I am in the market for a new auger and......

[bassNspear]

im not sure what I want to buy. Im thinking I want to get away from gas, as I want don't want that smell in my new ice castle.

What do you all recommend. I know of people that have propane jiffy, but have been hearing mix emotions about them.

is there any new products coming. what do you all think??

thanks

[Sand Burr]

The only argument on the propane that can stand ground is the weight. Since you are using a ice castle that's out. I wouldn't buy anything new until after the I-cast show in vegas.

[dan z]

I know the Electra mag from strikemaster cuts really well.

[JSK76]

If only using in the ice castle and want a 10.25" hole I would highly recommend the SM Big Volt. However if your ok with an 7.5" hole, the ION works great too and is more versatile with having its own battery. I would hold out until fall and see if ION comes out with bigger auger bit. I have owned both, and both are great but I sold the big volt to buy the ION and my only regret is the smaller hole for the wheel house. BTW both reopen holes great.

[bassNspear]

I am looking to buy a 10"

[harvey lee]

Jason, I would take a look at the IceGator augers. Had one and used it for a few years and it cut very fast and could reopen holes pretty well.

Sold it to a friend who has a perm for his house and it likes it.

[maddowg1192000]

Last yr I was talking with a guy from jiffy and he told me they had a propane coming this yr that weighs 26lbs. Lets hope it is at Icast and is true

[JoeMX1825]

I would wait to see if Ion Augers fixed all of the issues with last years model, if so, that could be a good option...

[JSK76]

what problems did ION have last year? Other then the battery not working if left out in near zero temps. Mine worked great

[JoeMX1825]

If using it indoors, probably nothing wrong with it, but using outside, cold battery issues, battery lock strap breaking, goofy safety switch setup on the handle, not delivering on the amount of holes they said could be drilled in 1 charge. I'm confidant these issues will be fixed/altered, issues are to be expected as it was a gen1 device, that's why I didn't upgrade to it last year, the 2nd gen is always alot better...

I'm excited to see what they come out with, I hate carrying extra gas in my flipover, the reduced weight will be nice as well...

[Hawg]

Those ION issues you speak of are VERY minimal with the exception of the cold battery. The others are just complainers that are never happy. I have one and love it. My friend has a Big Volt and it's a super auger. In a permanent with a battery it works great, I'm actually thinking of getting one. I spoke to Eskimo yesterday and they are coming with a smaller drill,6", for panfish but no plans this year for larger. If you want a bigger hole in a portable it's not the answer.

[bassNspear]

im not going to buy one till the season is here!. Havent heard if there was a new one at icast or not

[rustysetter]

I have no regrets with my Jiffy propane, I hear lots off griping about the weight it's not that big of deal unless you are hole hopping and I doubt you will be doing a lot of that with an Ice Castle.

im not sure what I want to buy. Im thinking I want to get away from gas, as I want don't want that smell in my new ice castle.

What do you all recommend. I know of people that have propane jiffy, but have been hearing mix emotions about them.

is there any new products coming. what do you all think??

thanks

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

Other than a couple very minor gripes with the ION as mentioned above, I am 100% happy. The .75" smaller hole (allegedly) is a complete non-issue. I never noticed it and we pulled some monster fish through last winter.

Regardless of brand, electric is awesome for in and around the wheel house.

[bassNspear]

iv heard that jiffy has a new propane coming out this winter, lighter weight

[Farley]

I used a buddys propane Jiffy a couple times last year and it ran excellent. I was very impressed with how smooth it was. He went the whole year on the same tank (not a big ice fisherman) I probably drilled 30 holes with it myself. Only problem I would have is dealing with those litte green tanks. They can be a pain.

[JSK76]

A buddy has a jiffy propane and he said you have to take the tank off after drilling holes or it will leak out. Anyone heard of this? I could see this being a problem because I have seen tanks from my buddy heater that don't seal back up after I unscrew them.

[Sand Burr]

You only have to take "unscrew" the tank if you are leaving it for long periods of time. Storing it for the week. You do not have to "unscrew" the tank to set it down on the ice in-between hole stops.

[traveler]

I've never unscrewed my tanks except at the the end of the season, and when empty of course. I have the 10 inch and would buy it again in a heartbeat. It still beats anything I've ever had before. Electric sounds nice, but I like to know I can just bring 1 or at most 2 extra one pond tanks and I'd be set for a week of icetime without having to recharge anything.

And it keeps me in shape lugging it around:)

[Redlineracer12]

Wheelhouse you are most likely going to have a generator if you're spending the night anyway, so you can easily recharge an electric unit or even run off the wheelhouse battery. If it's strictly for the wheelhouse, I think electric is the way to go.

I have an electra and like it, but sometimes think I should have bought the big volt instead. The big volt cuts a bigger hole and has a better blade for re-opening holes. I've run the electra back through the holes in the morning (after sleeping in the house) to keep them the full 8" and it's not overly pretty but it gets the job done. It is nice with the faster drilling from the Lazer blade though and for a quick portable trip I don't need a separate battery.

[hunter76]

Jiffy Propane, I have an ice castle also. No brainer. I have the 9 inch model.