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Pro/Cons of the New Propane Auger

Tipupdown

By Tipupdown
in Ice Fishing

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AndRo Collaborator

AndRo

Posted
Posted

I own one, used it all last season and love it. Here is my take:

Pros - Usually starts on the first pull, No mixing gas/No carrying around a gas tank, low emissions.

Cons - Heavy, Expensive

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MIDNIGHT777 Community Regular

MIDNIGHT777

Posted
Posted

I am also looking for input on the Jiffy propane auger. I have a little dilemma: I have a 3-4 year old Strikemaster Laser Mag that has worked flawlessly. Last year I got a wheelhouse and found the mark holes, move house, Drill holes, move house back over the holes a real pain in the rear. Other option of drilling in the house was way to smokey/smelly for my liking. So I started looking into the Strikemaster electrics. I also fish out of my portable a fair amount. I would prefer not to have 2 augers. So, I thought about selling the Strikemaster gas auger and getting a Jiffy propane for dual purposes. I look forward to hearing more pros-cons of the Jiffy. I am not really concerned about the added few pounds. My questions are: any problems starting when REAL cold? Are there really NO fumes if drilling inside house?

Thanks, Matt

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Trytti Enthusiast

Trytti

Posted
Posted

I bought one last year and really like it for using in the perm house. Compared to a gas one it is 99% better on the fumes.

The issue I had was the upper gear case is made of plastic. I tipped mine over in the shack when I had it leaning against the wall and the upper gear case cracked all the way across the top. I wish they would have used aluminum or something stronger so it wouldn't have happened in the first place. I imagine they were trying to keep cost down, but now I figure I need to "baby" it a little more than other augers.

Also, if you do a lot of walking and drilling the extra weight is noticeable but I figure it is my source of exercise in winter. Ha!

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deadduk Apprentice

deadduk

Posted
Posted

I really like my Pro 4 Propane. Yeah, its a little heavy but as far as reliability and ease of use it is fantastic. Little slow on the cutting speed which was mentioned. Either way, I would reccommend it. I go fishing to enjoy myself with the least ammount of hassel and this is just one of the tools that provides me with that pleasure. Good Luck with your decision. smile

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tsande00 Experienced

tsande00

Posted
Posted

I bought one last year and really like it for using in the perm house. Compared to a gas one it is 99% better on the fumes.

The issue I had was the upper gear case is made of plastic. I tipped mine over in the shack when I had it leaning against the wall and the upper gear case cracked all the way across the top. I wish they would have used aluminum or something stronger so it wouldn't have happened in the first place. I imagine they were trying to keep cost down, but now I figure I need to "baby" it a little more than other augers.

Also, if you do a lot of walking and drilling the extra weight is noticeable but I figure it is my source of exercise in winter. Ha!

I think all the main manufactures are plastic anyways now aren't they? Who knows, if it was made out of metal and that happened it may have dented inwards, rubbing against gears and caused the whole gear assembly to go bad. (Silver lining?) grin

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Esox_Magnum Grand Master

Esox_Magnum

Posted
Posted

Other that the gas tank and a couple small motor covers my Nils is all metal... 1 of many reasons why I paid a little more for it...Others were reliability, weight, drilling ease,quiet,and pretty much the last I'll ever need to buy, my grandson will get it in 20-30 years when I'm done with it and it should last him many many years of service...

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Mid-Lake Rock Mentor

Mid-Lake Rock

Posted
Posted

I like the concept of the propane auger. The only problem with buying one now is that you know there will be a more powerful, lighter, efficient, etc. propane auger out in a year or two.

There are rumors that Strikemaster may come out with a very powerful four stroke gas product with a Honda engine in the coming years. I can see more powerful four strokes being the wave of the future. I have a 10" drill on a StrikeLite for the wheelhouse. Very little if any smoke or smell.

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tweeder Enthusiast

tweeder

Posted
Posted

for those of you that are saying the pro 4 is heavier, what is that compared to? I have an old jiffy legend, and its a tank compared to my buddies newer strikemaster. So if its a little heavier than a newer strikemaster then it would be a wash. but if its heavier than my legend then I would have to think about it.

i know it was asked before but any issues starting in real cold conditions?

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tsande00 Experienced

tsande00

Posted
Posted

for those of you that are saying the pro 4 is heavier, what is that compared to? I have an old jiffy legend, and its a tank compared to my buddies newer strikemaster. So if its a little heavier than a newer strikemaster then it would be a wash. but if its heavier than my legend then I would have to think about it.

i know it was asked before but any issues starting in real cold conditions?

Speaking strictly of weight, the Pro 4 is not comparable whatsoever to a newer Strikemaster...if that answers your question at all.

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AndRo Collaborator

AndRo

Posted
Posted

Jiffy Pro-4 - 8" – Weight: 38 lbs.

Jiffy Model 30XT - 8" - Weight: 38 lbs.

Strike Master Strike-Lite II - 8" - Weight: 23 lbs.

StrikeMaster Mag - 8" - Weight: 25 lbs.

StrikeMaster® Lazer Pro - 8" - Weight: 26 lbs.

Nils Power Auger - 8" - Weight: 22 lbs.

Eskimo Mako - 8" - Weight: 31 lbs.

Eskimo Shark - 8" - Weight: 30 lbs.

1-2 pounds of gas in tank. Gas is what 6-7 pounds a gallon.

1 pound for a propane cylinder.

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tweeder Enthusiast

tweeder

Posted
Posted

wow great information thank you.

I do not have a wheel house where I think the Propane auger probably really shines. Since I am portable the weight does make a difference, so maybe I am back to looking at strike master or nils. thanks again.

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AndRo Collaborator

AndRo

Posted
Posted

I'd run over to a retail store and play around with all of them. I run and gun and the weight has not bothered me. One of the huge draws for me though is when I finally do purchase a wheel house, I like the low odor and low maintenance.

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joneshat11 Community Regular

joneshat11

Posted
Posted

What I don't understand is why anyone is worried about more power. Power means absolutely nothing on how an auger will cut and NILS proves it. It's all about blade design. NILS uses smallest lightest motor and still cuts faster than Jiffy, Strikemaster, and Eskimo. Only one company can come close the speed of a NILS and only has one Pro over them and that is Strikemaster. Strikemaster PR0 is they are close in cutting speed and are local.

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Iambjm Veteran

Iambjm

Posted
Posted

for those of you that are saying the pro 4 is heavier, what is that compared to? I have an old jiffy legend, and its a tank compared to my buddies newer strikemaster. So if its a little heavier than a newer strikemaster then it would be a wash. but if its heavier than my legend then I would have to think about it.

i know it was asked before but any issues starting in real cold conditions?

I was at Mille Lacs year with some gals, one of the gals had 3 of the propane drills (Jiffy is one of her sponsors) all 3 of them froze up in the cold. She left them in the truck overnight and it was bitterly cold. We used them again at another GTG and they worked fine. But way too heavy for me. By the way my Strikemaster Mag 2000 started when the Jiffy's didn't.

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TooTallTom Mentor

TooTallTom

Posted
Posted

I was at Mille Lacs year with some gals, one of the gals had 3 of the propane drills (Jiffy is one of her sponsors) all 3 of them froze up in the cold. She left them in the truck overnight and it was bitterly cold. We used them again at another GTG and they worked fine. But way too heavy for me. By the way my Strikemaster Mag 2000 started when the Jiffy's didn't.

Do you think (or could you ask her) that they would've worked if she had pulled the tanks off and just kept those warm? That's something I kind of speculate about, but I'm not pulling the trigger on a propane auger any time soon.

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Northlander Grand Master

Northlander

Posted
Posted

Other that the gas tank and a couple small motor covers my Nils is all metal... 1 of many reasons why I paid a little more for it...Others were reliability, weight, drilling ease,quiet,and pretty much the last I'll ever need to buy, my grandson will get it in 20-30 years when I'm done with it and it should last him many many years of service...

X2

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quijibo Collaborator

quijibo

Posted
Posted

I've never had an issue with my Pro-4 freezing, I've used it down to -23 without issue. It is a lot heavier than the Mora I'd been using for twenty some years, but the motor on that unit was really starting to slow down. The weight on the Jiffy wouldn't bother me so much if it were a little more balanced. Having to carry it with two hands gets very cumbersome.

Adam

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&JAG Rising Star

&JAG

Posted
Posted

If a guy wheel houses it or shacks it a propane may make sense. But, in the real ice fishing world lighter and faster is better and well, Strikemaster is always the bomb!! The Nils are interesting also... Jiffy has always been a pig but, if your into permanents and fumes bother you maybe it is the way to go?

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