I know this has come up before but just wondering, cost aside, what brand and model is a reliable performer? I’m looking at getting a 10″ and have no idea what to buy! Any info on personal experience would be helpful. Things like 2 cycle vs. the new 4 stroke , h.p. size, weight of unit, cost of replacement blades, just any info would be greatly appreciated, Thanks
I bought a jiffy 3 H.P. from the site it’s the new Stealth STX. i have only drilled 1hole with it and it works awsome! i know guys that have been using the same jiffy for 15 years already, that was the main selling point for me. by the way the three horse will turn the 10″ auger just fine. as far as blades go there is a 3 year sharpening or replacement deal. my auger weighs pretty close to 40 pounds but i can haul it around with one hand no problem 
hope this helps.
Nick
I used the new stealth up on mille lacs back in December… we punched dozens upon dozens of holes and the 2 HP – 8″ blade ripped up the ice. The auger started easily. Don’t know what else to say… it worked great.
I now own a 30 year old Ardisam (made in Chippewa Falls Wi) 10″ (which works just fine, but I don’t know why I need 10″ holes, cept when I fish out of my vex hole). I will be purchasing an 8″ in the near future, and without a doubt, will be the Jiffy stealth STX.
Takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’
My personal preference is the Strike Master Lazer Mag. 10” 2hp. I have been using that auger since they first designed them and have had no problems with it at all. People have questioned the 2 hp. 10” in deep ice. That has never been an issue for me even with an extension on it. Easy on gas, easy start and lighter in weight then the Jiffys I have owned. Is one faster then the other by a few seconds? I don’t know and who cares? I am sure not going to set my watch just to see which one can save me a couple of seconds. There is fishing to be done.
This almost gets to be a Chev vs. Ford topic. While Ford could make a good product you just won’t see me driving one.
Same here as scenic. I own the Strikemaster 2hp Laser 10″ Have had it since ’91. Way lighter than the Jiffy 3hp – that was a factor to me. I had a few different jiffys(freebies) back in the mid nineties when I was guiding – and the strikemaster(that I paid for) saw way more ice time from me. The weight factor vs the speed(jiffy had the old single cutter chipper blade only back then – vs – the laser by strikemaster) made the strikemaster my choice. Just my $.02
Tim
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Things like 2 cycle vs. the new 4 stroke , h.p. size, weight of unit, cost of replacement blades
CopperTop-
If you are set on a ten inch- I think you can rule out the four stroke augers. I am not sure, but strikemasters four stroke only comes in a eight inch auger. Both companies make great augers. I have a bad back, and my strike lite weighing in at 20 lbs is tough to beat. I can drill millions of holes, and never feel tired. It burns way less gas than a two stroke, there is no smoke, and no mixing of gas and oil.
StrikeMaster Lazmag.
Jack.
It burns way less gas than a two stroke, there is no smoke, and no mixing of gas and oil.
I can’t say that i have seen any smoke come out of the jiffy? 
it may weigh close to 40lbs. but when you set it on the ice the weight alone almost pushes it through the ice 
.
Idk, Its a great auger Nick but if I were to buy a power auger I would seriously look into the strikemaster series of augers…Lazer handaugers are amazing, I figure the power version must really cut. strike lites are 20 lbs..I just can’t see myself carrying 40 lbs x-tra around to go fishing. But with a 4 wheeler, or something to haul it with, my opinion might be different.
I would still go with a jiffy, very reliable, i believe it started on the first pull yesterday. if its the weight of the auger that concerns you go with a 2 horse in an 8 in. they are lighter but they are still a jiffy. I agree strike master makes some great augers also, but i was not impressed at all with the hand auger i have, it needs new blades right now and this would be the third set in the last year, i said enough is enough and bought a power auger. Maybe i went with the auger that weighs 40 pounds so you can’t use it, i have no problem carrying around a good american made product after all im a big boy
lol…
I agree that the moras made by strikemaster are not great…but you get what you pay for. I believe they are 30-40 bucks..The lazer can’t be beat imo..again, just my opinions, so no reason to hold grudge on me! 
Jiffy
Jiffy and Strikemaster pretty much use the same engines so thats a wash. So its narrowed down to gear box, blades and auger bit. Heres the reason I made the switch to the Jiffy STX this year.
With the Jiffy blade, you can resharpen and the blade does not get dull easy like the Lazer blades. This is going to save you time and money. If your drilling hole with dull blades on your Lazer, you could possibly bend the auger bit or shaft over time.
Jiffy spins counterclock wise while the Lazer spins clockwise. This means the Jiffy is going to force the ice chips out of the hole while drilling giving the blades more bite.
Both augers cut at about the same speed. So thats a wash as well.
Jiffy gear box uses a low temperature lubricant similar to synthetic. This allows fast drilling in the coldest temperatures.
The Jiffy Stealth has an optional Easy Snap cover. You remove the cover with your boot toe and reattach by simply setting the auger back into the cover. No more rubber straps to break or lose.
Warrany: The Jiffy Stealth has the best iron clad warranty on the market. 1-2-3 One year on the engine, two years on the gear box and three on the blade. The blade is guaranteed not to dull for three years.
I see both of Nick, and Cade’s points..
Nick something to think about though…
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Maybe i went with the auger that weighs 40 pounds so you can’t use it, i have no problem carrying around a good american made product after all im a big boy
Sometime we will get together, and each drill 100 holes..you with your 40 lbs auger, and me with my 20 lbs auger. We’ll see how long it takes us…and then we’ll see how each of us feel after drilling them, and then we’ll see what we feel like in the morning….
I’ll have some advil for you…
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Jiffy spins counterclock wise while the Lazer spins clockwise. This means the Jiffy is going to force the ice chips out of the hole while drilling giving the blades more bite.
Derek – I do not understand this statement at all. My strikemaster spins the opposite of the Jiffy, but the flutes on the shaft are also opposite, so it lifts the chips out as well. What advantage does rotation direction matter?
My 10″ laser mag blades are the original blades – from 1995. They have drilled thousands of holes. The number one thing that keeps them sharp is watching where your drilling. If you drill where somebody parked a truck and sand fell off that truck – they will dull in no time. I have been very lucky, and I know that on a lake like Mille Lacs – it can get very tough to tell where there is sand buried in the ice or not.
It seems as if nowadays, you can’t go wrong with either brand. When my old strikemaster gives up, I will definately buy another.
Tim
Warranty! If you have a problem carrying the weight leave it to someone who can . Im a youngin who can take a beatin and keep going. one thing is for sure though it beat hand drilling holes 
, i don’t get why the stealth STX auger is some much heavier then the old model 31 i thought i saw somewhere that the was 23 pounds which is pretty light for a 3 banger.
Nick
My Strikemaster 224 8″ weighs 24 lbs and is a 2HP auger (which I absolutely love by the way – recommended ) so a 3HP that weighs 23 lbs is dang light.
nevermind, i just checked jiffys website and it is the power head that weighs 23 lbs. 
About 5 years ago I called Jiffy and asked if they had any factory demo models and how much. Well I got a 2hp 9inch auger with teflon coating for $205 shipped to my door in Big Lake (Yes, the same town where StrikeMaster is made).
I thank you guys for all of the informative replies. My auger will not see a ton of use, maybe 5-6 times a year. I’m still up in the air over brand but am leaning towards the Strikemaster lazer mag 10″ Thanks again for your informatve experiences!!!!
Jiffy spins counterclock wise while the Lazer spins clockwise. This means the Jiffy is going to force the ice chips out of the hole while drilling giving the blades more bite.
I don’t understand this statement either please explain
Its the flute design. As Timmy states, Strikemaster flutes spin counter clockwise. I wasnt aware of that..
Coppertop, I have had the same 2hp Strikemaster with a 10″ auger for 15 years now. The only thing I have done is put in a new carb kit (three years ago) and “one” set of blades! I just had a spring brake in the clutch system and I went to strikemaster to get two new springs, well, they gave me the entire clutch kit for free and thanked me for owning their auger!! Now with that service and the “Un-Matched” quality, I think you made the only smart choice!
Well well well…… After talking tough about how my 1991 Strike master lazer mag with the 10″ blade(1995) has never given me problems, I felt like a fool this weekend.
The throttle froze and my friend ran it into some debris in the ice and dulled the blade!!! Many, many years of flawless performance and two issues the same weekend! Serves me right for bragging. As a wise old timer once told me “never brag on your own dog until after the sun is down”. 
Tim
I’m glad I read this post. I just bought Bruce B’s Jiffy auger and dicided that I liked my blade better than his. My blade is a strikemaster, I had no idea that they spun in different directions. After a quick check, I will be putting his blade back on because they spin opposite. His blade is fine, I’m just not a big fan of red.
Does anyone know why they spin different directionns?
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