Strikemaster Lazer Replacement Blades

[VTWoodchuck]

I just received a new set of blades for my Strikemaster 6" auger and I have to say I'm not impressed.   They came in a plastic box that said Strikemaster  on it but when I opened the box I found the 2 blades shrink wrapped on a cardboard that had the Mora Ice logo on it and both blades also had Mora Ice stamped into the metal on the blade.  I contacted Stikemaster and sent them a scan of the packaging and they said that indeed Mora is making their blades and that they are correct.  The good news is that they both also have Made in Sweden die stamped on the blade as well but that is where the good news stops.  After removing them from the shrink wrap and comparing them to my old blades that have been reground twice the new ones are still about 1/8" smaller/narrower than my old blades meaning much less blade to regrind. The metal itself doesn't appear to be the same grade as the beautiful surgical steel my old ones are made of.  It gets worse the ground edge is very uneven and even looks burnt in a couple spots.  It looks like they did it on a shop grinder holding it by hand.  I used to run a machine shop years ago so I'm familiar with good and bad cutter grinding and this was some of the worst I've seen.  I'm tempted to send them back but they are out of stock now and I doubt exchanging them would be any better.  I think that this is what passes quality inspection nowadays. 

[rball]

I would send them back im sure that other places have something in stock, cabelas, basspro, gander, sportsmans guide...

[Cotacatchers]

That's a bummer.   Where did you order ? Online?   
I've got a 6" and a 5" I use with cordless for early ice
And I've never seen blades packaged that way.   - send em back

[Bigassbassman]

Sorry to hear that -- I'd definitely send them back.  BPS or other big stores should have them in stock.  I got some new ones this year for my Lazer, and they look perfectly new and well made.

[3300]

mine were packed like that. i just installed them, needing it right away and it cuts like new. do not use their blue scaper sharpener. it ruined my edges

maybe call mora and ask them what to do if you are unhappy and know they are out stock

[VTWoodchuck]

That's a bummer.   Where did you order ? Online?   
I've got a 6" and a 5" I use with cordless for early ice
And I've never seen blades packaged that way.   - send em back

Got them from Dicks Sporting Goods online.  They said they'd exchange or refund but they are out of stock now and don't know when they'll have more in.   I set that same picture to Strikemaster because I thought they may be counterfeit but their customer service says that is how the new ones are packaged now and they are legit.  I guess this is what to expect now that Rapala has bought Strikemaster and Mora.

[SnoHam13]

this isn't good
2 years ago I took my auger over to the shop and they re calibrated the auger and replaced the blades on the spot
couldn't ask for better service
id send them back
also thank you for the heads up
ill sharpen my own[even if I have to make a jig to do this]
cant be any harder than thickness planer or jointer blades to do

SnoHam13

[VTWoodchuck]

this isn't good
2 years ago I took my auger over to the shop and they re calibrated the auger and replaced the blades on the spot
couldn't ask for better service
id send them back
also thank you for the heads up
ill sharpen my own[even if I have to make a jig to do this]
cant be any harder than thickness planer or jointer blades to do

SnoHam13

Yep, they are going back. The Mora blade is flat with a surface curve so that kind are a bit easier.  I think it will take more than a jig.  The Lazer had a compound curve that should require a fixture to rotate the blade on the grinder wheel in correspondence with the curve.  I'd be skeptical of anyone trying to grind them without the correct tooling. 

[bobberbill]

Try them first. Maybe they will cut just fine. If not, you can still return them as defective.

[arrow2968]

Got to agree with 3300 stay away from the blue sharpener. Bought a set of replacement 6" blades at Cabellas last month. In big letters on the front of cardboard says Strikemaster . Small letter on top says Mora. Blades are marked Mora and Made in Sweden. Im a former machinist and the grind looks good to me.

[VTWoodchuck]

Got to agree with 3300 stay away from the blue sharpener. Bought a set of replacement 6" blades at Cabellas last month. In big letters on the front of cardboard says Strikemaster . Small letter on top says Mora. Blades are marked Mora and Made in Sweden. Im a former machinist and the grind looks good to me.

I'm glad your new blades came through with a good edge.  Mine were so bad they had blue spots on the edge from overheating probably from talking to much stock off in each pass of the grinder.  One blade actually had a burr on it the cutting edge.  As you can see from the scan I posted above that the packaging on the set I received doesn't say Strikmaster any when on it, just Mora Ice.  They were stamped made in Sweden though.  I think now that they've been acquired by Rapala they are probably being pressured to cut costs. 

  I have one of the blue Strikemaster sharpeners that I've used for a few years for touching up nicks.  It is important to know that the sharpener has to be held in the right orientation because it has the correct blade angle built into it, if held wrong it will destroy the cutting edge.  If it is held correctly it will do a descent job.  On mine there is an arrow die stamped on it indicating the correct orientation.  There is also a good description on the back of the package that most people discard before reading it.

[arrow2968]

Got curious got out my dial calipers to ck size of my original and the replacement ones. They seem to be real close to the same size. I wonder if they got a grind set up blades mixed in with the new ones and you got them. Where did you get your old blades sharpened ? I need my original ones done as they are showing a bit of wear on the outside tips.I tried the blue sharpener on one but it seemed to dull the rest of the blade and not catch the tip enough.

[VTWoodchuck]

Got curious got out my dial calipers to ck size of my original and the replacement ones. They seem to be real close to the same size. I wonder if they got a grind set up blades mixed in with the new ones and you got them. Where did you get your old blades sharpened ? I need my original ones done as they are showing a bit of wear on the outside tips.I tried the blue sharpener on one but it seemed to dull the rest of the blade and not catch the tip enough.

I had my original blades sharpened by Red Rock Store around January of 2013 and they did a good job taking just enough to clean up the edge.  I didn't measure them before and after but I'd say they didn't take off more than .005+- when they sharpened them.  My old blades are still at least 1/8" wider (more stock) than the new ones I received.  Notice the dull finish on the new blades compared beautiful mirror finish of surgical quality stainless steel on my old blades.   You can even see the reflection of my camera on the blade in the picture even after years use.  The new blades material doesn't even look like it is stainless steel, more like cold rolled steel that is press formed and bead blasted.  The new ones aren't even close to the same quality whether they're made in Sweden or not.  My old blades are still very good and they hold an edge really well.  The only reason I bought new blades was I got a gift card and thought it would be good to have another set for when I need get these sharpened again.  This time I'm going to find some place local so I don't risk getting these switched for a pair of the newer ones.

My Original Blades


New Blades

[toofuss]

DO NOT USE ANY TYPE OF GRINDER ON LAZER BLADES! We resharpen them at the bait shop I work for, use a very fine belt sander then finish with a felt belt and a med cut buffing bar. The belt sander will conform to the curve of the blade better than any wheel will. With a little practice they will come out better than any new set from the factory

[VTWoodchuck]

DO NOT USE ANY TYPE OF GRINDER ON LAZER BLADES! We resharpen them at the bait shop I work for, use a very fine belt sander then finish with a felt belt and a med cut buffing bar. The belt sander will conform to the curve of the blade better than any wheel will. With a little practice they will come out better than any new set from the factory

I sorry but we are going to have to agree to disagree on that.  I believe that a cutter grinder operated by a trained machinist is the way to sharpen cutting tools. I was in manufacturing for 38 years, started my career as a machinist and ran a large precision machine shop for a number of years.   I'm choosing not to let anyone take a belt sander to my blades.

[Bucket Brigade]

I just bought the Mora blades made in Sweden and they are awesome!!!

[VTWoodchuck]

I just bought the Mora blades made in Sweden and they are awesome!!!

Were the for the Mora or the Lazer?

[OIM]

Lets put some facts out there for you guys.

Fact #1 Mora has always made the blades for the strike master auger (except the china blade experiment a few years back)

Fact #2 Rapala doesn't own Mora they bought the exclusives North American rights to use and sell there products while using the Mora name.

Fact #3 Mora changed there steel supplier two years ago. They also are using steel with a higher Carbon content now then the older blades.

[VTWoodchuck]

Well no matter who owns them, makes them or where they were made, the blades I got were crap.  With that said, any manufacturing business can have a defect sneak though and get out in the field.  My guess is these were probably the first pieces in a new set up and were burned from taking too much stock off in a single pass before they got the machine and fixture dialed in?  DSG gladly took them back with their apologies and though they didn't have any in stock they gave me a refund so kudos to their customer service.

[Bucket Brigade]

Were the for the Mora or the Lazer?

I think the hard plastic case said Laser Mag...not sure. But the sealed package inside (like your pic) said Mora made in Sweden. I they have been burned from grinding, send them back. Even with Rapala owning this company, they have a GOOD reputation.

[VTWoodchuck]

I have already returned them.  I have been using the Stikermaster Lazer for many years manually and now with a Clam drill plate and love it.   

[deadsmelthead]

Rapala I believe owns Strike master and Mora, Mora blades been coming in strike master packages for awhile now... I have my blades sharpened by a guy who uses a grinder, have yet to have an issue with it...