How do I sharpen hand auger

[kmodel52]

My little 7" auger won't cut very good. What is the best way to sharpen without getting new blades? They seen very sharp. Thanks

[jigglestick]

most of the hand auger blades have a straight enough blade to sharpen by hand with a wet stone.

i ran a eskimo auger for many years with the same blades, and thousands of holes, before they just were not digging in any more i didn't have the money for new blades, and it was just getting to that point. so i figured i had nothing to loose. i took them off and slowly sharpened each one on the same stone i use for my fillet knives. like you said, they still felt sharp, but had several knicks in them. i couldn't do much about the knicks, but i got the rest of the blade looking as good as i could. i thought i did a pretty good job. they felt way sharper than they did before i started sharpening them, but they still had some knicks.

i put them on, and HOLY COW did they cut!! i sharpened those blades three more times in the time i used it, until the gearbox wore out it still ran good,but i just plain wore it out. i figure i got maybe five to seven thousand holes out of it before it (Contact US Regarding This Word) out. never did replace the blades. maybe i should have turned it in for warrantee??

[Ed Carlson]

Cut a few shims out of a pop can. Make them just wide and long enough to fit between the screws.

Space the shims evenly in the front part of the blade and re-tighten the screws.

This may help, or not. It really depends on how far off the bevel is on the edge is, or if the starting edge is worn badly.

I would still pick up a set of new blades and get the old set sharpened or trade them for sharpened blades. A set of 7" Mora blades at Gander is not very high. You will spend more on driving back and forth getting the old set resharpened.