Which Ice Auger?

Pricestavern · 02-04-2013, 03:54 PM

We're planning on heading over to Rattlesnake in a couple of weeks, walking from the Minge Cove area. Reading the Ice-In posts, it seems that the ice may be thin at spots (we're on the Broads side).

What are the recommendations for an ice auger that we can carry with us to check the ice as we progress? How frequently should we check?

Many thanks in advance!

- Richard & Maria

COW ISL TIME · 02-04-2013, 04:15 PM

A cordless drill with a 15"-18" bit works great, we have 12" in Tuftonboro bay

Legionnaire70 · 02-04-2013, 06:27 PM

the drill idea sounds good. i would check every 15-20 as you get closer to the island.

it was not long ago that was open water, as you said some areas thicker than others.

I would use extreme caution and not follow too close to each other.

SteveA · 02-04-2013, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pricestavern

We're planning on heading over to Rattlesnake in a couple of weeks, walking from the Minge Cove area. Reading the Ice-In posts, it seems that the ice may be thin at spots (we're on the Broads side).

What are the recommendations for an ice auger that we can carry with us to check the ice as we progress? How frequently should we check?

Many thanks in advance!

- Richard & Maria

I always waited on shore until someone heavier than me headed out.. I followed them! LOL.. seriously, the cordless drill is a good idea.

NoBozo · 02-04-2013, 07:04 PM

A lot of Black Ice around this season....ie Clear Ice that you can SEE through... LOOK at the cracks. How DEEP are they. That's the way we judged the thickness back in the day. Ice boaters NEVER carried an Ice Drill.

FOUR Inches of black ice is Plenty.. for walking ..or ice boating.

PS: Think of it this way: ICE Floats. You are walking on a SLAB of "FLOATING" ..Ice.

In the pictures below......NOTICE we are Spread Out.

Sorry the pictures are slightly OFF Clarity. They were "Scanned" from 40 year old 35mm Slides. The Originals were Perfect. I have an HP ScanJet 4050 Flat Bed Scanner. This Anomaly Really Annoys Me.

Nb

ishoot308 · 02-04-2013, 08:01 PM

This one!!!

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...?do=ad&id=5619

Lakesrider · 02-04-2013, 08:38 PM

Yeah...a really long drill bit is best. With some kind of marks on it at different inches....BUT....One trick is to use electrical tape to hold the bit to the chuck. Wrap the tape around the bit first and then around the chuck. I wonder how many drill bits are at the bottom of the lake because the chuck loosened up and the bit slipped out?

dpg · 02-05-2013, 11:53 AM

That's when you want to go out with the wife just let her go first in case it's too thin.

SIKSUKR · 02-05-2013, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpg

That's when you want to go out with the wife just let her go first in case it's too thin.

I can't speak for you but most guys wives are lighter than them sooo....

Lakesrider · 02-06-2013, 06:23 PM

That's why you make her carry all the gear......oooo if my wife reads this I'm dead.

Pricestavern · 02-06-2013, 08:11 PM

Thank you, experienced Ice Trekers, for your guidance. The gas auger aside, it appears a hand-held cordless drill is the preferred tool here.

That begs the next question: What kind of bit? I was thinkining perhaps a masonry bit, but then what do I know? Also, how long? If 6" is plenty to walk on, wouldn't that be enough? Don't need to reach water do I, as long as it's > 6"?

COW ISL TIME · 02-07-2013, 10:30 AM

Get a large wood bit like the electricians use, with a long bit you can feel when the bit goes through the ice and be able to measure the depth

Rusty · 02-07-2013, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pricestavern

Thank you, experienced Ice Trekers, for your guidance. The gas auger aside, it appears a hand-held cordless drill is the preferred tool here.

That begs the next question: What kind of bit? I was thinkining perhaps a masonry bit, but then what do I know? Also, how long? If 6" is plenty to walk on, wouldn't that be enough? Don't need to reach water do I, as long as it's > 6"?

You need a wood auger bit with flutes that pull the ice chips out of the hole and help keep it from getting stuck, much in the way a full-sized ice auger works. Get a 5/8" dia x @ 10" lg. wood auger bit.

Something like this:

SIKSUKR · 02-07-2013, 11:08 AM

An auger bit is the prefered and fastest boring method .

fatlazyless · 02-07-2013, 11:41 AM

....best el cheapo bet.....go to Salvation Army store in Laconia....close to Pitman's Freight Room-NH Jazz venue....and look for an olde carpenter's hand powered bit-brace and auger bit for short money....like maybe three-dollars or so!!! .... and go spend the money you saved on some cheap & tasteless beer like Labatt's 24-oz Blue Ice for about 1.19/jumbo can to help power up the bit-brace......round & round & round & round & round & round & round & round....how many turns to drill through 10-inches ice with an olde bit-brace and dull auger bit?

Pricestavern · 02-08-2013, 08:56 AM

Thanks, everyone, for helping us out on this. After watching the YouTube video in the "South End of Rattlesnake Ice Conditions" thread, I wouldn't dream of heading over the our cabin without the drill/auger.

Thanks again!

02-04-2013, 03:54 PM	#1
Pricestavern Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Valencia, Spain (formerly Rattlesnake Isle) Posts: 388 Thanks: 125 Thanked 142 Times in 82 Posts	Which Ice Auger? We're planning on heading over to Rattlesnake in a couple of weeks, walking from the Minge Cove area. Reading the Ice-In posts, it seems that the ice may be thin at spots (we're on the Broads side). What are the recommendations for an ice auger that we can carry with us to check the ice as we progress? How frequently should we check? Many thanks in advance! - Richard & Maria

02-04-2013, 07:04 PM	#5
NoBozo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Portsmouth. RI Posts: 2,231 Thanks: 400 Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts	A lot of Black Ice around this season....ie Clear Ice that you can SEE through... LOOK at the cracks. How DEEP are they. That's the way we judged the thickness back in the day. Ice boaters NEVER carried an Ice Drill. FOUR Inches of black ice is Plenty.. for walking ..or ice boating. PS: Think of it this way: ICE Floats. You are walking on a SLAB of "FLOATING" ..Ice. In the pictures below......NOTICE we are Spread Out. Sorry the pictures are slightly OFF Clarity. They were "Scanned" from 40 year old 35mm Slides. The Originals were Perfect. I have an HP ScanJet 4050 Flat Bed Scanner. This Anomaly Really Annoys Me. Nb Attached Images Last edited by NoBozo; 02-04-2013 at 07:43 PM.

02-04-2013, 08:01 PM	#6
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 5,926 Thanks: 2,285 Thanked 4,937 Times in 1,913 Posts	Which Ice Auger? This one!!! http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...?do=ad&id=5619

02-06-2013, 08:11 PM	#11
Pricestavern Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Valencia, Spain (formerly Rattlesnake Isle) Posts: 388 Thanks: 125 Thanked 142 Times in 82 Posts	Which drill type? Thank you, experienced Ice Trekers, for your guidance. The gas auger aside, it appears a hand-held cordless drill is the preferred tool here. That begs the next question: What kind of bit? I was thinkining perhaps a masonry bit, but then what do I know? Also, how long? If 6" is plenty to walk on, wouldn't that be enough? Don't need to reach water do I, as long as it's > 6"?

02-07-2013, 11:08 AM	#14
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	An auger bit is the prefered and fastest boring method . __________________ SIKSUKR

02-04-2013, 04:15 PM	#2
COW ISL TIME Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: cow Island and Bedford NH Posts: 24 Thanks: 2 Thanked 18 Times in 10 Posts	A cordless drill with a 15"-18" bit works great, we have 12" in Tuftonboro bay

02-04-2013, 06:27 PM	#3
Legionnaire70 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 119 Thanks: 25 Thanked 31 Times in 21 Posts	the drill idea sounds good. i would check every 15-20 as you get closer to the island. it was not long ago that was open water, as you said some areas thicker than others. I would use extreme caution and not follow too close to each other.

02-04-2013, 08:38 PM	#7
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	Yeah...a really long drill bit is best. With some kind of marks on it at different inches....BUT....One trick is to use electrical tape to hold the bit to the chuck. Wrap the tape around the bit first and then around the chuck. I wonder how many drill bits are at the bottom of the lake because the chuck loosened up and the bit slipped out?

02-05-2013, 11:53 AM	#8
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,560 Thanks: 149 Thanked 229 Times in 166 Posts	That's when you want to go out with the wife just let her go first in case it's too thin.

02-06-2013, 06:23 PM	#10
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	That's why you make her carry all the gear......oooo if my wife reads this I'm dead.

02-07-2013, 10:30 AM	#12
COW ISL TIME Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: cow Island and Bedford NH Posts: 24 Thanks: 2 Thanked 18 Times in 10 Posts	Get a large wood bit like the electricians use, with a long bit you can feel when the bit goes through the ice and be able to measure the depth

02-07-2013, 11:41 AM	#15
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,525 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 295 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	....best el cheapo bet.....go to Salvation Army store in Laconia....close to Pitman's Freight Room-NH Jazz venue....and look for an olde carpenter's hand powered bit-brace and auger bit for short money....like maybe three-dollars or so!!! .... and go spend the money you saved on some cheap & tasteless beer like Labatt's 24-oz Blue Ice for about 1.19/jumbo can to help power up the bit-brace......round & round & round & round & round & round & round & round....how many turns to drill through 10-inches ice with an olde bit-brace and dull auger bit? __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake! Last edited by fatlazyless; 02-07-2013 at 02:15 PM.

02-08-2013, 08:56 AM	#16
Pricestavern Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Valencia, Spain (formerly Rattlesnake Isle) Posts: 388 Thanks: 125 Thanked 142 Times in 82 Posts	Thanks To All Thanks, everyone, for helping us out on this. After watching the YouTube video in the "South End of Rattlesnake Ice Conditions" thread, I wouldn't dream of heading over the our cabin without the drill/auger. Thanks again!