STRIKEMASTER HAND AUGER

[SUNNY HOLIDAY]

I have an 8" Strikemaster hand auger. It has worked great the last 3 years. The blades look worn but usable. The auger does not bite into the ice this year. It slides and shaves. Do I need new blades or do I have an alignment problem?

[fishermanna82]

you need new blades or you can save money and buy a sharpener. you i change the blades an my strikemaster every year but this year i bought a sharpener to save money.

[esox_xtm]

Hand augers can be "fussy"............... If you treat them like fragile glass, the blades can last 3-5 years without resharpening. One ding on the ice or even just leaning on it can dull the blades enough to create the symptoms you describe. 

Even when too dull to cut ice those blades are incredibly sharp. Handle with care, the use of gloves for removal and installation is recommended if you are new to that.

You have a few options:
1.) Get a new set of blades (recommended)
2.) Have your old blades resharpened. You should do this anyway. Then you will always have a spare, sharp set to use if you go dull again..
3.) Strikemaster has a blade swap/sharpening service.
4.) Our local tool sharpening guy does a fine job on all sorts of auger blades: hand, power, chipper, Mora, or Lazer

Good luck............ 

/m

[ice_hunter]

one other trick ya can do to get a couple more holes out of it before ya have to replace the blades is  to install a shim in FRONT of the mounting screws, this will angle the edge down a little bit more, making it bite the ice a little bit better..............us ually all it takes for a shim is one or two thicknesses of aluminum ( pop can or beer can)...........just loosen the mounting screws enough to slip the shim between the blade and the mounting surface, re-tighten, and away ya go again.     

this trick is only good for about another 15-20 holes, then it loses effectiveness again.......just one way to save a day on the ice is all it is......

[pipeline]

get the gary roach blade sharpener it helps and its for strikemaster and jiffy i found one at dicks sports after i trashed my new blades checking first ice ordered new set and sharpened the others happy drillin !!

[slipperybob]

If you've never checked the blade mounting screws, check them.  Sometimes you just merely have to tighten them.

[SUNNY HOLIDAY]

New blades it is. Thanks to all that responded. My wife wasn't much help when I asked her.