Extra hard ice. Jean Lake- Kenai Lake

[broncobwl]

Can the ice down here get extra hard?  Like to where you can't get tent stakes in and the hand auger just seems to spin?  I haven't had these troubles  until this week.  Clear and hard.

[groundsluice_pete]

Ice is ice. You must have dulled your auger blades.

[iced]

My auger goes through the ice around Anchorage like no problem take it up north past Sutton or down south around Summit lake and it has to work a lot harder.

[broncobwl]

It was a combination of damaged blades and ice that formed without much aeration, due to our mild temps and no snow blanked.  Me thinks.  Thanks Pete, I didn't realize the importance and performance of sharp blades until this week.  I also downsized my hand auger to a six inch.  Yea!  Easier drilling!

[kasilofchrisn]

I have never experienced extra hard ice. Never even heard of such a thing.
I have experienced dull blades before. I have also experienced my power auger blades getting iced up and having to clear that before it would cut properly again.
Not setting wet auger blades into the snow on a cold day will help with that.
You can buy the quick sharpener for your hand auger blades. Rember the blades are only edged on one side. The sharpener they make
only sharpens the one side.
I don't think it would work as well on a power auger blade but your hand auger should benefit.
Keeping a spare set of blades on hand is always a good idea.
I have heard the lakes made up of glacial ice can reek havoc on your auger blades. The glacial silt dulls them rather quickly at times so I was told.