Strikemaster Strike Lite Composite auger

I am thinking about purchasing the Strike-Lite auger with the composite blades. Has anybody used this type of auger? What are the pros and cons?

Thank you,
Mike

I have/had one of those. It actually works really great and love the one or two pull starts in any weather. I literally have drilled hundreds, close a thousand holes with it. The composite auger is very light. The only issue I had was that in temperatures around 10 degrees and below, the ice wants to build up on the cutting surfaces. I tried the vegetable oil route but that did not seem to work well. I just had to become consistant about making sure to clean the blades before letting sit for too long. After about 2 years I changed to the Lazer auger section and that works really well also with the motor head, just a little heavier.

Agreed, The ice does build up. I know I shouldn’t but I just give it a couple good wacks on he ground and it comes off. I love mine, starts 1st pull and I have never had an issue. Cuts like butter.

Wish I would have known this last weekend. You could have used mine to try it out.

If your drilling really thick ice and in a hurry, the 4 stroke is slower than a Solo. Side by side with other augers drilling one hole there isn’t much noticeable difference, it’s when your drilling 20-30 holes in thick ice.

For drilling in a fish house they are the cats meow. No smoke and little noise.

I’ve had trouble the first time out with snow freezing to the blades, after that I was more careful and made Jesse put it in the case when he finished drilling my holes.

I’m keeping my premix free auger.

I have been running this drill for three years. I hit the ice every weekend and drill a ton of holes. I have not had the ice-up problem. When it is really cold, I keep the drill spinning at full throttle on the way back up the the hole. I also letter her rip for a few rotations once out of the hole. This sends the water flying off the blades and prevents ice-up.

The four stroke is also awesome for the wheelhouse. I have a 10″ drill for that purpose and I don’t get smoked out of the house.

Mike,

I still run my composite bit.. Even on my solo.. Works great.. But, a few tips for use:

Make sure to clear the slush a few times as you are cutting through deep ice. Go down a quarter of the way and lift up and continue to cut, do the same half way down, and three quarters of the way through. This will eliminate you ever getting hung up in the ice with that bit.

For ice-up, when walking hole to hole, spin the auger bit by pressing the gas to fling off any water from the bit and blades. If you do get ice up, I kick the round part of the bit, just up from the blades with my boot as I am walking, usually will get all the ice off. Also, do spray some Pam or similar cooking spray onto the bit (as I do with any bit) throughout the season.

Good luck.

I love mine as well. In fear of breaking the blade I use my steal one in think ice, but as long as you clean it ou tenough as you drill there will be no problem.

Do they still make the Composite auger? I thought they changed it to the Strike Lite 2 and went to the steel Lazer auger? Anyways I’ve had my Strike Lite for a few years and love it. Still on the composite shaft and never had a problem with it. I spray it down with silicone spray every few trips and that helps keep it from icing up and rusting on the blades. I love not having to worry about mixing the gas. And this thing sips gas, nothing like the guzzling of my old 3hp 10″ Lazer. I always had to carry a gas can with before, now I run on one tank for most of the season and just top it off near the end when it gets around 1/4 tank.

As far as I know they don’t offer it any more. If you have a composite auger that broke they will replace it with the updated metal one. The metal one does not ice up like the composite. It is a much better setup. I love mine

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If you have a composite auger that broke they will replace it with the updated metal one.

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Not sur ehow to ask this one…. How did you come about knowing that? DId they post something? Recall?

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If you have a composite auger that broke they will replace it with the updated metal one.

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Not sur ehow to ask this one…. How did you come about knowing that? DId they post something? Recall?

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Quite a few people on a couple forums have gotten the replacement, including one of my buddies who bought his shortly before I bought mine. Strikemaster has admitted their mistake and from what I have heard are willing to replace it if yours breaks. I don’t believe they will replace it just because though.

I wonder what they will do if their newly designed composite hand auger takes off. Will they then come out with a Strike Lite 3 with the even more improved composite auger?

Thanks. When they break how do they break. I only use mine in think ice because they can get stuck with a thicker ice pak. Is this why some people but on Spray? To keep ice from sticking and th eauger breaking?

Usually the plastic flighting breaks. I’ve used mine in ice up to the power head (??~36 inches??) and never had a problem. Just need to pull the auger out of the hole and clear the chips every 6-8 inches, but you should do that with all augers. I spray mine to prevent ice from forming on it that causes hard cutting.

Most of the breakages occur when the temp is well below zero when plastic is brittle. I heard the first batch of augers were of a wrong plastic composition and was way too brittle when the temps got low, but most of those should have been replaced by now.

My flighting broke in warm temps at 37F. The ice chips was basically slush and I really couldn’t clear the hole in thick ice. So when I punched through, I had to lift it through all that weight and next thing I knew a peice of the flighting from the top broke off.