Screwdrivers for an ice screw: types, recommendations for selection and installation

You can't do without an ice screw for winter fishing. This useful device is used for drilling holes in an icy body of water. Under certain climatic conditions, the use of an ice ax becomes much more difficult, if not even impossible. This is where a special battery-powered screwdriver comes to the rescue.

It is worth taking a closer look at this practical device and finding out what varieties it is subdivided into.

Every self-respecting fisherman has a high-quality and reliable ice screw in his arsenal. This device is essential for winter fishing. One day someone came up with the idea to supplement this tool with a chainsaw to make the holes easier and faster. But the progression of the ice screw did not stop there - a little later it was equipped with a special screwdriver.

Some manufacturers already offer retrofit tools with an adapter for customers to choose from. The result is a multifunctional drill with an impressive list of positive properties.

Before you go to a specialized store to buy this device, you should figure out what its pros and cons are.

Ice screw screwdrivers have the following advantages:

• if you were able to find a screwdriver suitable for all characteristics on sale, then you will be able to modify a simple manual ice screw with your own hands; it will not take much time to carry out such work, and special education will not be required;
• power tools are more convenient in terms of transportation, and in operation they outperform simple mechanical and motorized devices; it will be possible to cut the ice with a drill with a screwdriver several times faster and easier, you will not have to make a lot of efforts;
• the modernized ice screw will be able to cope even with very dense ice, which cannot but please avid anglers;
• many people think that a drill with a screwdriver works with excess noise, spoiling the whole fishing; in fact, this opinion is erroneous, since such a device does not emit unpleasant and loud noises, which is very important when fishing.

It is thanks to the listed distinctive features that ice screws with a screwdriver are so popular and in demand. They do not interfere with fishing, do not complicate it, but only simplify it.

With this attachment, you can achieve good results and go home with a great catch. However, this tool has not only positive but also negative properties.

They also need to be considered if you plan to buy it.

• The screwdriver for an ice screw has a battery in its design. This detail "does not like" subzero temperatures, which cannot be avoided during winter fishing. Batteries do not tolerate such conditions well, since when the temperature drops, the reaction between the individual substances slows down significantly.If at an indicator of -10 degrees the device will still cope with its main duties, then with a bitter frost it will need to be hidden in a closed pocket.
• Working with an ice screw equipped with a screwdriver, you will need to constantly monitor the reliability and tightness of the connection of the components in the cartridge, since in the cold it is quite easy and in the shortest possible time to disable the screwdriver. After that, you will have to either fix it and spend money, or buy another tool, which will also lead to serious expenses.

There are several varieties of ice screwdriver. Each of them has its own characteristics, positive and negative qualities. It is worth familiarizing yourself with them in more detail. First of all, you need to find out in more detail what is good and bad in ordinary hand-held ice screws, in the design of which there is no screwdriver.

The advantages of these models include the following parameters:

• they are inexpensive, so most of the modern buyers who are fond of fishing can afford to buy this device;
• the design of hand-held models is extremely simple; there are almost no serious breakdowns here, especially if the ice auger is made with high quality.

As for the disadvantages of manual copies, the following should be attributed to them:

• if the ice layer exceeds the mark of half a meter, then such a drill will be absolutely useless; he simply cannot cut a layer of such thickness;
• if it is necessary to make a large number of individual holes, you have to spend a lot of effort; after that, fishing will no longer be a joy - you just want to rest.

There is not only a manual, but also a gasoline ice auger. Briefly it is worth considering what are its pros and cons.

The first include the following:

• these tools are powerful and highly effective;
• they are ideal for drilling holes in dense ice crust.

Of the minuses, the following should be highlighted:

• are quite expensive, they are not in great demand;
• are quite noisy, which is unacceptable when fishing;
• weigh a lot, which makes them difficult to work with.

The cordless screwdriver differs from all the listed options for its quiet operation and functionality. You can choose a model of any required power to crush thick ice more easily.

This is due to the fact that these devices rotate in only one direction, for example, examples of right-hand rotation, with the unscrewing of the cartridge nut. Because of this, you will need to hold it all the time, which is very inconvenient. Of course, some people solve this problem by referring to a reduction gear. But not every angler can cope with such modifications.

Instead of a screwdriver, it is allowed to use other functional devices to equip an ice screw, for example, a wrench. Many anglers use only this part instead of a conventional screwdriver, noting the following advantages inherent in this solution:

• the wrench is equipped with a more reliable and durable body;
• the wrench is characterized by a fairly large torque;
• this tool is in no way inferior to a screwdriver;
• an adapter for such a device can be made with your own hands or you can turn to the services of experienced craftsmen.

The ice ax screwdriver is a versatile and effective tool that makes ice fishing easier and more productive.Currently, such units are produced by many well-known brands. It is worth considering a small rating of the most demanded and high-quality copies.

Our small rating is opened by the model Hitachi DS18DSFL. It is a perfectly balanced tool with a wonderful and very comfortable rubberized handle. The voltage of this model is 18 V. The Hitachi DS18DSFL is powered by a lithium-ion battery and weighs only 1.7 kg. Even if you use this device for a long time, your hand will not get tired. To make this tool easier to transport, it comes with a capacious case.

Anglers, who are forced to prepare them in the dark, argue that this screwdriver would have come in handy with a backlight in the form of a good flashlight.

It is a lightweight and small screwdriver. Its weight is only 2.5 kg. It works on nickel-metal hydride batteries. The maximum torque of the Makita 8434DWFE tool is 70 Nm. It is also worth mentioning that this model has a high-strength case, which is difficult to damage or break.

In this tool there is a keyless chuck, which is characterized by reliable fastening. The Makita 8434DWFE screwdriver has a very comfortable side handle.

This high-quality and reliable device is perfect for equipping an ice screw. The Bosch GSR18-2-LI Plus is a professional tool with high performance but affordable price. This model is characterized by the fact that it has reliable protection of the electric motor from overloads that are destructive for it, so we can safely talk about the long service life of this device.

The Bosch GSR18-2-LI Plus weighs 1.1 kg. It contains a lithium-ion battery. This model also has an addition in the form of a flashlight, which is ideal for illuminating the work area.

This model of practical and reliable drill driver for drilling holes is one of the analogues of the Makita DDF 441 RFE device. It has a large capacity battery.

This instance is famous for its reliability, durability and trouble-free operation.

In stores you can find Metabo BS18 LTX Implus at a price of 20,000 rubles.

If you are looking for a really high-quality and productive screwdriver for good winter fishing, then you are advised to pay attention to several primary characteristics of this tool.

• Battery voltage and capacity... Based on the expected loads, it is necessary to choose options with a capacity from 12 to 36 V. The direct load depends on the level of thickness of the ice layer. The voltage affects the speed of rotation of the working element of the fixture. High value options are easier and more convenient to operate, even when drilling very thick ice layers.

• Torque... This is another important characteristic of the screwdriver. It affects the level of material strength that the tool can overcome. Ideal torque values ​​are 40–80 Nm. The larger this value, the easier it will be to make holes in a hard and thick ice surface.
• Manufacturer... Buy a branded high quality screwdriver for an ice screw. Do not let the low cost scare you - cheap gadgets may turn out to be unreliable and quickly fail. Please contact specialty stores to purchase such items only.You do not need to purchase them in markets and street shops, because such copies are unlikely to please you with effective work.

If you stocked up with all the necessary parts and proceeded to the final assembly of an effective drill, then you should have in stock such basic components as:

• screw;
• screwdriver;
• adapter.

Then connect it to the purchased instrument. If you use different designs, then you should choose models with joints in the form of hinges. This design will make it easy to combine an ice screw with a screwdriver. Connect the chuck directly to the auger. This will end the work, and you will receive an automatic ice drill from a screwdriver. Of course, instead of the latter, you can use another tool, such as a drill or wrench.

Many winter fishing enthusiasts turn to the use of an ice screw with a nozzle made of a high-quality screwdriver. This tool allows you to make such a hobby easier and hassle-free.

Buyers who turned to installing a screwdriver on a drill noticed the following positive qualities of the resulting device:

• such units are hardy, powerful and efficient;
• pleases and the autonomy of devices operating on a battery;
• high-quality models pleased with the absence of unnecessary noise and minimal vibrations that do not interfere with fishing;
• in branded copies there is a large torque;
• screwdrivers for drills are charged quite quickly;
• it is very convenient to use these tools complete with an ice drill - you do not have to spend extra energy while drilling a large number of holes on the ice;
• Buyers could not fail to please the presence of a built-in flashlight in many models, which comes in handy in the dark.

Consumers also noticed some disadvantages in modern screwdrivers combined with an ice screw, namely:

• many buyers were upset by the high cost of high-quality branded screwdrivers and their components;
• in case of repairing such a tool, you will have to pay a tidy sum;
• rechargeable batteries are difficult to tolerate winter temperatures, so many fishermen have to monitor the environment - in severe frosts, the battery is usually taken out of the device and hidden in a pocket, which is not liked by everyone;
• some ice screws, working in tandem with screwdrivers, "bite" at the exit from the ice;
• in some branded models of screwdrivers, there is a slight play in the handle - this does not interfere much, but frightens many buyers, making them doubt the quality of the tool.

How to make an ice screw with a screwdriver - the next video.