That's what I was hoping for when I decided on a drill/auger combo Rik. Plus no exhaust or noise for anyone to have to contend with.

But the biggest reason I've stayed mobile is to have a better chance at finding active fish since I don't have a list of good spots to check out.

This is a well designed home-made piece that a good friend made for me from parts found for the most part at the hardware.

Parts List

1 - coupling nut: 1/2" x1/2" (2 drilled holes 3/32" for two spring pins)

1 - hex nut: 1/2"

1 - hex bolt: 1/2" x 8" with 1 5/8" of threading (cut hex head and excess length off)

1 - 11/16" x 6 3/4" threaded steel rod on one end to 1/2" threads 5/8" in length

(drilled hole 1/4" through rod for Lazer T-bolt to fit through, allowing as much length

as will fit into the Lazer)

2 - fender washers: 1/2"

2 - spring pins: 3/32" x 11/16"

1 - "safety disc" of needed diameter (mine is 1/8" steel plate) that I'm going to cut out center sections of to reduce weight. It will have a 1.5" exterior rim with four equally spaced 1.25" arms running to the center hub of a 2.5" diameter.

The last step will be to coat everything with Extend Rust Proofer.

(notice the drilled holes in the hex bolt and coupling nut to place the spring pins in to lock pieces together; Loctite might also work well in place of pinning- all rotations tighten up when drilling ice)

 - Click on photos to enlarge -
Pan left & right to view expanded views of photos. (bolt and rod are not bent like they look in 1st photo)  Wink

I wonder how well it would pull a sled?

Here it is assembled minus the "safety disc", then completely assembled.

The disc is 10" in diameter and 1/8" thick steel plate.
I'm about to modify it by turning it into an X from a 1" center going out to a 1" wide outer ring.

Hawaiian Ice, it is a well designed home-made piece that a good friend made for me from parts found for the most part at the hardware.

Parts List

1 - coupling nut: 1/2" x1/2" (2 drilled holes 3/32" for two spring pins)

1 - hex nut: 1/2"

1 - hex bolt: 1/2" x 8" with 1 5/8" of threading (cut hex head and excess length off)

1 - 11/16" x 6 3/4" threaded steel rod on one end to 1/2" threads 5/8" in length

(drilled hole 1/4" through rod for Lazer T-bolt to fit through, allowing as much length

as will fit into the Lazer)

2 - fender washers: 1/2"

2 - spring pins: 3/32" x 11/16"

1 - "safety disc" of needed diameter

(notice the drilled holes in the hex bolt and coupling nut to place the spring pins in to lock pieces together; Loctite might also work well in place of pinning- all rotations tighten up when drilling ice)

Pan left & right to view expanded views of photos. (bolt and rod are not bent like they look in 1st photo)  

Thanks Rik, it was nice meeting you too.
Yes, a good day on the ice, and while the fish's cooperation was sub-par, we all went home having caught fish.
Congratulations again on your very nice largemouth bass! Bringing that through the hole was a nice victory!

It was nice meeting you as well Joel. I hope your afternoon appointment went well.

I accomplished quite alot today.

I made two new friends, and found that my pick of a cordless drill and auger setup works fantastic. Its going to save my shoulders, that's for sure.
Combo is a Strikemaster 7" Lazer mated with a Milwaukee 18v, dual speed drill that punched a couple dozen holes with ease on 1/2 juice of one battery.

snowcone, what material did you use to make 90 degree joints?

It looks like some type of plate?