If you where going to purchase an auger……..

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for me weight would be a game breaker. I’ve been so happy with my 6inch laser and Craftsman drill combo that I only break out the laser mag when I’m tipup fishing.

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I fully agree with Kevin on this point. Since I don’t own an ATV or snowmobile, pulling a sled or shanty on foot with gear stored on top is my modem of travel. To much weight is a major issue. Especially when the snow starts to get deep like it is right now.

Other than weight though, I was impressed with pretty much everything else about the propane powered Jiffy auger. If they manage to bring the weight down by several pounds in future models, I would be willing to take another look at them in the future.

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for me weight would be a game breaker. I’ve been so happy with my 6inch laser and Craftsman drill combo that I only break out the laser mag when I’m tipup fishing.

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Does the 6″ make a differance?

I just tried a mora 8″ blade with a ryobi 18v this weekend with over 2ft of ice and it took 2 batteries and still never broke through it seemed to cut pretty good but it did take the batteries. We used the brother inlaws jiffy the rest of the time so this was just a test for the drill and the $20.00 part to convert.

Ice master

Do you think a smaller blade would help ? thinking about getting a 6″ lazer blade.

I can see it will work with less Ice and the funds aren’t around right now for a power auger.

An 8 inch mora takes a lot more power to turn it than a 6 inch laser. I got through 14 inches of ice 9 times on one battery last weekend and still had plenty left. I use a 19.2 crafstman drill. I have 4 batteries and use the light that came with the hammerdrill all the time in my shack. You have to keep your batteries warm and keep them fully charged. I wait an hour for them to warm up before putting one on a charger. I mainly fish for perch and panfish but this gal made it through a 6 inch hole. You only need bigger if you are going for tank pike or catfish.

Thanks for the info,

It’s sort of what I figured but needed to get some assurance before dropping $80.00 a new 6″ lazer.

Garvi,

I also recommend getting an adapter that fits into the laser and then to the drill. If you don’t have one your auger can come loose from the drill and down the hole it goes. Mine is a hole hawg or something. It has a circle just bigger than the hole so if it comes off I won’t lose it. My laser is on year 3 and still cuts like butter. This isn’t the one I run but something similar or you could build one pretty easy.

auger adapter

Yep got it all ready and linked to it in a previous post (same one you linked to).

I don’t have an atv or sled either, so I pull all my stuff in the base of my nanook when I go out. my dad always had a jiffy growing up, white lightning I believe, so I’ve never used a lighter strikemaster, but I’d rather have one thats a little heavier with metal versus plastic parts from a durability stand point. his jiffy has been around about ten years and is still going strong, and my uncle has my dad’s previous auger, an older model 30, and its still sawing ice as well. just my $0.02

I like both JIffy and Strikemaster. If I was to being buying one now I’s go with the new Jiffy LP. Just because it cuts good and i’ve been fishing in a house lately. Otherwise I do like the new Solo for hole hopping being its lite and cuts like fire. The grandfather in law’s jiffy model 30 is great and has weight behind it and cuts like butter too. Its older than sin and still running like a top. I love that thing.

If price and availability weren’t an issue, I’d get a Husquvarna

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If price and availability weren’t an issue, I’d get a Husquvarna

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I know they make great chain saws but had no idea they made an ice auger.

Where do you get tour hands on one of those ?

I purchased a Strikemaster Solo, and I love the power and performance of this auger. It purrs like a cat, and cuts like a hot knife through butter. One essential thing that I think everyone should have as an auger case. I purchased a thick nylon fabric/plastic lined Strikemaster case when I got my auger and it protects it in the back of the truck, in the tent or sled while snowmobiling across a lake or in the bush getting there.

I am almost going on a year of use and countless holes, and when I buy something it gets used hard. This auger has been flawless so far.

Chris K

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Husquvarna . . .
Where do you get our hands on one of those ?

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O H . . . C A N A D [censored]

Wow, the censoring software has a grudge against our peaceful neighbors to the North ?

CANADA

C A N A D A

Nope.

I got my Strikemaster today and had a hard time putting it down….

Kinda wish I was fishing tomorrow.

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I got my Strikemaster today and had a hard time putting it down….

Kinda wish I was fishing tomorrow.

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Which one did you get, Tom?

2.5hp Lazer Mag. Bought the very last one Cabelas had. Cuts ice like buttah!! Sounds cool doing it too!!

My neighbor just bought that same one from Vados yesterday. Looking forward to getting it out on the ice and checking it out.

I went on a 1 mile hike through the knee high snow yesterday with all my gear piled on top of the frabil shantie/sled.
Today, my left ankle and both hips are still a bit sore from the hike back, which finished with an uphill climb in order to get back to the truck. Total number of fish = zero.

One thing I know for sure though is this: No one is going to convince me that weight doesn’t matter!

On another note, anyone know how much less the solo weigh’s compared to the Lazer Mag?

Congrats on putting in the effort to fish places like that. No doubt a few pounds makes a huge difference. We fish a refuge in SD that is walk in only. About kills ya on the way out.

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I went on a 1 mile hike through the knee high snow yesterday with all my gear piled on top of the frabil shantie/sled.
Today, my left ankle and both hips are still a bit sore from the hike back, which finished with an uphill climb in order to get back to the truck. Total number of fish = zero.

One thing I know for sure though is this: No one is going to convince me that weight doesn’t matter!

On another note, anyone know how much less the solo weigh’s compared to the Lazer Mag?

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Seems to be a 2 to 3 pound difference across the board in their lineup. Depends mostly on the auger size I think.
http://www.strikemaster.com/power.html

I may be looking into a lighter model next year. Its fun to go on those adventures but it also gets a little harder each year. The gear going along on future trips is going to be closely evaluated prior to my next hike. If it isn’t absolutely needed, its not going along.

Is anyone concerned with all the plastic parts on a strikemastet? Kinda worries me, just seems like ur gonna have to be extra careful with them not being bumped or something ! Or maybe not.

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Is anyone concerned with all the plastic parts on a strikemastet? Kinda worries me, just seems like ur gonna have to be extra careful with them not being bumped or something ! Or maybe not.

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No issues here. My solo has been at the bottom of an Otter tub that has covered 465 lake, portage and trail miles so far this winter (I just checked the snowmobile odometer friday) and it runs and looks like new. I don’t do anything special to care or protect it so I’m not sure one needs to be “extra careful” in any way.

Drilling with the new lazor mag today was to say the least was a lot of fun. Got going on the 1st hole and just kept going. Started to get some funny looks as the ice next to the truck was starting to look like swiss cheese. Its going to be nice having 2 augers on our trips again. 2 guys on quality drills makes easy work of a area.

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Is anyone concerned with all the plastic parts on a strikemastet? Kinda worries me, just seems like ur gonna have to be extra careful with them not being bumped or something ! Or maybe not.

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I’ve been dragging mine all over the place for three years now with no problems. It gets strap to the side of the truck bed with a bungy cord on trips to and from the lake and so far, so good.

Joel,

my auger setup weighs about 8lbs. I might be chasing perch on Saturday if you want to give it whirl. The Madison chain is all walking or ATV with flotation. I’m too cheap to have an ATV for 2 months usage. I do all kinds of things to make my load as light as possible. I haul minnows in a thermos and fill up bucket when I get there. The real nice thing about the drill I use is you can sneak your batteries into your friends sled when they are not looking. Try sneaking your power head into your buddies sled once. I do have a laser mag and have been happy with it. I did have to replace the whole gas tank when the plastic choke lever broke but it was my fault it broke. The thing I really like about the drill is no pull cord. I have a pull start boat and the winter off from hauling on a cord has done my rotator cuff a world of good. My drill is never cold blooded and I usually have all my holes driven before my buddies have their augers started.

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I got my Strikemaster today and had a hard time putting it down….

Kinda wish I was fishing tomorrow.

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TOW~MAS !!!

I love that auger !!!

So much I went out and bought one myself !!!

2.5 Lazer Mag Solo

What’s the price difference between the 2.5 & 3 hp solo’s? Wouldn’t you want the 3hp any-ways for the extra power ratio!