First Auger?

I am torn between 2 augers! I just started ice fishing and man I’m loving this sport! I can’t decide between a Strike Master electric auger or a Jiffy Propane auger! Please help! Thanks!

No help here… I have a GAS ESKIMO !!!!

Have owned two jiffy propanes, one gas jiffy and one gas strikemaster. Bought strikemaster lithium lazer and thought the 8″ bit was really slow. Bought 7″ bit and couldn’t believe the difference. Auger is under a recall but I have had no issues and love it. Propane I had issues with hard starting in cold and stalling out and idling issues that I have been unable to resolve with adjustments. I know people that have had no issues with theirs.

A combustion auger will be more versatile if you only own one auger. Electrics still have their limitations.

For a electric auger or gas auger, have you look into a electric drill. For the money you spend on a electric auger you can buy an awful good drill with a 6 inch auger then you can be more mobile if you are a bucket sitting. The key is a good high-end drill with a high torque. Then you can always use the drill as a drill when you need one. Good luck on your decision.

I have the Jiffy Pro4 lite and it’s not working out as good as I thought..just got it in January and just got it back from service and it still seems to run like a POS!!! Wouldn’t recommend it!

I was a die hard Jiffy guy. Used the Jiffy pro 4 for a little over a year and the thing was a beast. Started great, ran great cut ok but he weight was unbearable. Went with the SM Honda lite, 10″ and just love it so far. Cuts great, starts great and reopens holes like a champ. I rent houses and it has got some use the first year with no issues.

For what it’s worth, I’ve run an eight inch Nils convertible under a Milwaukee Fuel 18 drill for two years now and will never go back to gas. So much lighter and no fumes, plus I have a great drill for my do it yourself projects. One 4 amp battery will drill all the holes I want in all but 30+ inches of ice. Then I carry two batteries. While this setup might not please everyone, it has worked well for me.

Get a Tanaka head and put a Lazer auger on the biting end. You will never look back. I have had mine for two seasons with a 6″ lazer. Anyone can say how wonderful there augers are but it they ever handle one of these they will change their mind. Under 20# and super fast. I don’t know if anyone has a Nills mounted on one and how that would compare for speed?

If I ever buy another auger it will be a tanaka head with the Nils blade…you never hear anything bad about them and they also have a 7 year warranty..

i have a eskimo m43 love it if i were to buy another i would buy it again, but i do like the honda strikemaster auger by far the most, if you have looked on craigslist there are a lot of jiffy propane augers for sale and really not that old, the propane bottles are known to ice up just as any propane tank does, imo then it seems that you do not get the full use out of a iced over tank, as for electric i would do the drill adaptor plate by clam(i am not a fan of clam but)i have a buddy that has one set-up with an 8 inch bit and he loves it especually now with the ion drills out there.

joe_the_fisher wrote:

If I ever buy another auger it will be a tanaka head with the Nils blade…you never hear anything bad about them and they also have a 7 year warranty..

+1

I still don’t have my Jiffy Pro4 Lite back from the shop, but Jiffy apparently argued with the mechanic about it claiming the problem is not the carb, but the ignition coil. Doesn’t make sense to me, because it always started fine, it just runs like trash. I’m starting to think this mechanic is full of **** though.

I agree with Joe stay away from the Pro 4 Lite, they’re garbage. I might change my mind if they get mine running tip top next season, but if it isn’t Jiffy CS isn’t gonna like me.

Tanaka Power head and then add the auger of your choice.

Thanks for all the replies, after this im leaning towards a combustion auger, only thing that worries me is maintenance, gas, oil, spark plugs, etc. and lastly the fumes. Oh man i hate the smell of the fumes after you drill inside your ice house. I heard Jiffy isn't that reliable and the electric augers dont offer as much torque and speed. Im leaning towards a Strikemaster, dont know which one or 2 stroke or 4 stroke but leaning towards them, any extra details you can let me know would be greatly appreciated, Warranty, Customer service, reliability etc. Thank you all! Stay safe out there!

If you choose a 2-stroke, the best advice I can give you is use Pre-Mix gas such as the Husqvarna or TRUFUEL. After having some carb issues with my Strikemaster a few seasons in a row, my small engine repair shop recommended switching to pre-mix. Each year I follow thru with proper storage and maintenance during the off season and still had problems. Switched to pre-mix and have not had any issues since. You will no doubt pay more than mixing it yourself but well worth it.

Husqvarna
http://www.husqvarna.com/us/accessories/lubricants-fuels/2-stroke-pre-mixed-fuel-oil/

TURFUEL
http://www.trufuel50.com/product-info/

Here is an earlier thread
http://www.in-depthoutdoors.com/community/forums/topic/trufuel/

After fumbling around with a used gas auger, then an Ice Gator, I finally bought a Tanaka. It is quiet, powerful, fast, and dependable. I use no alcohol premium gas and Amsoil mixed about 80 to 1, no smoke, no noticeable smell outside. If you put a Nils auger under it you can use it as a hand auger for early ice then attach it to the Tanaka as the conditions warrant.

Ive owned 2 augers in my life, an eskimo barracuda for 15 years never did a thing to it and it started second pull the day I sold it…Only reason I sold it I found an Eskimo shark 51cc for $225 has run flawlessly for 3 seasons in extreme cold…My buddy had a jiffy propane, first time he used it was on Red Lake last winter…It wouldn’t start ended up using mine haha

I finally wore out my old OLD 6″ Jiffy lite last year after 12 years. I decided to make a change to the REGULAR Strikemaster electric this year. Since this one has an 8″ bit compared to my old 6″ I don’t think I lost much weight in the exchange. Since it uses the same battery as my VEX, I just decided to purchase another battery so I can rotate my batteries is one goes dead while I am out fishing. The Strikemaster book says this auger can drill 24 holes through 24″ of ice on one charge. I NEVER got that many holes cut this year on one charge. I still really like the auger since I carry it 24/7 all winter long in my vehicle and I don’t worry anymore about gas etc. I am mostly a mobile fisherman, but I do have a permanate on a friends pond and now I don’t have to wait for the fumes to leave before I go in and fish. I don’t think I would go back to another auger.

I’ve been pleased with my Eskimo Shark.

I had a eskimo shark, easy to start for sure (father-in-law now has it) tried a strikemaster, we just didn’t get along so I sold that and ended up with a ION which I love. You should find some great deals out there at this time of year.