BWCA Small ice auger Boundary Waters Winter Camping and Activities
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tonyyarusso
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01/02/2015 04:09AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I usually prefer to pump water from a lake rather than melt snow for drinking water. If I'm fishing of course I have an auger along, but if I'm not that's a pretty bulky item to bring just for that. Has anyone come across a smaller, lightweight auger for drilling holes just big enough to drop a filter hose down, like 2" wide or so?
 
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Minnesotian
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01/02/2015 07:33AM  

You could go with an ice chisel: Chisel

It will be smaller to pack down, but I don't know about lighter though. I have one and it is pretty heavy.
PortageKeeper
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01/02/2015 08:05AM  
Years ago I made an auger using a 1/4" drive socket speed handle with extensions and a 1" wood auger bit. The extensions had set screws so you couldn't lose it in the hole. I would chip out a shallow bowl in the ice and then bore through. Since the water comes to the top of the ice, it would fill the bowl and I would then scoop water from the bowl.
Another option would be to get an old spoon type auger , take the spoon off and replace with a wood auger bit like this . Finding a wood boring bit that cuts through ice can be hit and miss though.
Edit...
Dropping your filter bulb through the ice sometimes does not work. Often the bulb, hose or filter freezes up enough to restrict flow. Better to scoop water into a bucket and then filter in camp.
tonyyarusso
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01/02/2015 01:28PM  
quote PortageKeeper: "Since the water comes to the top of the ice, it would fill the bowl and I would then scoop water from the bowl."

Good point - brain hadn't yet processed that fact.
PortageKeeper
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01/02/2015 06:14PM  
quote tonyyarusso: "
quote PortageKeeper: "Since the water comes to the top of the ice, it would fill the bowl and I would then scoop water from the bowl."

Good point - brain hadn't yet processed that fact."

...so ultimately a 1/4" hole would work.
tonyyarusso
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01/03/2015 08:02AM  
But on a bit capable of going down several feet, and ideally augering most of the slush out of the hole, yes.

Chisels are great for relatively thin ice, but I sure wouldn't want to have to go through four feet with one.
jake68
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01/05/2015 01:39PM  
Nils sells a great 4.5# auger that is light compact and easy to drill - http://www.nilsmaster.com/web2008_006.htm
jake68
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01/05/2015 01:40PM  
#=inch
 
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