Jump to content

  • GUESTS

    If you want access to members only forums on HSO, you will gain access only when you Sign-in or Sign-Up .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member. ?

electric and propane ice augers

Mark Gangl

By Mark Gangl
in Ice Fishing

 Share

Recommended Posts

Mark Gangl Enthusiast

Mark Gangl

Posted
Posted

Alright I know there are a ton of posts that start like this but I don't want the jiffy is better, eskimo is better. I drive ford chevy and dodge so brand isn't important.lol what I want is opinions by those that own them for use in a wheel house (I own a gas already)

Bigvolt is a possibility but they are new so I know there won't be much feedback yet

Propane....some say they start good some say no so I guess more importantly is just how much exhaust do they put out, I mean even a propane forklift has some.

Electric, on board battery how do they last? Anyone have the jiffy with the 10"?

Considerations, id like a 10" bit (preferably) and my other auger being strikemaster that has a leg up due to being able to swap bits if I want an 8 or vice versa. Also I will always have a truck or atleast a wheeler at my wheelhouse so if the batteries don't last for [PoorWordUsage] anyway and I gota drag out a cord than might as well get the one with out the battery from the beggining? Probably have a deep cycle under the counter anyway and a honda 2000 is on my list

Link to comment
Share on other sites
MIDNIGHT777 Community Regular

MIDNIGHT777

Posted
Posted

Mark,

I am in the same situation as you with a wheelhouse and gas auger and cannot decide between the propane and electric. I am leaning towards the Jiffy pro4 because it can more easily be used for the wheelhouse and portable. I figure I can sell the gas auger and use the propane Jiffy for dual purpose. I plan to hit the St. Paul Ice fishing Show, ask questions, put both in my hands, and make a decision.

Matt

Link to comment
Share on other sites
JSK76 Mentor

JSK76

Posted
Posted

I was in the exact same position as you until yesterday I pulled the trigger on a Big Volt. I have a gas power Solo that I love and would never replace with a electric but I was getting some exhaust oil stain on the wall in the wheel house so I thought before I ruin something I needed to make a change.

From what I found the only two electric augers that will run a 10" is the Big Volt and one of the Icegators. I tried to find a place that sells Icegator and came across there facebook page and that was the end of my interest in them.

I did some looking into the Strikemaster Electra but its only a 8". It gets great reviews other then some thinking the battery doesn't last long. The Electra has a 20 amp motor and turns the auger 90 rpms and the Big Volt a 45 amp and turns the auger 120 rpms which is 33% faster! If your ok with not having a on board battery I would go with a Big Volt. I now have the best of both worlds, gas for run and gun and electric for the wheel house.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ClownColor Mentor

ClownColor

Posted
Posted

I have the electra lazer and it's very nice for wheel houses. Remember, the big volt is extrernal power ONLY! Never got why they even made this. The big volt has a better blade for reopening wholes but they should just put that on the electra lazer. The electra lazer does both so if you want to drill a few tip-up wholes, its very easy. Running cords suck...try it and you see, though it is an option. At least with the electra lazer, you not dependant on another power source, but can still use them...best of both worlds.

KEEP YOUR GAS AUGER ALSO! I love my electra lazer but it's very limited and use my gas auger way more. Those electra augers are great ONLY for wheel houses and thats it...otherwise they suck for anything else.

If you're selling your gas auger, go with the propane as it's MORE dual purpose then the electric.

Good luck on your purchase as both brands are great! just remember limitations of both and I personal see the Big Volt as a waste of money.

Electra lazer if keeping gas...propane if you sell it!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mark Gangl Enthusiast

Mark Gangl

Posted
  • Author
Posted

No question, keeping my gas. Jiffy made a 10" some places still have them on close out but I haven't heard good review on the jiffy electrics.

So the strikemaster electra how many holes would you expect to get before plugging it in in say 24" ice?

How much exhaust do the propane ones have?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ClownColor Mentor

ClownColor

Posted
Posted

No question, keeping my gas. Jiffy made a 10" some places still have them on close out but I haven't heard good review on the jiffy electrics.

So the strikemaster electra how many holes would you expect to get before plugging it in in say 24" ice?

How much exhaust do the propane ones have?

On a new battery in 2' of ice...around 20 wholes. Late winter i can get between 15-20. On my old (only 3 year battery) it was more like 10 wholes in over 2' of ice. One thing to remember which affects whole numbers, let the auger drill the wholes, not you and keep the battery warm! Also, plan on swaping out batteries every other year and there around $20-30. So don't think these electric augers are cheaper then gas on power supply.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ClownColor Mentor

ClownColor

Posted
Posted

CC, whats the scoop on opening existing holes with the electra, any issues or tricks of the trade?

It's not that bad that some make it out to be but, I think Strikemaster figured that out and thats why they have the big volt...they should have just put that bit on the electra..

However, I've never been upset about it redrilling holes. Just let the auger work and no need to "push down" on it while it drills. It will buck less. A little slower but it will work just fine.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
usmcjsy Collaborator

usmcjsy

Posted
Posted

I have the electric lazer as well. I really like that it has its own self contained battery. I have never had much issues re opening holes with it. Sometimes it will catch at the bottom of the hole, then I just pull up on it a little to take a little pressure of and let it finish boring through. I dont know why but its always right before you break through that it seems to bind up or start catching in the hole. I wish they would just make some 8" blades for this auger for reopening holes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
pushbutton Grand Master

pushbutton

Posted
Posted

I have the electric lazer as well. I really like that it has its own self contained battery. I have never had much issues re opening holes with it. Sometimes it will catch at the bottom of the hole, then I just pull up on it a little to take a little pressure of and let it finish boring through. I dont know why but its always right before you break through that it seems to bind up or start catching in the hole. I wish they would just make some 8" blades for this auger for reopening holes.

Just got done talking to strikemaster, and they do sell a chipper blade for the electra for reopening holes. These will not drill as fast, consequently will put more strain on the battery, and still not as good as the dual blade on the big volt. They probably will not make the new blade available for the electra as it just does not have enough power/geared properly to use it effectively. Catch 22 i guess.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
CrappieNut Enthusiast

CrappieNut

Posted
Posted

I purchased the pro4 and am very impressed really wish I had it on low when it was -10. Couldn't get my buddy's gas started for an hour the pro4 starts on two pulls. Very little smell and it goes away quickly. I kept count last year and got 41 holes drilled before changing the 1lb tank

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now ↓↓↓ or ask your question and then register. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Wanderer
      Just Food and Drink

      By Wanderer · Posted

      It’s done automatically.  You might need an actual person to clear that log in stuff up.   Trash your laptop history if you haven’t tried that already.
    • smurfy
      Just Food and Drink

      By smurfy · Posted

      😂 yea pretty amazing how b o o b i e s gets flagged, but they can't respond or tell me why I  can't get logged in here on my laptop but I can on my cellular  😪
    • Mike89
      Just Food and Drink

      By Mike89 · Posted

      I grilled some brats yesterday, maybe next weekend will the next round...  
    • Wanderer
      Just Food and Drink

      By Wanderer · Posted

      You got word censored cuz you said        B o o b ies….. haha.   Yeah, no… grilling is on hiatus for a bit.
    • smurfy
      Just Food and Drink

      By smurfy · Posted

      Chicken mine,  melded in Mccormick poultry seasoning for 24 hours.  Grill will get a break till the frigid temps go away!
    • Mike89
      Problems with Yetti

      By Mike89 · Posted

      good luck!!!   
    • rundrave
      Problems with Yetti

      By rundrave · Posted

      we had some nice weather yesterday and this conundrum was driving me crazy  so I drove up to the house to take another look. I got a bunch of goodies via ups yesterday (cables,  winch ratchet parts, handles, leaf springs etc).   I wanted to make sure the new leaf springs I got fit. I got everything laid out and ready to go. Will be busy this weekend with kids stuff and too cold to fish anyway, but I will try to get back up there again next weekend and get it done. I don't think it will be bad once I get it lifted up.    For anyone in the google verse, the leaf springs are 4 leafs and measure 25 1/4" eye  to eye per Yetti. I didnt want to pay their markup so just got something else comparable rated for the same weight.   I am a first time wheel house owner, this is all new to me. My house didn't come with any handles for the rear cables? I was told this week by someone in the industry that cordless drills do not have enough brake to lower it slow enough and it can damage the cables and the ratchets in the winches.  I put on a handle last night and it is 100% better than using a drill, unfortatenly I found out the hard way lol and will only use the ICNutz to raise the house now.
    • Wanderer
      Problems with Yetti

      By Wanderer · Posted

      I haven’t done any leaf springs for a long time and I can’t completely see the connections in your pics BUT I I’d be rounding up: PB Blaster, torch, 3 lb hammer, chisel, cut off tool, breaker bar, Jack stands or blocks.   This kind of stuff usually isn’t the easiest.   I would think you would be able to get at what you need by keeping the house up with Jack stands and getting the pressure off that suspension, then attack the hardware.  But again, I don’t feel like I can see everything going on there.
    • rundrave
      Problems with Yetti

      By rundrave · Posted

      reviving an old thread due to running into the same issue with the same year of house. not expecting anything from yetti and I already have replacement parts ordered and on the way.   I am looking for some input or feedback on how to replace the leaf springs themselves.    If I jack the house up and remove the tire, is it possible to pivot the axel assembly low enough to get to the other end of the leaf spring and remove that one bolt?   Or do I have to remove the entire pivot arm to get to it? Then I also have to factor in brake wire as well then. What a mess   My house is currently an hour away from my home at a relatives, going to go back up and look it over again and try to figure out a game plan.           Above pic is with house lowered on ice, the other end of that leaf is what I need to get to.   above pic is side that middle bolt broke and bottom 2 leafs fell out here is other side that didnt break but you can see bottom half of leaf already did but atleast bolt is still in there here is hub assembly in my garage with house lowered and tires off when I put new tires on it a couple months ago. hopefully I can raise house high enough that it can drop down far enough and not snap brake cable there so I can get to that other end of the leaf spring.
    • smurfy
      Just Food and Drink

      By smurfy · Posted

      Chef boyardee pizza from the box!

  • Topics

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

  I accept