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i have had serious issues with the Nils ice blades. I got a nils two years ago and the first season it was awesome. Super smooth cutting and super fast. The blade eventually got one tiny chip in it and it went completely dull. So i ordered one at cabelas last year and the thing worked for one trip. It went completely dull in one trip. So i returned it and got another blade from cabelas and the same thing happened. So i sent it back to cabelas and eventually they sent me a brand new strike master lazer ice auger for all the issues i had with the nils. So i got to talking to someone who knew a lot about nils and apparently if those blades touch any ice/dirt mixed into the ice the blades dull (He compared it to cutting into sandpaper). I was fishing fairly close to a beach that may have had sand blowing onto the ice, but this is a warning to anyone fishing off of beaches. We will see how the strike master does this year. I loved the nils the first year, but now it seems like it is too much of a hassle.
That is my biggest complaint about the Ion. I really wish it had a chipper style blade bc I'm on my 5th set of blades in 4 years. If there is dirty ice it is going to mess up the blade unless it is a chipper. The only saving grace is that the blades can be had for about $30. I just wish on a piece of equipment that costs over $500 you'd get something that wouldn't have these issues.