Auger blades dulling at Bitter?

[BojiHawk]

My brother took his auger home from a trip to bitter...said he could barely punch through 7" of ice.  Mine has been up there a LOT more than his.  Both started with new blades at the begging of the season.  Is there possibly patches of sand up there or something?  He let my buddy use it when when were up there and then...auger was smoked.  Mine was fine when I left last time, just wondering if there are possibly sand rich veins ala Gold Rush running through the ice that people had encountered.

[lastapproach]

When we were up there two weeks ago we drilled probably 30 or so holes. Last weekend and this weekend I have noticed that I have to put a little more downward pressure than when i first got it; like it wasn't cutting as well. So I believe that it did dull my auger. There was a week or so where it was really wind up here and it was blowing dirt around pretty easily so I am guessing that must have gotten into the ice.

[dwmiller]

I have drilled over 80 holes in four weekend trips and mine is still cutting pretty good.

[blufloyd]

We had that couple years back with no snow cove dirty ice kills blades quick.

[sped28]

just ordered a new set for my jiffy today worked good at the start of season now it takes forever to drill a hole

[nodakbassmaster]

Dirt and sand blowing off shore and getting into the ice will  nuke blades quick! I killed a new set trying to drill 1/2 a hole once near a beach, didn't even get 2 inches in. Turns out there was a lot of sand in the ice from the beach... 

[black hills tj]

Is there a halfway decent way to not necessarily sharpen, but add a little life back into the blades of an auger?  Does anyone in town, or maybe mail order, offer a blade exchange where you just send in dull blades and they give you a fresh set?

[blindluck]

Is there a halfway decent way to not necessarily sharpen, but add a little life back into the blades of an auger?  Does anyone in town, or maybe mail order, offer a blade exchange where you just send in dull blades and they give you a fresh set?

ice blade sharpeners work to take out small burs. some say not to use with certain kinds but it worked...a flat file could work

[fish-core]

my blades seem to have gotten dull! one weekend they were great and the next it seemed like it took FOREVER to get through the ice! lol. but i sold that auger and got a new one 

[Vex-Um]

Black Hills TJ

My blades got dull from the sand on bitter 4 weeks ago.  I didn't have access to a grinding wheel so i just laid a fine file flat on the blade and filed off the burs.  The blade isn't as sharp as it was but it does a way better job of cutting than it did after my trip to bitter.

[TheRo0sTer]

They sell $12 carbide sharpeners or you can buy a honing stone with fine and med sides.

[BojiHawk]

Ran a finger across the blades on mine last night...they are razors, still take the hair off the back of my hand.  Drilled 500 holes on Bitter.  Hmmm...that is very strange.  We were fishing right next to each other virtually....his is smoked, mine seems to be fine.  I have a 2007 strikelite....he has a 2011 Strikelite II.   Diff. auger as far as the flights and blade set up (mounting)....but I think they use the same blades.

[blindluck]

Ran a finger across the blades on mine last night...they are razors, still take the hair off the back of my hand.  Drilled 500 holes on Bitter.  Hmmm...that is very strange.  We were fishing right next to each other virtually....his is smoked, mine seems to be fine.  I have a 2007 strikelite....he has a 2011 Strikelite II.   Diff. auger as far as the flights and blade set up (mounting)....but I think they use the same blades.

sounds like bad luck.  maybe he used it to open up an old hole?