who uses a Clam plate Pro + power drive, ...worth twice the money for just plate?

So, first year using a powered auger (just getting too old and sore, from clearing all the snow we have had up here (I think we must be 300-350cm total for the winter now!)....seems like I have to do it every 3rd day on average and it's a large lot). I didn't mind hand augering when I am not so beaten down and may go back to it one year if the snow amounts are not as much.
I am using a Ryobi brushless hammer drill with a 4A battery with an adapter than has a 90o handle that is on some kind of ball bearing so it stays in place while the auger turns. The torque direction means I am operating the drill with my left hand (not ideal) while I brace the drill on the side of my left hip so it doesn't get out of control. Works pretty good until it gets to near the end and then often it will stop and I have to start it again to cut the last inch or so. The auger is the Finbore hand auger.
I think I have a couple of options (looking for the cheapest and least wasteful): 1) buy a 6A or more HP battery - supposed would fix the stalling and I can always use more batteries for my various tools but these brand name batteries are about $200 each and I don't "need" such performance batteries for the things I do around the house; 2) buy a Clam plate pro with (or without a power drive). Without is much cheaper (about $135ish and with the power drive, it would be about $220) and would help with the torque issue and having used Xiaolu's set up last week, I like how it feels (but he has a Milwaukee drill with a bigger battery). I have never tried the new power drive, which has a gear ratio that supposedly can increase the performance of weaker power drills (I don't think that is my problem); 3) I can buy a pistol bit auger which will add another couple of hundred dollars.

I can live with what I have now but am looking for some folks' opinion and am uncertain if I will spend more money this winter (but some sales are likely to be coming up nearer the end of the ice season or at least when the new spring stuff starts coming in and stores need floor space). Anyone who has used the power drive, have you noticed a real difference compared to your original set up? Those who went straight to it without going through the cheaper period may not notice any difference. And those who have used the original Clam plate without the power drive or the new Clam plate Pro (without power drive). What are the pros/cons (besides being more expensive)? Thanks!

I have a clam plate pro - the $135 one and love it. I own my own business so already have high end drills and multiple 9aH batteries. Last weekend i drilled +/- 300 inches of black ice on one battery and at the end of that the battery was still showing 2/3 charged. These were 8 inch holes with a fin bore auger.

Thick is not a problem either. 3 years ago on Abitibi drilled 8 holes in ice that was 38 inches.

Thanks. If you could only buy one, which would you choose between a 6A battery or the Clam plate pro (no drive)?

Yeah I forgot to mention that my Finbore is also 8"

Isn’t there a movable solid handle for your drill that you can hold in your left hand (without a bearing as you say) and drill in right hand.

This is all I use - no extra stuff to haul around. I like minimal gear. I bring the original auger handle just in case a battery ever gets cold and dies or something but haven’t needed it.

Also letting off the down pressure and speeding up the rpm’s a bit just before breaking through may eliminate the stalling thing.

Enough guys fish out there anyway, the ice is like Swiss cheese, take a hatchet and chip out an old hole, save time and weight

With the higher Ah battery you are getting more running time NO extra power.

I use a 9AH battery with a Milwaukee 1250 in/lbs torque. Your drill needs to be at least 750 torque or you will burn the drill out. The 9AH battery ensures you can drill all day, I actually carry a spare with me but have never needed it. I attached it to my auger with a piece of water pipe with a pin. The pipe is one foot and I also made a 2 ft pipe in case I ever have ice 2 ft thick. It interchanges quick.

I will try and search for the thread I made in here a couple of years ago.

James are Xaileu also has great posts on this…..I somewhat went by his setup. Both are good.

Yes it is not cheap but once your done it will last a long time and you can enjoy your experience much better.

When I get a chance I will post a link to it here.

Arnie

I agree with the other posts, you get no more power with a 9ah battery just more holes. It is also good what was mentioned as well that should really go by the number of inches per battery as that makes it more standard. big difference if you get 30 holes in 10" of ice compared to someone saying they get 30 holes in 20" of ice. I have a DeWalt hammer drill with a 5ah battery, I can drill all day with a 6" auger but with the 8" I make sure I have a second battery. I just use the original clam plate, makes drilling a lot easier for me compared to when I just used the handle. I tried to buy the pro one but they were sold out at the time so bought the original and can't see spending more money now.

Thanks. If you could only buy one, which would you choose between a 6A battery or the Clam plate pro (no drive)?

Yeah I forgot to mention that my Finbore is also 8"

Probably the plate.

I use a Dewalt hammer drill on a clam plate with an 8in kdrill auger. Bought the clam plate after one season without it. Very stable , protects the drill , trigger on plate assembly works fine. Kdrill ice auger is pricy but worth the money. Cuts fast and easy on battery.

I heard 100 in/lbs per 1 inch of auger diameter is a good guideline, but correct me if I’m wrong. I don’t have a drill set up but have been looking into it and felt like chiming in haha.

Hi flukes, I think the stalling problem is not battery related. You seem to need a drill with a higher torque like Longfish suggested. I had the same issue with my drill when I first converted from manual to a drill setup. That's the drill I had at the time. Buying a new drill with higher torque solved the problem. Battery AH only affects how long you can use your drill and how many holes you can drill with it. If you do drill a lot all day long then a 6-8Ah battery may be needed. For me 4Ah does the trick. I still take another spare 4Ah battery along just in case i need more juice.

Thanks. If you could only buy one, which would you choose between a 6A battery or the Clam plate pro (no drive)?

Yeah I forgot to mention that my Finbore is also 8"

Probably the plate.

I'd say probably a battery, especially if you have a removable handle on your drill. I initially bought a clam plate, but promptly returned it after I( found that the handle does a pretty good job already. The plate is heavy and cumbersome for me, and an extra weight to carry around, but I use a 6" auger, so I am not sure how easy to use the handle with a 8" auger.

Yes, I can attach that handle for my drill. I wasn't thinking about using it since I had one of these handles already on the adapter but the drill's handle would allow me to control the drill better and I can use my right hand without having the the drill spin to the right away from my right hand (that can be a pain, literally I may give this a try before spending more money. I also try to be as minimalist as I can...it all gets heavier with age.

Thanks all for the input. My hammer drill is 750in/lbs and was told it was just enough (for an 8" but should get one of the high performance batteries of at least 4 A and better 6A). I also always thought the Amp was how long you can use the battery but others kept telling me otherwise so, very good to know I was correct there. Now, whether or not the HP batteries give a bit more power, I don't know, but they are pricey unless I go off-brand and then they looked to be really quite cheap.
If what Icemanjay said was true at 100in/lbs per inch of auger diameter, then I am slightly under powered and maybe that is the problem.

I can also try letting off the downward pressure and letting the auger spin a bit faster to break through the last inch or so.

In the end, even though it may be just a bit faster than hand augering (with the stalls that is), I am less sore...I was hand augering for the last 20 years with no issue and was getting use to the movement so it wasn't that bad (even in 18" of ice if the ice was really nice ice - had to add an extension on year).

So first, I will try with attaching the drill's handle and then think about the plate.

Anyone have experience with Clam's power drive...does that help at all a lower powered drill?

The original plates were missing a spring that would return the on/off lever to the off position and take out alot of the play in the lever so people made mods that added the spring. The new Clam plate (Pro) has that spring now and the cost difference like $5 so even though I can add the spring myself, to by the extra hardware and time, it's just worth buying the new Pro version of the plate.

The photo shows the adapter with the handle...I don't see them being sold anymore....maybe that should tell me something as well

No experience with clams drive but a gear reduction drive should in theory help. It will reduce the rpms and increase the usable torque. Drillings holes would also in theory be slower. Like the creeper gear at 0.25 mph on my tractor.

A good analogy is a block and pulley arrangement. The more pulleys in your block the less the applied force needs to be. Difference is you just have to pull more line/chain at a lower force vs higher force and short pull.