Why would I use a K-Drill over a Stikemaster Laser bit?

What advantage would I have spending $250 (or whatever the cheapest price is) on an 8” K-Drill (which is really only 7 1/2”) over buying an 8” Strikemaster Laser hand auger for $99, adding a $15 1/2” drill chuck adapter and making some type of float or stop to keep it from going down the hole?

The Chipper blades would be of no benefit to me, I’m not reopening holes. If it’s a lb or 2 in weight I don’t see $100-$150 value there.

I’ll be powering it with a Milwaukee Fuel 18V 2803 or 2804 5AH drill.

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I use the laser bit have a 5 and a 6. I love it. And with both size bits I’m still cheaper then a kdrill. But my buddy has a kdrill and it is nice as well. But the laser is perfect as well. I dont use a 8 but soon to have a laser 7 inch. I do know my brothers 8 inch k drill beats up his milwakee

Yeah that’s the other thing I already have a $40 Eskimo 6”.

I use a 6in.lazer on a dewalt brushless and it works great.I don’t know how many holes you will get out of a battery when the ice gets thick.I have the 4ah batteries and have cut 25-30 holes in 14-18in ice and never run out of battery.It does catch right before it hits water but not everytime.I have been thinking about a clam drill plate.

If you go with the lazer/eskimo look into the Ice Master adapter. I have used one for many years now and it works great. You can order them right direct from the guy in Michigan. It works as an adapter to the drill and prevents you from loosing your auger if the chuck would loosen up all in one.

I have them both a Lazer 4, 5, 7, inch and a k drill 6 inch its the weight, the k drill wins, they all cut ice well.

I was going to say, isn’t the kdreill significantly lighter than a lazer bit? So less fatiguing on you and probably easier on the drill?

Thanks Rivergills. That looks like a good setup.

I have a Dewalt 996 and a 6” Lazer with the ice master adapter. Ice thickness matters most for hole count, but I’ve counted 104 holes in about 10” of ice on a 5Ah battery. I got 75 holes in about 10” of ice on a 4Ah battery last weekend.

I have an older 7” and 8” lazer bit, but that definitely has more torque and will lower the hole count. Despite being an overly analytical engineer, I haven’t benchmarked those bits.

My guess is the Milwaukee drill performs similar.

I would stay away from the KDrill.
Go with the lazer.
To be fair I love my Eskimo Pistol bit in 8” and its a true 8”. I run it on my milwaukee also. Rips.

Yeah if I went with a bit/drill combo I’d probably go with the Eskimo.

Turns out I won’t be getting either as I just found out what Mrs. BHM is getting me, a new Strikemaster 40V.

Until this year, I used my 6in Laser with a cordless drill for the past 5yrs or so, it worked good but this year, got a 6in K-Drill and prefer that over the Laser for 2 reasons

First is the weight, while its not a big deal, its still adds up for those early season days when Im walking and dragging my gear out

The second is that I can put the K-Drill inside the sled of my flip over and done worry about a metal edge slicing the material on my Otter while Im pulling it behind the ATV

BoatsHateMe wrote:

Yeah if I went with a bit/drill combo I’d probably go with the Eskimo.

Turns out I won’t be getting either as I just found out what Mrs. BHM is getting me, a new Strikemaster 40V.

Nice! Now if you return it and got the $100 laser and adapter, you could buy a ton of fishing gear with the money saved!

BoatsHateMe wrote:

Yeah if I went with a bit/drill combo I’d probably go with the Eskimo.

Turns out I won’t be getting either as I just found out what Mrs. BHM is getting me, a new Strikemaster 40V.

Wow mrs boats hate me must be the business. That a bad as$ gift

ClownColor wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>BoatsHateMe wrote:</div>
Yeah if I went with a bit/drill combo I’d probably go with the Eskimo.

Turns out I won’t be getting either as I just found out what Mrs. BHM is getting me, a new Strikemaster 40V.

Nice! Now if you return it and got the $100 laser and adapter, you could buy a ton of fishing gear with the money saved!

Problem is I don’t have the drill yet. I’ll get by with my Hitachi for normal drilling tasks.

Bearcat89 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>BoatsHateMe wrote:</div>
Yeah if I went with a bit/drill combo I’d probably go with the Eskimo.

Turns out I won’t be getting either as I just found out what Mrs. BHM is getting me, a new Strikemaster 40V.

Wow mrs boats hate me must be the business. That a bad as$ gift

She is the Bee’s Knees

Check out the HT Nero auger with the drill adapter. I decided to get one to try and holy crap that sucker combined with my Milwaukee Fuel rips through the ice so fast its silly!

BoatsHateMe wrote:

Yeah if I went with a bit/drill combo I’d probably go with the Eskimo.

Turns out I won’t be getting either as I just found out what Mrs. BHM is getting me, a new Strikemaster 40V.

And that beats them all! My buddy just got one as well and I was using it over the weekend. Looks like I know what my big purchase will be for next season. Man are they sweet.

Used my buddy’s Strikemaster 40V last week. I’m sold on them.

Why stay away from the k drill? Been using mine for 2 seasons and it still beats the strikemaster lithium every time we race. I cannot think of a single downside to the k drill after 200+ holes drilled. I pound on my milwaukee on and off season and it’s also a-okay.

Funny reading these posts! You guys that think it’s a race crack me up! Do you think you will catch more fish because you can drill faster? I would love for you to drill your 100 holes while I fish! Who has time to drill 75+holes? I’ll be lucky to drill 20 and still find 30 minutes to fish each one! They have maps on your phone that will cut your drilling in half or more! Weight is my selling point. That 3 lb pistol bit is my next purchase! Anyone want to give me an offer on a 8″ strikemaster honda strikelite?

BoatsHateMe wrote:

What advantage would I have spending $250 (or whatever the cheapest price is) on an 8” K-Drill (which is really only 7 1/2”) over buying an 8” Strikemaster Laser hand auger for $99, adding a $15 1/2” drill chuck adapter and making some type of float or stop to keep it from going down the hole?

The Chipper blades would be of no benefit to me, I’m not reopening holes. If it’s a lb or 2 in weight I don’t see $100-$150 value there.

I’ll be powering it with a Milwaukee Fuel 18V 2803 or 2804 5AH drill.

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I had to laugh at this post now after seeing the Van Winkle bottles… LOL JK

KPE wrote:

Why stay away from the k drill? Been using mine for 2 seasons and it still beats the strikemaster lithium every time we race. I cannot think of a single downside to the k drill after 200+ holes drilled. I pound on my milwaukee on and off season and it’s also a-okay.

I think this setup is great for early to mid season. But during late season when we have 2 foot of ice or more a KDrill is flat out miserable to use.

I honestly saw 3 Millwakees break the torque reaction handles during late ice last year. The KDrill needs to clear ice every couple inches once you get down 2 feet. The last foot takes a LONG time and physical effort to drill. I seen guys just giving up with their KDrills. Every tool has it’s place late season is not one of those times with a KDrill.

The Strikemaster laser bit or Eskimo bit will out perform a KDrill anytime of the ice season.