How to make an ice screw from a screwdriver with simple instructions

An ice drill is an indispensable tool for any winter fishing enthusiast. Whether you are a real fisherman or an experienced fisherman, winter fishing without this assistant is not very interesting. Of course, you can break through with an ice pick if the ice is thin, but if the ice is thick, then you can’t do without an ice drill. And you feel more comfortable when the holes are drilled once or twice. Let's look at the technology for making an ice drill from a screwdriver with your own hands.

The benefits of an ice drill for winter fishing

In winter, all reservoirs are covered with a crust of ice, which is an obstacle to fishing. If the ice is thin, then it can be broken, but it will require a lot of effort. Every experienced fisherman knows that one hole is not enough for a good catch, so a day you will need to make at least 10 holes in the ice to find your lucky spot.

The use of hand-held ice axes or rotators is popular, but only in those places where the ice thickness does not exceed 50 cm. If the ice thickness is more than 50-60 cm, then drilling the ice by hand is quite difficult and cumbersome. A useful tool such as a screwdriver, which probably lies idle in the garage during the winter, will help you drill through ice quickly and efficiently.

This is interesting!
Screwdrivers are powered by lithium-ion, hydride and nickel-cadmium batteries, which cannot withstand low temperatures and lose not only capacity, but also power.
If the garage is not heated, and the winters in your region are quite cold, then you need to store power tools or batteries in a dry and heated place. For fishermen, ready-made hand ice axes are produced, the cost of which is about 1000-1500 rubles. This unit is designed to be operated manually. In order not to have to buy a factory ice screw, there is a worthy and no less reliable alternative. This alternative is an ice ax made from a screwdriver, which you can make entirely with your own hands without additional financial costs. The principle of making a homemade ice drill is simple and straightforward, but to make it, you will need to choose a suitable power tool, as well as components for constructing the attachment itself. It's worth noting that many people prefer to use a hand-held ice auger, which requires only minor modifications to connect it to a power tool.

Tags: makita, mora, fishing, perch

Comments 34

And I don’t care about the drill! The main thing is that we caught fish! And the rest is little things. When you eat fish that you caught yourself, the beer tastes better and your mood is better! And when you catch it, your pants are completely full of happiness!

For about four years we have been setting up girders and looking for pike perch with the help of this “Shaitan” machine, a “Hilti” SF 22-A screwdriver and two 3.3 Ah batteries! The batteries are enough for 75 holes with an ice thickness of 80 cm! The only thing is to warm up the batteries before in the bosom when there is severe frost, otherwise they freeze and there are enough holes for forty!

What kind of drill? No knives are visible.

I envy you that you have 20 cm of ice everywhere))))) For example, there is ice from 60 to 100 cm and when you drill a hole on your knees, you start thinking about all sorts of such inventions)

Yes..., this is no longer fishing, but catching perch.

This means our fishing has already ended, there is nothing left after you.

Many people in Vologda already use it. There is a separate thread on the Vologda fishermen forum. Shurik also takes a Makita with some unreal power and insulation for Akum and drills without measure. Only the price of the screwdriver is astronomical. And so it’s convenient and not difficult. How to carry a motor drill. The ice is already under a meter. You will get tired of drilling under the vents by hand. Although 10-15 years ago I gave 50 holes under the vents and nothing - I still had the energy for vodka.

There are more serious Shuriks with more capacious batteries, for example, I use Metabo, when fishing in pursuit of pike perch, I can’t live without it）

We’ve been driving like this for several years now) take it under your jacket and off you go, in conjunction with a titanium auger, just a blast!

I wonder if the diameter will reach 180?

According to reviews, 150 is already a lot for Shuriks, there are gear adapters, they drill perfectly even with weak screwdrivers, but a good one will probably easily handle 180. market-toys.com/ something like this, but just for example, there are simpler and cheaper devices.

I wonder if the diameter will reach 180?

This model will pull easily, it has a torque of 120 Nm. But of course, if we are talking about imported mora and rapala drills with semicircular blades. Domestic drills with straight blades drill much worse, and this folding elbow is always crooked. We tried to drill with a domestic (Barnaul) 160 mm, and folded the folding elbow.

Side handle, unnecessary device, better to press down and guide from above

You have a screwdriver with a lower torque. At first it also seemed to me that the handle was an extra detail. But when I took it off, it was only then that I realized how comfortable it was, this long one. The hand gets tired much less, and it is much more convenient to control and aim. Lifting the sludge from the hole is easier and, in general, simply more ergonomic.

This is our fifth winter drilling with Shurik, no problems. The drill is a regular toner. Now we took the tonar-tornado2. Here's a regular one with a long insert:

Of course there are no problems, drilling 2 meters from the car, the question is whether it is expedient. So you changed the regular Tonar to the Tornado M2 Tonar, because its handle folds normally, the rod is telescopic, and the auger is made more accurately. Imagine that MORA has the same thing, and the handle doesn’t bend and the blades don’t get dull until you hit the sand. And when you drill, you don’t need to push, but hold it so that it doesn’t fall through. Weight is 2.4 kg and the price is $30 more expensive than your new one.

Source: www.drive2.ru

What are the advantages of a homemade ice auger?

Many fishermen who cannot imagine their life without fishing and a good catch want to know how to make an ice screw from a screwdriver. Winter is the best time to go fishing. However, an obstacle to the catch is a thick crust of ice, to break through which you can use a regular drill to dig holes in the ground for installing posts. Only this hand tool requires not only physical strength, but also time. An automatic device made from a screwdriver allows you to drill a hole in a matter of seconds, which is the first and main advantage of a homemade product.

The second advantage of homemade products is the ability to manufacture them without additional costs. In addition, this does not require any special knowledge or skills. The main costs that are needed to make a homemade product are the costs of electricity consumed by the welding machine during welding work.

This is interesting!
The cost of a factory-made manual ice drill starts from 1 thousand rubles.
The greater the number of turns on the screw, the correspondingly higher the price of the device. The number of turns on the device depends on the thickness of the ice being drilled. By making your own device, you can save a decent amount of money, as well as make the required length of drilling equipment. Before you begin to implement your idea, you must first pay attention to the tool, that is, the screwdriver. This low-power device must meet certain requirements, which are described in the next section.

What is a ring ice screw

Ring ice screws are currently losing their popularity. They are used mainly by older fishermen, as well as those who do not have enough money to purchase an electric drill. However, this does not mean that the ring ice auger is inferior in characteristics to its competitors. Yes, it requires some physical effort to operate, but it weighs almost nothing, and also has a simple design that can be easily made at home.

Principle of operation

The operating principle of a ring ice drill is based on the use of a ring, the outer diameter of which is 130 millimeters and the inner diameter is 80 millimeters. At the same time, during operation, the cutting edge selects ice only according to the shape of the outer ring, as a result of which a cylinder with a diameter of about 130 millimeters remains inside - such a hole is usually more than enough for successful underwater fishing.

Centering of the annular ice drill is carried out using a special triangular collar, which is located in the sole of the working part of the tool. Well, thanks to the eccentrically located drill handle, the load in the process of creating a hole is distributed evenly across both hands, as a result of which the fisherman hardly gets tired. Moreover, such a tool does not make noise, unlike the same motor drill.

Advantages and disadvantages

The ring ice auger, in comparison with modern motorized augers, has a fairly large list of positive aspects, which is why many fishermen still prefer it. Here is a list of just the main advantages that such a tool boasts:

An even “glass” is drilled out, equal to the diameter of the ice drill ring. In this case, there is no need to destroy the cylinder during operation, which means that relatively little effort will be spent on creating the hole (unlike the same auger ice drill).
There is no need to pump water after drilling a hole. After working with a motor drill or auger, the hole becomes clogged with crushed ice, as a result of which you have to “pump up” the water with a drill. With a ring tool, water immediately flows to the surface of the hole.
Smooth edges of the hole. Due to the fact that the ring ice screw leaves behind a smooth hole, during fishing the fishing line will not cling to the edges of the hole. This means that the likelihood of gear breakage will be minimized.
Ease of maintenance. All you need to do is sharpen the bottom edge of the knife from time to time. But motorized drills or electric drills are extremely difficult to maintain - they require regular lubrication, and also do not tolerate water getting into the engine.

However, ring ice drills also have some disadvantages. Not to say that they are critical, but it is precisely because of these points that many professional fishermen have abandoned the use of hand tools and switched to automation:

hole drilling time is much longer than with tools with motors;
the need for constant physical impact - the fisherman gets tired at least a little;
difficulty at the beginning of drilling - it can be quite difficult to properly bury the knife into the ice.

However, ring ice screws are completely worth their cost, since their manufacture does not require the use of expensive materials or complex systems.

Choosing the right screwdriver for an ice auger

Drilling holes in ice requires the appropriate tool. A screwdriver is used as such. It has the following advantages:

Autonomy, which is realized through the use of removable batteries
Light weight, which is very convenient if you go fishing on foot
Easy to use - the device does not need to be started, refueled or configured, like a chainsaw
Reliability - if you choose the right tool for the job, there will be no problems with its use
Quiet operation - if you compare it with a chainsaw, the difference in the sound of the motor is significant, and, as you understand, when fishing you need silence

When choosing a screwdriver you need an appropriate approach. For an ice drill you will need a power tool that meets the following requirements:

Power - the higher the power of the tool, the better. The amount of power depends on the voltage, and the higher it is, the more durable the device is. For ice drills, experts advise choosing screwdrivers that operate on batteries with a voltage of 18V or higher. If you use a device that has a voltage of 9V or 12V, then with a high probability the electric motor in the device will quickly fail
Torque - the higher the value, the better. The minimum value is considered to be 50 Nm, and for normal operation, it is better to take screwdrivers that have a torque value of 80-90 Nm
Chuck rotation speed - the rotation speed of the chuck should be low, therefore, if there is a regulator, drilling work with an ice drill should be done at first speed. The rotation speed of the cartridge at first speed is from 300 to 500 rpm, which is quite enough to make a hole with an ice drill. If the rotation speed is high, then you will need to make or buy an additional planetary gearbox to reduce the rotation speed of the ice drill. The lower the speed, the higher the torque, and therefore the more efficient the tool. The use of a reduction gear allows you to use a power tool in tandem with a drill for drilling soil. An example of using a screwdriver for drilling soil is shown in the video at the end of the material
The presence of a handle - usually such handles are found on drills and rotary hammers, but expensive models of screwdrivers, which can also be used for drilling holes, have an additional handle included. With such a handle it is convenient to work with an ice auger, which weighs several times more than the weight of the tool.

Of course, it is better to take a tool with metal hydride batteries, since they are more durable and reliable, however, nickel-cadmium batteries can also cope with the task of drilling ice, but we will get acquainted with the types of batteries on screwdrivers further.

Gear adapters for ice augers

Despite the advantages that an adapter for an ice drill for a screwdriver provides, anglers also note some disadvantages. First of all, for more or less prolonged drilling, the screwdriver must be powerful enough. The instructions recommend using 18 volt screwdrivers with a battery capacity of 3 A*h and a torque of 40–70 N*m. It should also be remembered that not all types of batteries operate in the designed mode at subzero temperatures. Therefore, you have to carry spare batteries with you, which, moreover, you need to try to keep warm.

However, the main problem is the need to use a powerful tool. After all, not every fisherman has an expensive professional screwdriver. Buying it specifically for fishing is expensive. The solution may be to use an adapter with a gearbox.

The Icebite adapter, which uses a planetary gearbox, increases torque by 3.2 times. The device weighs less than one and a half kilograms including handles. Using adapters, it can be mounted on almost any type of modern ice drills - Heinola, Rapala, Lazer, Nero, Mora, Leningrad or Tonar. The gearbox housing and elements are metal. The most important thing is that the adapter with a gear allows you to use household screwdrivers for drilling ice, and almost everyone has this tool today. The price of such a device is 4.5-4.8 thousand rubles.

The use of a reduction gear turns out to be simpler and, as a result, more accessible. The rotation speed of the screw, of course, decreases, but the load on the tool also decreases. Due to the increase in torque, it remains possible to use screwdrivers that are not of the highest power, and the design of the gearbox itself is simpler. The geometric dimensions of the gearbox will not allow the ice auger to fall under the ice. You can assemble this kind of adapter for an ice drill for a screwdriver yourself, but they are also available for sale. The price of a gear reducer equipped with handles for holding during operation is 3–3.5 thousand rubles.

What kind of battery should be on an ice drill?

The effectiveness of the fishing tool depends on the type of battery, or rather its filling. It is irrational to buy another power tool if it does not fully meet the fishing requirements, so the tool that is available is used. If you are buying a new screwdriver, then it would be a good idea to find out what differences there are depending on the types of batteries. Manufacturers produce screwdrivers with the following types of batteries:

Lithium-ion batteries are expensive, which is due to their advantages: high charging speed, light weight, and large charge capacity. However, they have one significant drawback - sensitivity to negative temperatures. If the battery is in the cold, then a self-discharge effect occurs, so it will not be possible to operate a screwdriver with such batteries for a long time in the cold. You can extend the use of the tool by making a special wool insulation, which is placed on the screwdriver battery
Nickel-cadmium - have high resistance to low temperatures, which is their main advantage. However, they are large, have low capacity, and also take a long time to charge
Metal hydride batteries are resistant to frost and also have a large supply of capacity, so screwdrivers with such batteries are best suited for winter fishing

Don't forget to take a second battery with you, which will definitely ensure uninterrupted operation of the tool when needed.

Gearbox assembly

Install a rigid, stable coupling or a flexible one if your drill will operate at high vibrations, so the flexible coupling will dampen vibrations and shocks.

Next, connect the worm shaft and the 2-bit type gear.

When assembling the gearbox, leave a small hole between the parts for trouble-free oil filling.

Source zapadpribor.com

Screwdriver and ice screw - how to connect them

When planning to make an ice auger from a screwdriver, a very pertinent question arises about how to connect these two devices. To ensure the transfer of torque from the screwdriver chuck to the ice drilling attachment, you will need to use a special adapter. This is a metal adapter that you can buy or make yourself. To make such an adapter, you need a cylindrical steel blank, the shank of which must be sharpened to a hexagon.

The size of the hexagon should be such that it fits inside the keyless chuck of the screwdriver. It is not recommended to use cylindrical shanks, since they can rotate in the chuck when the drill rotates.

This is interesting!
Many fishermen complain that the drill falls out of the chuck after making a hole in the ice.
To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to use a key chuck instead of a quick-release chuck, which is more reliable and effectively holds the nozzle shank. To connect the adapter to the ice auger, you need to use a threaded connector. A simple way to connect is to drill a hole with a diameter of 6-8 mm in the side of the nozzle and cut a thread. A bolt is screwed into this thread and serves as a clamp for the adapter inserted inside the ice auger. So, when all the nuances of constructing a nozzle for drilling ice for the appropriate tool have been identified, all that remains is to make it yourself.

Choice of materials for knives

An important part of the tool is the screw. Most anglers use ready-made knives taken from hand-held ice augers. They meet the steel strength requirements. Such knives can be easily adapted for a screwdriver.

The best blades for motorized ice drills are Expert Pro, Nova System, Ice Micro, Tonar, Tornado, Barnaul.

To create an auger with your own hands, you will need a pipe and metal plates, steel knives. Hardened steel grade P18 or analogs with a hardness of 30 to 70 units are best suited.

Note! Making a screw with your own hands is a labor-intensive process that requires special knowledge. Fishermen recommend purchasing a ready-made auger.

How to make an ice drill from a screwdriver yourself using improvised means

The manufacturing scheme of the nozzle in question is quite simple. To do this, you need to take a drill to make holes in the ground for installing posts, and in its likeness make a device for drilling ice. The main components of the future device:

The cutting part is the head, which is designed to deepen the tool in the thickness of the ice and cut through the strong ice cover. Sharpened plates made of hard steel are used as the cutting part (it is better to use alloy or tool steel)
Auger part - has a helical design, the main purpose of which is to lift the layer of ice cut by the cutting part outward
The shaft is the base on which the auger is mounted, and also with its help the attachment is connected to the power tool

In order not to make an ice screw yourself, you can buy one. They are sold for drilling ice manually, and after purchase all that remains is to perform minor modifications to connect the power tool to the auger. However, next we will consider the process of how you can make your own ice drill and connect it with a screwdriver. To make a homemade ice drill, you will need the following materials:

Hollow steel pipe with a diameter of 15-20 mm
Steel plates from which the auger will be made. It should be noted right away that galvanized sheet steel is not suitable. For such purposes, you need a material with a thickness of at least 1.5-2 mm. If this requirement is not taken into account, the screw will simply “squeeze” when operating the tool.
Steel knives or plates that will be attached to the end of the auger part

The tools you will need to take are a grinder for stripping sheet material, as well as a welding machine and a grinder. A drill may be useful to drill a hole to connect the screwdriver to the bit and also to secure the blades.

At the initial stage, the sheet material is polished. This is done so that at the end of the work it is possible to open the material with paints. This will extend the service life of the homemade product (by eliminating the occurrence of corrosion processes), as well as prevent its premature destruction. The manufacturing process is performed in the following sequence:

First you need to measure the required length of the pipe and cut it. The optimal length is 1 meter, which is enough to drill through thick ice
Sheet material is welded onto the pipe and bent into the shape of a screw. To simplify this task, the sheets should be cut into 20 cm pieces and successively welded to the base of the pipe. Boil the joints thoroughly and then clean them with cutters or files.
The number of turns depends on the thickness of the ice that is planned to be drilled. Usually 5-6 turns are enough to make a good ice drill
It is recommended to sharpen and weld the end of the pipe near the head to prevent water from getting inside
Weld or attach 1-2 cutting knives (plates) to the base of the finished auger. If there are two plates, then they should be positioned at the same angle, which will ensure high performance of the device
Finally, a mount is made on the shank for connection to the adapter and power tool chuck

At this point, the process of making an ice drill is completed, and all that remains is to clean up the welding seams and paint the nozzle to provide additional protection. After the paint has dried, you can go for testing. As practice shows, every third avid fisherman makes ice augers in this way. The time has come to implement the idea yourself, because there is nothing difficult about it. If difficulties arise with the manufacture of a screw, then you can seek help from an experienced welder who will make a screw of any shape and size. Video on the manufacture of the device in question in the material.

This is interesting!
In order not to lose a homemade drill, which can jump out of the chuck and go to the bottom (literally), you should weld a large diameter washer to the shank. The diameter of this washer must be larger than the size of the hole that is drilled with an ice drill. When the nozzle jumps off the cartridge, the washer will hold it, thereby preventing it from “sinking to the bottom.”

Adapter for ice drill for screwdriver. The trick of professional fishermen

People have always sought to make their lives easier. This applies to both professional activities and everyday problems. Hobbies, including fishing, were not left behind. For winter fishing enthusiasts, especially in regions with a fairly harsh climate, when the ice on the reservoir is significantly thick, drilling holes is a serious problem. By using an adapter for an ice drill for a screwdriver, anglers have the opportunity to simplify this work.

How to properly care for a homemade ice auger

In order for a homemade unit to serve for a long time and effectively, it is necessary to provide it with proper care. The nozzle does not require constant maintenance, and so that every year with the onset of winter it is always on the move, the following recommendations and storage tips should be taken into account:

Store in a dry place
Never throw or wrap the attachment in a plastic bag or film if the tool has not been dried
In summer, you can treat the ice drill with machine oil.
Work on drilling holes in ice should be carried out with uniform load distribution
Hold the screwdriver firmly with both hands when drilling holes in the ice

Knowing the features and principle of making a homemade ice auger, it will not be difficult to make it in one day, so that tomorrow you can go on a long-awaited fishing trip. If you are wondering what is better to make an attachment for - a screwdriver or a chainsaw, then you should definitely choose the first option. A chainsaw has many disadvantages, so its use is not entirely advisable.

The chainsaw has high speeds, so this tool must be used in conjunction with a gearbox. Manufacturing the gearbox is an additional cost and expense. However, if you set such a goal, then you can figure out how to make an ice drill for a chainsaw. In any case, the homemade option is not only cheaper, but also more reliable than the method of buying attachments from China, which do not always meet the quality requirements. If you don’t want to bother making an ice drill, you can order a ready-made attachment for a screwdriver in online stores.

Features of care

After the ice auger has been converted into a screwdriver, it is important to be able to properly care for the tool.

The ice screw is thoroughly dried after fishing. This prevents rust from developing on the metal. If there is ice left on the knives, allow it to melt naturally.
The instrument is stored in a case made of thick fabric.
Before long-term storage (for the summer), the knives and joints of the parts of the collapsible drill are lubricated with machine oil.
When the fastening is loosened, the elements are tightened.
Batteries are stored in a charged state.

An ice drill based on a screwdriver is a universal device that is indispensable for winter fishing. Taking into account the technical characteristics and choosing the right devices allows you to make a tool that will last a long time.

What is an ice ax and why is it needed?

The purpose of the ice drill is to drill holes for ice fishing. The tool must have a solid base, sharp blades and a convenient drive for drilling. Auger drills are especially common. They not only provide access to water, but also allow the ice chips formed during the drilling process to be removed.

The cutting part of the device is a platform with installed steel blades, which is mounted on the auger head. Knives are made from durable steel. They are secured with screws so that they can be replaced if they break or require sharpening. Knives can be of various shapes and have one or more cutting edges. The angle of attack of the blade determines the drilling speed and the force applied.

The ice ax auger is a rod with a reinforced screw strip. The length of the auger part determines the depth of ice drilling. The auger of the drill can be solid-drawn or consist of welded elements. Domestic ice screws are made using this technology. To prevent rusting, all parts of the device are painted.

The drive uses a curved handle (rotator) or 2 handles located at an angle of 90° to the drill pipe. In rotators, the upper handle is located coaxially with the auger. Only one hand is involved in drilling. This significantly reduces the drilling speed. In a two-handed tool, both hands are used, so holes are drilled faster, with less effort required.

Do-it-yourself motorcycle ice drills - what options are there?

Fans of ice fishing have different attitudes towards small-scale mechanization when drilling holes. Some believe that a homemade ice drill made from a chainsaw makes it easier to make holes, while others believe that amateur fishing turns into profit.

Despite this, there are many craftsmen who make mechanically driven devices. There are many ways to make a hand drill. Brush cutters, saws and screwdrivers are used as drive motors.

Making a motorized ice drill from a trimmer with your own hands is easier than from a chainsaw, since installation of a gearbox is not required. The connection between the motor and the screw is carried out using a homemade adapter. If you have a power tool on your farm, making an ice screw yourself will be cheaper than buying an analogue in a store.

However, this tool will be effective if you go fishing with your own transport. Otherwise, an extra 10-15 kg in the hands or behind the back will create inconvenience for an unprepared fisherman. Any internal combustion engine is a source of increased danger. Follow safety requirements when refueling and working with gasoline engines.

What types of ice axes are there?

A drill for winter fishing is an irreplaceable thing. The speed of making holes will depend on its quality, size and drive. Most often, screw devices are used for these purposes. This is the most common type of drill. Both factory-made and self-made products use a rotary drive as a drive. It is suitable for drilling holes with a diameter of 100−115 mm. It will be difficult to make a hole with dimensions of 130-150 mm, since it will require much greater effort.

For such purposes, you can use an ice drill from a chainsaw. With this tool you can quickly drill a hole of any diameter with virtually no effort. Most often they are used on reservoirs with thick ice. Almost any fish will pass through a hole with a diameter of more than 130 mm.

To make a type of motor drill - a gas drill - for winter fishing with your own hands, a saw with a gasoline engine or a drive from a brush cutter is suitable. The device will be mobile and effective. Holes are drilled in a few seconds, regardless of the thickness of the ice.