Ice Auger (hand) Problem

Hello,

I recently bought an older model Mora Strikemaster hand ice auger. I
am pretty sure they do not make this model anymore, in any case there
is no model number to be found on it. It does say it was manufactured
in Big Lake, MN.

I tried to use the auger yesterday and had a very hard time. The
auger is rather big, and has two 4.5" blades. The blades "look" and
feel sharp. The auger didn't want to "bite" into the ice, and sort of
danced around on the surface. With the two 4.5" blades, the hole to
be cut is 10" wide, but with the "dancing" problem, the hole ended up
being 13" wide.

I'm guessing that I have one of two problems. 1) My blades aren't
sharp enough. But there appear to be no nicks in the blade, and it
certainly "feels" sharp if in run my finger along it. 2) That 10"
hole is too big. I couldn't even find reference to any other auger
that cuts so big a hole. Every other ice auger I've used had about a
6" diameter blade.

All of the ads say that Mora Strikemasters are all built in Sweden,
but mine says Big Lake, MN. What's the story on this?

So what do you think? Should I start looking at other ice augers, or
should I try to improve my blade situation? Are 10" augers common?

Thanks, Tom

"parlee" wrote in message
...
Hello,

I recently bought an older model Mora Strikemaster hand ice auger. I
am pretty sure they do not make this model anymore, in any case there
is no model number to be found on it. It does say it was manufactured
in Big Lake, MN.

I tried to use the auger yesterday and had a very hard time. The
auger is rather big, and has two 4.5" blades. The blades "look" and
feel sharp. The auger didn't want to "bite" into the ice, and sort of
danced around on the surface. With the two 4.5" blades, the hole to
be cut is 10" wide, but with the "dancing" problem, the hole ended up
being 13" wide.

I'm guessing that I have one of two problems. 1) My blades aren't
sharp enough. But there appear to be no nicks in the blade, and it
certainly "feels" sharp if in run my finger along it. 2) That 10"
hole is too big. I couldn't even find reference to any other auger
that cuts so big a hole. Every other ice auger I've used had about a
6" diameter blade.

All of the ads say that Mora Strikemasters are all built in Sweden,
but mine says Big Lake, MN. What's the story on this?

So what do you think? Should I start looking at other ice augers, or
should I try to improve my blade situation? Are 10" augers common?

Thanks, Tom

First of all, any 10" hole is going to be a bugger to cut with a hand auger.
That's quite simply too much ice to remove unless you REALLY want a workout.

Secondly, when auger blades are sharpened, they should only be sharpened on
the bevel, never on the flat underneath. If the blade is sharpened on the
flat, and that has even the slightest upward angle, it will skip and slide
on the ice. The blade can be as sharp as a razor, but it still won't shave
ice.

There are very few times when a 10" hole will be needed. I know of a 14
pound walleye that came out of a standard 8" hole and I brought a 40" muskie
up through one without difficulty.

My suggestion is to get rid of the 10" hand auger and get an 8". Consider a
power auger for better mobility. Cutting holes, especially this time of
year when the ice is over 2 feet thick will wear you out. Once tired, you
aren't going to feel like moving and cutting more holes. If you don't move,
you'll sit there fishing, instead of moving and CATCHING.

I guarantee that you'll appreciate the difference.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com