Conference wahoo::fishing

    Lindsay, I already told you were to go..... Did you ask the people
    where you bought it if they do blade sharpening? There is a bait
    shop in Sturbridge that sends them out for $5.
    
    
    Rich

Hey..."Two-Girls" (ha..ha)

As far as I am aware, there are two types of ice augers, the "shovel" type 
and the auger-bit type.  I have one of each, and the bit-type is far 
superior to the shovel.

Last winter one of my sons decide to try the shovel auger and tried CHOPPING 
ice with it.  Needless to say, it ruined the edge on the blade.  I thought 
it wouldn't be too difficult putting the edge back on it, but guess again!

It took me three hours of sharpening and running down to the pond next to my 
house to test the edge before I finally got it to work properly.  I've 
sharpened many a knife and axe, but getting the proper cutting angle on the 
auger is CRITICAL!

The bit-type auger I have hasn't required sharpening yet as I just got it 
last winter and didn't use that much.  Most sports shops sell replacement 
cutting blades for them for about $6-10.  They also look as though they 
might be easier to sharpen as you don't have to follow the curve of the 
blade and still maintain the proper angle.

If you plan to do your own sharpening, you should have either a fine 
Arkansas or India stone so that you can achieve a razor-fine edge.

-HSJ- (IS_IT_ICE-OUT_YET??) 

    
    
   I have tryed several times at different "expert" local sharpening shops and
NEVER found one that could properly sharpen the auger type blades. Supposedly 
due to their coumpound curve configuration they require a special JIG. 
    
    However, there is a place (In Mass I think)  which will sharpen these 
type blade to like new (read razor) sharpness. They DO have the jigs. Ths
name of this company is U.S. Line. The sharpening service is not overly 
expensive $3-$4 and their turnaround is good (Two weeks or so). I sent my 
blades previously ruined by local hack "sharpening shops" to them and they 
came back SHARP and stayed that way. They will return your blades if they
are so fouled up that they cannot be resharpened. I dont have the address 
on me but will find it and post back in a day or two.

   As far as sharpening the spoon type augers my own opinion is when
they are dull they should be thrown away and replaced with something which 
works in the first place (Auger type drills).    
           
   It pays to have a spare set of blades for your auger, I once drilled
into a stump when setting in a shallow bay for brookies and the dulled
blade made the rest of the morning miserable. It also pays to keep the
blade covered when not in use and never, ever rest or bang the blade on
the ice. Using the auger for a prop or walking stick will dull it up
quicktime.  
    
                                      Tight lines and flying flags!    

                                                   Ed    
                                              
    

    
    
      Thanx Ed I believe this is the place that I couldn't for the life
       of me remember.I think it is in Westboro? If you do find the
      address please post it as it is getting to close to ice in for
      comfort.
    
    
                                              Lindsay

    RE "Never to sharp for me."
    
    I bet Lindsay, You never were the sharpest knife in the drawer.
    :-)
    Rich

    Anyone have an idea on how to sharpen an 8 foot iron/hardened steel
    pole, (weighs about 30 lbs), one end is pointed, and the other end
    is flattened like a chisel (3-4" wide).  This is a tedious way to
    put a hole in the ice, but all I have for now, and it needs a
    sharpening bad!  
    
    I've tried a metal file but it didn't even scratch it!
    
    Would a grindstone do it?
    
    Erik.

    
    
    Use a file
    

    
    
    RE: .6
    
    Hey that tool sounds like an antique ice pick.  My dad has one of
    the genuine ice chisels from the ice house on Pascoag Reservoir
    (circa 1920).  Ours has a baseball bat like end instead of the point
    you described and has the same 3-4" chisel end and 30ish pound weight.
    
    
    Your right, a metal file didn't work for me either.  Try a heavy-duty
    gringing wheel (like they use for auto body work).  That should
    make some improvement to its edge.  Must be hard to hold on to
    when you suddenly blast through the ice.
    
    The Harbor Master
    
    The Harbor Master

     If this blade is not a master piece of cutlery, try a lawn mower
    repair shop. They will have somthing to put an edge on it.
    
    
    			Still a yank at heart
    					
                                        BUCKETMOUTH (down south)

    
    
          re.re. "Never to sharp for me."
    
    
          I knew that.
    
    
                                                Keg

    
    
  Here's the promised address for the blade sharpening place in Mass.
mentioned earlier.
        
                            US Line Company    
                            16 Union Ave, PO box 531
                            Westfield, Mass
                                            01086
    
    They do a excellent job of sharpening MORA and other Auger type blades.    

    I dont know if they sharpen the Spoon type blades.
    
                                       Tight lines
    
                                          Ed
    
    PS: How about some discussion on bait buckets, insulated, favorites
    for winter fishing....I knows its mundane..but??????
    
        
    
    

    
    
    RE: .2
    
    Hey Joe,
    
    Of the auger type rigs, is their a superior manufacturer/model
    that I should look for?
    
    I was looking a the one in stock at my local shop.  They had 6"
    and 8" models.  I would go for that 8" model and it does have the
    removeable blades.  Is their a manufacturer that makes a larger
    size?  I've known some fisherman on my lake who have hooked into
    large 10 - 15 lb. Pike and had to widen the holes to pull them
    up.  This sounds risky in a panic situation and would hate to 
    accidently cut the line..... (I should be so lucky)  ;^)
    
    Need feedback soon, I want to buy something right after Xmas.
    
    Thanks
    
    The Harbor Master_who_hates_to_hand_chisel
    

Damned if I can remember the make of the auger I picked up.  It cut's an 8" 
hole and I'd suggest not even considering a smaller diameter for exectly the 
reasons you gave (i.e. big fish).  I know the scoop drill I got was made by 
Mora...maybe the auger one was too.

In any event, a decent auger of the 8" size will probably run from $35+.  
Just remember that if you step up to a 9-10" size, it gets tougher to drill 
the hole, especially if you've got to drill a number of holes thru 24"+ of 
ice.  For that reason, it's especially important to be sure that the cutting 
blades are always RAZOR SHARP!

I know some people that do a lot of ice fishing invest in the gas-powered 
augers.  They can be bought for around $180-250 and they go thru 30" ice 
in a matter of seconds.  

Good luck!

-Joe-

    
    
      RE: .12
    
    
           I have an 8" Mora auger and have had it 3 years.It is the
           drill type with the removable blades,very satisfied and
           it is less work than the chisel.I had the spoon type but
           like other people have said in this conference when it dulls
           it is very hard to sharpen and your better off getting the
           new blade at $10 to $15 a pop.The gas auger is ideal,but,it
           is heavy and you need a sled to carry it long distances on
           the ice,but if you plan to put more than 10 tilts out it
           doesn't take long at all!
    
           Mora sells alot of different size drills from 4"to 10".
    
    
    
                                         Lindsay

    
    RE .8
    
    I've got 4-5 feet of clothesline taped to it with 20' of duct tape,
    just keep the rope around your arm (not too tight!), and you're
    right, you do get a hell of a tug when you break through!
    
    RE .7
    
    I tried a metal file and like I said it didn't even scratch it!
    
    I think I'll look for a lawn mower shop that sharpens blades, they
    must have pretty heavy duty grindstones, are they still doing that
    even though there's snow on the ground?
    
    Oh well, my favorite ice-hole hasn't frozen yet anyway!
    
    Erik

    
    
    Thanks for the info Joe.
    
    My cousin has a top of the line power auger, that costs about $225.
    I can usually borrow it when he's not on the ice, he lives across
    the lake from me, but fishes often.  I'll be buying the $40 dollar
    hand auger for now till I can justify the added expense... 
    
    a real boat (or at least a new motor for my skiff) has to be my first 
    priority on my toy list.  I better start catching more fish to justify
    more hardware... Sounds like a "catch 22" situation.  ;^)
    
    The_motorless_augerless_salmonless_Harbor Master
    
    
    

    
    
    Comon MASTER of THE HARBOR,  Don't be sooo hard on yourself.  If
    I remember correctly, You spotted the hookup when TBDW so
    Proffesionally caught that SALMON.  You can take a tiny part of
    the credit.  Anyway it isn't ice in at Wallum yet.
    
    
    
    

    
    
             I called US Line last week and it costs 6 dollars 
             to sharpen Mora drill blades.The cost includes 
             shipping the blades back to you.Such a deal,I sent 
             two pair of blades to them.Now all I'll need is ice.
             
    
                                                                   
                            I will step on no ice before its time.
    
    
    
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
       
                                                                   
            L.A

    Yes Mr keg, even if you see others out there please be carefull.
    It still may not support your weight.
    
    
    Did they say how long it will take before you get them back?
    
    
    
    Your pal
    Rich

    
    
             re .19
    
    
              Rich,they said 1 week from the time they get them.
    
    
                                         The Keg

    
    
    
        re .18
    
            Well I sent those auger blades to US Line Saturday the 18th
            of Dec. and they were back to me Dec.24th.They look real
            nice,so what did you do with the ice???
    
    
    
                                              Lindsay

    RE .21
    	Linsay, do you always reply to your own messages?

    If anyone who has one of those shovel type augers that they are going to 
    "throw away" I'll glady take it off your hands...

    This weekend I went to the Winni derby, and cut about 15 holes Sat.
    We fished Rattlesnake Island in the morning then up to Meredith in 
    the afternoon.  My wife and I were cutting and setting our 12-15th 
    holes of the day with our shovel auger faster than the 3 guys next 
    to us.  And they were putting in their first holes of the day.

    Sharpened the auger Sat. night, Sun the holes went even faster.  Ice
    thickness is about 15 inches on Winni.

    So send me mail if you have a piece of junk shovel auger, I'll take it,
    doesn't seem too hard to sharpen them for me.

    George

George,

Care to give us a few hints as to the method or technique you use to sharpen 
the shovel-type auger?  I finally have mine cutting reasonable well, but 
still not the way it should.  Although it is razor sharp, I know that the 
angle is the most critical aspect of getting the blade to cut properly.
I've tried a couple of the commercial sharpeners you can buy at tackle 
stores and then threw them out as they didn't work at all. 

Thanks,

Joe

Joe,

I don't think I did anything special, all I did was use a file and put an
edge on it.  I did put an edge on both sides of the blade though.  Basically
I left the contour the same I tried to file as flat as possible but still
producing an edge.  I didn't use a stone so it isn't as fine as it could be
but it works great.

George

George,

I did the same thing, or so I thought, but used an Arkansas stone to put a 
real razor-sharp edge on it.  ANd even though I didn't think I changed the 
angle, and despite it's sharpness, it just wouldn't cut.  It finally took me 
about 3 hours of playing before it finally would cut a hole, but still not 
like it did when it was new.  BTW...everything was OK until last year when 
one of my sonns tried CHOPPING a hole with it!


Thanx,

Joe

When your son got doen chopping the hole was there a bunch of dings in the
blade?  If you had to sharpen it to a point where you had to remove the
dings, maybe the curve of the blad has changed.  If you had a 1/16" ding
to take out maybe the whole blade should be reduced.  The blade might not
be making enough contact along the whole curve.

With mine the first couple of inches in the hole go the slowest and after the
blade is about 3 inches in the hole it starts to go better.

Sorry if this sounds too obvious,

George

I can't really say there were any noticeable "dings" in the blade.  I do 
know that the next time I went out ice fishing and tried to use it, the damn 
blade wandered all over the ice!  I can tell you one thing...it's a good 
thing the culprit son wasn't with me then!

With all the filing and sharpening I've done to the blade, I've tried to be 
cautious NOT to change the angle knowing how critical it is.  Obviously, 
it's SO critical that even sharpening to the point where it's back to 
razor-sharp edge seemed to change the angle enough so that it wouldn't work. 
Oh well...I now have a good auger type drill and the shovel is my backup.

Thanks for the info.

Joe