New Auger

[tipup]

Ok so I got the go ahead to pick up a new ice auger this fall for ice fishing. I have talked with some friends of mine and now I would like input from the rest of you guys since I have a few weeks left before the even hit the store shelves. i know that i see this debate every year but I would like some response now that I will be buying one. I want a 2hp, 8" hole and either a Jiffy, Strikemaster, or Eskimo. Would love a Nils but a little to much $$ for me. I do most of fishing from a perm. house and early season tip-up. Thanks in advance!!!

[Corey Bechtold]

Are you planning on re-opening holes in a permanent house?

I'd like to recommend Strikemaster to you. I have had mine for over 8 years and love it! I changed my chipper blade out and replaced it with the Lazer blade the first year they put the center point on it. It drills extremely easy and the powerhead has been bery durable.

Good luck,

Corey Bechtold

[iffwalleyes]

If you are looking for a good auger that will reopen holes really well look at the 2HP Jiffy stealth line. They are really good at reopening holes. I have a 3HP 10 and really like it but it is a tanker. So last year I made a switch to the lighter Nils and really like that. Strikemaster are good as well never my personal favorite though since I like Jiffys so well. The benefit of the Jiffy chipper blade or any chipper blade for that matter is that if it gets dull it will still cut maybe a little slower but it will cut.

[harvey lee]

Ditto what Iff said.

[MASON38]

Will second Corey's reccomendation, have had my Lazer Mag Express for 8 yrs, and love it to death. Always fires up by the second pull, third if its below -10 degrees.

[Northlander]

For reopening holes in a perm the Jiffy with the chipper blades is the way to go. The Stealth blades really chew up the ice. Heavy machines but they are work horses.

[Jarrod32]

I have one of each, a Jiffy and Strikemaster Lazer Mag. Both the Jiffy and the Strikemaster use the same 2 HP Tecumseh engine; no difference there. The Strikemaster is a little bit lighter; if you are going to be carrying it around all day and/or drilling a LOT of holes, that might be a bit of an advantage.

The Strikemaster will be faster at drilling holes...IF the blades are sharp. They will get dull over time, and then it will slow down considerably. The Jiffy will remain pretty constant.

Both will cut holes just fine. It is really just a matter of if you want yellow, or if you want red and white.

[zamboni]

You do know- by asking this question- that you have opened a HUGE can of worms. I like Strikemaster BTW

[tipup]

Yes I know that I have opened a can of worms, but I like it since it effectsa what I am going to be buying. I have an ATV so weight is no problem, I am not a hole hopper so I dont need lite and fast, and yes I will be reopening hole in my perm house, so maybe Jiffy is the way to go. Keep the advice/debate going!!! Thanks to all!!

[JustinG]

I bought a 2 h.p. Jiffy Stealth in 8" last year and I absolutely beat the dump out of it- it will take a lickin' and keep on tickin'. Drilled holes with it every day all winter in every temperature extreme imaginable and it started easy every time. It is a cutting machine too. IMHO, I think the Jiffy is much better built than the Strikemaster...Seems like alot of parts on the Strikemaster are kinda cheesy...just my thought. I really like the stealth chipper blades-they cut like a hot knife through butter! Hope this helps!

Justin

[JigginIsLife]

A little off topic but i just bought a lazer mag express and understandably the blades get dull over time. So when that happends are you expected to go out and buy blades ever time or does anyone take them to a grinder in their garage and sharpen them??

[zamboni]

You should have info included with your auger that describes what to do. My Strike-Lite has instructions to where you send them, they sharpen, and send them back. Get on Strikemasters site- I think it tells you on there as well.

[Borch]

If you're ever going through Big Lake just stop in at Strike Master otherwise mail them in. Either way they'll take care of you.

[JigginIsLife]

well that will work but do you think that if somone has a grinder that they could do it themselvs??

[zamboni]

I think this is something I would leave to a pro, sorry.

[hanson]

Quote:

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I think this is something I would leave to a pro, sorry.

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Agreed.

Strikemaster Lazer Blades are not straight, its really a compound curve, curving in 2 directions. I'm not sure how good you are with an angle grinder but there is no way I could maintain the proper angle while negotiating the curved surface of the auger blade.

The pitch, or angle that these blades contacts the ice is extremely important. If its off at all, even with sharp blades, your auger won't cut.

Repitching the auger blades and resharpening the blades is something I'll leave to the pros.

[JigginIsLife]

thanks guys

[Dave]

The cutting angle is such precision, even a layer of ice on the cutting edge can stop a blade from actually cutting. Leave the sharpening to the pro's.

[dkf]

I touch up my Lazer hand auger blades with a diamond file and a hone.

You have to know what your doing. I'm a machinist and always dealing with that sort of thing.

The Jiffy or other straight Chipper blades are super easy to sharpen and can be done out on the ice if need be.

(Note from Admin,Please read forum policy before posting again,Thank-You.)

[iffwalleyes]

Well I will disagree with a Nils not being sharp. Mine blows through ice like a hot knife through butter. If yours doesn't cut right I would get ahold of Cabelas and have them get you a different head or a new one all together.

[Borch]

Is it the head or the offset handle? I know it took a little bit of practice for me to get the hang of the hand auger Nils setup. Once I did it cut like crazy.

BTW,

I loved my Lazer Mag but it didn't hold a candle to my Nils.

[tipup]

Ok so I made my choice and brought it home tonight, and of course the first thing I read on here is the forum about warmer than average winter, bah humbug. Ok anyhow I got a Jiffy STX PRO 2HP. The hole size is 8". So I hope that the winter gets here fast now!!!

[fiskyknut]

A great choice as you mentioned fishing from a permanent and those Jiffy stx's are darn slick at reopening holes.

Ah the great hole size debate. Happens every winter and again this winter I'll stay out of it! But I will say some of us need a bigger hole than others!

Fisky edit, whoops that hole size thread is down the page a little!

[hanson]

Quote:

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Fisky edit, whoops that hole size thread is down the page a little!

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And you'll find the...

- Reel Topic

- Rod Topic

- Glow Topic

- Heater Topic

- LED Light Topic

Somewhere on this page as well.

Shoot, we don't have a minnow topic yet.

[fiskyknut]

Oh those are all fine and dandies eh! A few subjects pop up rather often and turn into more than simple opinion, and a guy {me} just don't wanna spend anymore time throttling on them. Bit my tongue a coupla weeks back on another of those lure hype types.....Won't mention the product name for fear of being dogpiled!.....That particular company must give out the product bigtime to there compensated endorsers because the mere mention of that lure brings the same singers and dancers out of the woodwork everytime and everywhere on the WWW! Some of them are worse than half hour infomercials. I'll only dive into threads like that once the pasture pudding pies get piled too high. Till then I just shake my head and chuckle.

Chris I see you actually went Walleye fishing last weekend eh! Blasphemy!

And whats with those St Croix river Sturgeonfish? They all look rather underfed or anorexic or something!