Cordless drills are an efficient way to break the ice for a fisherman. Also, it’s cheaper than buying an expensive electric auger that you may only make use of a few times a year.
Most ice anglers come with high-quality ice augers as part of the accessory. Some are designed for increasing accuracy, some to boost speed, and others budget-friendly. What they all have in common is that as a fisherman they save you on time and energy when fishing. Many tend to turn their manual hand auger into a powered auger using a cordless or electric drill. This is very efficient and cheaper compared to buying an electric auger. With a good cordless drill, fishing can be as fun as in the summer. After researching and talking to fishermen, we have compiled a list of the best cordless drills for your auger without breaking your pocket and what to look at when buying.
Best Ice Auger Cordless Drill – A Comparison Table
| Image | Model | Best For | Check on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Milwaukee M18 18-Volt Brushless Cordless Compact Drill | Best overall ice auger drill | Check On Amazon |
 | DEWALT DCD996B 20V MAX XR Hammer Drill | Best functionality drill | Check On Amazon |
 | Ryobi P1813 One+ 18V Cordless Hammer Drill | Value for money | Check On Amazon |
 | Makita XPH11RB 18V LXT Brushless Cordless Hammer Driver-Drill | Most durable drill | Check On Amazon |
 | Hitachi DS18DGL 18-Volt Cordless Compact Drill | Best for tight spaces | Check On Amazon |
1 – Milwaukee M18 18-Volt – Best overall ice auger drill
This hammer drill/driver kit model from Milwaukee weighs 5 pounds and is easy to handle and use. It’s designed to withstand long heavy-duty sessions. It’s compact and easy to handle with a length of fewer than 8 inches. It is powered by 2 sturdy 18-volt lithium-ion batteries with an impressive torque of up to 1200 inch/pound and speeds of up to 0-2000 RPM and 0-32, 000 BPM. It also comes with hammer drills, power drills, and power hammer drills as well as a battery charger and a case. It has a 5-year warranty.
Pros
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- The torque power is impressive
- It has a long-lasting battery
- It’s durable and has a 5-year warranty
- It also comes with a case and battery charger
Cons
- The handle is not that sturdy
- It’s expensive
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2 – DEWALT DCD996B 20V MAX XR – Best functionality drill
The DEWALT DCD996B Hammer Drill measures 8.4 inches long and weighs 4.7 pounds. It has a voltage of 20V and can deliver speeds of up to 2250 RPM and 250 BPM. The ½ metal chucks are nitro-carburized and the motor is brushless. It includes a 3-mode LED light with a spotlight mode, a hammer drill with 3 speeds, a belt hook, and a 360-degree handle. The battery and charger are sold separately. It delivers a high-performance giving you the power to drill through the ice faster and more efficiently. For protection against moisture and other damages, the switches have been sealed and coated and it comes with a 3-year warranty. Check also the full review of DCD996B.
Pros
- It has a 3-mode light for drilling in the dark
- It’s a three-speed drilling hammer
- It has an improved runtime
- It comes with a 3-year warranty
- The motor speed is powerful and fast
Cons
- It’s heavy and huge
- The battery and charger are sold separately
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3 – Ryobi P1813 One+ 18V – Value for money
Ryobi P1813 cordless hammer drill is made of plastic & steel and is easy to operate and offers you convenience when ice drilling. It is lightweight at 3.99 pounds and is eight inches long. It runs on a powerful 18-volt lithium-ion battery that can last you over 4 hours when drilling and takes 30 minutes to recharge making it convenient for ice drilling. You can operate and adjust it using a 3-mode knob and offer a speed of 1800 RPM and 23, 000 BPM as well as torque of 750 inches/pound. It has 3 drill modes – the standard for basic drilling of holes into wood, metal, plastic, and ice, the hammer mode for drilling into masonry, concrete, and thick ice slabs. Another mode is the drive mode for driving screws and bolts. It has a magnetic bit holder near its drill base that can be used to secure bits and fasteners to the drill with convenience and is easy to retrieve. The package also includes a bag for portability and storage.
Pros
- It offers you value for money
- It has a long-lasting battery
- It comes with a magnetic bit holder
- It’s versatile as it offers 3 operating modes
- It has an LED light for dark places
Cons
- Torque is lower compared to other ice augers
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4 – Makita XPH11RB 18V LXT – Most durable drill
Makita XPH11RB 18V Hammer Driver-Drill is another drill that we consider on our Best Ice Auger Cordless Drill list because you get the best durability. It has an ergonomic design that minimizes fatigue on your hand, neck, back, and shoulders. It is 16 inches long and weighs 2.9 pounds which is light making it ideal for narrow spaces. It has a torque of 350 pounds/inches and speeds of 1700 RPM and 25, 500 BPM great for fastening, drilling, and hammer drilling. It comes with 2 LED lights on the front for proper lighting boosting precision in the dark and it’s corrosion-resistant and waterproof. It also includes 2 18-volt quick-charging batteries, a charger, and a contractor tool bag. It offers a 3-year warranty on the battery, charger, and tool.
Pros
- It’s lightweight and has a cushy design for minimizing fatigue
- It has 2 LED lighting modes
- It waterproof and resistant to corrosion
Cons
- Its hammer-drilling capability is of low-quality
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5 – Hitachi DS18DGL 18-Volt – Best for tight spaces
When you hear Hitachi, you hear power. This 18-volt drill is 8.5 inches long and weighs 3.7 pounds with a torque of 400 inches/pound and speeds of up to 1250 RPM all of which give you the power and precision to deliver optimally. One of its greatest features is its speed gear settings that allow you to adjust and match its speed according to your work requirements. For lighting, it comes with an LED light that increases your visibility at night. It has a 22+1 clutch that delivers 22 torque settings and one drill mode for control and precision. It also includes two 18V batteries, a charge, and a case. It offers a lifetime lithium-ion tool warranty and a 2-year warranty on the battery.
Pros
- It has two-speed settings
- It has an LED light
- The design is ergonomic
- It includes a tool kit and a case for portability
Cons
- The batteries are not strong enough
View price on Amazon
Buying Guide for a Best Cordless Drill for Ice Auger
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Comfort
Chances are that you will be drilling for long hours and well-design drills that allow you to work without fatigue are what you should go for. They should be easy to use with handles that give you grip making it convenient for you when holding.
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Portability
A cordless drill is something you’ll be moving around with and you want this to be as convenient without having to necessarily spend an extra buck, Most drills come with a carrying case that you can store your drill and move around with any other tools.
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Weight
You don’t have to carry a heavy load in the cold as fatigue may have you packing your tools heading for home before getting enough fish. Get a lightweight drill that will allow you to carry it on your shoulder and use it without suffering from lethargy. The ideal drill weight is about 3 pounds but ensures you get something that you’re comfortable with.
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Battery
Almost all cordless drills use a lithium-ion battery that lasts long and can be quickly recharged. However, their voltage capacity differs from one drill to the next and they have different power consumptions. Some drills come with an extra battery for faster replacement while others don’t come with a battery at all, and you’ll have to buy them separately. Get a drill whose battery has a short recharge duration and can handle heavy-duty drilling for a long period.
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Power
A drill’s power can be measured in three different ways; using RPM, BPM, and torque. RPM or revolutions per minute measures the pace that your drill can provide at any point in time while the BPM (blows per minute) is the hammering powering of its. Torque measures how powerful a drill is since it’s what makes it rotate when at work. A drill with at least 750 RPM, 25, 000 BPM, and 750 inches/pound torque is ideal for use with an ice auger giving you the much-needed power to drill through the ice.
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Durability
Ice is a very solid material to go through, unlike wood. Having this in mind, choose a drill that can cut through it without much hassle whilst preserving its durability to be able to serve you for long.
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Extra tools and accessories
Most people tend to overlook this when purchasing a drill. Some manufacturers include an extra battery, additional tools like hammer drill bits, and even a contractor’s bag at no extra cost which are very useful considering you’ll be out in the field.
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LED lights
You may end up working in dark areas or till the night and you want something of convenience as you go about with your work. A cordless drill with an LED light will help illuminate your surroundings providing you with enough lighting without having to use an additional spotlight.
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Warranty
This varies from one manufacturer to another. You want to use your drill for the longest period and an extended warranty period is the best deal. A drill with at least a 3-year is good.
How to turn your drill into an ice auger
Get an ice auger, if you don’t have one look of one with a diameter of 4.5-6 inches and 6 to 8 inches if you plan on hunting something more than a fish. You’ll need an adapter to connect the auger to the drill which buoys your auger and prevents it from sinking. The next thing to get is a good blade and a popular question is which is the better blade, a laser or more? A laser is what we recommend as you can count on it to cut through ice more easily minimizing stress on your drill. It also improves your battery performance because the more efficiently your drill can go through the ice, the less energy consumption it will take which will increase the number of holes you’ll drill.
Next, get your cordless drill and ensure its chuck size matches your auger’s. Once you’ve found the perfect match, go ahead and remove the auger handle and then join the drill to the auger using the adapter to connect. Ensure you keep the drill on a low torque or the lowest speed and the mode should be set to drill mode for additional safety. You should now be ready to drill holes and start catching some fish.
FAQs
How can I improve my battery’s performance?
Make sure you use the right batteries and they should be the recommended ones from your manufacturer. Also, make sure to get spare batteries to carry you through a drill session without hassle. Don’t leave your batteries outside overnight, most dills come with a carrying bag that you can use to store the batteries inside your house.
Is a hammer drill necessary for an ice auger?
Hammer drills are designed for drilling through concrete because it pounds during drilling. It can however be used with ice augers as well.
Conclusion
Cordless drills are very efficient when used with ice augers for drilling holes into ice. The cordless drills highlights above are some of the best on the market taking into consideration user reviews as well as sellers’. You now have a buying guide and steps to turn your drill into an ice auger too. You can now go out and get yourself the necessary tools and keep fishing as it were in the summer. Let’s hope that our list of Best Ice Auger Cordless Drill helped with your selection.
