StrikeMaster Laser Auger vs Mora Auger

[Ahill2climb]

Hi Guys,

I own a 6" StrikeMaster Mora hand auger and I'm starting to get sick of using it. I just replaced the blades and I went out this weekend and it can be a huge pain to cut through more than 4" of ice. I wanted to know if anyone here has upgraded from the Mora to the Laser auger and if there is a big difference? I really would like a gas powered auger but I can't swallow the $300 price tag. So I think the Laser auger might be my best bet. If there is another hand auger you might recommend that would be great. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[RichP]

I wanted to know if anyone here has upgraded from the Mora to the Laser auger

lots of people here have, but there are also a number of people here who prefer moras.

either upgrade or make sure your mora blades are always sharp would be my suggestion.

I ditched my mora ages ago in favor of a lazer and would never go back, but even a lazer sucks if the blades are dull.

[MisterShoaf]

Sharp Mora will take on any thickness of ice as will the Lazer. The problem is when they get dull it really becomes a problem. I saw a blade sharpener at Gander Mountain for 7.99 and I want to try it. I have a Mora 8" and it works great when sharp, but the replacement blades are 20.00 bucks. I drill 10-15 holes every time I go out so I need to replace blades 2-3 times a season $$$. Has anyone tried the sharpeners?

[jiggineyes]

The hand sharpener always worked good for me for the mora. I then switched to the lazer and the lazer cuts much quicker! I will never get a mora agaiin! i would highly recommend the Lazer! I picked up the lazer sharpener this year but was disappointed. It didnt help much at all! I ended up buying new blades anyways and wasted the $8 on the sharpener!

[MASONMAN66]

I have a morra that my friend gave me ,in which he put on the lazar blades it cuts ice like it was butter he showed me how he was able to make the blades cut seen that the two have different angles . He put a card bord shim in between blade an the auger tighten down an start to cutten that ice up:) ( card board = match cover )

[marco]

Just picked up a new 6" Lazer. Tried it out for the 1st time yesterday. Worked great. Question is how long can I expect this kind of performance? Do you guys change or sharpen blades once a year? I know it depends on how many holes I cut. Plan on cutting at least 100 holes or more a year.

Thanks, Marco

[Woodbutcher-1]

I went from a 6" Mora to a 5" lazer,with as many holes that i drill,should have gotten the 4" Lazer. I Did have the Mora cutting like a hot knife in butter. It took a lot of trial and error changeing different thicknesses of shim stock to get it to cut. I gave the Mora to my eldest son. He is Happy and so am i.:D

I personally can't see wasting good money for a power auger. just my 2 cents worth.

[Burksee]

Just picked up a new 6" Lazer. Tried it out for the 1st time yesterday. Worked great. Question is how long can I expect this kind of performance? Do you guys change or sharpen blades once a year? I know it depends on how many holes I cut. Plan on cutting at least 100 holes or more a year.

Thanks, Marco

Continued performance will be effected by several variables:

1) Don't EVER bang the head of your auger on the ice! NEVER on the ice to get the slush/ice off or when drilling and NEVER when the auger hangs up just as your cutting through the bottom of a hole. This will tweak the head and the blades effecting the angle on which it cuts.

2) Don't ever drop the auger (blades down) on the ground, floor or any other hard surface that will damage the edge on the blades and possibly tweak the angle of the blades.

3) Dirt and Sand in the ice, if there's a lot of air/earth born contaminates in the ice it will dull the blades quicker.

4) In shallow water dont ever bore thru the ice and into sandy/dirty bottom, again it will dull the blades quickly.

An auger with sharp, straight blades is a happy auger! ;)

That being said, I'm on season 12 with my 6" Mora. It gets regular use until the ice gets to about 12" or better, or I'm going with a group then I get out the old Strikemaster Magnum III! :yikes:

[stinger63]

I then switched to the lazer and the lazer cuts much quicker! I will never get a mora agaiin! i would highly recommend the Lazer!

YES YES ,I drilled 8 holes today through 10 inches of ice No back pain and no sore arms.I have said this at least 10 times on the ice fishin forums this winter.If you have to cut by hand Go with the LAZER.

[Miken Man]

I had the Mora as well and hated it! Went and bought a Lazer and it is the best hand auger i've used. Cuts pretty fast and effortless up to about 10"of ice.:):):)


Phil

[tommy-n]

I fish 3-4 days a week sometimes more and the lazer blades always last me two years, It seems weird too me that you would need to change a couple times a season.

[Bob D]

I inherited a 5" mora. The blue hand sharpener has worked somewhat ok for me. I was thinking about updating to the 6" lazer but decided I will just wait till I feel like plunking down the cash for the electric model.

[LAST PASS]

Does anyone have feedback on the 8" lazer auger???

[stinger63]

Does anyone have feedback on the 8" lazer auger???

I will kick your butt just not as fast with an 8 inch mora:yikes:

[oneeyedclarence]

I had the Mora as well and hated it! Went and bought a Lazer and it is the best hand auger i've used. Cuts pretty fast and effortless up to about 10"of ice.:):):)


Phil

:yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat:

[Quig7557]

Where can I get a 5" lazer and how much are they, thanks

[William H Bonney]

I have a 6" Lazer and it does cut like a hot knife through butter,,,, with that said..... There's more than a handful of fella's on here that say the Nils hand auger is twice as good as the Lazer. That'll be my next purchase.

[blgoose44]

Does anyone have feedback on the 8" lazer auger???

8" Lazer can get tough at the bottom of the hole, but no more so than any other brand. I had 6" Mora=nightmare, 4"lazer is fantastic but I struggle with that hole size and vex together, went to 8" lazer and it can be a workout, but its a good payoff.

[UltimateOutdoorsman]

lazer!!

[jd_7655]

I've had my 6" Laser auger since 1998. I had a Mora before it and the Laser cuts like dream compaired to the Mora.

The only thing I don't like about Laser is the price of the blades but I usauly only have to replace them every 2 or 3 years.

[perchguy]

I bought an 8 inch Lazer a couple of years ago and I was disappointed with it. I didn't think it worked much better than my old Mora. I bought it at Lakeside and I was talking to one of the guys that works there and he said that the smaller diameter Lazers like the 4 or 5 inchers work much better than the larger sizes. I sold my 8 incher to a guy I met at Lakeside and bought a 5 incher and I am very pleased with it.

I am going to hang on to my old 7 inch Mora for when I want to go after pike and walleyes. I have tried sharpening the blades with a blue sharpener and I have never had any luck with it. Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced sharpener that works and tell me where I can find one?

Thanks.

[stinger63]

I have tried sharpening the blades with a blue sharpener and I have never had any luck with it.
Thanks.

I learned the hardway the angle on that blue sharpener is not right for mora blades but It will work better on the lazer.IT the BLUE SHARPENER will not make them cut like new although it helps for a short term.

The only thing I don't like about Laser is the price of the blades
Yeah $30 is a bit steap $10 more than mora blades.The blades for the Lazer are half the cost of the auger itself.In the long run You wont beat the cuttability of a lazer though.
The only thing good about Mora`s is if you dont have any auger at all they do drill holes as long as the blades are sharp.
Aaron

[dennisthemenace]

If anyone found a 6 inch Mora near Selfridge aprox. 5 years ago....



You can keep it. I was so tired and frustrated with it I chucked it across the ice, went to lakeside and bought a new 5 inch Lazer on the spot. Headed back out and, well, need I say I'm never going back! I did just jump up to a 7 inch Lazer and it's not a 5 inch as far as ease of cutting, but i needed the larger hole for my camera. I dont know if i'd recomend an 8 inch hand auger of any type, but if its Mora vs Lazer, its Lazer hands down!
--Dennis--

[Ahill2climb]

Well, it looks like I'll be buying a new Laser auger. So if anyone wants to buy a used 6" Mora auger with new blades just let me know. $25.00 and she's yours! Anyone have any experience with the Eskimo Barracuda auger? This is in the same price range as the Laser.

[richie722]

I picked up a 6 inch Laser recently based on all the good reviews I read on this site. I've cut about 30 holes now with it and I think it works good.

Now, this evening I was out at the lake with a buddy that has a 6 inch Mora. He got his Mora last year, so its been used more than the laser I just got. He still has the original blades.

I wanted to see if there was any difference in cutting ability, so we "raced" our augers. We tried to turn the handles at the same speed as each other and see who got through first. I thought the laser would be the clear winner, but in fact it was a tie.

I like the laser I got, but it seems the Mora is pretty good too.

[stinger63]

Eskimo Barracuda auger?
If its the auger I think it is I have one and its just like a mora and takes the same blades.
Dont get it cuts just like a mora.
Ok to correct myself they make 2 different hand models.The barracuda is similar to the lazer.The other model like the one I have is called the standard.

[fishing extreme]

Get bigger than a 5" model if you like to sight fish.

Also, a lazer blows a mora away. I have a mora and wished I had a lazer. Buddy uses his and never replaces blades.

[stinger63]

http://www.fishusa.com/tackleshop/catalog_product.asp?url=Eskimo-Barracuda-Hand-Ice-Augers-695-domestic-shipping&i=ED7418FBCD3E4306A97B3DD52F0B9651&fx=1

[Willie Tippit]

Does anyone have feedback on the 8" lazer auger???I have never used thee 8...i have a seven...even with dull blades on the 7 it cutt better than my 5 inch mora,and way better than my 7 mora...ive thought since i dont have a lazer , but have used a few when i do break down and buy a hand auger it will be a 6 inch lazer,,smaller drill cut better i beleieve....Mark

[MisterShoaf]

If I tweaked the angle what can I do to correct it?

[Burksee]

If I tweaked the angle what can I do to correct it?Put a shim, not much to start (paper match stick) between the blade and the head, put the shim on the inside so it positions the pitch of the blade down more so it will bite the ice. ;)

[brdhntr]

Put a shim, not much to start (paper match stick) between the blade and the head, put the shim on the inside so it positions the pitch of the blade down more so it will bite the ice. ;)

Strips of aluminum foil work, too. Add 1 or 2 strips at a time until the cut is right. I sharpen my own blades using my Lansky sharpener and have no trouble using my Mora.

[Lyle7289]

I like my 7" HT. Bought it at Gander MT. It has a support bar to protect the angle of the cutting surface from getting out of whack in case it is dropped, etc. Once that happens and you distort that blade angle, the auger will do a dance on top of the ice surface and will not cut, no matter how sharp the cutting blases are.

My only regaret is that I have a 7" and I think it is a little to big of hole for all the DINKS I have been catching!! lol :p

Seriously, I love the auger and the price is under that of a Mora or Lazor. It also breaks down into two pieces for easy storage and travel for those of you guys that transport your stuff in the trunk of your cars! It has a nice size thumb wheel that is attached to a bolt that marries the two parts together for easy operation with gloves on! HT is know for thier ice fishing stuff and it is a quality product!! ;)

Regards,
Lyle