Top Three Augers..

[Northlander]

Gas Augers

Nils

Strikemaster

Jiffy

Electric/Battery Augers

Ice Gator

[CatchPhotoFilet]

Eskimo

[McGurk]

Rating your top 3 augers really isn't much of a question when you consider there realistically only 3 options out there, unless you mail order. That's like asking what your top 5 trucks brands are, or what are your 25 favorite NFL Football teams. We need more specifics, guys.

Only used Strikemaster, so I would say a Strikemaster Lasermag 8", then a SM Lasermag 10", and then a SM Mag2000 for just for re-opening holes. I'm very satisfied with my SM LM-8, now that it is fixed and tweaked to run like a bas'tid. But what do I know? I've only ever used a Jiffy twice, and of those one of them never did start. I've never owned, let alone used, a SM StrikeLite, Eskimo, Nils, Kluge, or a Husqvarna, so I can't talk about them, and therefore my opinion isn't all that valid.

On a side note; who are building the engines on the new Jiffys? I see they are "designed" in Wisconsin, but no mention is made of who they are and where they are built. SM seems to be touting their new german-made Solos, but Jiffy has been pretty hush hush.

[CJH]

I agree with McGurk. You have three main options, and then some niche players.

It really depends on what you want to do, how you use it, and your budget........

[Valleye]

I had a SM Lasermag 8" When the engine was running well and tweaked by my buddy it performed well. Aside from learning the idosyncracies in getting to start it has performed for me well. But alas I am going electric. I am awaiting my Icegator powerhead and will have a 6" Lazer and Nils 4.5" bits coupled to the Gator. I was amazed at the quickness of the Gator. No need to pull start and wait for the engine to warm up. Haven't used her yet but i am sure I will be satisfied. I think whatever you buy as long as you maintain it, use the proper gas/oil mixture, and prepare her for storage you will be happy with any gas auger.

If you happen to see someone with an Ice gator on the ice ask them if you can try her out. You might like what you see.

Good Luck

[FISHINGURU]

nils guys-

I have been looking at getting one and I got a few questions on them.

How do they do gutting old holes?

Are they smoky?

easy to handel?

Thanks

i use my nils to recut old holes in my ice house all season last year and it worked great..i wondered the same thing before i bought it.

they aren't smokey at all if you use amsoil 100:1

it doesn't get any easier then the handling from the nils...its so simple to drill a hole with one.

[Ed Carlson]

My friend purchase a 8" Husqvarna about 4 years ago from a dealer in MT who had one left in his store. This is the one of nicest auger that I have ever used; starts well, very light, and cuts fast. Did Husqvarna start selling these in the USA again?

You can order them from local dealers of HQ saws and industrial equipment...just ask them...not sure why they do not stock them in most HQ stores...but they will order them in. Far cheaper here in the USA than in Canada too...far cheaper.

I have used one up North too...SWEET auger. I may replace my 3 HP Jiffy 35 pound beast with one this season...13 pounds sounds preaty darn nice to me (get'n old Eh) and they cut very well.

[Surface Tension]

If it starts and has a decent blade any auger is better then no auger.

I own.

SM Mag III 8" chipper blade. Owned it since new.

Jiffy Model 30 10" chipper blade.

Nils Master 8"

All are in perfect working order. The Jiffy and SM have had their non working times but because of maintenance they are still running.

The Nils has been the most dependable and very little if any quirks to start in all temperatures.

The Nils is the one that comes along fishing with me.

Reasons why, lighter, drills with very little effort meaning no down pressure and very little side torque.

If your only drilling a couple holes then the speed, lightweight, and torque on the operator is not that important. Really there is no reason to up grade if your not drilling many holes. If your buying new then it is something to consider.

In addition to the augers I own I have tried just about all of them except a Solo.

I've re-opened many old holes with the SM 8" chipper. Depending on how much the hole was frozen up determined how you went about drilling it out. More times then not you had watch how much you let the auger feed into the hole. Binding and some wobble was normal.

About drilling old holes with a Nils. I had a perm out last winter and used my Nils to re-open the holes all winter long.

Same thing as the chipper blade, you have to watch the feed or it would bind and wobble.

I volunteer to drill holes for an organization that conducts a fishing contest. They use brand new Eskimo augers for the drill team then raffle them off at the end. IMO they cut like crazy but have a huge amount of torque on the operator. After the 20th hole you'll feel it. The next 75 holes is torture.

Its not often if ever that you'll drill 100 holes but many times I'll drill 20 holes in one spot. I might move to another spot and drill another 20 holes. The Nils shines there.