Hand Drill Auger Ice Torque Requirement

[treillw]

So I have searched online and on this forum and have not come across anything to answer my question.  Please direct me to the answer, if I am missing it. 

I want to get an ice auger and hope to pair it with my existing electric drill.  This may not work and I might have to purchase a new drill.  What torque ratings do you need for drilling different size holes?  I've seen pretty commonly that you need 700 in*lb for an 8" hole.  What do you need for a 5", 6", and 7" hole? 

Thanks!

[Gills-only]

I would say u need 750’# for the smaller augers, and anything bigger for the 8” auger. Will something smaller work, sure but u may take a chance on burning it up, ice thickness and battery size will also be a determining factor !!

[hardwater diehard]

The general recommendation is 700 in/lbs or better brushless drill... 4 ah lithium batteries or better for 6" or less (4"-5") auger drill unit ...I would recommend the Milwaukee 2703 or 2704 for 8 " auger drill unit . Some members are having luck with 7" and 8" auger drill units with some other drill combos . Also the 8" Kdrill units will also work too.

[Seamonkey84]

I use a Milwaukee m18 with 720in/lb for my 7” lazer with a clam plate (gen2 drill chuck removed) without a problem, I still just have the original two 4ah batteries and have yet to use up both batteries in one trip. The m18 batteries are great since they are rated for the cold.

[DTro]

I think 500 is a good starting point for a 6” shaver blade.   Remember though it’s not just torque specs alone that will determine success, you also have RPMs and just overall build quality as well, not to mention battery size which is crucial.  I’d say 4ah at a minimum.    I’ve seen a few guys drilling with Rigids and Ryobis and if you put too much down force on it, it will cut out instantly (you almost have to lift up on it a bit).  But after you figure that out, it works pretty well.   So many variables.   Honestly I say buy a Milwaukee (2703 or 2704) or DeWalt DCD996 and it will take on just about any auger bit you can throw at it.   If you just want to throw an auger on any ol drill you have lying around be prepared to make it a paperweight.

[Uglymug]

My 5" Mora is doing just fine with a 470 in lb Craftsman.

Definitely burns through batteries though. I'd say I was getting about 8 holes per battery. Luckily I brought 3.

I plan on getting an Milwaukee with a nice big battery at some point.

[bobberbill]

750" pounds of torque will break an arm or wrist if you're not careful. I use an 18v Hitachi (Menard's) 1/2" brushless on my 6" Laser. I can cut holes all day long on 1 4ah battery. And the next day.

[treillw]

This is my current drill.  I have the 2606-20. 
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Power-Tools/Drilling/Drill-Drivers/2606-20

It doesn't have the torque to turn the 8" auger, but it's not far off and should be able to handle a 6" or something I'd think. 

My batteries say 27 wh, which equals 1500 mAh (milliamp hours), which I believe is 1.5 Ah.  Sounds like the battery is under gunned as well. 

I'm not a professional ice fisherman by any means.  I've gone 4 times in my life and probably want to go at most once a week and drill 5-10 holes.  I probably could live with a hand auger??

[hardwater diehard]

This is my current drill.  I have the 2606-20. 
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Power-Tools/Drilling/Drill-Drivers/2606-20

It doesn't have the torque to turn the 8" auger, but it's not far off and should be able to handle a 6" or something I'd think. 

My batteries say 27 wh, which equals 1500 mAh (milliamp hours), which I believe is 1.5 Ah.  Sounds like the battery is under gunned as well. 

I'm not a professional ice fisherman by any means.  I've gone 4 times in my life and probably want to go at most once a week and drill 5-10 holes.  I probably could live with a hand auger??

Could start with bigger batteries with your existing drill...good blades on your auger ...not sure where you live..should add your location to your profile..but if your not dealing with really thick ice in general you just might be able to do it ...just take breaks between holes so not to overheat the drill so much.

[treillw]

Could start with bigger batteries with your existing drill...good blades on your auger ...not sure where you live..should add your location to your profile..but if your not dealing with really thick ice in general you just might be able to do it ...just take breaks between holes so not to overheat the drill so much.

Thanks for the guidance.  I live in MT.  The ice can be pretty thick, but it was 8" and 12" the last two times I went (don't think that's too bad). 

[Light liner]

I'm drilling 2' of ice right now with a 18 volt brushless rigid with 4 ah batteries and a 6" auger no issues.
Would like to try an 8" see how it does.

[treillw]

I'm drilling 2' of ice right now with a 18 volt brushless rigid with 4 ah batteries and a 6" auger no issues.
Would like to try an 8" see how it does.

what torque drill?  Which auger?

[Light liner]

700 inch lb hammer drill
6" nills auger

[Aqualift]

 Menards Masterforce 20V Brushless Drill 4AH LI Battery  600 in lbs torque

No issues whatsoever with Eskimo 8" or HT Mini Nero 7" augers.

[Spider1]

I have an old 525 in/lb Ridged Fuego with a 4ah battery turning a 6" HT auger through any ice I want. I can drill holes through a foot of ice without a problem and I've never used more than half a battery in a day of fishing. I've used it through 20" of ice and didn't have a problem.

[ejdelvo28]

1. Sharp auger blades
2. At least 500 inch pounds of torque
3. 4 amp or larger battery

The smaller the auger bit, the easier it will be on the drill.  Bonus points if the drill is brushless and especially if it has more torque.  Don't forget to jimmy up some kind of security system in case the auger bit comes out of the chuck.

[treillw]

What exactly does brushless mean?  I searched around the internet and I'm pretty sure that my 2606-20 has brushes.  What happens if you use a drill with brushes? 

What happens if you have two 1.5 Ah batteries instead of a 4 Ah? 

I see a hand auger coming my way!    
Is this a total piece of junk?  Is there a reason to pay more?
http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/sportsmans/Eskimo-Standard-8-inch-Hand-Auger/productDetail/Ice-Augers/prod99990133787/cat101072

[hardwater diehard]

What exactly does brushless mean?  I searched around the internet and I'm pretty sure that my 2606-20 has brushes.  What happens if you use a drill with brushes? 

What happens if you have two 1.5 Ah batteries instead of a 4 Ah? 

I see a hand auger coming my way!    
Is this a total piece of junk?  Is there a reason to pay more?
http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/sportsmans/Eskimo-Standard-8-inch-Hand-Auger/productDetail/Ice-Augers/prod99990133787/cat101072

Its all about the blades ...you want made in Sweden ...a good SM Mora will get the job done..and fairly inexpensive to put on your drill set up. With the smaller ah batteries ...prone to cutting out/stopping ..you will not like the performance and be disappointed overall. Brushed drills can overheat ...take your time between holes . 

[Spider1]

Brushes wear out, brushless don't.

My Ridgid came with a 1.5ah battery. It was good for 15-20 holes through up to 6" of ice. When we had a foot of ice it wouldn't do 4 holes. With my 4ah batteries I can drill a lot of holes. I've drilled holes for several guys all day, lost count of how many holes, and only used half a battery... and I got 2 of them. My blades are made in Japan... or where ever HT gets them from. I keep them sharp but the auger is nothing special. Once you have a good drill and sharp auger blades, it's all about the battery.

[Buckmaster7600]

Do t know the numbers on my drill but I do know it works way better than I ever expected. 12-14" of ice Monday drilled 31 holes and used half of 1 battery. 8" nills rigid hammer drill 4.0 batteries.