Need a new auger, insight?

[live4chrome]

Hey all. Looking for a new auger, had a strike master for the last 12 or so years and it was good to me. Now with all the new options out there I'm just looking for suggestions. I want something fairly light and fast cutting. I have heard good things about the nils, but not sure about shelling out the money every time it needs new blades. Those with the propane a, how do you like them? Are they fast? Easy starting and smooth cutting? I drill a lot of holes.

[Esox_Magnum]

You resharpen the Nils blades, they last along time so figure a sharpening every 5-7 years if you take care of them.... I figured up once what it cost me per year to run my Nils and what I spent to run my old SM's in 10 years the SM cost me $500 over the Nils in the same time frame due to having to replace the blades each season on my SM. I would go through a set a season on my Lazers at $50 a set, cost me $40 to have my Nils resharpened once on season #5. Now I did buy a spare head but like all augers one must keep a spare set on hand. I use the spare while the dull one was off to be sharpened, but only takes a week or less turn aroung but I was still able to fish during that time and now have a new sharp head as a spare and will swap out when current one dulls....Both heads will last me my lifetime should never have to replace either unless I do something to ruin it, then thats my fault and not the augers fault....

[DTro]

Your mileage may vary

I had to sharpen my Nils every year and haven't touched my SM blades in 3

[Fred3]

Can't imagine going thru a set of blades a season on my strike master but esox must drill alot if holes to do that. Anyway how was

your experience with strike master? I had an old one for years with a chipper blade and that sob could really cut and can't say it let me down nor has my new honda lite. I ended up breaking an exhaust guard but that was from a rough sled ride on low. The Jiffy propane augers are good but heavy. I like the lightness of a tonaka nils combo but not sure how fast or dependable they are? But my brother bought new solo last season and I would recommend that one other than my Honda lite SM.

[wally diver 2]

I have a solo with the 2.5 HP. Easy starting and super fast cutting. If I were to buy a new one id get the strike master with Honda. No mixing gas.

[Esox_Magnum]

Can't imagine going thru a set of blades a season on my strike master but esox must drill alot if holes to do that. Anyway how was

your experience with strike master? I had an old one for years with a chipper blade and that sob could really cut and can't say it let me down nor has my new honda lite. I ended up breaking an exhaust guard but that was from a rough sled ride on low. The Jiffy propane augers are good but heavy. I like the lightness of a tonaka nils combo but not sure how fast or dependable they are? But my brother bought new solo last season and I would recommend that one other than my Honda lite SM.

I drill around 1000 a season, alot of my friends still run Lazers all replace their blades at the most every 1.5 seasons a couple go through a set and a half a season...Just stating our experience....

[bee]

Take a look at the Video I posted today.

[Surface Tension]

Knock on wood Darren. Believe me I get plenty of requests to sharpen Lazer blades.

I drilled into a snow covered spot with my Nils where a perm shack once sat. After I saw wood chips and other debris coming up I stopped drilling but it was too late. That was 7 years ago. After a year of R&D I started sharpening Nils. Even though I can touch up my blade I still take care of it. I have a perm close to home and that means drilling old holes. My Nils isn't limited to that one lake and I fish all over Northern MN.

I'll tell you I don't have to sharpen my blade every year and the blade I have now has is the same blade I started with 7 years ago.

Yeah stuff happens and a blade gets dulled or dinged and it doesn't matter what brand auger.

When you need a blade that is all that matters. Send me a blade and its sharpened, tested, adjusted, and back in the mail within hours after I receive it. I literally have to warm blades up after test drilling before I can package it back up and send it.

[Surface Tension]

A few replies since I started mine.

I have a old Strikemaster Mag III Plus I bought darn near 30 years brand new for $150 at Sears. Original chipper blade that came with the auger.

I've sharpened it many times and it cuts like it did the day I bought which in today's standards, lacking. In that time I've serviced the recoil and half a dozen carb cleanings and overhauls.

I still keep it in working condition and will till the day we depart which should be soon because I have no use for it. Just need to find the right owner that'll take care of it.

It is what it is. It'll cut a hole but how could it compare to a Nils or Lazer for that matter. I keep it around for the same reason I still have a old spoon auger. Nostalgia and good times from the past. Plus it really doesn't own me anything.

[DTro]

Like I said, YMMV

No auger will turn into a light saber like some people will lead you to believe.

[nbsmith]

I have a 2.5hp solo, 10" that is on season 3 right now. Still cuts great, starts great, no complaints. I would guess I drill a couple hundred holes a yr. For me, mixing gas isn't a real big deal, I have to keep a can of 50:1 mix around for my chainsaw, etc. anyhow.

[live4chrome]

I liked my strike master, but seemed to be replacing or rewinding the recoil every year. A big annoyance to say the least. I was also looking at the 3 hp strike masters. I know there are lots of good augers out there, just what one is for me I need to discover. How easily do the nils start. I have heard they can be cold blooded.

[Esox_Magnum]

Mine starts good....

[Northlander]

I have a Nils as well as a Strikemaster Honda 4 stroke. Both are great augers. I find myself hole hopping more with the strikemaster because I get cleaner holes when done drilling. I also love the fact all I do is fill with gas, no mixing of oil.

There are a lot of good augers these days. really nobody makes a "bad" auger these days.

Get what you can afford and pay attention to weight, speed and ease of use. Good luck with your purchase.

[live4chrome]

Steve, how does that four stroke start in cold conditions?

[blue_healer_guy]

There is no better auger than an eskimo.

[PFUNK]

Chrome,

I think you have to consider your fishing style and how you are going to use your auger most of the time. Like others have said, there are many great augers out there. Personally, if it were me I'd be looking at the SM lazer pro or honda 4 stroke. Those lazers just flat out cut like a dream, but if you need to reopen holes often they will not be for you. The Jiffy propane is a great auger as well and is currently what I am using since last season. Starts so easy, quiet, doesn't stink, and no gas to mix. Mixing gas never bothered me and still doesn't, but it actually is a nice luxury not to have to worry about it or worry about spilling it in the pickup. No stiff old fuel lines to replace or any of that jazz either. BUT, they are heavy. If you don't run and gun or fish a ton of early ice, the weight probably isn't an issue. If that's the case, I would highly recommend the propane. It is a little slower than the lazers but not by enough to bother me at all. I actually just decided to put mine up for sale because the weight bothers me just enough when I want to run and gun. So, if you consider the type of fishing you want to do, and decide a propane might be the way you want to go, let me know if you want more info on it. I might regret selling it, because it works so flawlessly, but we'll see. They do have the lite version now too, but I know it has a smaller engine and haven't heard enough about how they drill compared to their heavyweight predecessor.

[Fred3]

ESOX, that is alot of holes in a season.I might drill half that I might have to check out a Nils in a few years.

[hamms-scooter]

I also run the Tanaka,Nils this is my first year with it. I love using that thing! I don't see making any changes for years. Light weight 20# super fast and quiet for a 2 stroke and little to no smoke. I love that it is 1.35 HP making swiss whenever you need to.