Another help me chose an auger thread... SO frustrated

[th64]

Hamms _scooter why did you go with the Mora for your 8''?

Also why is everyone Gassing on (ha ha ha) about mixing oil? You can get a pre-mix container of oil

mix up a gallon of gas and you get several tanks from a gallon and some augers (like mine) could cut probably 100+ holes on a tank.

[McGurk]

... Also why is everyone Gassing on (ha ha ha) about mixing oil?

I don't know why either. Worked for decades, but now it's "too messy" or "too smokey" or "a pain to mix." First world problems, I guess. I like to drill holes and not have to worry about whether or not I am going to exceed the day's life limit of my auger. For cold winter work with my portable, give me petrol over LP and batteries anyday.

[bobberineyes]

Exactly. ...my model 30 jiffy is 23 years old and still pops on the first pull. I run non oxy thru it and it still runs like a charm. With the mileage this one has seen it's hard to change what's not broken.

[CaptainMusky]

Somewhere there are old ladies crocheting blankets for all of these fools and their battery powered augers.

[bobberineyes]

That's funny Cap'n, kinda like when they were little, can't go outside without a scarf.

[ClownColor]

I'm a sucker that bought an electric auger a few years back and immediatley went back to gas.

My perm house clears out within a few minutes, thats about how long it takes me to set-up and clear holes anyways.

I'd even say mixing gas is easier then changing oil on a four stroke. way easier. And look how long a simple 2 stroke lasts with minimal maintenance and low cost. Heck, most people only have to replace a simple carb kit once every 5-10 years if that...at a cost of around $20.

Between the cost of batteries and lack of holes...just couldn't justify it but everyone has a different style of fishing so at least there are options for everyone. And who knows, maybe in 5-10 years, battery augers will pop 150 plus holes in 2 feet of ice and be reasonable in cost.

[JoeMX1825]

lol

[JoeMX1825]

lol

In the 2 seconds it took me to type that ":lol

" reply, I instantly drilled another hole with my Ion...

[CaptainMusky]

Id love to see you prove you drilled a hole with ANY auger, electric or otherwise in "2 seconds" in anything more than a couple inches of ice.

[bowhuntermitch]

I got the pleasure to borrow a Ion auger last year and used it for a weekend drilling about 50 holes. It did the job. It was a pain worrying about keeping the battery warm from move to move. Other than that, it was impressive.Light, too.

One thing I think would benefit sales from potential buyers is to offer a battery replacement program. If Strikemaster and Ardisam offered a free battery replacement every 4 years, no sooner, no later, no questions asked warranty I feel a lot more guys would be prone to buying them. Including me. I just cant image spending $150-$300 on a battery every 3-5 years.

NOW, that being said I bought a Eskimo Stingray 33c 8" for under $275. I've taken care of it for the 3 years I've had it, and been very very impressed. Starts within 3 pulls every time and runs like a champ in the coldest (-25 without windchill) weather. I'm a believer of running good gas/oil through them and emptying all the gas out in the off season.

[JoeMX1825]

keeping the Ion battery warm is an afterthought now that I've had it for awhile...as soon as I put the auger back on my ATV rack, the battery slips right off and into my warming case...simple

and the $150 battery price for the Ion is msrp, you can find them on clearance in the March/April time frame...

[PhilTickelson]

For anyone complaining about mixing gas for a 2-stroke, just buy the premixed TruFuel or similar products from your local Home improvement shop.

~$6/can, premixed with non-oxy gas, w/stabilizer, no-leak cap, something like 5+ year shelf life. I get a tank and a half of gas out of one can, don't have to worry about the crappy new gas cans or mixing gas or anything. My new SM solo runs GREAT on this stuff too, starts right away every time.

Sure, I might pay an extra $10-$15 on gas for the year, but it's worth it for the convenience. Don't have to carry a leaky gas can on weekend trips, just throw an extra can of the premixed stuff in my bag and I'm good to go.

[hamms-scooter]

Hamms _scooter why did you go with the Mora for your 8''?

Also why is everyone Gassing on (ha ha ha) about mixing oil? You can get a pre-mix container of oil

mix up a gallon of gas and you get several tanks from a gallon and some augers (like mine) could cut probably 100+ holes on a tank.

I went with the Mora cause I had an adapter made for 25 bucks and a mora hand auger was 40 bucks. Oh and it drills super fast on the Tanaka and blades are cheap. It was that or an 8" Nils for 180 bucks.. Nothing against the Nils I love my 6" Nils and someday when a deal comes I'll get an 8". BTW I would rather do a premix gas then change oil and worry which way my auger is laying. Just me.

[ZachD]

For anyone complaining about mixing gas for a 2-stroke, just buy the premixed TruFuel or similar products from your local Home improvement shop.

~$6/can, premixed with non-oxy gas, w/stabilizer, no-leak cap, something like 5+ year shelf life. I get a tank and a half of gas out of one can, don't have to worry about the crappy new gas cans or mixing gas or anything. My new SM solo runs GREAT on this stuff too, starts right away every time.

Sure, I might pay an extra $10-$15 on gas for the year, but it's worth it for the convenience. Don't have to carry a leaky gas can on weekend trips, just throw an extra can of the premixed stuff in my bag and I'm good to go.

I left my gas tank outside the lodge on accident at red lake and picked up a bottle of VP small engine fuel to try ya it works good and the convenience is nice. But for a guy who drills a lot of holes you may as well drill a hole in your pocket.

That can you buy for 6 bucks is only 1/4 of a gallon. 24 bucks a gallon adds up pretty fast. Even if you buy the 5 gallon can its a cost of 14.20 per gallon. No thanks I will just buy non oxy from gas station and my oil I mix has stabil in it so I am more than happy to mix my own for a cheaper price.

[Might_B_A_Pike]

FYI, it appears the strikemaster lithium lazer has had a significant recall, don't know details outside of the rumor mill so I won't comment further. but worth looking into if you are still thinking of going that route.

personally I just put in an order for the new Eskimo propane. 10% off at Gander and a $50 mail in rebate

[Redlineracer12]

What I don't like is having to take with two augers, they take up a lot of space in the back of the truck. As it gets warmer in the spring and I want to drill lots of holes, that calls for the gas auger. But if I have the wheel house with in order to set it up for later, that calls for the electric. Would be nice to get down to one auger.

Leery of the IONs because of the battery replacement issue, same with the new Strikemaster electric. May have to check farther into one of those 4 strokes.

I was in the EXACT same boat as you are. When I bought my wheelhouse I had a 2 stroke lazer auger that stunk it up really bad. Bought the Electra the first full year of ice fishing in it. I was bringing two augers for a while, then just one auger with two power heads, etc. The Electra worked fine for me (did catch like you mentioned but it wasn't that big of deal), but two augers was a huge pain. I wanted a 10" hole in my wheelhouse for those cold overnights so that by morning I still have a 7-8" hole left.

Bought the Strikemaster Honda 10" at the end of last season and haven't looked back, it's been an awesome auger and I don't miss the Electra. Don't notice any fumes in the house, NOTHING like the 2 stroke was. I think it's the perfect auger for someone who likes to hole hop AND has a hard house.

[wookiemofo]

FYI, it appears the strikemaster lithium lazer has had a significant recall, don't know details outside of the rumor mill so I won't comment further. but worth looking into if you are still thinking of going that route.

personally I just put in an order for the new Eskimo propane. 10% off at Gander and a $50 mail in rebate

Something to do with the Rocker Switch.

I have 3 options i am leaning towards. The ION now, the Eskimo now, or the strike master next year.

[JoeMX1825]

FYI, it appears the strikemaster lithium lazer has had a significant recall, don't know details outside of the rumor mill so I won't comment further.

The rocker switch "can" retain an electrical charge if the battery is connected and eventually overload and start on fire! This has already been reported by a couple of owners, scary to think your garage/house could burn down due to your Auger sitting in it...

[CaptainMusky]

Shouldn't be an issue because you have to take your battery in with you and wrap it in its binky right?

[JoeMX1825]

Shouldn't be an issue because you have to take your battery in with you and wrap it in its binky right?

lol, Really? hey, look at that, I just drilled another few holes without doing a thing besides lifting up my auger and hitting a button...better make sure you have gas in the tank, make sure it's choked properly, oh dump, my recoil didn't go all the way back in last time, i'll just pull harder so it snaps back in, oh dump, my cord broke, let me spend another hour taking off my bootlace and Macgyvering it to my auger...hey what's that guy doing over there? it looks like he's drilling some holes with a green colored auger, yet I don't hear the engine?...I don't see the cloud of smoke?...why isn't he letting the engine warm up? wow, he's done already and back to fishing...ok, so let's see if this shoelace fix worked...hmm, it didn't start on the 1st pull...wait a second, my auger always starts on the 1st pull..few more pulls...oh wait, I didn't choke it, ok, choke is out, now give her hell...dump! i broke the bootlace now...i only have one left..ok, another hour rigging my last bootlace up...hey that guy is leaving now with his limit, I wish I was.....wait what is that? is that a burn hole in my flipover fabric? sob, I must have put the auger down too close to the fabric and the hot exhaust tip melted it....."Serenity now!"

[dpacapt]

If the ice is less than 12" I use my 5" Mora , with a homemade drill adapter and my 1/2 drive Ryobi drill with a lithium battery, don't know how many holes I can get, haven't run it out of juice yet. When the ice gets thicker than that I break out the Eskimo 8" gas. By the way I usually only fish for panfish and perch so the 5" is more than big enough for me.

[ClownColor]

"Boy...look at that fool over there. Looks like he was trying to locate fish but after 20 holes his auger is dead and must drive home. Oh, while that fool is driving home I pounded out 50 holes, found the fish and had my best day ever"

[wookiemofo]

"Boy...look at that fool over there. Looks like he was trying to locate fish but after 20 holes his auger is dead and must drive home. Oh, while that fool is driving home I pounded out 50 holes, found the fish and had my best day ever"

I'll take a stab at this...

JoeMX1825 replies with "Snaps on second battery"

And I'm not poking fun... he's got me leaning towards lithium!

[hamms-scooter]

I'll stick with my Tanaka and gas...If you have drilled a tank empty on a tanaka with a 6" Nils on it or an 8" for that matter you have made serious swiss out of the ice. I am amazed at how that power head sips the gas. You guys can keep your batteries ill take the endless amount of holes instead

[McGurk]

Maybe Toyota should look into a hybrid auger...