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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Winter Camping and Activities Small ice auger |
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01/02/2015 04:09AM
I usually prefer to pump water from a lake rather than melt snow for drinking water. If I'm fishing of course I have an auger along, but if I'm not that's a pretty bulky item to bring just for that. Has anyone come across a smaller, lightweight auger for drilling holes just big enough to drop a filter hose down, like 2" wide or so?
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01/02/2015 07:33AM
You could go with an ice chisel: Chisel
It will be smaller to pack down, but I don't know about lighter though. I have one and it is pretty heavy.
"It is more important to live for the possibilities that lie ahead than to die in despair over what has been lost." -Barry Lopez
01/02/2015 08:05AM
Years ago I made an auger using a 1/4" drive socket speed handle with extensions and a 1" wood auger bit. The extensions had set screws so you couldn't lose it in the hole. I would chip out a shallow bowl in the ice and then bore through. Since the water comes to the top of the ice, it would fill the bowl and I would then scoop water from the bowl.
Another option would be to get an old spoon type auger , take the spoon off and replace with a wood auger bit like this . Finding a wood boring bit that cuts through ice can be hit and miss though.
Edit...
Dropping your filter bulb through the ice sometimes does not work. Often the bulb, hose or filter freezes up enough to restrict flow. Better to scoop water into a bucket and then filter in camp.
Another option would be to get an old spoon type auger , take the spoon off and replace with a wood auger bit like this . Finding a wood boring bit that cuts through ice can be hit and miss though.
Edit...
Dropping your filter bulb through the ice sometimes does not work. Often the bulb, hose or filter freezes up enough to restrict flow. Better to scoop water into a bucket and then filter in camp.
“The more you know, the less you carry” Mors Kochanski
01/02/2015 06:14PM
quote tonyyarusso: "quote PortageKeeper: "Since the water comes to the top of the ice, it would fill the bowl and I would then scoop water from the bowl."
Good point - brain hadn't yet processed that fact."
...so ultimately a 1/4" hole would work.
“The more you know, the less you carry” Mors Kochanski
01/03/2015 08:02AM
But on a bit capable of going down several feet, and ideally augering most of the slush out of the hole, yes.
Chisels are great for relatively thin ice, but I sure wouldn't want to have to go through four feet with one.
Chisels are great for relatively thin ice, but I sure wouldn't want to have to go through four feet with one.
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