How to sharpen ice drill knives

The best ways to properly sharpen fishing ice drill knives

For a real fisherman, an ice ax is of great importance: the ability to quickly drill holes, which has a significant impact on the size of the catch. What to do if the ice ax blade becomes dull? You can correct the situation without contacting specialists.

Preparing for work

To make ice ax blades, manufacturers use high-quality steel that has undergone additional hardening. This material is difficult to sharpen.

To solve this problem, it is recommended to first grind down to 0.5 mm the top layer of steel along its entire plane. This will have to be done manually, which takes a long time.

Many fishermen use a trick, sharpening only the edges of the blade. This increases the cutting edge angle and reduces the efficiency of the knife. After 2-3 such events, the knife becomes unusable.

An equally important point for performing high-quality sharpening is determining the shape of the blade. If it is not level, it will have to be adjusted using an abrasive.

How to sharpen

If you need to quickly sharpen ice ax knives, you can use several methods. Among the most common and effective are the following:

Using an abrasive stone

Before starting work, the block must be firmly secured to the work surface. Otherwise, it will be inconvenient to work. The sharpening process is carried out in a certain sequence. For example:

1. Remove any rough edges from the blade. Place the large edge of the blade against the stone and press down slightly.
2. Use light circular movements (up to 12) to move the blade along the block.
3. If white stripes form on the surface of the abrasive, it means that the dressing process was performed correctly.
4. After this, the working surface is placed on the abrasive stone with the smaller edge, repeating circular movements.

It is important to periodically examine the edges of the ice ax blade for any irregularities on the edge. You can stop sharpening only after small burrs appear on the back side of the blade (at a large angle).

Using GOI paste

Among the known methods of sharpening the cutting part of a fishing ice ax, the one that is carried out using GOI paste is also very popular.

Paste refers to grinding materials. It contains small abrasive particles. This option cannot be called fast, but to achieve a positive result and a good catch, it is not a pity to spend time.

Using an electric sharpener

Another method, characterized by speed and high efficiency, is the use of an electric sharpener. To use it, you must have some experience working with similar equipment.

The electric sharpener has the form of an angled stand in which the knife is mounted at the required angle. Thanks to this, it will be possible to minimize the amount of steel that is removed during sharpening.

How to polish

Regardless of the method by which the ice ax knife for fishing was sharpened, the final step is polishing the surface being processed.

To do this, it is recommended to use a felt wheel and an electric sharpener. A layer of GOI paste is first applied to the surface of the felt. First, the wide edge of the knife is processed, and then the narrow one. For each of them, 250-300 rotations of the circle are enough.

When choosing one or another sharpening option, it is recommended to take into account your capabilities and skills. Proper sharpening and polishing of an ice ax knife allows you to extend their use, make it easier to use, and ensure a good catch.

Source: https://TehnoPanorama.ru/instrumenty/luchshie-sposoby-kak-pravilno-zatochit-nozhi-rybolovnogo-ledobura.html

How to sharpen ice ax knives at home - instructions

Winter fishing is impossible without drilling holes in the ice. For this process there is a special tool called an ice drill, and its main component is knives. Different types of cutting blades are used depending on weather conditions and the condition of the ice edge of the pond. In this article, we will figure out how to sharpen ice drill knives using simple tools that every fisherman has at home.

Differences between domestic and foreign knives

The knives for ice drills on the market can be divided into domestic ones and those produced abroad. Blades that are manufactured outside the CIS have the following positive aspects:

• low cost;
• versatility - a knife from any manufacturer in most cases will fit any domestically made ice drill;
• subject to self-sharpening at home.

Disadvantages often include the low quality of the materials used, low efficiency and rapid dulling.

In turn, foreign blades are distinguished by increased strength of materials, excellent drilling results and a long period of operation without additional sharpening. Among the disadvantages are the high cost and the almost complete impossibility of self-sharpening.

The question of how to sharpen knives on an ice drill arises only for domestically produced products. If such an idea has come to you regarding a product on the foreign market, it is better not to waste your energy, but to save up money for new blades, since sharpening it is a complex technological process that requires maintaining the correct angles on different sections of the knife.

What types of knives are there on an ice drill?

The following types of knives are distinguished:

1. Spherical. They are highly efficient and suitable for any ice: loose, dense, dry and wet. The only drawback is the impossibility of self-sharpening. It will not be possible to achieve the correct angle with this shape without the appropriate technique. When such blades lose their ability to cut ice normally, they must be replaced with new ones. The cost can reach a third of the entire price of an ice drill.
2. Flat. A universal type of knives, which is also suitable for drilling any type of ice. Although in this case you will have to put in more effort than when using spherical blades. Flat knives are used in most domestically produced ice drills and are interchangeable. Sharpening them is not a problem at home, which is why they are widely used among fishermen.
3. Stepped. The blade is divided into two parts, one protrudes slightly forward. During the drilling process, the knife crushes the ice rather than cutting it, and does not require much effort. Used in severe frosts down to -20 degrees. Sharpening such knives on an ice drill is possible, but not as easy as with flat ones.
4. Serrated. Suitable for wet ice, the blade is divided into teeth. Currently not widely used. It is very difficult to sharpen on your own.

When going fishing, you need to take into account that flat knives are suitable for dry, homogeneous ice in moderate frost. When the temperature reaches -15, -20 degrees, it is better to use stepped blades, and at the end of the winter period, use spherical and serrated ones.

Beginners can use flat blades all the time, but professionals should carry the entire set with them. Then, upon arriving at the site, you will be able to assess the condition of the ice and make a replacement. This will significantly reduce the time for drilling holes.

How to sharpen ice drill knives at home

 
Before starting the procedure, you need to stock up on one of the types of sharpening material. It could be:

• Abrasive stone (aka corundum or SiC). The shape of the stone itself is not important, the main thing is that its surface is perfectly flat. Coarse grain will not work here; you need to take a medium or fine-grained abrasive (if you compare it with sandpaper, then this is H4-H6). It should be taken into account that after 5-7 sharpening procedures, the surface will no longer be flat and a small depression will appear, which negatively affects the final result. It is better not to save money and purchase a new stone every time the corresponding signs of deterioration are noticed on the old one.
• Sandpaper. A piece of material is glued to a flat surface with glue or double-sided tape. It can only be used once, but will be as effective as an abrasive stone.

When the preparatory work is completed, the knives are sharpened on an ice drill:

1. The initial rubbing of the working surface of the knife is carried out. During the process, all hangnails must be removed, while movements occur in a circle.
2. The blade is pressed against the abrasive and circular movements are made. The angle of inclination is indicated in the schematic drawing. If the blade is too small to hold firmly in your hands, you can attach the plate using the standard bolt holes.
3. The process continues until marks of sharpening appear on the cutting edge. The tightness of the surface is determined by the marks that are formed from the grindstone.

The main stage of sharpening is completed, all that remains is to check the quality of the work performed. To do this, take a sheet of paper with two fingers of your left hand, and a blade with the second. If the cutting is carried out without obstacles and effort, the test is passed.

Now the knives can be installed on the ice auger. It is better to treat the threaded connection with oil or a special lubricant so that there are no problems with unscrewing in the future. It is recommended to replace the supplied screw with a larger one and secure it with a nut. This will prevent spontaneous eversion during operation. Over-tightening should be avoided as this may cause unnecessary distortion on the parts.

Editing and polishing

In some cases, there is no need to thoroughly understand how to sharpen ice drill knives, but it is enough to make minor adjustments to restore the sharpness of the blade. The work is carried out using the finest sandpaper with a paper base. You will also need a flat surface for fastening (glass, a piece of mirror, fiberglass).

Sandpaper is laid on the surface and secured along the edges with tape. The surface itself is laid on a damp cloth, which prevents slipping. The first step is to level the back of the blade. It will be enough to perform 20 to 30 circular movements. The cutting side is leveled by moving towards you; here it is important to maintain the angle of inclination. The procedure ends with a test on paper, which is described above.

The information presented in the article gives an idea of ​​the differences between domestic and foreign knives, and also indicates what types of knives can be sharpened independently. The process itself is not particularly difficult and can be performed using simple tools. You can clearly learn how to sharpen ice drill knives by watching the video posted in the material.

Source: https://rybak.guru/kak-natochit-nozhi-na-ledobure/

How to choose and sharpen ice auger knives

Properly selected, installed and sharply sharpened knives for ice drills allow the fisherman to quickly change the fishing location, making many new holes per day.

Drilling with dull blades takes a lot of time and effort, causes fatigue and deprives you of the pleasure of being on the pond. Among all the fishing accessories for ice fishing, this accessory is one of the most important.

A high-quality product makes holes without much effort in ice of any structure and thickness.

Types of knives for ice drills

There is a large selection of cutting devices that are equally well suited for ice drills of domestic and foreign production. The differences are in the quality of the metal, thickness and shape of the products.

According to the configuration, the blades are divided into the following types:

1. Straight and even. Used to work with dense and thin materials. Thanks to its simple form, it is easy to maintain.
2. Stepped. The products are designed for drilling in dry and hard ice. They differ in their rigidity and the amount of force applied. Due to the steps, they are better held in dense material.
3. Spherical. Such auger knives have semicircular edges that easily penetrate damp and viscous ice. The likelihood of corners breaking is much lower than other models.
4. Serrated. They are considered universal, as they can work with frozen surfaces of any degree of hardness, humidity and thickness. When working with compacted ice, there is a risk of teeth breaking.

To be prepared for any conditions on the pond, it is recommended to have a full set of ice auger attachments and accessories for their installation.

Installation

Most manufacturers adhere to a single standard, which allows replacement attachments to be installed on products of domestic and foreign production.

Before attaching, you should check the blades to the ice auger for the following defects:

• dull blade;
• broken chamfers;
• burrs on the edge;
• chips and potholes;
• wrong shape.

If the attachments meet the quality requirements, then you need to wipe the ice drill dry with a cloth and install the cutting devices. To avoid loosening of the fasteners, the bolts should be pre-wrapped with FUM tape. It’s even better to take longer bolts and screw a locknut to them on the reverse side.

Adjustment

The sharpening angle of the blades does not always correspond to the type and thickness of the ice on the pond. In such cases, you can change the angle of the attachments to achieve optimal results.

There are the following ways to configure the tool:

1. Metal washers. They are threaded onto the mounting screws closest to the axles. Using adjusting washers, the speed of passage of strong and dry ice is increased. The angle remains constant and the degree of grip and stability increases. Depending on the density of the material, the thickness of the washers increases from 0.4 mm to 1.0 mm. You can use plastic bottles and aluminum cans from scrap materials.
2. Corner pads. With their help, you can control the sharpening angles of ice drill knives without the use of abrasive devices. The thickness of the gaskets can range from 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm. The material used for manufacturing is steel, aluminum or copper plates. To secure it, a lip is made at the end of the gasket.

Having a supply of washers and spacers while fishing, you can quickly adapt to changes in ice conditions. Read: Do-it-yourself ice drill - is it possible?

How to prepare knives for use?

Experienced fishermen know that with frequent trips to the pond, the blades of replaceable attachments become dull after just a couple of months. In many ways, this period depends on the quality of the preparation carried out in the off-season.

For most fishermen, sharpening ice drill knives at home is not a problem. Along with processing the blades, consumables and tools (keys, screwdrivers, bolts, nuts, washers and gaskets) are selected and adjusted.

It is advisable to have a separate sealed container for carrying sharps.

You can sharpen blades in various ways; you need to rely on your own abilities and technical equipment. If you have doubts about your own abilities, then it is advisable to take the products to a specialized workshop that has professional equipment. Improper handling of nozzles impairs their performance characteristics and reduces their service life. A high-quality sharpened blade cuts paper without leaving torn edges.

On the machine

Almost every fisherman has grinding equipment, as it is necessary for straightening knives, axes and hooks, turning buoys and floats. Before sharpening knives on the machine, you need to make several corner stands. This will allow you to maintain the correct angle and remove a minimum amount of hardened metal.

In the process of processing products, you should use several wheels, gradually reducing their grain size. When grinding, the iron must not be allowed to overheat, as this leads to a decrease in its strength. The nozzles must be constantly dipped in water until they cool completely.

Using an abrasive stone

If you don’t have a grinding machine at hand to sharpen a knife, a kitchen knife sharpener is a good option. First you need to secure it to the surface by placing it on a sheet of thick rubber. This technique will prevent the block from slipping during operation. The stone is moistened with a small amount of water, after which the straightening process begins.

First of all, the large edge of the knife is processed. This is done with soft circular movements with constant horizontal control. The resulting abrasive paste promotes high-quality and uniform metal removal. At the second stage, the part of the blade that has a slope is ground off. Finishing is done with transverse movements.

Using sandpaper

Those who have not previously sharpened ice drill knives can use sandpaper. The strip of abrasive material must be firmly secured to a flat and hard surface. This could be a board or a grout float. You should not use material with large grains - they leave deep grooves on the metal that are difficult to remove.

Circular movements are made in different directions, after which the blade is straightened by longitudinal movement along the sandpaper. Burrs are removed with fine-grained material (zero).

Glass and pasta goyim

These abrasives are used to bring the surfaces of attachments to a mirror shine and sharpness to the level of razor blades.

This event has a practical meaning - smooth metal rubs against ice less easily, which helps reduce wear and increase service life. Polishing is carried out mechanically (in a circle) or manually using woolen cloth.

The material is first moistened with alcohol, then the composition is applied to it. When processing, care should be taken not to grind off excess or deform the tip.

Sharpening spherical knives

For spherical knives, you will need a device that allows you to move the sharpener along the contour of the blade.

Watch the video:

You can assemble such a thing from improvised means.

How to properly store knives?

Metal products must be protected from dampness and mechanical stress. Immediately after fishing, they must be removed, cleaned of dirt and dust, and generously lubricated with silicone. Editing should be done as soon as possible.

Knives should be stored in a dry place, having previously been wrapped in oily cloth. In high temperature conditions, the lubricant must be refreshed monthly, as it tends to evaporate.

It is advisable to store knives in a durable box that protects them from impacts.

Source: https://ribaku.info/snasti/kak-natochit-nozhi-ledobura

Sharpening ice drill knives at home: on a machine and with your own hands

› Fishing equipment › Ice axes/ice screws

Winter fishing cannot be carried out without the use of a tool such as an ice screw. The device allows you to make holes in the thickness of the ice in a short time.

However, under mechanical influence on the tool, the ice drill knives quickly become dull. In order not to damage the tool, you need to know how to sharpen an ice screw for its further use.

Types of knives for ice augers

To correctly select the method for sharpening knives on a drill, it is necessary to determine the type of blade. The following varieties are distinguished:

1. Conventional with straight cutting edges. It is the most common form of knives.
2. Stepped blades - There are several cutting edges that are separated by a groove.
3. Rounded blades - have a semicircular shape.
4. The part with a lot of teeth. They are considered one of the most rarely used for ice drilling.
5. The cutting part has the shape of a triangle. This type of knife is most often used for thin ice. The drills have three cutting edges, sharpened on one side.

Note! Each type of ice auger blade has its own advantages and disadvantages, so the user independently determines the required type of ice auger.

The difference between domestic and foreign products

When choosing a product for ice drilling, you can purchase a domestic device or give preference to a foreign one. The choice of ice auger depends on a person’s personal preferences, but the following qualities of the products should be highlighted.

Domestic production:

• affordable cost of the product;
• possibility of sharpening yourself;
• blades are made of ordinary metal without the use of additional technologies

Such products require constant monitoring of the ice auger. Blades should be sharpened regularly. When drilling ice, a person needs to exert great physical effort.

Foreign production:

• high price;
• ease of operation;
• Using special metal processing, the knives retain their sharpness for a long time, regardless of the type of ice.

Note! Unlike domestic ice screws, such products require the purchase of expensive parts when they break. It is recommended that sharpening of the cutting part be carried out by specialists using the necessary equipment. Ice auger blades can deteriorate if sand or foreign matter gets in while drilling.

Sharpening knives on a machine

The most commonly used tool for sharpening ice drill blades is a grinding machine. To carry out sharpening, a special device is used to adjust the angle of inclination during the process. The absence of such a device will lead to incorrect sharpening and as a result the drill will be damaged.

To carry out the procedure, a specialist secures the blades at the required angle and sharpens them.

After the knives are sharpened, it is necessary to check the product for the presence of burrs. To do this, the product is processed using sandpaper or an abrasive stone.

How to sharpen ice drill knives by hand?

Many ice drill users may not have special tools for sharpening blades, so the procedure is carried out manually. It is easiest to sharpen domestic ice screws, since the metal from which the knives are made can be easily processed.

On an abrasive stone

To use this method, you need to take an abrasive bar with double-sided spraying and perform the following steps:

• fix the block on the table so that the stone does not slip and disturb the sharpening process;
• a knife with a large cutting edge must be applied to the block and made in circular movements, while the force on the blade should be medium. Up to 10-12 such movements are carried out to eliminate possible scratches and hangnails;
• The next step is to place the blade on the surface, using a coarse spray to sharpen it. In this case, the stone should be moved in a circular motion and observed that the marks from the stone are evenly distributed along the entire cutting edge.

Note! During the sharpening process, it is necessary to monitor the sharpening process; if burrs have formed on the reverse side, they should be removed.

Using Sandpaper

To sharpen the cutting part of the ice ax, you need to prepare a round file and sandpaper and perform the following steps:

• cut the paper into 4 cm strips;
• wrap paper around the file, secure one edge to the sharp part of the other and hold it with your fingers;
• Fix the ice ax blades at the required angle with a vice;
• make straight movements with the file, maintaining the required angle.

Let's celebrate! This method allows you to sharpen blades that are not very dull; for advanced cases, you must use an abrasive stone or a special machine.

Using GOI paste

In order to sharpen the product, you should prepare paste and glass. The paste is applied directly to the glass and circular movements are made along the cutting edge.

This method is used only for the cutting part. Sharpening knives requires a long procedure. This type of technique is used very rarely, and is most often used to eliminate hangnails.

How to sharpen an ice screw?

Sharpening depends on the type of blade. Before starting the procedure, it is necessary to check whether the knives are really dull, since excessive sharpening can damage the product. If the ice drill becomes difficult to drill through ice, and the blades do not even cut paper, the product requires sharpening.

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1. Bite activator. Stimulates a strong appetite in fish, attracting them even in cold water. The pheromones included in its composition are to blame. It’s a pity that Rosprirodnadzor wants to impose a ban on its sale.
2. Correct selection of gear. Read the relevant manuals for a specific type of gear on the pages of my website.
3. Pheromone -based lures .

You can get the rest of the secrets of successful fishing for free by reading my other materials on the site.

Straight knives

To sharpen the straight blades of an ice drill, you can use an abrasive stone or a grinder. Sharpening is done on one side. The metal must be removed evenly; after sharpening, the reverse side must be checked for burrs.

If the cutting part is in a neglected state, the first layer of metal must be removed using even, straight movements, and then using circular movements to bring the edge to the desired sharpness.

Let's celebrate! You can use sandpaper to straighten the cutting part. To do this, sandpaper is placed on the surface, the cutting edge is positioned at the desired angle and is drawn along the sandpaper towards itself. Movements should be slow.

Step knives

This type of blade has two parts, so during the sharpening process it is necessary to process each section in turn. A distinctive feature in sharpening step knives is that it is necessary to carry out the procedure on both sides of the blade.

Note! After sharpening, the surface is further smoothed using fine-grained sandpaper and a felt disc.

Rounded knives

To sharpen rounded products, you must use a special machine with a burr. Using a marker, you need to mark the edge so as not to remove the excess layer of metal.

Fix the cutting product in a vice and with slow movements, without damaging the line, run the machine along the cutting part. Then go over the blade with a felt disc to polish.

Sharpening a Swedish ice screw

The ice auger has rounded cutting edges that effectively cope with different thicknesses of ice, but can be difficult to sharpen.

The procedure can be carried out using the following methods:

1. Manually. Using a round file and H6-grit sandpaper, rub straight along the cutting edge. The duration of the procedure is at least 15 minutes. To achieve the desired result, the blade must be secured in a vice at an angle.
2. Using a special sharpening machine. Movements should be smooth, sharpening should be done from both sides. After the edge has reached the required sharpness, it is recommended to remove the burrs and treat the cutting part with a felt disc.

Let's celebrate! The procedure for sharpening Swedish ice screws is considered the most difficult, so it is necessary to use the services of specialists. Since spherical cutting parts are most often damaged when trying to sharpen the product yourself.

How to install knives on an ice auger?

In order to install the cutting parts on the ice drill, you must perform the following algorithm of actions:

• use a screwdriver to unscrew dull items (if the replacement procedure is being carried out);
• position the cutting products and tighten the screws until they are hidden inside;
• before tightening the screws, it is necessary to lubricate them with grease, this will prevent rust;
• Following the same algorithm of actions, change the second product.

It is important to know that when changing knives, you must carry out the procedure with all existing blades. Do not sharpen products one at a time, this will damage the product.

Let's celebrate! When sharpening the cutting parts of an ice drill yourself, especially if such a procedure is being carried out for the first time, the movements should be slow. Excessive metal removal can result in chips and scratches. A properly sharpened tool will allow you to use the product for winter fishing for a long time.

I caught this pike using a bite activator. I’ve never caught one of these before, but now every time I bring back trophy specimens from fishing! The time has come for you to guarantee your catch!!!

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I caught this pike using a bite activator. I’ve never caught one of these before, but now every time I bring back trophy specimens from fishing! The time has come for you to guarantee your catch!!!

MORE →

How to properly sharpen fishing auger knives at home? Link to main publication

Source: https://bagorik.ru/aksessuari/ledorubyledobury/zatochka-nozhej-dlya-ledobura.html

Sharpening ice drill knives at home - on a machine and with your own hands

Even before the onset of the first frosts, many fans of winter and ice fishing, both with impressive experience and those just starting out, are wondering about purchasing a convenient and high-quality ice auger. After all, without this tool, fishing in winter is unthinkable.

What to consider when choosing it:

• Firstly, this is the diameter of the auger, the main part with which the hole is drilled. It all depends on what kind of fish you plan to catch. For medium-sized fish, roach, perch, small pike, an auger with a diameter of 90-100 mm is suitable. For fish such as white bream, bream, large pike and pike perch, we choose an auger of 120 mm or more.
• Secondly, there must be a reliable connecting node (elbow). When purchasing, you should check the possibility of future play in assembled, working condition.
• Thirdly, the direction of rotation of the ice drill, clockwise or counterclockwise. This is a matter of habit or convenience for each person.

Be sure to visually determine the quality of the weld at the junction of the auger with the tubular part of the ice auger, in order to check for poor quality workmanship. Otherwise, the auger with knives may remain in the ice when drilling.

The quality of the paint used to process the instrument is also important. If it peels off quickly, then the adhered snow and icing will complicate the process.

And the most important thing is the quality of the tool’s knives. When purchasing, it is worth inspecting the working (cutting) part for thermal lines, which indicates non-compliance with maintaining the temperature regime during factory sharpening. Such steel is already considered unsuitable for use for drilling holes in ice.

Types of Ice Pick Knives

The cutting part is made according to accepted international standards, from steel grades R18, R9, R12, R6M5K5 and hardness from 62 to 72 HRC units.

Special cold hardening gives the knives the desired properties, such as:

• Protection against breakage and deformation;
• Impact resistance;
• Resistance to dampness;
• The ability to periodically sharpen them yourself.

They are divided into several types according to the type of cutting part and are universal in use:

• With two straight edges (requires caution when completing drilling, as “biting” often occurs at the exit);
• With a rounded edge (suitable for wet, sticky ice);
• With a stepped edge (more designed for strong, “dry” ice);
• With serrated edge (for loose and damp ice);
• Triangular in shape with three cutting edges (rarely common type of knives, claimed to be suitable for all types of ice).

Over time, with use, the knives will definitely become dull. Due to the hardness of the ice, sand and small pebbles contained in it. On the spot, while fishing, you can temporarily sharpen them, having with you an ordinary sharpening stone or a needle file. But this must be done thoroughly with a special tool. There are two options: mechanical sharpening on a machine and manually.

Sharpening on a machine

One way is an electric sharpener. Naturally, for this, you must have experience working on it. Otherwise, this method is unacceptable, as you can simply damage the cutting edge. For those who are familiar with this equipment first-hand, let’s consider the main stages.

First of all, there must be a special device (corner stand) for installing the part to be sharpened at a certain angle. This will allow you to remove a minimum amount of metal and avoid distortion of the cutting edge chamfer:

1. Manually, using a file or an abrasive stone, we remove small chips formed during the drilling process. If the chip depth is more than 2 mm, it should be cut into the shape of a tooth and sharpened.
2. We fix the knife, with the long, working side, in a corner stand and set the angle to 30°. Carefully bring it to the desired state.
3. Turn the part over with the short cutting edge. The angle between these two edges should be close to 90°. Due to this, the “biting” factor during drilling will be reduced.
4. During processing, the part should be periodically cooled by immersing it in water or oil.
5. After the main processing, you should polish the knife using a felt wheel and GOI paste. This is required for faster and cleaner drilling. The rotation speed should be about 3000 rpm.
6. First we polish the surface of the knife directed towards the ice.
7. Next, we polish the upper part, with the obligatory approach to the cutting edge. This will improve the cutting angle and increase the service life.
8. Knives prepared in this way can then be very easily sharpened by hand, right during fishing.

Sharpening knives by hand

The most common option for sharpening is at home, by hand. There are several varieties of this action:

• On an abrasive stone;
• Using sandpaper;
• Using glass and GOI paste.

Let's consider each type:

Sharpening with an abrasive stone

To do this, you will need the “correct stone”, carborundum, with wide working surfaces. The grain size should be fine or medium, corresponding to the markings of H4-H6 sandpaper. When purchasing, be sure to check it for potholes on wide surfaces and chips along the edges. The service life of such a stone is enough to process 15-20 sets of blades. Subsequently, its working plane ceases to be level and it is not possible to sharpen the knives correctly.

Sharpening process:

• We fix the block by placing it on a sheet of rubber , or using double-sided tape to prevent slipping during the process.
• We remove burrs. To do this, place the knife with a wide plane on the stone, and, pressing lightly, make 15-20 circular movements. If there is no severe deformation, this will be immediately visible in the grinding pattern; the finishing process is completed.
• Sharpening. Turning the cutting edge towards the stone, we also make circular movements with gentle and uniform pressure. Upon visual inspection, the marks from the abrasive stone should be located evenly over the entire surface.
• We use paper to test the sharpness of the blade. The knife should cut the paper easily and evenly.

Sharpening with sandpaper

This is almost the same method as described above, since the same abrasive is used, only applied to a paper or textile base. But due to the “wave” feature of sandpaper when moving along the surface, the result will be somewhat worse. Can be used when removing chips.

Glass and GOI paste

These are also a kind of abrasives, only very small ones. It will take a lot of time and patience to sharpen the blades, but the results will be very good.

It is important to remember that knives are placed on ice augers only in pairs, new with new, re-sharpened with the same. When straightening knives on the spot, if you are “lucky enough” to land on sand in the ice, without removing them, we make straightening movements only along the cutting surface, away from you – downwards. But the houses will still have to be re-sharpened.

When sharpening, you can use various types of diamond-coated needle files. You should be careful here, because unlike the methods described above, where the entire working surface is processed at once, the needle file only covers a small area of ​​it.

Accordingly, the straight line of the blade may be disrupted, which can lead to its breakage when drilling a hole.

We looked at the most common methods of sharpening knives for straight-shaped ice drills. It is also worth considering the options for sharpening the so-called “Swedes”, which have a curved cutting part.

Here, too, there are two options: manual and mechanical sharpening:

• For manual processing you need: a small vice, strips of abrasive paper H4 - H6, 3-4 cm wide and a semicircular file. By moving towards yourself, while simultaneously changing the angle of the file, with the “skin” mounted on it, we carefully straighten the cutting part of the knife. Based on the risks from the abrasive, we determine the thoroughness of the processing. Sharpness test, also checked by cutting paper.
• Having at hand a small, manual machine designed for polishing, grinding and milling work, it is very easy and quick to bring the cutting part to perfect condition. Take a burr that follows the shape of the blade or an abrasive mini-disc. The part is clamped in a vice, the part being processed, for a better view of the work done, is painted over with a felt-tip pen and carefully brought to the desired state.

Blitz tips

• The range of ice drills offered on the Russian market is amazingly diverse. And to choose “yours,” you need to be guided by the principles of ease of use (direction of rotation, material of handles), reliability of both its working part (knives), and the entire tool as a whole (connecting elbow, options for attaching knives to the auger).
• An important factor for choosing is the price. If opportunities permit and you purchase a foreign-made ice drill, then you will have a manual “drilling rig” in your hands. The variable angle of attack along the cutting edge will allow you to reach the water through the ice in a matter of minutes. High-alloy steel used for knives allows them not to be sharpened during the fishing season.
• Domestic drills made of titanium are light and convenient, but have flat blades. So, there are always options to choose from, both for novice fishermen who are just yet to try them out and, based on their experience, decide on the purchase of an ice drill that is convenient for them, as well as for experienced winter fishing enthusiasts.

Source: https://lakeking.ru/snasti/zima/zatochka-ledobura.html

Ice drill knives: sharpening devices and ways to sharpen them with your own hands at home

An ice drill for winter fishing is perhaps one of the most important tools. If on the first ice it is still possible to go after fish with an ice ax or pick, then on thick ice there is no alternative to an ice ax. The most important part of this device is the knives. Well-sharpened ice drill knives will allow you to drill any number of holes without much effort. A drill with dull blades will cause a lot of suffering for the fisherman, and sometimes make winter fishing impossible.

How does an ice screw work?

An ice drill is a fairly simple tool. It consists of only three parts:

An ice screw works in the same way as a brace. Some fishermen call it that. Knives mounted on the auger crush the ice layer by layer.

The auger, which is an Archimedes screw, lifts the ice chips to the surface of the ice. The handle, articulated with the auger, rotates with the help of the fisherman’s muscular strength.

A gasoline engine installed on the drill will make the work much easier. This device is called a motor drill. It allows you to drill a large number of holes without spending a lot of effort. Fishermen use it when the ice thickness is more than one meter.

The device is bulky and quite heavy, so only those who go fishing on snowmobiles take it with them.

A little about blade types

The blades are installed on the ice screw using two countersunk screws. Depending on the type of ice auger and the condition of the ice, the following types are used:

• flat,
• stepped,
• gear,
• semicircular,
• triangular.

Flat ones are the most common. They have been used for more than half a century and have two cutting edges. Stepped ones have two straight edges offset relative to each other. This design allows the drill to work well on dense ice in frosty weather.

Serrated ones resemble stepped ones, but have saw-like cutting edges. It is preferable to use such blades during a thaw. Semicircular (spherical) cut ice soaked in water well, so they are more often used in the spring.

Triangular ones are not yet widely used, but manufacturers position them as universal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDn4P6Q77gg

A well-sharpened ice drill drills through ice with virtually no pressure. If the drilling speed is low, you can try to change the angle of attack of the blades by placing washers of different thicknesses under them.

How to sharpen a cutting edge

It is no secret that any cutting object, no matter how good the material it is made from, becomes dull over time. Drill knives produced in our country are made of fairly soft steel. Therefore, when actively using ice augers, they have to be adjusted several times a season. Ideally, you need to have several sets and, after the end of the winter season, have them all professionally sharpened. If this is not possible, then you will have to sharpen it yourself.

The easiest way is to straighten the cutting edge with a strip of high-speed steel . Many fishermen carry such a piece with them. You can use it to correct the cutting edge while fishing directly on the ice drill. Editing is very simple. You need to forcefully run a piece of such steel along the cutting edge, holding it at an angle. The steel will remove small chips each time. This method can quickly bring ice drill knives into working condition, but this is only a temporary measure.

When adjusting the edge in this way, you need to be extremely careful. The blade can easily injure your hands. In addition, sharpening can only be done from the inside, where the blades have a sharpening angle. Attempts to sharpen them on the flat outer side, where the recesses for countersunk screws are made, will only lead to complete damage to the blades.

At home, sharpening knives for ice drills requires their removal . Blades can be sharpened on any flat surface. To do this, you need an abrasive stone or sandpaper of medium or fine grit.

First, large burrs are removed by pressing the knife as tightly as possible against the abrasive surface. Then the pressure can be released. It must be remembered that the sharpening angle of ice drill knives is thirty degrees. We must try to preserve it as accurately as possible.

Final finishing can be done by polishing the surface using GOI paste.

The quality of sharpening of the cutting edge is checked very simply: you need to try to cut a sheet of newsprint by weight. A well-sharpened blade will do this without difficulty. If the paper tears, the editing procedure will have to be repeated.

Mora knife editing

The ice drill from the Swedish company MORA is rightfully considered one of the best. During winter fishing, it allows you to fully experience the ease of drilling holes. The knives of these tools are of very high quality, but over time they become dull.

Such blades are not cheap; their price can reach up to forty percent of the cost of the entire product. Usually such knives are trimmed using special tools.

But sharpening Mora ice drill knives at home is also possible, although the procedure will require some skill.

These blades have a convex and spherical cutting edge, so they need to be sharpened on a convex surface. Typically, a glass jar and fine-grain sandpaper, the so-called zero, are used for this.

Like any other knives, mora blades can be sharpened using hand tools . The simplest sharpener for ice drill knives is a diamond needle file. If you have a Dremel with a fine-grained cutter, you can use that too. It’s good if you have a factory-sharpened knife in front of your eyes at this time, so that during the work you can compare the results obtained.

When sharpening the knives of any ice drill, a keen eye and a steady hand are required. If the required skills are not available, it is better to entrust this matter to professionals.

Source: https://berlogakarelia.ru/snaryazhenie/kak-mozhno-natochit-nozhi-dlya-ledobura-v-domashnih-usloviyah

Sharpening knives for ice drills at home - methods, videos and instructions

An ice auger is an incredibly important element of winter fishing gear, and a fisherman spends a lot of time caring for it. And this is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. How much does it cost to properly sharpen ice drill knives?

The question of how to properly sharpen ice drill blades is somewhat controversial. Each fisherman has his own truth. All this is due to the wide range of devices for drilling holes in the ice, designed to extract the catch.

Scandinavian manufacturers who make knives from structural steel are very popular today, although their Russian colleagues are not far behind. Even a few of them overtook workers from abroad. Products made not only from steel, but also from titanium have appeared in domestic production.

Ice screw sharpening

After just a few winter fishing trips, the need arises to sharpen the ice drill blade. Most often, the tip of the blade breaks at the junction of the cutting edge. This is not critical, but the drilling speed will slow down. Therefore, it is best to sharpen knives on time, so you will have to put in less effort when creating holes.

Editing ice auger knives on ice

To edit an ice ax you will need the following tools and materials:

• a block of fine grain sandpaper;
• genuine leather belt;
• paste GOI.

Most fishermen advise using an abrasive paste, which is best suited from a technological aspect. You can use any belt. But first you should fix it on a flat, rigid stick.

After sharpening the blade, you can begin to edit the cutting edge. An abrasive wheel will smooth out serious roughness and snags. Although the tip will feel somewhat “soft” in feel. There is no need to worry about this.

During the production process, it is necessary to strive to maintain the sharpening angle as accurately as possible, so as not to spoil everything. This operation should be carried out carefully and slowly, with control over the pressing of the edge plane to the block.

And only then can you begin to finalize the desired sharpness:

1. Take a previously prepared belt rigidly attached to a stick and generously lubricate it with GOI paste.
2. Sharpen the cutting edge in the direction of its point. At this point, the paste will begin to play its role, and all excess will be removed on its own.

You can check the quality of the work performed using a regular sheet of paper. If you can cut it neatly and easily, then everything is done perfectly.

How to sharpen the knives of an auger ice drill?

There are several universal ways to sharpen a drill. But for screw-type models, a slightly different option is suitable, which will be discussed further:

1. First you need to create a base from thick-walled plastic or fiberboard measuring 300x400 mm
2. In the center of the workpiece, 3 strips of sandpaper measuring 100x200 mm, differing in grain size, are placed on epoxy glue. Moreover, the final one should be zero.
3. Hold the workpiece under the press for a few minutes to remove any unevenness and air bubbles under the sandpaper. The surface must be perfectly flat.
4. It is recommended to sharpen the product on a sharpening machine using coarse sandpaper, and the knives should be moved strictly vertically. In this case, you must hold the part with both hands. And you can eliminate the movement of the base on the surface of the table by initially securing them with a clamp or small yews.
5. Finally, you need to sharpen the knives at zero. And only then can we talk about the full implementation of the work.

Sharpening Leningrad ice drill knives

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It is recommended to sharpen the Leningrad manual mechanism as follows:

• To begin, you should remove burrs from the blade by placing the larger edge of the blade against the sharpening stone.
• Gently pressing the product, it is worth creating uniform pressure on the entire surface of the product, repeating about ten movements in a circle. And depending on whether risks appear, you can judge the quality of the steel itself and its durability.

During the sharpening process, be sure to visually look at the blade and at the new marks that appear from the abrasive wheel. Their location should be equally distant.

Ice drill blade sharpening angle

Modern domestic knives are presented in the form of a blank in the shape of a flat trapezoid with a fairly sharp angle. The latter is formed by arching a pair of cutting edges, carefully sharpened at an angle of thirty degrees.

Ice auger blade angles

It is recommended to use the central axis of the pipe as a depleting denominator in the question of the value of the angles in relation to which they are calculated in production. It is on this that the auger spiral and beam for mounting the knife fasteners are welded.

To change the angle of the knives, it is not recommended to immediately rush to disassemble their landing pads. Because in this way you can cause irreparable damage to the mechanism. It is best to use duralumin blanks beveled along a narrow end.

Moreover, the issue of changing the angle of inclination in relation to the axis concerns only one side, and the workpiece must be placed on top of the narrow knife and its landing pad. And everything is ready!

Installing ice auger blades

Installing the knives of this tool in a different position from the original one is recommended when there has been a change in their position in relation to the axis of rotation.

If you tie this installation in relation to their landing site, the change occurs by simply changing the position of the product. Moreover, there is no question of changing the sharpening angle of their blades. Because each individual mechanism has its own meaning.

Adjusting the knives

The position of the knives can be adjusted in two ways:

1. When changing the angle of inclination of the device blades, place washers under the fastening screws.
2. When changing the angle of attack of the blade without additionally changing the inclination of the products.

In the first option, you can achieve an increase in the speed of creating a hole of dry and flat ice. In this method there is no change in the angle of attack of the blades. Considering the information that most devices are set to standardly create a hole in the thickness of not very dense ice, it is recommended to increase the thickness of the washers in direct proportion to the increase in the density of the water mass.

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The second option is considered more competent. It involves the use of corner pads between the back surface of the blade and their fastening areas. In other words, the angle of attack is changed upward. The principle of choosing a gasket does not differ from the first option.

As the ice density changes upward, higher spacers are used. Initially, it is necessary to use products with a thickness of 0.2 mm and increase their values ​​by 0.1 mm, respectively, in the future.

Various materials can be used as linings. For example, it could even be a piece of a plastic bottle folded in half. There are plenty of options here. It all depends on your imagination.

Which ice screw to choose?

1. Leningrad ice drill, 2. Mora Ice Pro, 3. Nero ice drill, 4. Tonar Barnaul, 5. Rapala

There is no objective opinion on this issue. And each of the fishermen follows his own line. We will consider the most popular parameters for choosing an ice drill.

First of all, you need to start from your financial capabilities. Scandinavian drilling rig models have always been distinguished by their reliability and quality. But their price is decent. Such devices, sometimes, seemingly without your help, independently produce holes in the ice cavity of any thickness and hardness.

Western colleagues decided to follow progress and bring something new to this area. They created knives that were distinguished not only by their flat cutting surface, but also by their screw shape. This will make it possible to create a variable angle of attack along the cutting edge, and the drill will be able to drill holes with the same quality at any temperature conditions and thickness of the ice of the reservoir. The fisherman will be able to feel significantly less stress on his hands in the process of creating a hole.

Knives from foreign manufacturers do not require additional sharpening for two seasons. Whereas after this time you will have to work hard. Because this is a very labor-intensive task and, if it is carried out by specialists, expensive.

Please note one more point: most fishermen advise, after purchasing the device, to immediately remove the blades and check them for the quality of sharpening. Because the absence of a small cutting edge will only make the work more difficult. The knife will run away from the strict vertical movement, it will be necessary to put more effort into creating the hole, and in general, it will take much more time.

You should never buy a drill with unhardened blades, which are fragile. Because when drilling a hole, such an element may crack. Plus, a quality product must have two cutting edges.

Ice auger blade material

When choosing a material for the knives of the device, you should pay special attention to the marking of the steel used, which indicates their hardness.
Acceptable limits are considered to be 62 to 72 HRC units. The most popular today are blades made of P18 steel. Although new items have also appeared - P9, P12, P6M5K5. When purchasing a device in this case, it is best to pay special attention to the shape of the knife, the quality of its sharpening and, of course, the characteristics of its hardness.

A good hard knife will leave small scratches on a file. And if you use the tool very carefully, avoiding cutting the blade into the stone, you can use it for decades. Such a product is not a hindrance to good sand, naturally for a certain period of time, for example, a couple of dozen fishing trips. Therefore, if you purchase such a mechanism with really high-quality material, you will definitely be satisfied.

If you suddenly come across a blade coated with titanium nitride, be sure to buy it. This is an eternal instrument that is not afraid of anything.

Bottom line

The sharpening quality of the device blade can be checked very easily. Press the blade against your fingernail so that the chamfer is at an angle of 20-30 degrees towards the top.

If you apply a little effort and the blade rests on the nail, it means it has been sharpened correctly. If not, repeat the procedure, otherwise you will have to sweat a lot in the process of creating the hole, and here every minute counts.

You should not skimp on the quality of sharpening the ice drill - this is a thankless task. You will have to suffer a lot during the fishing itself, and then you will remember everything

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Source: http://bolshoyulov.ru/vse-o-zatochke-nozhej-dlya-ledobura-v-domashnix-usloviyax-usloviya-regulirovka-i-sovety/

Sharpening knives for ice drills

When going winter fishing, you need to make sure that the ice auger has sharp knives. This is very important, since you have to drill dozens of holes in search of fish, and unsharpened knives significantly increase the load on your hands. Fishing in such conditions easily turns from an interesting and exciting activity into something like hard labor. You quickly get tired of such fishing, after which the desire to go fishing the next time disappears.

We can immediately say that it makes no sense to go fishing without an ice drill, especially if the ice is already strong and has an impressive thickness. It is not so easy to break through such ice with an ice pick, especially if you need not one hole, but several. In addition, the edges of the hole are not smooth, which leads to a feeling of discomfort.

As a rule, those anglers who regularly go out for winter fishing understand how important it is to have a functional drill with sharp blades. With regular trips, by the middle of the season, the knives become dull, which forces winter fishing enthusiasts to either replace them with new ones or sharpen them. It is better to entrust the sharpening of knives to the masters of this business, or you can try to do it yourself: after all, it is not saints who burn pots.

How and how do domestic knives differ from imported ones?

Depending on the manufacturer, and it can be domestic or foreign, knives for ice drills can also be foreign and domestic. These blades differ in both price and quality.

Domestic blades have some advantages. For example:

• they are inexpensive;
• they are accessible;
• you can sharpen them yourself.

Despite this, domestic blades are not of particular quality, and sometimes they are even crap. The manufacturer does not value its reputation, so blades are manufactured with technological violations, which does not ensure their quality. As a result, the knives become dull after drilling a couple of holes, and they cannot be sharpened, since the metal does not hold a sharp edge. There are very frequent cases when knives generally fail, after which they cannot be restored.

Foreign knives have the following advantages:

• they are made from high quality materials;
• knives hold an edge for a long time;
• They cut any ice perfectly.

Yes, they are expensive, but, as they say, the miser pays twice. If you take a new set of blades for the Swedish ice drill “Mora”, then they account for up to 30-40% of the total cost of the entire product. Although, if you look from the other side, there is nothing special or expensive in the ice drill other than knives. The only disadvantage of these knives is the impossibility of high-quality sharpening at home.

Types of knives

Since domestic ice screws are cheaper than imported ones, the majority of winter fishing enthusiasts prefer them. Knives for these ice screws are also not expensive, and besides, you can buy them in any fishing department.

If the blades stop cutting ice or start cutting it with difficulty, you will immediately notice it. You can easily sharpen them at home without fear for their future fate. If suddenly something doesn’t work out, then it’s not a problem to buy new ones.

With imported blades everything is much more complicated.

Nowadays, we can note the presence of a large number of knives that differ from each other, both in quality and in shape.

Some knives can be installed on different models of ice drills if the mount matches, which is important and practical.

Fishermen prefer the following types of domestically produced knives:

• The most common form of knives of domestic ice drills is ordinary flat knives with straight cutting edges
• Knives with two cutting edges arranged in a step.
• Spherical blades, similar to Swedish models, "Mora" type.
• Serrated knives, which are not yet popular among anglers.
• The blades are triangular with three cutting edges. They are designed to work on loose and lasting ice. These blades are not easy to find.

Flat types of knives, being simple, cheap and accessible, cut dry, homogeneous ice well at slightly low temperatures, which cannot satisfy the needs of a wide range of anglers. At fairly low temperatures, when the ice is most durable, it is advisable to use stepped knives. At the end of winter, when the ice loses its structure, serrated or spherical knives are more suitable.

How to sharpen knives correctly

The speed of drilling holes depends on many factors, such as the design features of the ice drill, the sharpness of the knives and their angle of inclination. The amount of effort spent on drilling holes also depends on these same factors. By adjusting the angle of the knives, you can change the operating properties of the mechanism. For this purpose, various pads or washers are installed under the knives.

And yet, the most important characteristic that determines the ease of passing an ice ball is the sharpening of knives, without which it is difficult to drill ice, and sometimes it is almost impossible to do this.

The easiest option to always have sharpened knives is to take new ones with you, just in case, especially since domestic knives are not at all expensive. In addition, if you consider that the material does not hold an edge, then this option is the most promising.

And, nevertheless, you can easily learn how to sharpen knives yourself, without giving them to specialists.

To sharpen knives, you will need an abrasive material, in the form of an abrasive block or sandpaper. The most important thing is that the block has a flat surface. As for the sandpaper, it needs to be secured to a flat piece of wood. It is better to take material with small or medium grains, because large grains can ruin the knives and make them unusable at all. The abrasive surface must be fixed, for example, on a table or workbench.

After the preparatory operations have been completed, the sharpening process begins. To begin with, you should remove all burrs from the non-working surface. For this purpose, circular movements are carried out in different directions. A few movements may be enough. Having accomplished this, they begin to directly sharpen the cutting part of the tool.

The knives are mounted on the abrasive so that the cutting edge is parallel to the abrasive. You need to be very careful that there are no distortions, otherwise the quality of sharpening will suffer. Poor sharpening will be felt on the very first fishing trip.

Therefore, you need to be prepared for the fact that after this sharpening you will have to punch holes with an ice pick or try to take spare knives with you.

Carrying out uniform circular movements in both directions, it is advisable to regularly check the sharpening process. If you take a knife and look at the cutting edge, you can see which side is pressed harder and which side is pressed weaker. Based on this, the load distribution on the cutting surface is optimized.

During the sharpening process, defects may appear that reduce the quality of sharpening. For example:

• Distortion of the edge of the cutting surface, which should not be allowed. This indicates uneven force.
• The formation of an oval or the appearance of a torn chamfer. The appearance of a torn edge may indicate low-quality knives or incorrect selection of abrasive: it is too coarse.
• The appearance of burrs and other small defects indicates carelessness in movements: it is possible that the movements are too fast.

After sharpening, it is possible to test the knives. To do this, take a piece of paper in your left hand and a blade in your right hand. If a knife is used to cut a sheet of paper crosswise, without tears, then we can assume that the knives are ready to cut ice.

Installing knives is also a serious procedure. Very often, during the drilling process, they relax, as the bolts weaken from vibration. To prevent this from happening, a layer of fum tape or adhesive tape is wrapped around the thread. Alternatively, you can select longer bolts so that you can install locknuts.

If the knives are flat and rectangular, then there should not be any special problems, but if they are spherical knives, then sharpening them, especially correctly, is very difficult. But if you do the work slowly and carefully, then you can sharpen any knives. Sometimes ingenuity may be required.

Source: https://FishingDay.org/zatochka-nozhej-dlya-ledobura/

How to sharpen ice drill knives

An ice drill is one of the most common devices that help fishermen during winter fishing. But sometimes, after going out to the pond, fishermen are faced with the problem of dull knives, which can lead the whole fishing to a bad direction. Therefore, it is worth taking care of this problem in advance and understanding how to sharpen ice drill knives correctly at home, using only improvised means.

At first glance, this process may seem quite complicated, although in fact it is not. Sharpening can be done by any angler, regardless of his skills and knowledge in the field of metalworking. This also does not require additional tools - everything you need can be found in your own garage.

• Proper sharpening at home
• Ice screw Mora
• Sharpening knives on a machine
• Polishing

Proper sharpening at home

The speed of drilling a hole and the effort required depend on the angles of inclination and attack of the knives. By changing them, the angler can change the working properties of the drill. This is achieved by installing various washers or shims under the blades.

But these angles are not the only ones that determine the quality of drilling. Undoubtedly, the sharpening of knives has a great influence on the speed and effort expended to pass a hole, since it will be difficult, and sometimes even impossible, to drill through ice with dull blades.

There is an easy way to always have sharp knives sharpened - this is to constantly buy new ones as soon as the old ones become dull. But you can save money and learn how to sharpen ice drill blades with your own hands.

For this seemingly simple process, you will need some kind of abrasive element - a sharpener or sandpaper. The shape of the stone itself is not particularly important. Much more important is the presence of flat surfaces in it. It is better to use a fine or medium-grained abrasive; it is not advisable to use a rough abrasive, otherwise you can easily ruin the cutting surface.

The abrasive element must be secured to a table or workbench. After this, we proceed directly to sharpening the ice drill. First, it is necessary to edit the non-working surface to remove burrs and other minor defects. Usually it is enough to make several circular movements in any direction.

Next we proceed to sharpening the cutting edge. Knives should be held at an angle so that the cutting edge is parallel to the abrasive. If distortions are allowed, the sharpness of the blades will be uneven, and this will not lead to the desired effect, which will manifest itself on the very first fishing trip.

Periodically it is necessary to visually inspect the sharpening of surfaces. Marks from the abrasive element should be evenly distributed over the entire cutting edge. To make it easier to control this, it is advisable to change circular movements to movements in one direction at the end of the process.

Possible defects that should not be allowed:

1. skewed cutting surface chamfer;
2. irregular chamfer shape (oval or with flaws);
3. burrs and other small defects on the edge.

Properly sharpened knives should easily pass the simplest test. To do this, take a blade in your right hand and a sheet of newspaper in your left. A well-sharpened edge should easily cut across the paper without tearing it.

If the test is successfully passed, then the sharpened blades can be safely installed on the ice auger. It is advisable to first wrap the screws for fastening knives with tape or tape so that they do not unscrew spontaneously. You can also replace with bolts of increased length and secure with a nut.

Sharpening spherical ice drill knives is much more difficult. Some people use special devices for straightening and lining the cutting surface. You can try to sharpen the blades with a needle file or other simple abrasive elements.

To improve the operating parameters of the drill in specific conditions, you can change the angles of inclination and attack of the knives in simple ways. But this is the topic of the next material.

Ice screw Mora

The ice drill from the Swedish company MORA is rightfully considered one of the best. During winter fishing, it allows you to fully experience the ease of drilling holes. The knives of these tools are of very high quality, but over time they become dull.

Such blades are not cheap; their price can reach up to forty percent of the cost of the entire product. Usually such knives are trimmed using special tools.

But sharpening Mora ice drill knives at home is also possible, although the procedure will require some skill.

These blades have a convex and spherical cutting edge, so they need to be sharpened on a convex surface. Typically, a glass jar and fine-grain sandpaper, the so-called zero, are used for this.

Like any other knives, mora blades can be sharpened with hand tools. The simplest sharpener for ice drill knives is a diamond needle file. If you have a Dremel with a fine-grained cutter, you can use that too. It’s good if you have a factory-sharpened knife in front of your eyes at this time, so that during the work you can compare the results obtained.

Sharpening knives on a machine

One way is an electric sharpener. Naturally, for this, you must have experience working on it. Otherwise, this method is unacceptable, as you can simply damage the cutting edge. For those who are familiar with this equipment first-hand, let’s consider the main stages.

First of all, there must be a special device (corner stand) for installing the part to be sharpened at a certain angle. This will allow you to remove a minimum amount of metal and avoid distortion of the cutting edge chamfer:

1. Manually, using a file or an abrasive stone, we remove small chips formed during the drilling process. If the chip depth is more than 2 mm, it should be cut into the shape of a tooth and sharpened.
2. We fix the knife, with the long, working side, in a corner stand and set the angle to 30°. Carefully bring it to the desired state.
3. Turn the part over with the short cutting edge. The angle between these two edges should be close to 90°. Due to this, the “biting” factor during drilling will be reduced.
4. During processing, the part should be periodically cooled by immersing it in water or oil.
5. After the main processing, you should polish the knife using a felt wheel and GOI paste. This is required for faster and cleaner drilling. The rotation speed should be about 3000 rpm.
6. First, polish the surface of the knife facing the ice.
7. Next, we polish the upper part, with the obligatory approach to the cutting edge. This will improve the cutting angle and increase the service life.
8. Knives prepared in this way can then be very easily sharpened by hand, right during fishing.

Polishing

In general, polishing the working surfaces of the ice drill is very important for the cleanliness and speed of drilling. It is best to carry out polishing on a felt disk, which should be installed on an electric sharpener instead of an abrasive wheel.

The disc itself must be thoroughly rubbed with this GOI paste. If the wheel rotation speed is at least 3000 rpm, then polishing takes a couple of minutes.

The truth here is that you need to know that the knife must be pressed against the felt circle with its tip and only as the disk rotates.

In this case, the wide surface of the knife, which is directed towards the ice, must be polished first. In this case, you must try not to grab the narrow strip running along the cutting edge. It is also impossible to tilt the cutting edge upward, which will certainly lead to damage to the knife blade.

After this procedure, you can begin processing the upper cutting plane, which has a groove. It is necessary to polish it by approaching the cutting edge.

This processing method can significantly improve the cutting angle, which will certainly lead to an increase in the service life of the knife as a whole. By the way, if the surface is not just sharpened, but also polished, it will not be subject to rust for a long time.

And polished knives drill ice better, and during the drilling process they do not grind it into small crumbs.

In exactly the same way, it is necessary to polish and process the second edge, which is not fully used for cutting. So, if the knives are properly prepared for cutting, their service life will significantly increase. And if necessary, such knives can be easily sharpened literally on the knee, standing on the ice of a reservoir.

By the way, if there are chips or gouges in the very center of the blade, the depth of which reaches 2 mm, then they cannot have any negative impact on drilling. It is enough to simply remove nicks or burrs from such blades using a block. But if the chip is more than 2 mm deep, then it must be cut into the shape of a tooth, and then sharpened. All knives after such repairs must be mounted on a drill in pairs. Those. The drill should have either new knives or repaired ones.

Source: https://fishermanblog.ru/kak-zatochit-nozhi-ledobura.html