I just used my hand auger for the first time today and it took FOREVER.it literally took me 10 min. The thing is I just pick up new sharpened blades. Is there a certain technique in drilling faster? Anyone else had this problem before? Tips? 
Maybe your blade mounts are out of pitch ?
I used to until I purchased a nils master hand auger. 12″-15″ ice in no time most of the time faster than power auger. Sounds like the pitch of blades is off. Are you sure you put them on the right sides? I have seen the mora blades be put on wrong and it would not drill.
Do you have the (Mora) more work. Or the (lazer) less work
You are using a blade cover correct?
Not pressing down, just enough pressure to hold the auger straight?
Drilling clockwise?
Didn’t drill in dirty ice?
I have a mora. I think I will try to switch them. They might have been put on wrong. 
Quote:
You are using a blade cover correct?
Not pressing down, just enough pressure to hold the auger straight?
Drilling clockwise?
Didn’t drill in dirty ice?
1. Yup, using the cover. There razor sharp
2. Yup, I was pressing down. I was pressing pretty hard.
3. Yes, I was drilling clockwise and not in dirty ice.
Maybe the blades were installed wrong or something?
Yep Yep !!!
either they were put on opposite sides,,, or when I used to own the Mora(blue) auger I actually would have to tune the bit.. by putting shims in behind the blades…
Quote:
Yep Yep !!!
either they were put on opposite sides,,, or when I used to own the Mora(blue) auger I actually would have to tune the bit.. by putting shims in behind the blades…
How would I know if they were put on wrong? Just switch and try?
The sharpened curve goes towards the inside (if I’m remembering right). I have a super old 7″ mora that can drill through a foot and a half no problem until my arms run out of gas.
I assume it also goes without saying that the beveled edge faces up.
They appear to be installed right???
Upload a pick of the end of the auger.
My buddy gave it to me the other day. Just got sharpened blades from the bait shop up here where I live. There pretty sharp to the touch. When I tried to use it, it seem to barley scrap any ice off, unless you really worked at it for like 10 min.
Looks correct. Try loosening the bolts and place a thin piece of plastic between the blade and the auger towards the front of the blade so that when you tighten the bolts back up it will tip the blades so it will grab the ice better.
Doesn’t take much, just cut a strip out of a milk jug or other thin plastic jug or bottle. A laundry detergant bottle is a little thicker if it takes more of a shim.
You should not need to press down very hard to get it to cut. It should bite into the ice on its own if the blades are sharp and have the right pitch.
Good Luck
Sounds good, making more contact with the ice. Thanks for the help! 
Being that old and probably neglected, the pitch is probably off from excessive pressure or banging it on the ice. Shims will help if its not too bad.
Remember to use very little downward pressure when drilling, just enough to keep the auger going straight. My 5″ mora cuts like a hot knife through butter with no pressure added, I can outdrill my father’s 6″ lazer any day.
I have had some trouble with using re-sharpened blades on my mora as well….even the slightest pitch would not allow the auger to cut. I messed with my blades for a solid day before coming to the conclusion that I could only get one sharpening out of them before it did more harm then good. I ended up biting the bullet and buying new blades and it worked perfect with no tweaking required.
I have one like yours, will have to take a look at mine, but are the blades flipped the wrong side down.
Oh and another thing, take a wire brush to that thing and give it new coat of paint! It helped my buddy’s lazer drill twice as easy with all the rust covered up.
So, today I tried to put plastic under the blade to that it might cut more into the ice, and it dint seem to work. When I would try to cut a hole, it would just spin on me.
Flip the blades over and try again.
There should be writing stamped on the blades that faces up (so you can read it when it’s on).
And, if those blades are on upside down then you might want to have a word with the dude who “sharpened” them.
The blades appear to be correctly installed. I tried to put plastic and a penny between the blade to try to angle the blade more.
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