Has anyone used an "ice saw"???

[neversunk]

I've seen a few advertisements for hand operated "ice saws". They run about $90. It looks like it folds up like a 4 ft long jacknife. Has anyone used one? Besides the advantage of having a bigger hole to work thru I love the idea of building a mini "Stonehenge" around my fishing area to keep the sledheads and hot rod quad drivers away.....
But anyhow....how do they compare in ease of use to drilling multiple auger holes and chopping out the web area between them? I understand thats what they used in the old days to "quarry" the ice to ship to cities before they had refrigerators....

[Fishcapades]

Just use a chainsaw but make sure you run all the oil out of the chain lube.

[eyecatcher]

neversunk,

when I was kid we used an ax and a spud. when we got a little older and could afford it. we went to useing ice saws and then chainsaws, you don't get near as wet with a hand ice saw as you will with a chain saw.you still get wet.The ice saw is harder work then I care to do, any more I just drill a group of holes and spud out the web. I use a 9" jiffy and it takes a lot less time and is a lot drier then a saw.The auger and spud is easier to carry and stow. good luck with what ever .

[neversunk]

yea..I found out about getting wet with the chain saw thing too. I guess ideally you could cut the hole with a chain saw without going deep enough to hit water, and then switch to the ice saw to finish it off. Last year I did the thing with making 3 or 4 holes with the auger and spudding out the web depending on how big of a hole I wanted. I'd just like to keep the amount of equipment I have to drag out there to a minimum, and hate to make the noise with the chainsaw.

[Ed Stringer]

No Gas or Oil To Mess With and It Always Starts. Cut any size hole you want. Leave the power saw at home. Yes folks it's the ice saw, ICESAWS .COM it looks like it will get it done.

[Royal Whaler]

Hey Neversunk,
I take it you are talking about an ice saw as shown in this web site - www.icesaws.com (http://www.icesaws.com/) ....... looks inviting compared to lugging along the customary chain saw, gas, oil, auger, etc. ....... only suspicion I have is that it is suggested for first ice ....... what happens at the end of January when you're dealing with 12" of ice or thicker? ....... at less than 7 lbs. it could be a real advantage to have one! :)

[neversunk]

yea....thats the kind of things I'd like to know about before I buy one. Still havnt found anyone with experience at using them to get more details as far as if they work ok with a foot of ice etc....if anybody knows let us know....

[Joe_G]

Sorry neversunk, I can't answer your question on this one. I have never used a hand operated ice saw, and I don't know anyone that has.
So.....If you buy one, let us know how it works out for you.

[Ed Michrina]

. I'd just like to keep the amount of equipment I have to drag out there to a minimum, and hate to make the noise with the chainsaw.


Neverskunk I don't think the fish will hear any more noise using a hand saw compaired to a chain saw. It's kinda like you can yell at a fish and It wont swim away. The noise above the ice isn't bad its the cutting or pounding that bothers them. Power auger or hand auger- Same noise to the fish..I think :p

[eyecatcher]

The saw on icesaw.com looks similar to the one we used as kids, about 100 years ago. Ours had a different handle and more teeth I think? It belonged to my uncle who used it when he was younger to cut blocks of ice for the ice house on their farm in Alberta. we would spud a hole in each corner to start, then worked the saw to cut out the square hole. I remember it was a lot of hard work,we did cut some thick ice. being kids we didn't care and had a lot more stamina then the old fart I am today.

[neversunk]

darn...wish I could get some more info quick...theres an auction ending on ebay in the next half hour and I can get one for $76.00. Thanks for the help....guess I'll just standby till I hear from another oldtimer (54 years) who can give me an ideal of whether I would be better off spudding the web out between a few holes when the ice gets over a foot thick or using an ice saw. Its just that its so much lighter and less messy than a chain saw....thanks to all......

[Joe_G]

Neversunk,,,Just my opinion, but I think you should buy it. I'm going to be using a chainsaw this year, but plan on stopping about one inch from breaking thru, then finishing it off with a spud. If you do buy the ice saw and don't like it, I'll buy yours from you to finish my final cut.......If you do like it, great. If you don't like it, I'll buy it from you for what you paid for it on e-bay.....you can't loose.....Just a thought. I'm serious about my offer though.
Send me an e-mail if you like, my PM box is about full........Thanks......Joe

[neversunk]

OK Joe....I sent you a PM....I'll give it a shot. Get back to me by PM if you did'nt get mine.... Glenn

[Sailor]

I've got one and they cut ice like butter! They will cut an 8'' hole or a spearing hole. They replace a spud, power auger, and a chain saw, They will cut a hole in 30' of ice. Mine was $125.00. I'm working with the manufacturer for a dealership. Anyone wants one let me know.

[Ed Michrina]

Sailor, Don't you still need a starter hole? and can you make turns with it as you cut?

[neversunk]

No doubt Ed....I was thinking that two auger holes would suffice to let me get entry to two corners. I bet a 4" auger would cut those real fast! I missed the deal on the one on ebay...got outbid...still gotta find one around cheaper...

[ybone]

i have made about 50 of these in the past 2 years on a friends laser. after watching 5 or 6 guys saw through 12 inches of rock hard 3 years ago, i was sold. if you're dealing with 3 to 5 inches, you can just spud through it to get it started with the saw. anything more than that and 1 starter hole is fine. the guys i watched all had shapells like mine and they cut the 2 rectangular holes in about 5 minutes. used ice tongs to pull the pieces out. if you've never seen one in action, you would be amazed. am still working on the correct sharpening angle to perfect them. good luck

[Sailor]

Ed and Neversunk,
It has a very sharp point and can spud it's own starter hole, but neversunk is right about the 4" auger. If you auger two diagonal holes it has the added benefit of making it easier to lay out your spearing hole. Also you can cut on an angle away from the hole and greatly increase your visability. I have 10 saws in transit. I will sell them for $125.00 each. They also are making me a shorter model that will cut approx. 17" of ice (usually enough for our recent winters)that
will sell for $100.00. Cases for the regular model are $20.00. The shipping is a killer. My daughter lives in Clawsen and if any of you in the Detroit area want a saw let me know and I'll send them home with her on Christmas day and you can pick them up on the 26th so there would be no shipping. Use one of these and you'll leave the chainsaw and power auger home! If any of you buy a saw I'll contribute to the site.

[neversunk]

Hey Sailor...you have any pictures of this beast? How long is it? What do you mean by a "case"?

[Sailor]

Hi neversunk, check your private messages.

[neversunk]

Ok sailor....I'm game....if you wanna sell on for $100 I'll pick it up in Clawson....I've lost that much on a blackjack table downtown in 20 minutes anyhow....I live in Macomb and drive thru that area regularly on my part time job. Lemme know the details of how you wanna work that out....
Lets hope this thing works cause I don't wanna be the laughing stock on this site :lol: in such a public fashion..... :bash:
I will give an honest report on it through the season :bowdown: and as the ice thickness changes

[neversunk]

Beware of this ad on Ebay...read the fine print...its only the case for that price......http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=36152&item=7123213590&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

[neversunk]

Hey Sailor...wait a minute ....I just read your post slower....how long is the "shorter one" and how many teeth does it have? You can see the competions prices on ebay....obviously the longer one would be needed when the ice is 16" thick due to the angle you would be cutting at....I would doubt that it is feasible to cut from a perfectly vertical position and keep the blade on the ice the whole time (kinda like using a sawzall when the blade falls short of the edge of your workpiece).....

[Sailor]

The "short one" will cut approximatly 17" of ice and the regular one will cut approximatly 30'" of ice straight down. We don't always get 17" of ice but the regular or long one is easier and faster to use as you can stand erect and make longer strokes. The advantages of the shorter saw are its more compact so it's easier to carry and stow, It's ideal for use inside a darkhouse with a low overhead for reopening holes, and it costs $20.00 less. I sold my last short one today so I'll have to wait for the next shipment (possibly tomorrow) to count the teeth.
Regards and Happy holidays.

[Sailor]

No way you will be a laughing stock neversunk i've been fishing the last two days and only problem is everybody wants to borrow the saw. Apparently you want the short one as the long one is $125.00, the short one is $100.00. I have
vinyl cases for the long saw for $20.00 but have to order some for the short one. If you will give the members of the site an honest critique of your saw I'll pay the sales tax (the state is broke). I can't discount the saws as I'm wholesaling them and as an advid outdoorsman I can't have sportsshops mad at me. PM me with your phone number and we'll put it together.