12-06-2006, 03:15 PM
I do have one. It is called an ice kicker. I got it for $20 on ebay. I have seen him drop his price to $15 lately. I haven't tried it in deep ice yet. I drilled about a dozen holes at Huntington on 4 inches. Still had juice in my second battery at the end of the day. At each spot I drilled 2 holes, one for the transducer and one for the rod.
Here is where the difference is in my opinion. I have a cheap Harbor freight 18 v drill. It only has 300 lb inches of tork. yOu have to look at tork and battery life. I am looking to get a Hitachi 18 v that has 550 lb in of tork, and supposedly a longer lasting battery (still doing research on that). You can find drills with up to 400 lb in. of tork for less. I think Dewalt has one. So does Ryobi, but Ryobi is designed for light house use. When you go up in tork, you go up in price (generally). I will have to get the Hitachi used or refurbished since these drills are quite expensive ($200+). Might as well get the gas one if I'm going to fork out that kind of dough.
Anyway, if you have a better quality drill and a spare battery, I think it works fine. The drill also has to have a lower speed setting to get the tork you need. The adapter worked perfectly. It was the drill and battery that I have my complaints about.
I also think it is worth it simply because it is much lighter than a gas auger, and therefor means less for me to haul. I am my own snowmobile, if you know what I mean. Now if you have a snowmobile, then weight isn't as much a factor.
I have even thought of getting a second spare battery. Still less than a gas auger depending on the brand of battery, and not much more weight. Some of the batteries, depending on the brand of drill, are $100 a pop. Too much for my wallet.
Anyway, bottom line, I think it is worth it if you have a good quality drill.
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Here is where the difference is in my opinion. I have a cheap Harbor freight 18 v drill. It only has 300 lb inches of tork. yOu have to look at tork and battery life. I am looking to get a Hitachi 18 v that has 550 lb in of tork, and supposedly a longer lasting battery (still doing research on that). You can find drills with up to 400 lb in. of tork for less. I think Dewalt has one. So does Ryobi, but Ryobi is designed for light house use. When you go up in tork, you go up in price (generally). I will have to get the Hitachi used or refurbished since these drills are quite expensive ($200+). Might as well get the gas one if I'm going to fork out that kind of dough.
Anyway, if you have a better quality drill and a spare battery, I think it works fine. The drill also has to have a lower speed setting to get the tork you need. The adapter worked perfectly. It was the drill and battery that I have my complaints about.
I also think it is worth it simply because it is much lighter than a gas auger, and therefor means less for me to haul. I am my own snowmobile, if you know what I mean. Now if you have a snowmobile, then weight isn't as much a factor.
I have even thought of getting a second spare battery. Still less than a gas auger depending on the brand of battery, and not much more weight. Some of the batteries, depending on the brand of drill, are $100 a pop. Too much for my wallet.
Anyway, bottom line, I think it is worth it if you have a good quality drill.
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