DIY ice drill ring: drawings, video

An ice drill is a necessary device for fishing lovers in winter. You can gouge the ice with an ice pick, but this is only in cases where the ice layer is not very thick, otherwise without a drill it will not be possible to make a hole or this process will be very difficult.

In addition, in the cold it is more pleasant to drill a hole quickly. You can make an ice drill with your own hands, even from a screwdriver, which will add comfort when hunting for fish.

Manufacturing process

Many fishermen cannot afford to purchase ready-made accessories, especially with a mechanical drive.

That’s why they make an ice screw with their own hands at home, using:

• metal pipe of the required size;
• plates for making a screw;
• high-quality steel for knives;
• paint and varnish composition for the final stage of work.

For manufacturing, you will need turning equipment or contact a specialized turner. You will also need a welding machine to connect the parts to create a complete structure.

Finally, you need to process the product with a sanding machine.

The quality of hole drilling depends on:

• knife hardening;
• geometric manufacturing accuracy;
• both blades must be properly sharpened, even if the ice drill is made by hand, this will make drilling ice easier.

Making a ring ice auger with your own hands is a little different from an auger, the only thing is that in this model the cutting part is a plane wrapped in a ring.

What is an electric ice auger?

An electric drill is a device for drilling hard surfaces: ice and soil. A hand-held electric drill consists of an electric motor and an auger with knives attached to it. On the sides of the motor there are handles that are held during the drilling process.

Material selection

In many cases, R18 steel is used, but this material can be replaced with analogues. The main thing is to choose a hard material, a suitable shape and high-quality sharpening.

Blades are often coated with titanium nitride. They last for a very long time.

The tool drive can be:

• manual;
• from a chainsaw;
• from a screwdriver;
• from a wrench.

How to make an ice screw with your own hands is the choice of the fisherman himself.

Necessary tools for work

Not every fisherman will be able to purchase a ready-made tool, much less a mechanical one. Therefore, in order to make an ice ax with your own hands, you need to prepare the following:

• A metal pipe of the required diameter;
• Metal plates to make an auger;
• Knives made of good steel;
• Paint for processing finished tools.

During the work process, you may need a lathe, or you will need to contact a lathe directly. By welding, it is necessary to connect all the elements to form one structure, and then clean everything with a grinder.

The quality of drilling is influenced by:

• The way the blades are hardened. Current models of ice drills have blade hardness ranging from 30 to 70 units.
• The way the knives are precisely made. They must be equipped with two cutting edges. If the sharpening is correct, the ice will quickly lend itself to drilling.

Using a screwdriver

Fishing enthusiasts have adapted to equip an ice drill with a screwdriver. This way they save their energy and time.

To make such a device you need to stock up on:

• hand drill;
• adapter;
• reliable and suitable cordless screwdriver.

Replacements for electric screwdrivers

Naturally, to create an electric drill for drilling ice, not only an electric screwdriver is suitable . Home craftsmen can easily adapt other tools:

• electric drill,
• electric impact wrench,
• chainsaw.

The last option is convenient because it runs on gasoline rather than a battery. However, without a special tool and a lathe, it is very difficult to make an ice drill from a chainsaw at home.

It is important to understand that not every model of ice auger can be attached to screwdrivers. This is due to the peculiarity of domestic products, which, when drilling ice, rotate in the direction of unwinding of the power tool chuck. This causes a lot of inconvenience during winter fishing. Of course, you can additionally use a reduction gear, but not every home craftsman can make it.

Therefore, when making an automatic ice auger, it is better to give preference to imported models. Any model that easily adapts to an electric tool is ideal. For them, all the necessary adapters can be bought in the store, which will allow you to efficiently connect the cartridge to the auger.

The Tonar model deserves special attention. The manufacturing company produces removable augers with cutting heads that can be easily connected to a cordless screwdriver. And to drill through thick ice, you can use an extension cord purchased at the store.

Battery selection

Two types of batteries are most often used:

Nickel-cadmium perfectly withstands low temperatures, but is quite heavy for such an instrument.

Lithium-ion is suitable for temperatures down to -10℃, with thin ice. It is suitable for drilling holes with ice thickness up to sixteen centimeters and can be used up to sixty times.

In case of severe frost, it is better to put it in a warm place: in a clothing pocket or other heat source.

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It is better to take a spare one with you and also put it in a warm place.

Next, you need to decide how to modernize the drill. This can be done using an adapter.

Making an adapter

This adapter serves as a connection between the drill and the driven tool. You can buy it at a specialized retail outlet or make it yourself.

The adapter has a hexagonal shape. One end is securely fixed in the drive holder using a key designed for this purpose. The second end is attached to the drill. A hole is drilled in the adapter, then it is secured to the auger using a bolt.

It is better not to make a large-diameter auger; this will increase the load on the driven tool and quickly damage its battery.

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The most acceptable size for a hole is about 20 centimeters. This makes it possible to catch medium-sized fish.

General points

Only a drill-driver is suitable for creating holes - not any engine can withstand increased loads. The battery should be at least 18 V - more is possible. Only battery-powered models are suitable for winter fishing. Torsion torque is maximum, about 60-80 Nm, with a capacity of 3.5 to 4 Ah. You can choose 2 Ah models with a pair of batteries; to start working, you will need to charge both. Always look at the quality of the plastic - it will have to withstand significant loads.

In recent years, a universal tool has become increasingly used, which is a cross between a construction screwdriver and an ice drill.

Connecting screwdrivers with augers is an original solution that allows you to obtain an automated multifunctional device for drilling a block of ice of a given thickness, of any structural type, without any extra effort.

The market offers anglers drills that are already adapted for screwdrivers. The downside of the solution is the impressive price.

Some craftsmen have learned to create and design automated types of ice drills from simple domestic models. Appropriate knowledge and skills will be required - it is not enough to simply cut off the handle, you need to understand how to connect the auger to an electric tool, know the rules for choosing the latter (a low-power model will not cope with solving current problems).

Automated electric ice augers have a number of advantages compared to manual models. Main:

1. Saving time resources - you need to search for passive fish for a long time, creating a whole set of holes. With a regular hand drill it will take you hours, and the process may never be successful.
2. Simplicity - to hold a working unit in a vertical position, a small amount of effort is enough, there will be no physical strain.
3. Wide range of possibilities - the modernized ice auger can handle all types of ice, including dense and dry ice.
4. Low noise - as a result of the blows of the pick on a clean, non-snowy surface of the reservoir, a loud echo will be heard. These sounds scare away the fish, and it does not go under the hole. The automated device works quickly and quietly.
5. Versatility - the screwdriver can be removed and used in everyday life for its intended purpose.

Well, the last point is that having advanced fishing equipment is cool. Competitors who use a pick the old fashioned way will look at you with envy.

Minuses

Electric tools have their own weaknesses, which it is better to be aware of when purchasing:

1. Winter fishing is carried out at low temperatures; if the indicator drops below -10˚C, the battery of some devices stops starting;
2. When the auger is started counterclockwise, the operation of the device will be unstable; after a certain set of revolutions, the adapter will become loose and will slip inside the chuck.

Since the equipment has many more advantages than disadvantages, it is in high demand.

In order for an ice drill with a screwdriver to work without failures, you need to choose it wisely. The mechanism must meet a set of requirements. Among them:

1. Mounting type – the ability to use the device in extreme climatic conditions. Not every screwdriver will be able to work properly in the cold - check this information before purchasing.
2. Voltage – it determines performance indicators (power). The principle here is simple - the higher the indicator, the more powerful the tool will be. For fishing, you can use an 18 V device - but this is the minimum value. If you are interested in maximum performance, choose an option of at least 36 V. Such a device is guaranteed to cope with significant loads.
3. Rotation torque is a physical quantity that determines the rotational force of the working unit; the simplicity of the drilling process depends on it. The more, the better - this is the main principle. If your budget is limited, choose a device that operates within the range of 40-70 Nm; a model with 80-90 Nm will be a more preferable option.
4. The battery – or rather its capacity. The larger it is, the longer the device can function without additional recharging. The average value is 1.5-4 Ah.
5. Durability – winter fishing is an extreme activity. During the assembly process, the screwdriver may jump out of your hands, hit hard ice and fail. In order not to be disappointed in your choice on the first day of using the device, choose a high-quality screwdriver that is not afraid of shocks and mechanical influences.

The handle deserves special attention. The side one is more convenient to use than the regular one. Hold both options in your hands - it will become clearer which one you like best.

First, the appearance and then the active spread of electric tools greatly accelerated and simplified the solution of many construction and repair problems. The service life of equipment depends on the quality and timeliness of maintenance.

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Most often, the screwdriver gearbox fails. This unit is a set of connected gears that are assembled inside the housing - the crankcase.

This housing compactly places parts, protects them from contact with dirt, moisture, and foreign objects, and is responsible for smooth functioning without failures.

The screwdriver gearbox consists of sun and ring gears, a carrier, and satellites.

The tool is designed to adjust the speed of rotation of the shafts towards decreasing or increasing. The ring gear has the form of a cylinder with teeth on the inside; during operation, satellites move along them. The main causes of gearbox failure:

• Wear due to long-term use of gears and couplings;
• Damage to bearings and bushings;
• Shaft deformation;
• Damage to the pins securing the satellite;
• Cartridge beating.

If you find damage to individual parts of the gearbox, buy and install a new unit. Partial repairs in this case are practically impossible; it is better to buy a new device.

Choosing an adapter

An adapter is an essential part of any ice drill for winter fishing. He is responsible for connecting the screwdriver and the working drill. Using an adapter, you can turn an ordinary manual ice auger into an electric one; the main thing is to correctly calculate the dimensions and diameter of the working components.

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Advantages

The main advantages of this device:

• easy to modernize;
• for manufacturing you do not need to have special skills;
• does not require large financial costs;
• Fascinating production method.

Sometimes fishermen use a wrench instead of a screwdriver. This tool has a powerful body and high torque.

Operation and care

The drill can last a long time if you follow some rules:

• You should wipe it dry after use, even if it is coated with a protective agent.
• Keep the device in a special ventilated case.
• During the off-season, you need to preserve its knives and joints; you can use used oil for this.
• Carefully remove snow to avoid damaging the blades.
• Watch the fastening points and tighten them in time.
• Touch up scratched areas to prevent rust from appearing.
• Consider the load based on the thickness of the ice.

Facilitating the process of drilling holes leads to a comfortable rest when fishing.

Electric and manual drill - what and when to choose?

When the ice is thin, when the fisherman has to move a lot and drill a large number of holes, a hand drill is preferable, especially if the fisherman does not resort to using equipment when moving on the ice, but carries all his belongings in a trough or box.
For stationary fishing, when there is no need to drill many holes, it is also quite possible to get by with a hand drill. Expert opinion

Knipovich Nikolai Mikhailovich

Zoologist, hydrobiologist. I am interested in fishing at a professional level.

An electric drill gains an advantage when the ice becomes thick enough and, in addition, it is necessary to make holes of large diameter for catching bream and large predators.

Then the owners of hand drills begin to glance at the owners of electric analogues with poorly concealed envy.

DIY photo of ice screws

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Advantages of a homemade electric ice drill

An automated homemade device made from a screwdriver has many advantages over products purchased in a store. The main advantages include:

• connecting an electric drive yourself is much cheaper than purchasing a factory product;
• the manufacturing process requires a minimum of consumables and a standard set of tools;
• improvement of a conventional drill takes place at home, without the involvement of third-party specialists.

The result of the efforts of the home craftsman will be an excellent automated device for drilling ice of any thickness, which will turn into an indispensable assistant for the fisherman in winter fishing.

In order for a home-made ice drilling product to cope with the assigned tasks, it is important to choose the right screwdriver model with high power ratings. Using a weak tool will lead to problems when drilling a hole in a thick layer of ice.

Considering that the ice ax must be mobile, you need to buy a power tool with a rechargeable battery. Also, the electric drive must have maximum physical strength and reliability. It must withstand various loads, mechanical shocks and other troubles that happen while fishing.

A power tool for a homemade ice drill must meet the following characteristics:

• Torque parameters range from 80 to 90 N/m. Experienced fishermen believe that the higher this indicator, the easier it is to cope with a dry and thick layer of ice.
• Battery voltage parameters range from 18 to 36 volts depending on the screwdriver model. Voltage directly affects the power of a power tool, which means the higher it is, the better.
• Capacity indicators of the battery. It is advisable that a fishing screwdriver be equipped with a 4 Ah battery. This will allow you to use the drill for as long as possible without recharging.

An excellent product is a powerful screwdriver for an ice drill from the Bosch brand. You can also use a good Japanese power tool from the Makita brand. Although it all depends on the financial capabilities and preferences of the fisherman. The main thing is that the product is suitable in terms of power and battery capacity.