Ice Fish Ohio Forum

IceFishOhio.com General Info => Ice Safety!!! => Topic started by: skunkedagain on November 01, 2012, 12:41:14 AM

Title: Safe footing on the ice for under $5 bucks
Post by: skunkedagain on November 01, 2012, 12:41:14 AM
My Ice boots have a thick semi-hard rubber sole. I found that using a standard hex drive sheet metal screw (#8 X 1/2 inch long), can be driven into the sole without penetrating through it. The rubber holds the screw in well and the sharp hex head bites the ice well. When one wears out just replace it. I bought a box of 100 screws for $4.40. I installed about 34 screws per boot and they work great and were easy to put in. The thickness of the sole determines the length of the screw, I went about 2/3 rds the thickness to determine the length of the screw
Title: Re: Safe footing on the ice for under $5 bucks
Post by: slabslayer on November 04, 2012, 07:13:37 AM
Not a bad idea.  Kind of like the screw-in golf spikes.  ou don't have to screw with strap on cleats, I like it!
Title: Re: Safe footing on the ice for under $5 bucks
Post by: skunkedagain on November 06, 2012, 01:20:59 PM
One thing I forgot to mention, Don't get caught walking across the Kithen with these on.
Nuff Said!
Title: Re: Safe footing on the ice for under $5 bucks
Post by: ice phisher on December 07, 2012, 10:35:08 AM
 skunkedagain.....Great post on this site. This idea has been around for several years and has been posted on other ice fishing sites....But I'm glad you brought it up here.
  Also glad you mentioned the KITCHEN FLOOR PART. BUT PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP ON OTHER SITES....that ice fishermen have been known to wear these modified boots into bait shops/convenience stores/restaurants/and all other kinds of business and inadvertently caused damage to all types of flooring....So just a kind word of caution... As for me, I tried this before (hex heads) and prefer good old ice grippers (Arctic Spurs) myself...But there are plenty that will like the (hex head) idea and my main intent was on watch where you wear them.....   
Title: Re: Safe footing on the ice for under $5 bucks
Post by: futurestrader on January 01, 2013, 01:46:47 AM
I did the same thing with cold cutter screws you put into ATV tires.
Title: Re: Safe footing on the ice for under $5 bucks
Post by: Ntoiceman36 on January 01, 2013, 12:46:58 PM
Good info for icemen on a budget like me.
Title: Re: Safe footing on the ice for under $5 bucks
Post by: tomb on January 20, 2014, 05:39:11 AM
That works great. I got tired of changing my boots to go into tackle shops. Went back to the Frabill rubber cleats.