01-11-2007, 08:39 PM
Half of the problem I've noticed with my blades (already dull, and I bought my hand auger just after christmas!) is the stainless they use is not of the highest quality. I haven't tried the magnet test on them but I'll betcha for sure that a magnet will stick to them. I'm going to buy a new set and take my old blades and have my neighbor run 2-3 tig weld beads down the blade, then resharpen them with a bench grinder. If there is not a whole lot of impurities in the metal (impurites make a crappy weld), that should improve the hardness of the blade. Granted, welding them will make them more brittle but I don't think that will be a big deal just drilling holes through ice. BTW, I've just got the cheap Eskimo 8" hand auger, and when the blades get dull, that is way to much work for me! I'll let you all know how the experiment goes.
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