Sounds like a dull blade. The tip cuts first, so if the hole starts good then your tip is good. Since you said stops, I assume it just hangs up and the auger itself isn't bogging down. If so I think it is a dull blade, once the tip breaks through and the blade has to knock out that last 1/2" of ice it takes a lot of torque and if the blade isn't sharp it will hang up every time. If it has done it from the start, when it was brand new, then I think your blade angle might be off to where it bites off more than it can chew at the end of the hole.