Jiffy vs Strikemaster

[Joe15]

Okay we just bought a house and are relatively new to ice fishing. We are looking at augers and have decided on either a strikemaster or jiffy. What are some pros and cons to these brands?

[sparkydm]

Do a search or go back a page or two or three. This has been discussed within the last few days. I vote Jiffy. Never had anything but a Jiffy. Have had only one Jiffy. Have never needed customer service.

[793bob]

i would go with the strikemaster ,the engine is made in germany and the shaft in sweden.the new jiffy engines are made in china,strikemasters customer service is great.

[Dooley87]

I think they both have advantages and disadvantages but I myself run a strikemaster lazermag with the 8" auger, I like it cause it is lightwieght, starts great and seems to be very fuel effiecent, One big plus to strikemaster is they are located in big lake,mn so if you ever need a part or any help they are right there and I have heard stories from others that a lot of the time if you need a part they will just give you the replacement one no charge if yours broke, plus I love the double blades of the lazermag, I think jiffys all still just have the chipper blades (don't quote me) and im not a fan of the single chipper blades. Plus in my experience jiffys are just big and bulky and weigh a lot but I know a lot of people who love em so just thought i'd throw in my two cents. good luck finding a good auger

[Bigslugger]

I was a die hard Jiffy man until this year. The Chinese motors on there do not impress me at all. Older models are champions on the ice, but yet heavy and loud. I am now going to switch to Strikemaster soon based on their new models

[gopher_nation]

either one will do the trick, get whichever looks the best.

[Bran32]

I have a Strikemaster and I love it! Only way to go in my opinion!

[Dooley87]

I think that is a little harsh there Gopher, everyone can have an opinion but don't just say things that aren't true, I have had my lazermag for 2 years now and although I didn't fish a ton the last two seasons I did drill my fair share of holes and the blades are still lazer sharp, the only auger strikemaster offers with an auger bit that isn't steel is the strike lite and that is to shave on weight, all others are steel and it isn't plastic, it is a special type of composite material but its not plastic. I applaud strikemaster for being the first auger company to run a four stroke engine and try and shave all the weight down they can to ease the hole drilling prosess, Jiffys all seem to still be the heavy bulky augers they have always been. The thing I have noticed is Jiffy fans are people who grew up on jiffys and they are used to the heavy augers, well Im a fan of a company who is keeping the ice angler in mind by trying to keep the weight down on their augers, even there lazermags are surprizingly lite compared to a jiffy, and strikemaster engines aren't made in china like the new jiffys. Plus everybody I have ever known who has owned a strikemaster is either still drilling with it or has traded it in at strikemaster for a newer model, can you do that with a Jiffy? or just run to the manufacturer if you break a handle and have them just give you a free one?

[jjohnson5150]

I was in a similar situation. Yesterday I finally pulled the trigger on a Strikemaster Magnum 8" w/chipper blade. GM had them for 349, but if you mention Dick's advertised price of 309 they will match. So, I got mine for 309. I also use a Jiffy ice drill & really like how it cuts. It does get old lugging that weight while hole hopping though. I can't wait to use the magnum to see how it performs. Except for a few very loyal opinions, most everyone I've talked to about this says you can't go wrong with either.

[joneshat11]

My advise is to spend the extra money and get the blade style auger like a strikemaster and nils. Stay away from the chipper style as they are slower to cut and take longer to cut a hole. By the end of the day you will be able to cut more holes and stay more mobile with the blade style.

Now if you are just cutting a few holes in your permanent house then I would say spend the least amount and get a chipper. But then if I was going to do that then I would buy an electric auger!!

[otis]

This is a Ford vs. Chevy question. Each one has there plusses and minusess. You have to pick one up and get the one that feels the best for you. You can find 100 ppl who have had nothing but trouble with either one, and you will find hundreds more who never have any issues. I use a Jiffy and always will. Like I said, go to the store and grab one. The one the "feels" right, probably will be the right one for you.

[63ihharvester4x4]

its more of a personal preference, but i like Jiffy always a good and reliable auger

[H2O Milfoil]

We may start to see some differences with the new models. Since Tecumseh stopped making small gas engines, Jiffy has engineered their own engines and SM is now using a German engine. Anybody got first hand experience with either?

[Twins 57 Fan]

I have had a Strikemaster mag2000 for 13 years. This year was the first time I changed the spark plug on it. I have never had an issue starting it. Started in 3 pulls yesterday.

Only thing I have had to do to it is change the blade from time to time.

PS. I dont recommend not changing the plug every thirteen years. Just my own stupidity. Hey, if it ain't broke...

[DRH1175]

I have a Jiffy model 30. This thing will last forever. With that said I am thinking of selling it cause I really want the lightest auger I can find. The new Jiffys still are heavier than the Strikemasters. I looked at the nils. But you can find parts for the strikemasters everywhere! So Strike Light or Solo is the question?

[Woodsman]

Ive usee a strikemaster mag2000 for 10+ years and have never had any problems. I think both are top brands, and a brand new auger should work great from either brand.

[DoubleLunger]

STRIKEMASTER HANDS DOWN!!

[Steve Foss]

Okay we just bought a house and are relatively new to ice fishing. We are looking at augers and have decided on either a strikemaster or jiffy. What are some pros and cons to these brands?

If you're re-opening holes in a fish house, look into an IceGator. No fumes, no leaks, no exhaust splatter against the walls of the fish house. I've cut with them, and they are the future (and even the present).

[RonWBasser]

I bought a new Strikemaster Mag2000 last year and was quite impressed compared to my 10 year old eskimo.

Then I upgraded to a Lazer 224 bottom for it, all I can say is WOW! If you think a mag2000 is fast, try the 224.

[JeffB]

My last Jiffy was goin strong yet at 35 yrs old, but I gave it to a hired man and got a new one. I went with the jiffy since I had such good luck with the last one, but I'm sure you will hear similar stories for other brands. I wish everyone out there a strong running auger no matter what the brand, nothing messes up a trip to the ice like a bad auger or heater.

[Amature Hour]

The differance between a jiffy and a strike master is the blade styles, the power head, and weight. But if one were to look at the gear ratios on both of them they are the same (40:1). That came from there web sites. So to me if you buy one u basically buy the other. The cutting power is the same for both. When you go to the store to pick one out, your just basically picking which one of these brands colors you like best.

Eskimo is the only major brand, found in stores, that has a differant gear ratio (25:1) which means it spins faster and should have more power equals faster drilling of brand new ice and better re-opening of old holes so my opinion if you dont like the colors of jiffy and strike master, pick the red drilling machine Eskimo.

[IcePro]

Amature Hour.....

The gear ratios on the Jiffy augers are 12:1 on their 2500 series and 15:1 on their 3500 series.

[RonWBasser]

All I can add is my strikemaster spins way faster the my eskimo did. Also cuts about 3 times faster than the eskimo that even had brand new blades on it.

[labguy]

I'm with Otis on this one- this is a Ford vs Chevy question. All I can add is that the SM Strikelite is a 4 stroker and thus produces WAY less exhaust inside the permanent house vs a 2 stroke. And SM did change engine suppliers- but not fot the StrikeLite- it's the same, just their 2-stroke engines changed.

I'm a strikemaster guy because they're local and I've had pretty good luck so far- If Jiffy was local I'd be a Jiffy guy.

Faster holes? All I know is that if you plop down $300-$400 it had better cut a hole.

I imagine I'll be on a bucket this weekend somewhere....