7 Best Cordless Drill for Ice Auger

Life is thrilling when you know drilling. I am talking about drilling for ice fishing on frozen lakes. And if you have the best cordless drill for ice auger, the thrill will enhance thousand times.

There is no wired electricity system near river or lakes. That’s why you must have to take cordless drill for ice auger. When the entire world is switching to cordless technology why would the ice auger wait. Cordless drills are not only efficient but also easy to carry and use. Whether it is on the frozen lakes of Michigan or Greenland, you will have the equal ease.

A great ice auger will help you to make the perfect hole on ice without damaging the entire slab. It will make the job easy and smooth. Now you will have all the energy to catch the bigger and better fishes.

Handyman’s Pick: 3 Best Cordless Drill for Ice Auger

As an ice fishing enthusiast, I know how crucial it is to pick the right auger when you have hundreds of options. Believe me I have faced the challenge and overcome it with the help from the pros. I talked to them about learning the features of great ice augers and how to judge their efficiency. And now I am sharing those hard-learned secrets with you.

I have picked the five best auger machines to drill on ice that I have either used or helped others to use. They are the best in their field and have some distinguished features that will make them stand alone from the others.

Let’s not wait for the ice to melt. Rather dig into them with the best ice driller for fishing.

Here is a detailed review of the 5 best cordless drills for ice augers. I promise you; this will help you choose your daredevil without delay.

• Brand name: Milwaukee
• Maximum Speed: 1800 RPM
• Product weight:  2.5 pounds
• Maximum torque: ‎500 Inch Pounds
• Customer rating on Amazon: 4.8 out of 5

Drilling through frozen ice can be daunting as you don’t know how thick the ice is. So having a powerful cordless drill with increased runtime will let you conquer the ice by offering consistent power to your ice auger. Yes, I am talking about Milwaukee M18 cordless Compact Drill.

This cordless drill gets an 18-Volt Lithium-Ion battery and Brushless that are ready to offer more efficient power and extra runtime comparing brushed motors. More importantly, it’s a quite lightweight and compact cordless drill that will come out in handy during home improvement tasks.

• Brand name: BLACK+DECKER
• Maximum speed: 650 RPM
• Product weight: 3.4 pounds
• Chuck size: 3/8″
• Warranty: 2 Year 

This complete set of BLACK+DECKER Cordless Drills is available at a decent price to let you prepare for ice drilling without breaking the bank. This cordless drill bit is a budget-friendly appliance but misunderstands its power and capability.

In fact, it’s a multi-functional cordless drill that is suitable for working on metal, wood, plastic, and a variety of surfaces, including ice, thanks to its 11-position clutch setting. Even this low-cost cordless drill has a variable speed trigger for most accurate drilling in verity of surfaces.

If you want a cordless drill that provides comfort and control for a long time, Metabo HPT DS18DBFL2QB 18V Cordless Drill is your man. The 18V Cordless Drill is a wonder that produces 620 in-lbs of torque. It can tackle a variety of your toughest tasks like a Targaryen.

This magnificent tool features a brushless motor and all Metabo HPT 18V & 36V Lithium-Ion slide batteries. With these features, you have a tool with lighter weight, only 3. 5 lbs (With 18V 1. 5Ah battery), more power, and longer life. No wonder this Drill-Dragon truly brings power and torque to a whole new level. A bright LED, 22 + 2 clutch settings, and an on-tool battery indicator make this a super-drill.

Metabo HPT DS18DBFL2QB 18V Cordless Drill is a heavy task tool that is more comfortable and usable than Makita XPH07Z 18V. For its lightweight, your task will be fatigue-free, for a long time. It’s cheaper than Bosch and DeWalt, however it provides maximum quality with excellent efficiency.

Metabo HPT, the new brand name for Koki Holdings America, has been engineering power tools for the toughest tasks for over 70 years. Formerly a part of the Hitachi group, Metabo 18V Cordless Drills is a creation of excellence. Compact and comfortable, this cordless drill is perfect for any ice auger adventure.

If you want a next-gen cordless drill for ice auger, Bosch GSB18V  Hammer Drill is what you need.

This solid drill with GSB18 Brushless motors is engineered for tough tasks. A next-gen CORE 18V Compact battery and Bluetooth connectivity enhance its performance excellently. The CoolPack 2.0 heat-management system cools the battery 20% faster than previous 4.0 Ah double-layer versions. Now, that’s a drilling deal!!!

The Bosch 18V drill is a tough guy for the tough job. Its precision clutch with 20+1 settings ensures driving accuracy without any fastener damage. Along with first-rate bit retention, the tool features a high-power cell. Result: long run with greater efficiency. In addition, the LED setting in the drill area not only illuminates your dark work zone but also ensures tool-status change feedback.

Though Bosch 18V is more costly than Dewalt and Makita, it provides perfect performance and quality costs. This driving drill provides two variable speed settings: one for high speed and one for high power. It functions better than a Metabo 18V drill.

This drill includes a longer belt clip and a comfortable grip for smooth and smart work. You can go up and down the ladder with the drill like Spiderman. In addition, The KickBack control and CoolPack let you work cheerfully as you are in a safe hand now.

If a tight space is your work zone and infinitive is your time, DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Drill  is your best friend. This ice auger cordless drill is a perfect tool for tough times in tough space.

DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Drill with its brushless motors provides 57% more run time and with XR Li-Ion batteries with fuel gauge 33% more capacity. It is lightweight and compact, only 6.9inch front to back. So, your task is fast and fatigue free.

DEWALT 20V MAX features high-speed transmission with two speed settings (0-550/0-2,000 RPM). The result is up to 30% faster application speeds. The driver drill provides superior bit gripping strength with its metal 1/2-inch ratcheting chuck. So, your task is safe and secure in a strong grip.

DeWalt 20V Max is not just about the power, but also the break, small size, high quality chuck and LED. Its LED light is 2o times brighter than a hammer head 20V 2-Speed Cordless Drill. Its LED Spotlight Mode features a 20-minute shutoff function. So, you can extend your work time in the dark also.

Power, performance and pleasure, if you want these three in your ice auger task, Cordless Drill  Brushless Drill is your perfect partner. It includes excellent features that will surely bring smile and satisfaction in your task.

TECCPO 20V Brushless Drill is an ice auger beast. The high-performance brushless motor produces 530 in-lb high torque without generating any sparks. Therefore, it can fulfil a wide range of various applications without any risk and damage.

The drill contains 2Pcs 20V Li-ion Batteries. Result: the machine is always charged to serve continuously. In addition, 1/2″ All-Metal Keyless Chuck ensures compatibility and durability. 21 + 1 Position Clutch & 2 Variable Speed ensure control and comfort in your ice auger.

This cordless drill is one of the best drills for ice augers that is compact, lightweight and well-balanced. It weighs only 3.37lbs with a battery ensuring fatigue-free work for long. This compact tool is easy to use and allows you to access any tight area. In addition, the Trigger-activated LED Light delivers excellent visibility in tight and dark areas.

Makita: a name of excellence and efficiency. Makita Cordless Hammer Drill is one of the best ice auger drills. This drill is compact, lightweight and highly efficient.  

The Makita XPH07Z 18V works everywhere with its ground-breaking 1,090 in-lbs of torque. The brushless motor ensures longer run time, increased power and speed, and longer tool life. With its excellent features, this work-horse can operate in harsh job site conditions.

The two-speed setting of the drill is great. The lower speed allows for better control and power, and the higher speed pulses up to 2100 RPM. It’s all metal 1/2-inch self-ratcheting chuck enhances bit gripping strength and durability.

This cordless drill is very light and highly compact. Only 8-1/8″ long, the tool has ergonomic design. It weighs only 5.9lbs. In addition, it includes a side handle and side clip ensuring additional safety.

The Makita XPH07Z 18V Hammer Drill also includes a 3-stage LED gauge. It indicates battery charge level precisely. Comfortable to hold and easy to use, this power tool is ergonomic and robust. The best part is, this machine works wonderfully without any discomforting sound.

How to Drill an Ice Fishing Hole with a Cordless Drill and an Ice Auger?

Drilling an ice fishing hole with proper planning and preparation can make it fun and productive. Follow these steps to create a small radius and experience subsistence fishing.

Check the spot

Observe what is going on under the water’s surface before it is frozen. Generally, 2 to 4 feet from the base of the lake is the perfect depth for the finish. After creating holes, you can measure the depth using a depth indicator. While finding, look for some signs to choose a place where the fish are more likely to be. You can choose rocky areas, sheltered areas, or deep pools and don’t select weedy areas, inlets, or spots where the water moves faster.

You can also talk to a pro angler to find a spot that froze later than others. The dredging and water maintenance crew can also aid you for getting the right spot.

Know the ice auger

Choosing the right ice auger is a technical task. A power drill ice auger is a popular choice and is suitable for drilling plenty of holes quickly into thick ice. But these can be harder to control. Hand augers, on the other hand, require a lot of physical effort and are nearly impossible to use on thicker ice than 4 feet thick, despite being lightweight to control.

Stand securely

Before starting the drilling, place your feet firmly on the ground so you can operate the ice auger properly and safely. Start by creating a small snow pitch on the ice surface for a strong stand, as snow ensures better grip compared to ice. Doing so will bring two benefits. Firstly, if the auger breaks into the ice and rushes into the water, the snow under your feet will become slush. This slushy snow can also be used as an anchor to secure the tent skirt.

Leave the job on the blade

While using your power drill auger, don’t apply extensive force to the lade. If you push the blade with extreme force, it will make the job slower. Keep the balance in your hand while the blades drill into the ice and go through water. Simply apply gentle pressure on your cordless drill to let the auger drill through downward.

Prepare the hole

Clear the debris from the ice hole. Throw away the snow that is surrounding the hole so you can make a channel for debris that you will pull out of the hole. Make sure there is enough snow to surround the hole to act as a barrier between the hole and slush. Then pull out the loose ice or residual slush from the hole using your ice auger.

Features to pick the Best Cordless Drill for Ice Auger

It’s ice we are talking about. So, you need to consider some important factors. Here are some features that can help you choose the best cordless drill for an ice auger.

High Torque Level: You need a machine that cuts through the ice without difficulty. For this you need a high level of torque rating. So, before selecting any drill, check what torque rating the machine creates

Durability: Cutting ice is not cutting butter. Ice is a solid and tough material. So, you need a durable cordless drill for an ice auger. Check for reviews with low failure rate from hardware experts and also from ice fishers.

Portability: In ice fishing, you need to move a lot. So, portability is one big factor. Go for the tool that is compact and lightweight.

Add-Ons: Buying a drill set without an ice auger kit is disappointing and a waste of money. Therefore, always check that preferred purchase comes with an auger extension.

Waterproof: As you will cut ice, definitely your tool will be exposed to water. Therefore, before buying the drill, check if it is waterproof or well-designed to work near water.

How to Turn a Drill into an Ice Auger

Yes, it’s easy to turn a drill into an ice auger. All you need to do is to collect a hand auger with high-quality blade, a drill machine, and ice auger drill adapter.

Remove the handle from the ice auger by lessening the wing nut. While you are removing the handle make sure not to put too much pressure. It may damage the blade assembly itself.

Now insert the ice auger drill adapter into the blade assembly. Tighten the wing nut to fix the adapter in place. Now the auger is all ready to use with the drill. The open end of then adapter will fit in any best drill machine for regular use.

Simply turn on the drill and cut through the ice of any thickness.  

FAQs on Best Cordless Drill for Ice Auger

Final Words

A cordless drill is always best for ice augers. A compact, lightweight and durable drill can make your ice fishing exciting and entertaining. So why waiting; buy the best cordless drill for ice auger.