solo vs strilke lite 4 stroke

[Tyler23]

Between the Strike-Lite and SOLO... Go SOLO if you want speed if you want a quite ride go Strike-Lite!

For the Nils boys you can have your auger. That thing has to be the ugliest thing on the ice and not to mention slower than my Pro Lazer

I'll support my Minnesota owned company

AGREED!

[wildmanp]

i see

[harvey lee]

No need to slam the Nils Jag.

I have used one for many years and they are a high quality auger and run great.

I though this thread was about the 2 different StrikeMaster augers and not Nils slamming.

[&JAG]

This is true... I answered the thread and all, just thought I would give em' some fun. Since the same guys always seem to bring up their Nils on StrikeMaster threads. They are a good quality auger and all... I guess that "Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder".

[waterfowler10]

I love my strike-lite for drilling inside the perm and for early and late ice that couple of pounds can really make a difference when your walking quite aways and drilling alot of holes, and not having to mix gas is a definite plus

[fisherman-andy]

Blah blah blah blah! Going through this thread I feel like reading a ford vs chevy vs toyota vs dodge article.

The old augers are just that. Old but reliable. Gets the job done. The new augers are just that. New with more power & faster. The specs of some these augers are a mismatch which doesnt even make it a fair comparison.

Their all good augers but reading through this thread has not produced any good constructive feedback or results.

I however do like the new Solo's for the lighter weight and have used one all winter. But I think my next auger will be a Z51 Eskimo 9". Why? Cuts pretty much as quick and has that special 9" cut hole! 8" is too small, 10" is too big. However if there is a 9" Solo I may have to give it some thought first.

[wildmanp]

great input guys!!!!!!!!!!

[djs21]

I hate to hijack the thread, but I'm looking to get my first auger...either the pro lazer or the nils, i've looked at the strike lite, but I think i would probably end up putting the lazer drill on it and put more money into an auger than I want to. The main thing I'm looking for is ease of starting, cuz I hate when we bring my buddy's auger and it takes 15 pulls to start the thing, it's kind of annoying. I know both are fast (which i'm also looking for)...I'm just looking to see if anyone has experience with both and which one they like better. I'm 6'3" tall, and i know the nils has a longer shaft, (maybe more comfortable for me?) but I don't know if that will make a difference since I've never owned one.

By the way, I'm new to the site, but I have been on this site A TON since I discovered it. My name is Derek, and I'm from Madison, WI.

[Esox_Magnum]

I have the Nils and if broken in right will not have an issue starting. Mine took 3 pulls ( no primer) at -37. My truck on the other hand started and died 3 times before running that morning.

Nils will be lighter than the Solo, I havent used a Solo yet but a buddy just got one and you know we'll be testing them side by side. Downside Nils will cost you more IF you can even find one now. I'm 5'10" and the Nils is not a problem, my wifes 5' even on a good day and can drill without a problem.

[deadeye]

Welcome to the site!

Either one will work good. If you get either one new you should be fine. I can't comment to how the nils starts but I know several people on here have then and really like them.

The strikemasters are pretty decent for starting in my experience. I own a really old one and it usually fires off at the 2nd or 3rd pull.

Either way you go make sure you run premium fuel and run a bit of seafoam through it at the end of the season before you run it dry. Then it will start up like a champ and be trouble free.

[djs21]

Thanks guys. Yeah I know I won't be able to get one anymore this year because everyone is sold out. I'm just trying to figure out what to get at the start of next season. Thanks for the responses. I'd like to get a Nils just because I doubt anyone has one around here, and I like how it can convert to a hand auger. But I like the idea of the Strikemaster because many comment on how good their customer service is...plus I already have a lazer 7" hand auger.

[deadeye]

You can't really go wrong either way. I have been happy with my strikemaster and now got a nils hand auger. I like both a lot.

Either way you go you will be happy for sure.

[Cove]

We do love to talk about our augers. But speaking from recent personal experience, it is really helpful to be able to tap into discussions like this when faced with a purchase.

I have had the Strike-Lite for 3 years now. Just last week end, with the deep ice on Mille Lacs, I ran into a problem with my auger getting "stuck" down in the hole. Long story short, the space age, plastic flutes on the Stike Lite flex a little when a 30 inch hole suddenly fills with water and slush and it can "stick" because flutes expand and grab the side of hole. I tore my flutes in two places pulling it out.

I called Strike Master next day, got the straight dope, ordered the Lazer, metal drill piece instead of another plastic one and had it in hand 48 hours later. I mailed mine back and total cost 85.00. I got new blades in the swap and was due for blade sharpening anyway. Very good service. The all metal drill weights 3.5 lb more than the plastic.

I have a bad shoulder and just could not afford to be tugging on the pull cord endlessly. The Strike light starts very easily.

[randallt]

I was ready to buy a Nils however I couldn't find one. Essox did find one for me but it was 4 hours from home and shop didn't want to let it go for under $560. Thanks Essox I appreciate your help - If anyone wants a Nils this year Essox can tell you where to get it.

After reading this thread I ended up buying a Lazer Pro - That and the fact that my local sporting goods store sold their last one to me for $375 (floor display with no box. It was too good a deal to pass up. I also like the customer service of Strikemaster and the fact they are within driving distance of my home. I dealt with them a couple years ago and couldn't have been more please with them.

Anyway now I must say that my Lazer Pro is much faster than your Nils Oh ya I haven't put gas in my new Solo yet.

[jigginjim]

Smoke, mixed gas, loud noisy motor, heavy weight to lug around, and than every one talks about mines is faster, yet how many hundreds of dollars do you have in your auger.

Save your money and get yourself in better shape and health. USE A HAND AUGER! LOL

[hydro]

Now Jim, If you use a hand auger to drill as many holes as all of these guys do, you would have one big arm and look funny all Summer!

I have to say that many of the opinions expressed through this thread are obviously based on wishful thinking and are nothing more than the classic "Chevy vs. Ford" mindset. That said, I read through this whole thing this AM and there is really nothing I would not expect in the claimed performance differences between the Strikemaster two and four stroke products. I've used both the Strike lite and Solo augers this winter and both are well made, drill reasonably fast, and are easy to use. I would be happy to own either one.

[harvey lee]

Smoke, mixed gas, loud noisy motor, heavy weight to lug around, and than every one talks about mines is faster, yet how many hundreds of dollars do you have in your auger.

Save your money and get yourself in better shape and health. USE A HAND AUGER! LOL

When I am out on a lake like URL and chasing crappies or for that matter any other lake, I will choose the power auger.

I myself don't really care to drill 150 holes in 2 days using a hand auger.

I realize that some hand augers do very well. I will be fishing much longer for the day just in the time saved using a power auger no matter what brand it is.

[randallt]

I thought the Chevy vs Ford mindset differences ended when Chevy was taken over by Government Motors and their logo became "If you can't make a car people will buy let the government bail you out!"

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Dang just remembered I drive a Chevy Suburban

[wildmanp]

I used my fishing buddie's strike lite 4 stroke this past when and was amazed by the torque it had. A push of the throttle auger made me spin too. I had to hold the auger in a semi 45 degree angle. I hated carrying the auger with the engine "on" because it would bog. The gas tank was half empty. I had to shut off the engine after every hole drilled. I hated the way you had to carry the auger on or off. The torque on the auger, I'm not sure if it is with that particular shaft or if it's that way with any other (lazer, chipper?).....But very quiet on idle or start up!

[djs21]

How does the Strike Lite perform when drilling through about 30" of ice. Here in southern and central WI we rarely see over 30" on lakes (although I might take some trips up north in the future). I am now leaning towards the Strike Lite mainly due to the 4 stroke motor (pretty quiet and no oil/gas mixing), but I want to make sure it has ample power. Will putting the Lazer drill on it increase its drilling speed considerably? Yet, I've seen videos of the SOLO, and they sound amazing. The Nils looks really awesome too, I'm just worried about the availability of parts because I've never seen them around here at all. But being able to convert it to a hand auger would be very convenient. Decisions. Decisions.

[lakeshoremunster]

Have not tried the strikelite in 30" of ice but it cuts through 2ft just fine and fast enough for me.

[Esox_Magnum]

The Nils can be serviced at any Tanaka dealer, theres many all over the place. Although hard to get and on the pricey side, I know where 1 is left. I own one and love it, nice quiet, fast and with the 48" bit no need for an extension. With the hand auger attachment my 8" will outdrill a 5" Lazer. I do honestly belive I'll never need to by another auger in my lifetime. Buy a spare head and when you need a sharpening ( costs $20 every 2-4 years) and swap heads. Cost more up front than others but in time saves you money by not having to buy blades.

[Ebiz]

Quote:

Smoke, mixed gas, loud noisy motor, heavy weight to lug around, and than every one talks about mines is faster, yet how many hundreds of dollars do you have in your auger.

Save your money and get yourself in better shape and health. USE A HAND AUGER!

Funny, I'm still using an 8" Lazer hand auger and always tell people I'm always in the best shape come March every year. Did have a couple chances to use a Solo this year and am thinking that it will be on the must buy list come next year once they've had a chance to work out the bugs

[Chode2235]

How does the Strike Lite perform when drilling through about 30" of ice. Here in southern and central WI we rarely see over 30" on lakes (although I might take some trips up north in the future). I am now leaning towards the Strike Lite mainly due to the 4 stroke motor (pretty quiet and no oil/gas mixing), but I want to make sure it has ample power. Will putting the Lazer drill on it increase its drilling speed considerably? Yet, I've seen videos of the SOLO, and they sound amazing. The Nils looks really awesome too, I'm just worried about the availability of parts because I've never seen them around here at all. But being able to convert it to a hand auger would be very convenient. Decisions. Decisions.

I have had my strike lite up to Lake of the Woods a couple times and never any problems. With the auger the only thing is to be sure you clear out the ice chips fairly often.

[lakeshoremunster]

Originally Posted By: djs21

How does the Strike Lite perform when drilling through about 30" of ice. Here in southern and central WI we rarely see over 30" on lakes (although I might take some trips up north in the future). I am now leaning towards the Strike Lite mainly due to the 4 stroke motor (pretty quiet and no oil/gas mixing), but I want to make sure it has ample power. Will putting the Lazer drill on it increase its drilling speed considerably? Yet, I've seen videos of the SOLO, and they sound amazing. The Nils looks really awesome too, I'm just worried about the availability of parts because I've never seen them around here at all. But being able to convert it to a hand auger would be very convenient. Decisions. Decisions.

I have had my strike lite up to Lake of the Woods a couple times and never any problems. With the auger the only thing is to be sure you clear out the ice chips fairly often.

yes that is true we just snaped the top part of the shaft (top of the blade close to the power head) due to all the slush trapping the shaft in the hole, will be bringing it to strikemaster to get it replaced and then i think the 224 shaft is going on it now.