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From my observation, Nils does not have an issue with quality control. I new blade will look like its been painted over chipped paint. If you get a blade back from me and the blade was bent you'll see bare metal where the paint flaked off from being reshaped. I don't like any blades spending the night waiting for paint to dry so it is rare I'd paint one. Why they come like that new would be a guess on my part but I'd have to think the blade was painted and fine tuned after. Most new blades gone dull that I see aren't from being abused. It is what would seem like sand on the ice. If that sand if fine enough to get blown onto the ice chances are your not going to see it. I know its frustrating to take out a expensive, shiny new piece of equipment and have it not work after one hole. You can't blame Nils because of it nor am I'm not going to offend the user and suggest its their fault. Stuff happens and you drilled in a bad spot that dulled the blade. What happens is the sand creates a burr on the bottom of the blade. The blade is still sharp enough to slice your finger off but won't cut a hole. The blade isn't designed to slice, it has to shave the ice. If you drag your finger nail along the length of the edge it should be smooth. If there are burrs you'll feel them. If there was a way for you to do a quick fix I'd tell. You could try the StrikeMaster sharpener. This looks like a knife sharpen but it has one cutting edge instead of two. The cutting edge would situated to take material off the top(beveled side) of the blade. If you put a bevel on the bottom you've just taken years of service off the blade if not ruined it for good. That bevel would be ground off giving the bottom a flat side again. You can only do this so much till the blade is no good. I live in Northern MN surrounded by forest so blowing dirt and sand isn't a problem. My blades will cut 1000s of holes and I also use my Nils to open old holes in my perm. One benefit of a Nils blade that hasn't been mentioned is the head is the mount and blades and can be reshaped. Any other brand auger with a bent mount would require you to bring in the auger to a service center which are getting more scarce. My number and email have been posted and I'm happy to answer any questions or talk Nils.Frank
I can appreciate that wind blown sand/dirt could dull a blade. I'd sure like to know how I could drill 3 holes with absolutely no problem, go home, come back the very next day, attempt to drill new holes just inches from the ones the day before, and nothing!!! It just skittered about, it didn't slow down to nothing, it just stopped cutting!! I also find that after using my mora for 26 yrs. drilling the very same bodies of water, I've only changed the blades 1x (and that's because I thought I could keep the blades sharp by swiping them on a sharpening steel- don't do it- they won't cut at all then), and NEVER had it poop out like the nils did? Can it be that there is SO much sand/dirt being blown over so many varied parts of the country crapping out the NEW nils? Why aren't we hearing from the guys that have "older" augers? Why aren't they coming on here to share how their OLDER units are crapping out...drilling the very same bodies of water us new owners are??? I respect Frank's professional evaluation, but if Nils isn't having quality control problems, I'd like to hear from Nils owners that DID NOT just purchase one this year, and have them share IF their units are dull after cutting just a couple holes.......please.... ..it would go a long ways towards waylaying those of us that are feeling really burnt for having units that APPEAR to be of inferior quality.
bla bla bla nils.........and the economy is booming.
My blades are dull right now, and I have the same issue, but when I tap it on the ice to remove the built up ice and then lean on it, I make it through ok. Then again, it was 55 here Wednesday, so that may not work when we get over 8 inches
slekeith, you could try a leather wheel with compound on the bevel if you have a very fine burr. Keep doing that till the burr wipes away with a rag. At no time use the wheel on the flat side. The SM sharpener I mentioned earlier, you'll want to make very light strokes. You might get lucky enough to grind out a hole with one of the above but it is unlikely and most blades I get have too much damage to even try one of those choices.
Mine is cutting great so far, but I share the same sentiment regarding the paint job on the cutting head. It looks like paint was chipped off then repainted in spots. I sent an email off to Nils and the outfit I bought it through, here are both responses:From NilsHI Jeff,Rest assured you actually received a Made in Finland handcrafted cutting head. Cutting head is heated, shaped, welded, painted, sharpened and finished by hand. Due to this processes it will have at least 2-3 layers of red paint on it and possibly some minor tool marks under the paint that have no effect on how easy the auger will cut into ice.Brgds,JPFrom RedRock Wilderness:Hi,They are new and the all look rough, they are hand made and they do not spend a lot of time making them look pretty. We sell only new ones.Jackie- redrockwilderness -----Original Message-----From: JeffSent: Wednesday, January 16, 2013 1:56 PMTo: [email protected]Subject: Auger Quality?? Did I buy a re-manufactured/reconditioned? Last week I received an Nils 6" hand auger that I ordered through Red Rock Wilderness. When I received the auger I was surprised to see that the cutting head seemed to have been re-painted, as it has what looks like an area that the paint chipped off, then painted over. Is this how a cutting head would be sent out on a brand new auger or does this seem like I bought a "re-manufactured" auger? I'm a bit disappointed in this.
I like my new nils, but not blown away compared to my lazer with new blades...the point about the overall shotty condition, was do you really expect a $150 item, not to be in MINT condition in every way. It also seems like not all the Nils are cutting great! Lots of guys are having issues including a couple guys I talked to last weekend on the ice... 12 turns for 5 inches of ice with the 6 inch nils and 10 turns with the lazer on same ice and same day. Nils is less effort because you are turning both hands and lazer you're top hand is holding down the auger...I guess my point is I like them both, but now owning both, I could take either one....A few years ago we cut in 28 inches of ice with a 4.5 nils and other then having to scoop out the hole, that was very impressive. That Nils was also 15 years old and I believe a higher quality auger then the one I received a couple weeks ago. Just my 2 cents....
Hey perchpounder, just curious how long have been repping for strikemaster and how much are they paying your for your continuous negative comments on NILS.
Put the offset handles on the Lazer and it honestly becomes a horse a piece. The handles really make that much of a difference.
