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How To Sharpen An Auger Blade

How To Acuminate Ice Auger Blades at Domicile: Two Methods and Footstep-by-Step Instructions

A precipitous blade is a rubber blade, and that's as true of ice augers as it is of knives and axes.

A abrupt auger bract volition seize with teeth ice without requiring much strength from yous, and less downward pressure on the auger leads to less risk should information technology fail to bite and kick. And, of course, a sharp auger will chew through hard h2o in no time, getting you fishing that much faster.

No one doubts whatsoever of this, but dull auger blades are more mutual on the water ice than you'd think.

The simple reason?

It gets expensive to send them back to the factory for sharpening.

What if I told y'all that y'all could match the manufactory'southward performance at dwelling?

Continue reading to find out how to sharpen ice auger blades all by yourself!

Tabular array of Contents (clickable)

  • one Ice Auger Blade Sharpening Techniques
    • i.1 How To Sharpen Ice Auger Blades With Stones
    • 1.2 How To Sharpen Ice Auger Blades With Sandpaper
  • two Final Thoughts

Check out our buying guide for the best electric and manual ice augers

Ice Auger Blade Sharpening Techniques

Earlier I get into how to sharpen ice auger blades, let me brand clear what you practice not want to exercise.

Never use a power grinder (angle grinder or grinding wheel) on your blades, even if you absurd them with water. You lot will inevitably overheat the thin edge, spoiling its temper and softening it to the point that information technology won't remain abrupt.

The exceptions are blade-specific power tools similar belt sanders and professional sharpening grinders--simply if you accept these, chances are you're not reading this article!

How To Sharpen Ice Auger Blades With Stones

Whetstone Nuts

Much like sandpaper, sharpening stones (or whetstones) vary in coarseness, which is measured in "grit." The higher the grit, the less metal the stone removes from an edge, and the more than each stroke polishes it.

You lot'll discover stones in common grits like 120, 400, 1000, and 6000.

Some whetstones are literally wet stones, requiring a good soaking in water before they're used and more or less abiding wetting during the sharpening process. That'south considering the water acts as a lubricant and lifts the tiny metal particles clear of the surface of the stone.

This keeps the rock'south "pores" from clogging, and it creates a polishing slurry that floats over the surface of the stone, further enhancing its performance.

Every bit you lot'd gauge, oil stones require oil as a sharpening medium, so be sure to read the instructions that come with your stones and know the divergence.

Oil stones will non work well with h2o, and water stones will not work well with oil.

The Whetstone Method

Starting time with three stones: something in the neighborhood of 120, 400, and 1000. Don't become hung up on the exact grits. What matters the most is that you have a coarse stone that can really remove metal quickly, and then two graduated stones to remove scratches and outcome in a relatively polished surface.

This doesn't demand to break the bank. One of my favorite stones for the rough piece of work is the SE silicon carbide. It's inexpensive and offers 120 and 240 grits to really get things going.

Silicon Carbide Double-Sided Whetstone

Follow this with a Abrupt Pebble Premium Whetstone, and y'all've got a sharpening kit for your auger that won't set you back much at all.

Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone

Step one - Preparation

Prep your stones with oil or water, as necessary.

Take a good, close look at your blades. Look for nicks, dings, and damage to the edges that are going to require actress attention.

chipped ice auger blade

You lot'll notice a few chips to the left side, as well as uneven wearable.
Source - https://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=309016.0

You'll notice that auger edges are equanimous of iii surfaces: the back bevel, which is virtually flat to the edge, and the front, which has two surfaces: the primary and secondary bevels.

auger blade surfaces bevel

The back and secondary bevel are exaggerated hither for clarity.

If your edge is in relatively good shape with no real damage, you only demand to piece of work on the secondary and back bevels.

But if your edge has serious impairment like chips and nicks, you may need to work on the principal bevel before moving on to the other ii.

Step ii - Guide

Using a Sharpie, color over the entire principal bevel.

This volition human action every bit a guide for you lot to assess whether you're actually getting the whole principal bevel onto the stone.

Footstep 3 - Coarse on the Principal Bevel

Flip the bract bevel down, and tilt the edge down to find the primary bevel.

Make long, tedious, sweeping strokes with very light pressure, and periodically cheque the main bevel.

sharpening ice auger blade with stone

Use a Sharpie--information technology will help immensely!
Source - https://world wide web.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=309016.0

If some areas are still covered by marker, you're not working the unabridged bevel against the rock.

Adjust your technique--this is going to take practice!

Step iv - Refine the Main Bevel

When you've basis the chief bevel to a apartment, even surface, move on to the side by side higher grit and repeat the process until you've achieved the level of smoothen that you want.

Always utilize very lite pressure and let the stones do the piece of work.

Footstep 5 - Acuminate the Secondary Bevel

Use your finest stone for this.

With the bract resting on the primary bevel, elevator it just slightly onto its edge and make x-20 calorie-free passes.

sharpening ice auger blade

Notice that the primary bevel isn't in contact with the stone.
Source - https://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=309016.0

You're creating a micro-secondary bevel that will make the border tougher without compromising cutting.

Use very, very light pressure.

Yous may be tempted to skip this step considering the border of your blade will already be hair-shaving sharp.

Don't!

Creating this tiny secondary bevel will multiply the service life of your border, greatly improving its operation over time.

You can just meet the micro-bevel, which is perfect.

Step 6 - Make clean upwardly the Back Bevel

Use your finest stone for this.

Lay the blade flat on its dorsum and make x to 20 lite passes. This will clean upwardly any burr on the back edge.

secondary bevel on ice auger blade

This, also, is a critical step!
Source - https://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=309016.0

Don't skip it.

How To Sharpen Water ice Auger Blades With Sandpaper

I know professionals who prefer sandpaper to stones, so don't make the error of thinking this is 2nd best.

You'll demand some bones supplies: duct record, a big piece of glass, tile, or metallic that'southward perfectly flat, and some wet/dry sandpaper. The flat surface is the real trick, and it needs to exist truly apartment and smoothen.

Just similar with the stones, you want several different grits of sandpaper: a coarse, a medium, and a fine.

To set upwardly, carefully cutting a piece of sandpaper that's but a tad smaller than your flat surface.

Then, tape the sandpaper in place, pulling information technology tight to remove whatsoever wrinkles and keep it firmly confronting your apartment surface.

Wet your blades, and you're ready to get - just follow the steps above!

Final Thoughts

With just a bit of training and some experience, yous tin get results that rival the factory sharpening service.

With practice, you can take both blades sharp once again in an hr, allowing you to keep your auger in tip-peak form all winter.

Nosotros hope this article has helped you learn something new, and if it has, we'd love to hear from you!

Please leave a comment below.

Don't forget to check out our guide on essential ice fishing gear!

Source: https://usangler.com/how-to-sharpen-ice-auger-blades/

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