Spud vs Manual Auger?

[The Dowagiac Dangler]

I know a few guys here do not like Eskimo, but for the money (around $35 for std. 6" from fishusa.com when I bought mine a few years back) its hard to beat. Ive had mine for five seasons now, and it still cuts good. Two years ago I let my nephew use it, and he banged it around and ran the blades into the sand a couple of times checking ice thickness, but it still cuts good. I agree, mora is no good, youd be better off bringing a framing hammer and beating a hole in the ice than using a mora for more than a season lol. My Eskimo is still on its original set of blades too. I bought an HT Polar auger last year at a garage sale for $5 with no blades, spent $20 on new blades, and it cuts like garbage. I have a mora 6" with a set of unused resharpened blades, but no bolts for the blades (again, thanks to my nephew), if you still need an auger, pm me and ill hook you up with it. Tight lines brother.

[Tipup Master]

I think there is a misconception that Nils augers needs sharpening every year.  My 6 inch has been through 4 seasons without being sharpened and it still cuts great.  They do require care to prevent banging the cutting cone on the ice.  What I love about them is the lack of any down pressure needed for cutting.  I have heard alot of guys rave about the Lazers and assume they must be pretty good.  Maybe my buddy purchased an Eskimo "lemon" but it was terrible when brand new and went back to his spud (unless I'm along).

[fish-kabob]

tipup master i hear those 6 inch nils blades were/ are way better then the 8" nils like the one i got did not even last a season.. i think they were from a bad batch? but like i said just be prepared to have it sharpened if need be i think frank with the screen name of sharpnils does it in Minnesota for around $30 a auger head.  you can find him under the site sponsors page..  it's not a bad price a bad set of mora blades is about $20-30 if you really think about it those only last one season and need sharpening too so you know lazer blade run about 39.99-49.99 depending were you go   for a 8 inch lazer.. fin bores are about the same as the lazer    tell  you the truth when my nils 8 inch worked it cut faster then my 5 inch lazer if that give a hint lazers are not bad nils are just better...sorry have not tried eskimo yet so can't comment on them....  by the way that is a awesome deal at cabelas 115 minus the 20 for spending a 100 for the coupon code:  4frosty20 plus free shipping...me i would get the 6 inch cause the heads are about 59.99 each compare to 99.99 for the 8 inch there double the price for the 8 inch if you ever had to replace it...you can find them cheaper else ware too   just got to search for them.. i got two 8 inchers one for 76 and one for 80 two total.. that the best deal i found yet on the nills   

[Tipup Master]

Fish-kabob....thanks for the info on getting a Nils sharpened.  I also have an 8 inch but have used it only 1 year.

[fish-kabob]

i got mine few year ago about 3-4 years ago i think when they made them the 8 inch came out it had bad heads and they ran them as a special at cabelas for like 180 and got another 20 off of that hope your is better then mine was at first i noticed it was cutting wrong  right off the bad.  like said after a while it just did not want to cut mid way threw the season then the next season would not cut at all. with out any pressure on it. i tried sharpening it with no luck which i don't suggest doing ever. should send it to sharp nils.  i ordered two new blades for it this year and about a month ago and just got another 6 inch for Christmas  and a clam auger plate and a skill half in drill want to try it out is what i wanted to do. just got to wait till the December 26 to try it all out. i bought lazer auger in between to try out till i could afford a 6 inch thought the blade were cheaper on the lazers there 15 to have sharpen approximately  but from what i hear is the 6 inch nils is the way to go... even if it cost the $30 to sharpen. just got to buy more head for the new 6 inch my self  that way if they die i got enough to last the season....  by the way the 8 may be a great auger i may have gotten a bad head on mine?? got mine a few year ago like said. like i keep saying i would go for the nils can say enough good about them but weight your budgets and try it seems the cabelas auger went up in price it now $150 for the 6 inch with a $20 discount... i just bought it from the same place for $101.89 with free shipping tax included for a 6 inch that why i suggest going to cabelas  but it seems the sale ended....           

[Swedish Pimp]

Nils Autherized Sharpening
Frank DeLuca
5382 Jentoft Rd.
Saginaw, MN 55779

$20.00 plus shipping. I just got a head back. Shipping cost me $14.58 both ways. You have to send it thru the post office. Turn around time is fast.

[fish-kabob]

Nils Autherized Sharpening
Frank DeLuca
5382 Jentoft Rd.
Saginaw, MN 55779

$20.00 plus shipping. I just got a head back. Shipping cost me $14.58 both ways. You have to send it thru the post office. Turn around time is fast.

almost the cost of a new head? unless that 14.58 divided by 2 so it would be $34.58 total ?  if so that close to the quote i got...   

[Swedish Pimp]

There is nothing cheep about a nils. But they cut like no other. If you fish a few times a year and put a dozen or so holes in the ice each outing. The nils is not real economical. If hunting down bluegill and perch is your passion. The the nils is a great option. Work smarter not harder. I am getting a little older now and putting a few hundred holes in the ice can take it out of you. I need some gas in the tank to clean, cook and chase the wife around at the end of the day.

[Swedish Pimp]

There is nothing cheep about a nils. But they cut like no other. If you fish a few times a year and put a dozen or so holes in the ice each outing. The nils is not real economical. If hunting down bluegill and perch is your passion. The the nils is a great option. Work smarter not harder. I am getting a little older now and putting a few hundred holes in the ice can take it out of you. I need some gas in the tank to clean, cook and chase the wife around at the end of the day.

[saltcatzach]

THANKS alot for all of the help and info im thinking an 8" for pike and tip ups. is that overkill? or too small

[fish-kabob]

THANKS alot for all of the help and info im thinking an 8" for pike and tip ups. is that overkill? or too small

nils is not over kill in a 8 inch cuts like a 5 inch laser but better "less effort" . i think my laser took more effort to cut last year then my nils did  if looking at the laser look in to the fin bore 3 in the 8 inch i think it will cut better and faster then the laser in a 8 inch from what i have heard plus it has that offset handle so it close to a nils.  but the best i have touched so far is the nils . made by the same comapny as the laser the fin bore three is from what i hear a great auger to... also check fish307.com they carried the finbore 3  last year so they mite this year. also they are a site sponsor...   

link to fin bore 3 at fishing world Canada it is a Canadian store so there is a exchange rate...

 https://fishingworld.ca/products/6194-normark-fin-bore-iii-auger-8-

[TheMightyKraken]

8" will work for pike, you can always cut 2 holes close to each other and chip out the center if the pike are running big.