Sharpening Auger Blades-advice please

[kim63ny]

Does anyone have any good advice when it comes to sharpening auger blades? It seems as though, more often than not, it turns out bad and doesn't cut anywhere as well as a new set! Is there a trick to it or just alot of practice or is it something that a professional should do? Or is it more an issue that the original bevel and thickness has been altered and no matter what you do-it just won't work?? Got me stumped! Gets pretty darned expensive to keep buying new ones-even for hand augers!

[OUTFISHERMAN]

I just checked on a place for you that my wifes Grandfather used to get his blades sharpenedat. This place was in Wisconcin. Apparently it is out of business. I am pretty sure you can send your blades to StrikeMaster and they swap your dull blades for sharpened ones.Its worth a shot. If you cant find the phone #, I might have it laying around. Hope that helped.

[bigredonice]

i picked up an old mora a few years back as a project (i already had 2 nils masters), to see if i could get it cutting well, without buying new blades.  i took a wide permanent marker, and put a mark on either side at the edge of the blade. i then took an india stone, and with smooth strokes towards the edge, i worked at the blade till i took off an even amount of material on either side.  The auger than cut great till i hit a rock testing shoreline thickness at Paradox Lake - that threw the whole blade mount off angle, and the auger became a paperweight...

If you want someone other than yourself to sharpen your auger's blade http://www.fish307.com has the services you need.

[kim63ny]

Just looked at all my packages of replacement blades made by Strikemaster (hand and gas augers) and don't see any kind of warrenty on them. Also looked in my catalogs without any success. I had never heard of them doing even-up trades-so will give them a call and see what thier policy is. I have thier number-thanks! Kim

I just checked on a place for you that my wifes Grandfather used to get his blades sharpenedat. This place was in Wisconcin. Apparently it is out of business. I am pretty sure you can send your blades to StrikeMaster and they swap your dull blades for sharpened ones.Its worth a shot. If you cant find the phone #, I might have it laying around. Hope that helped.

[IceGeek]

Kim,
  I posted a response last week and it was moved to the equipment/augers area.  Look there.  Lots of techniques.  Just make sure you only sharpen on the top side of the blades or you will alter the cutting angle too much and it will cut terrible.

[kim63ny]

Thanks for the info. I an relatively new to the forums and the Ice Shanty site and didn't know there was a section for equipment. Will check it out! Thanks agin for your help! Kim

Kim,
  I posted a response last week and it was moved to the equipment/augers area.  Look there.  Lots of techniques.  Just make sure you only sharpen on the top side of the blades or you will alter the cutting angle too much and it will cut terrible.

[elkman]

You can sharpen auger blades yourself but the trick is to keep the original angle.It takes a little practice but you can do it.I sharpen my own and have pretty good luck with it.If you dont have luck doing it yourself most sharpening services can also do it for you.
                                                                                Elkman