battery augers

[Hawg]

If you're going to reopen a lot of holes then Ion for sure. The ring around the blades keep it straight and from biting too hard and corkscrewing in.

[opsirc]

I decieded to go with the Ion. did not want to have to worry about mixing or hauling gas. Not to mention trying to get rid of the gas odor off hands while fishing after filling tank.

[cavalierowner]

This has been a very informative thread. I have an old Electra auger that I have had since the early 80's that still works great. The only problem is that it needs to be connected to an external battery, usually my truck/car. It's also a bit slow, but I'm retired, so what else do I have to do?? If my auger dies before I do, I'm going to get another electric. I've been looking pretty seriously at at the new Electra because it has the battery cables in addition to the on-board battery if (when) I forget to charge the battery or just run out of juice. But then I keep hearing about the breaking handles. Comments??

Please don't suggest a gas auger....don't want a gas auger.

[BartmanMN]

Ion or Lithium Lazer would be great for you Cav.    Skip the Electra.

[cavalierowner]

9 minutes ago, BartmanMN said:

Ion or Lithium Lazer would be great for you Cav.    Skip the Electra.

Am I correct that both of these require 110V power for the charger? Really would like a backup if I run out of juice if I'm on the ice. I've even thought about buying an Ion before my old Electra dies and carrying both augers so I have a backup, but that sounds dumb even to me.

[Cooperman]

ion....it's the only way to go!

[cavalierowner]

21 minutes ago, rl_sd said:

You can buy a $20 inverter to run the 120v charger, but I doubt that you will have an issue. How many holes do you drill on an average outing?

Ion claims 40 holes thru 24" on a charge, is that realistic? I don't see drilling that much in a day if I'm honest, but I can imagine forgetting to charge it. Maybe I just need to staple a note to my forehead LOL!! Now to convince my wife the Ion is a necessity.

[LindellProStaf]

I have seen a few responses saying things about too much power such as  breaking arms or walls???  I am not a lover of any brand but to me that means a lot of power and not cutting good meaning dull or not knowing how to auger holes.  When you are almost through you pull up a little and let it cut the hole out so you don't have a sharp edge left at the bottom of the hole.  At least that is what I do.  I would go electric if someone made a 9". 

[Hawg]

Just like with any new toy I went out and raised one side of the house a few inches 3 or 4 times with my cheap Ryobi 18 volt drill, very easy , worked great. Only thing to consider is with the 2 speed winches I put on I can crank the house up left handed with very little effort. If you don't have them, get 2 speed winches. ICnuts has the for about $130 with a special cog lock for fish house use or you can get them o n l i n e anywhere with out the cog. I went with his and couldn't be happier. At first impression I think the brake cog is pretty important, it makes a very firm 2 way braking system.  

[Moon Lake Refuge]

On 1/22/2016 at 5:31 PM, cavalierowner said:

Ion claims 40 holes thru 24" on a charge, is that realistic? I don't see drilling that much in a day if I'm honest, but I can imagine forgetting to charge it. Maybe I just need to staple a note to my forehead LOL!! Now to convince my wife the Ion is a necessity.

We just took our ION out for the first time this weekend.  Did about 35 holes through 14 inches of ice.  Still had 2/3 battery left at the end of the weekend.

[BLACKJACK]

On 1/22/2016 at 3:30 PM, cavalierowner said:

 But then I keep hearing about the breaking handles. Comments??

 

I asked earlier in this thread about the breaking plastic handles and if they're breaking thru normal use or abuse and no one answered. I'm thinking abuse, as in it fell over.

On 1/23/2016 at 8:04 PM, LindellProStaf said:

 breaking arms or walls???

I own an Electra, trust me, even if you know the bottom of the hole is coming and slow down the blade 'catches' at the bottom of the hole and swings the whole head around, with you attached. I've smashed my fingers between the handle and wall more than i care to admit.  And you still have to drill that first hole to figure out where the bottom of the ice is. Then on the next hole you brace your elbows against your knees, slow down when you're getting close - and it still jerks your arms off. Its a piece of dump.

[LindellProStaf]

So is the Ion smoother at throttling down Black Jack?

[Moon Lake Refuge]

59 minutes ago, LindellProStaf said:

So is the Ion smoother at throttling down Black Jack?

Never used the black jack, but first impression on the ion this weekend... I just powered through the bottom of the hole and really had little to no kickback when I pushed through.  Went very smoothly.  Even reopening a hole that froze 6-8 inches down it cut through like fresh ice.

[Hawg]

3 hours ago, Hawg said:

Just like with any new toy I went out and raised one side of the house a few inches 3 or 4 times with my cheap Ryobi 18 volt drill, very easy , worked great. Only thing to consider is with the 2 speed winches I put on I can crank the house up left handed with very little effort. If you don't have them, get 2 speed winches. ICnuts has the for about $130 with a special cog lock for fish house use or you can get them o n l i n e anywhere with out the cog. I went with his and couldn't be happier. At first impression I think the brake cog is pretty important, it makes a very firm 2 way braking system.  

 

Another post in the wrong spot.?! I must be getting old too old.

[BLACKJACK]

5 hours ago, LindellProStaf said:

So is the Ion smoother at throttling down Black Jack?

I don't know, I've never used an Ion.  Have you tried an Electra?? If throttling down was the answer I -- and many others - wouldn't be bad mouthing the Electra's.  If you're ever close to Willmar I'll let you try mine. But not out on the open ice, in a fish house, with your hand about 4 inches from the wall, you can see for yourself whether your 'throttling down' theory works.

[cavalierowner]

I reading further comments, it sounds like at least one person has an issue with the Electra catching as it breaks through at the bottom of the hole. My 30 year old Electra does the same thing. Over the years I have found that it's easy to tell when I'm close to the water because the ice feels different and I also lift slightly, but it still catches; but I'm used to that, it's not a huge deal for me. But then all my drilling is outside and not inside any more. So does the Ion not catch? It would be nice if it didn't.

Frankly, the biggest reason I'm waffling is that I'm retired and on a fixed income and the Ion is $110 more than the Electra. I hate that it might come down to that.

[BLACKJACK]

1 hour ago, cavalierowner said:

.

Frankly, the biggest reason I'm waffling is that I'm retired and on a fixed income and the Ion is $110 more than the Electra. I hate that it might come down to that.

The Ions are on sale at Cabelas, not sure if they have any left.

[Hawg]

I bought a new one with reverse but still wonder if it was worth it. I would buy a used one without reverse in a heartbeat. The only time mine corkscrews is when the hole is BARELY frozen in, otherwise it never does on reopening holes. 

[cavalierowner]

9 minutes ago, Hawg said:

I bought a new one with reverse but still wonder if it was worth it. I would buy a used one without reverse in a heartbeat. The only time mine corkscrews is when the hole is BARELY frozen in, otherwise it never does on reopening holes. 

Reverse isn't important to me either. I don't mind spending a minute cleaning out a hole. I can get reverse on my antique Electra, but the only times I have ever used it was 2 or 3 times when I accidentally reversed the battery cables in low light. 

I think I've decided to get the Ion, without reverse if I can get it. Thanks all for the time spent helping with the decision.

[Hawg]

The one place reverse works great is when you break through the ice you can hit reverse and not pull all the ice up into the house. That's important with thick ice. I still use my drill and slush copter for cleaning. Get one for sure if you're a house guy.

[opsirc]

bought the one with reverse, paid $450 for it, hard to pass up.

[liptickler]

If you have the time, I would recommend viewing icegator vs ion.  I have the icegator 42volt and am very happy with it.  It is just as the video shows. Only saw it in action on the ice one time and had to talk to the man who owned it.  He had his for 4 yrs and had no problems.  Here in New York last year we were cutting 25" or more of ice and I would drill 50 to 100 holes each time out as I drill for everyone and am retired and fish a lot. No warm up, no gas mixing or smell, literally seconds per hole.  My Tanaka gas motor stays home as a back up...