Amazon's Scotch Eyed Auger. Is It Worth It? (Bushcraft Reviews Ep 5)

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In the past months, posts about Scotch Eyed Augers (aka Settlers Wrench) bought on Amazon have been popping up all over the Bushcraft forums and Facebook pages, but are these cheap versions actually any good? In this video I put one to the test by making a rocket stove to truly see how effective these popular tools are.

[@birchwoodbushcraft]

Thank you very much for all the advice in the comments. I would just like to clarify that I was trying to use the tool exactly how it was advertised by Amazon as I was reviewing Amazon's version and not the more durable and professional augers available out there. The descriptions on Amazon say that you can use the the eye to create the perfect diameter T handle to any length you want. However the quality and sharpness of the steel only allowed to go so far in before becoming stuck and therefore produced a smaller handle. I very much intend to make a longer handle next time I use it and I would have done in the first place if I did not want to fully test Amazon's claims. All the best 👍👍

[@stevequinn7557]

Your technique creates unnecessary work. Place auger , then give two turns, back it off two turns repeat. That will half your energy cost. AND USE A LONGER STICK!

[@noimnotarobotcanubeleiveit7024]

I think the problem with the cheap auger is the lead screw. The eye is also not chunky or hardened. The whole thing needs sharpening each use

[@denysmcnair302]

I bought one of these recently and made a rocket stove from a similar size seasoned log. It only took me a few minutes to drill 2 holes. Use a pice of wood as a mallet and drive the tapered Scotch eye into the wood. Then tap the Auger onto the centre of the hole made by the Scotch eye. Use a piece of wood that long enough and thick enough to slip through the Scotch Eye and with 2 hands turn the Auger clockwise til it starts to feel difficult to turn. Turn the Auger anti-clockeuse half a turn and pull it out of the wood. Remove wood from hole and Auger and repeat till you've reached your desired depth. Repeat this method to create a hole at right angle to the base of the vertical hole that you cut. When inserting tinder be sure not to restrict airflow by blocking the side or top hole. Feed the fire with v small twigs. This wee rocket stove needs very little fuel to keep it going as the log itself provides some of the fuel. It doesn't take long for to boil water in an enamel camping mug provided you allow good air flow by sitting the mug on a couple of sticks. Once you've enjoyed your mug of coffee the burning log makes it easy to start the campfire. I love this bushcraft tool. It has so many practical uses, and it's not a heavy item in a back pack.

[@williamfrost873]

You are such an inspiration to me, when I grow up and get facial hair I want to be just like you. I count the days to your next video.

[@monkeymanwasd1239]

you were using a really really small stick! you had no leverage

[@birchwoodbushcraft]

That's what I want to try next time to see how much of a difference it makes but I think the cheap steel that amazon use is a big factor too.

[@monkeymanwasd1239]

@@birchwoodbushcraft I can see how that would be a problem it might be interesting to bring a little Pelton wheel to do the work for you on a lot of different projects

[@VENOMDIGIACOMO]

@@birchwoodbushcraft the stick makes all the difference, i think i have the same Amazon one and it works great

[@hypo345]

Fundamental problem is the design of that auger is for a power drill, the style with a single flute and cutting edge will be better as was used in a brace. When I first started work I often had to drill lock mortises with a brace and bit.

[@VENOMDIGIACOMO]

Getting the eye stuck on the peg seems to be the main problem but if when making the peg u pre cut a ring with a saw then u never have to tap the eye more than half way down so it doesn't get stuck. It will start the split and u can then use the eye as a chisel to crack off the outer chips

[@heatherthunderhawk485]

Thank You for the honest review :)) Fun to see how things really work and how long it really takes.

[@Mike-ql4sz]

U need a longer handle obviously!

[@willcool713]

Yeah, definitely on the longer stick, as from other comments. Came here to say that, too. And a longer auger is nice for compact rocket stoves. My 8", 1¾" settler's wrench is a beast, but I can keep it sharp, and it does fine with a longer stick and slow smooth turning. Remember, the stove needs to be J-shaped. So drill down for the vent feed, and it helps to have the vertical tube go below the place where the holes meet. You will need to feed it mostly small sticks and twigs, the length of your fingers, but thin enough to fit many into the hole you drilled. So get a big pile. The perennial issue is holding the log when you auger into end grain. So, it's easier if you use a stick that you can slide through the handle pretty easily, and a wedge length from a much larger log, rather than a full round. The triangular base is a bit more stable and easier to hold with your feet. But the whole point of the Scotch Eye is for fast joinery, for making three legged tables and stools and such, for rough work. Using a half round split from a good log section, or a wide round cut with a bucksaw, you can cut the pieces and put in three canted legs in as little as a half hour. Again, it's easier to use the right sized wedge split from a larger log to make the legs, because you only need to shave off the points of the triangle, and only for as deep as you drilled the joint. And three legs ensures that it's stable, regardless if you get it perfectly level. It all seems to work best with greenwood, as camp craft, rather than with lumber or dried firewood, for permanent use. Though the green joinery will last a good long time, often long past the wood drying out.

[@kimnielsenthewordyvikingett159]

One more thing you might be interested in my video titled (detachable auger settlers wrench completed)!!!!

[@trinityparore4721]

next time, try a longer stick through the eye to create more leverage

[@dalevodden1359]

When was the last time your auger was shaped keep it sharp and it will work better

[@gordaro2828]

Best used on soft woods...cheers 🤘

[@rattleshakti]

Very entertaining! TopTip. Watch a few videos first on how to use one properly! Never mind I'm sure you'll agree it's a good way to lose a few pounds. Great to see folk's having some good fun in the woods!

[@birchwoodbushcraft]

Thank you very much for your advice. Like I clarified before I was trying to use the tool exactly how it was advertised by Amazon as I was reviewing Amazon's version and not the more durable and professional augers available out there. The descriptions on Amazon say that you can use the the eye to create the perfect diameter T handle to any length you want. However the quality and sharpness of the steel only allowed to go so far in before becoming stuck and therefore produced a smaller handle. I very much intend to make a longer handle next time I use it and I would have done in the first place if I did not want to fully test Amazon's claims. It is great to get out in the woods and we love it every time we go out. All the best 👍👍

[@mortsdans]

I tried making a log rocket stove today. i even cheated and used a drill. It just didn't work very well and kept going out. Glad i didn't waste time doing it manually i guess. Maybe with a 1.5 or 2 inch diameter hole it would be better. 1 inch seems too small to allow enough air in. Seems like more of a party trick than a legit technique

[@NicholasBrule]

I read the tool works best on fresh green wood.

[@dalecarpenter8828]

Try a longer handle ? Leverage?

[@TheBostonLou]

Practice makes perfect ..Lots of other factor's as well as the type of tree and the width of the log .. I prefer to use one ( LOG SIZE ) for a rocket stove that i could not hold in one hand ... Wider is better and easier to drill over all ... Also Longer auger is much easier to use rather than these shorter ones that every one is selling these days. We all start at the beginning and there is a learning curve for all manual tools .

[@Roddheel-ih5ki]

Nobody tells you how hard it it to get the auger off the stick once you bang the peg end down 😮

[@krisvq]

There's a concept called torque and a concept called leverage ;) Maybe a cheap, blunt auger too...

[@user-ts1fp4nm9y]

Try making a longer handle?!! More leverage???

[@drcmcico]

Why didn’t you get a longer stick?

[@paulmarren7970]

longer stick various sizes of augers and an imagination

[@gencrow9840]

the longer the handle the more simple it will be the small handle makes you work to hard

[@trevethan82319841]

I order one of these so I can make a t-handle for my wash plunger and if I ne some unexpected tinder from a tree

[@angeurbain6129]

Maybe with a less large version of it it would have been easier for you to drill a hole. And as for making a fire out of it i think that you just did not have the right technique. Otherwise your videao was interesting.

[@perrywmoore9346]

I feel like you could have pulled the fire through faster if you sucked the top end like a pipe.

[@noimnotarobotcanubeleiveit7024]

Weed makes good kindling with all the resin. 😂 but after a few tokes you forget about the fire

[@escapetherace1943]

batoning 30 seconds in aannnnd clicked off the video, lmao

[@birchwoodbushcraft]

This particular auger has one side of the eye sharpened so that it can used to baton pegs and joints which are the exact same size as the hole it drills. Which makes making stools, tables, etc easier.

[@stonemanbytes]

You must not be too familiar with how this tool works.

[@escapetherace1943]

@@stonemanbytes I know exactly how the tool works, the shot looks like he's doing it with a knife look at 1:00 and tell me he knows how it works, thanks

[@birchwoodbushcraft]

Nope, definitely not using a knife in that clip just the auger.

[@karlburmeister1552]

Ya, that was painful to watch.

[@ronjesse4511]

This is painful to watch moving on

[@kimnielsenthewordyvikingett159]

I got to 3:16 and had to stop!!! You made yourself work so much harder than you had to!!!! Extremely painful to watch I'm hoping you'll learn to use your intelligence in a bit wiser and thoughtful way only remove material from the outside when sharpening your tenon cutter (the eye 👁️ in the scotch eyed auger) settlers wrench!!! If you sharpen it by removing material from the inside your creating a cone which will most certainly get extremely tighter and tighter as you hammer it further down on the material your using for your tenon's!!! If you'll listen to me you'll be able to twist it right off breaking the excess material off the outside making it easier to remove with your fingers!!!! Make one long enough to insert all the way through the eye so you can use it as a T handle to drive your auger with ease!!! But I wish you all the luck in the entire world on your next outing!!! Good 👍 luck 🤞 to you young man!!!!

[@Neomax25]

This really is NOT what this tool is for. A rocket stove with a 1" diameter hole, really? The eye is the same diameter as the auger because it is used to make pegs that fit in the hole you drill. It's for making furniture, ladders, chairs, tables 🤣🤣🤣 literally a waste of 9:12 of my life. And let's be fair, if your gonna use a lighter, why didn't you bring a drill, or better yet, send the scotch eye to make a video of the tool using it 🤣🤣🤣

[@simoncrewe5625]

The wooden bit u use to putvthrough auger (the handle) is way to short m8