Jiffy Propane Auger

[Scott M]

Heard about this awhile back, I wonder if there will be one at the ice show. I guess if you hate spilling gas, this would be for you. Gotta keep those 1 pounders warm though.

[albhb3]

you do get that propane smell. They started one in TB for a customer looking at one

[jBohmer]

They had a demo on display at the First Ice show at the Gander in Forest lake a month or two ago. It was pretty cool. The sales guy started it up right in the store. He seemed a little concerned about extreme cold weather operation but I thought that they said that they have done something to the regulator to help freezing but I do not quite remember the details of his explanation.

[tsande00]

It's actually not all that critical to keep the one pounders warm due to the high pressure system used on these augers compared to your propane lantern or stove. Different technology.

[jBohmer]

It's actually not all that critical to keep the one pounders warm due to the high pressure system used on these augers compared to your propane lantern or stove. Different technology.

That must have been what the guy was talking about when he was telling us about the regulator. Makes sense but I think you could still freeze a l lb'er if you let it sit out in real cold temps. I do not know that for sure, just seems to make sense to me.

[tsande00]

I'm sure you could if you tried but the whole point of the high pressure regulator was to overcome the hurdles of the effects cold weather has on propane cylinders, especially the 1 lbers.

Obviously the real test will be this winter when they are put to use by people, but if the auger does what Jiffy says it will it should still perform in cold weather.

The weight alone of the thing is reason enough for me to stick with another brand auger whether it be Eskimo, SM, or Nils.

[DaSwede]

I'm sure you could if you tried but the whole point of the high pressure regulator was to overcome the hurdles of the effects cold weather has on propane cylinders, especially the 1 lbers.

Obviously the real test will be this winter when they are put to use by people, but if the auger does what Jiffy says it will it should still perform in cold weather.

The weight alone of the thing is reason enough for me to stick with another brand auger whether it be Eskimo, SM, or Nils.

They are heavy! Not so bad if you are driving out to fish, but if you are walking and pulling a sled with gear, this thing is a bear!

[jBohmer]

I forgot about the weight thing. Not such a big deal for me since I would normally haul it in my truck, plus i cannot afford now anyway.

[tsande00]

I normally haul in my truck too but I often drill 20 - 30 holes before I start fishing. Lugging a 40 pound auger around drilling several holes is not my idea of a relaxing day on the ice.

Now if I fished exclusively out of a perm and was using it to reopen holes than the weight wouldn't be an issue at all. But in the spirit of staying portable, a 40 pound auger is not for me.

[MJBaldwin]

I used to work at a propane shop down in the cities. Temperature should not be a big deal propane -72 degrees. You never see a fork lift having problems in the winter and all those engines are on propane. My co worker just bought this auger used it last weekend it has some power on it throttle response is great. The local shop said anywhere from 40-100 holes to a 1 lb tank I feel the 100 is a little high but I think you could easily get 50 depending on how much ice there is...

'Cheers To Beers'

[MnIceman]

Forklifts use liquid propane and convert the liquid to gas in a converter. These augers and most other propane devices use the gas that is evaporating off of the liquid in the bottle. So when the bottle gets to 1/2 or less is when they usually have a cold issue and does not evaporate enough to keep whatever running. I heard it run at the ice fishing show. The only plus's that I see are no more gasoline chances on the hands and no smoke from the exhaust.

[Scott Stein]

I think these augers were made more for drilling holes in perm shacks so you dont get the exhaust floating around and get the black streaks on the wall.