bore i may pick up a 8 inch blade too or just a 8 inch blade.  i wish they made a 7 inch nils reason being a 7 inch more fits what i like doing the 8 inch nils i could almost lose my colemen cpx lantern down when fishing.   i keep finding out that the nills is a better auger even better then the most power augers i have seen. because of the blades being cheaply made on some power augers. any how i do know it is user error on my part,  that that blade needs sharpening.  but any how looking to get a couple new toys this year and  this is one of them.      any how thanks for all the advise head just stopped spinning lol's now i know what i am looking for. 

[Damn Yankee]

Most of those here praising the Nils or the FinBore have not used them side by side. The FinBore is about 95% as good as the Nils (without the problems the Nils can have). Don't let anyone tell you different, the Fin bore and the Lazer Strikemaster (made in Sweden) blades are the same item. The FinBore does have an offset handle (like the Nils).
The Nils is like a high maintenance woman. First thing in the morning you must talk nice to it or it won't perform well during the day. Use foul language to a Nils and you'll have to send it to Frank for a tune-up. Let a friend use it and off to Frank again. etc.

[Cfilbert]

Most of those here praising the Nils or the FinBore have not used them side by side. The FinBore is about 95% as good as the Nils (without the problems the Nils can have). Don't let anyone tell you different, the Fin bore and the Lazer Strikemaster (made in Sweden) blades are the same item. The FinBore does have an offset handle (like the Nils).
The Nils is like a high maintenance woman. First thing in the morning you must talk nice to it or it won't perform well during the day. Use foul language to a Nils and you'll have to send it to Frank for a tune-up. Let a friend use it and off to Frank again. etc.

Lol

[OldCaveman]

  I bought a 8" fin bore 3 last October and I love it. It is the 1st hand auger that I have owned and I was amazed how easily it drilled holes. The fin bore was easily the best money I ever spent on ice fishing equipment. I have never had the privilege of using a Nils so I'm unable to tell you which is better. I would love to do a side by side comparison. I think which ever you choose you will be happy. Good luck.

[fish-kabob]

  I would love to do a side by side comparison. I think which ever you choose you will be happy. Good luck.

me to! i am thinking of doing it...   

[gsp]

I have a 6" fin bore 3.  Bought it two years ago.  Best hand auger i have ever used hands down.  Have no problem drilling through 20 inches of ice without breaking a sweat.  I drill usually 15 holes in a outing, and get out  about 30 or so times a year, so it definitely gets a work out.  I have let a few people use it while ice fishing and all the say is where can i get one of those fin bores.  I have tried the 8" as well and its pretty good as well.  I unfortunately have not tried a nils so i am not able to compare the two of them. 

[BaitBucket]

I have used both augers and I couldnt tell the difference.

Here are the main differences.

Nils - Cost more
Nils - Spare blade or should I say head costs more and if you want to carry it with you, takes up more space.
Nils - Sharpening costs more. You need to ship it out.
Nils - Blade cover is a pain in the rear, and will almost certainly cause you to slice you finger on the blades at least once.

Fin-Bore - Cheaper than Nils
Fin-Bore - Replacement blades are the same as the Lazers, cheap and readily available. Small enough to keep in a pocket if u want to.
Fin-Bore - Most tackle shops can resharpen the blade while u wait for about $5.

[Reel trouble]

The nils is a little smoother doesn't seem to catch on the bottom of the hole as much, Both are great augers and you cant go wrong with either. It all comes down to how much you want to pay for the auger resharpening and extra blades or heads if you get either one in sandy ice there done.