New Auger suggestions

[Steve01987]

I have 2 augers (both hand augers).  An eskimo 8" hand auger and an 8" strikemaster lazer. I'm looking for the cheapest but also reliable upgrade as I have literally handcranked holes for the past 4 years in sometimes as much as 2 feet of ice.  And I'll put down 12+ traps when fishing with friends so that's a lot of holes and a lot of ice with a hand auger.  Looked at propane augers and they're expensive, also I don't know about them freezing up.  I'm sure there's ways around it.  I know gas tends to run a bit cheaper.  I'm considering just getting the clam plate and a nice drill.  I guess that would run me about the same as a new gas auger?  I know it's a boring/beat to death topic but any suggestions would be awesome. Thanks

[800stealth]

Get yourself a good drill and run the blades you got... simple solution...

[hardwater diehard]

 With the wave of electric style augers ..both cordless drills and electric motors..gas augers both new and used can be had quite cheaply from various sites/platforms. Cordless drills offer you a tool to use in the off seasons..but can be a bit steep cost upfront . You are at the cross roads ..Could you use a good hand drill around the household ? If so that may be your answer ..Do you feel confident that you can purchase a good used auger that may be cheaper .

[AQUAASSASSIN]

I sold my gasser this winter, picking up a new 10” electric Strikemaster in 2 weeks. Ran one last year and it was so nice I sold my gasser. I ran it against the Ionx last year and a trophy strike and could do 2 holes to 1 with it compared to those and extreme temps with thick ice never skipped a beat. Been wanting electric for a long time. Was waiting for the Headaches to be gone and the time is here, it’s the future.

[TonyThunder]

Just buy a nils, I take mine and it’s a hand one over my jiffy gas auger. Cuts like butter. Well worth the price

[pmaloney86]

If you know how to work on mechanical machines the cheapest option is most likely the gas auger.  Since you have two flights already I'd suggest just going the drill route.  You'd need to get the drill and its up to you if you want the clam plate.  The Rigid drill doesn't fit the clam plate perfectly and prob pairs better with a milwaukee but it still does the job.  The clam plate provides you some more control and safety but plenty of people use the conversion kits without the plate.  There are so many options out there you really can't go wrong but there are pros and cons for each.

[HuntnFish603]

I sold my gasser this winter, picking up a new 10” electric Strikemaster in 2 weeks. Ran one last year and it was so nice I sold my gasser. I ran it against the Ionx last year and a trophy strike and could do 2 holes to 1 with it compared to those and extreme temps with thick ice never skipped a beat. Been wanting electric for a long time. Was waiting for the Headaches to be gone and the time is here, it’s the future.

I know you talked about this last year. Let me know how it goes. I know you will put it through a REAL test.
Seriously thinking about selling my IonX 10" for a new Strike. Don't get me wrong, its way better than gas, but I'm just not 100% impressed with  the way it cuts and the ergonomics. And yes I know guys rave about the Ion but theres a few things I just think could be better. Heard great things about the Strikemaster.

[AQUAASSASSIN]

I know you talked about this last year. Let me know how it goes. I know you will put it through a REAL test.
Seriously thinking about selling my IonX 10" for a new Strike. Don't get me wrong, its way better than gas, but I'm just not 100% impressed with  the way it cuts and the ergonomics. And yes I know guys rave about the Ion but theres a few things I just think could be better. Heard great things about the Strikemaster.

Will do I ran them side by side for a half dozen trips last year and the Strike was a Beast

[Seamonkey84]

If you don’t have one already, get yourself a good brushless drill with at least 800lb torque and put it on either one of those Augers. A extension of some sort is also going to be needed. Just start it slowly and ease up before it breaks through the bottom, both of those can catch the bottom of the ice and stop suddenly.  I highly recommend you get a clam plate, biggest reason is the leverage and control it gives you. Granted that ends up costing as much as a used/cheap power auger, but it’ll be a hell of a lot lighter and you’ll have a power tool for the rest of the year.

[AQUAASSASSIN]

I know you talked about this last year. Let me know how it goes. I know you will put it through a REAL test.
Seriously thinking about selling my IonX 10" for a new Strike. Don't get me wrong, its way better than gas, but I'm just not 100% impressed with  the way it cuts and the ergonomics. And yes I know guys rave about the Ion but theres a few things I just think could be better. Heard great things about the Strikemaster.

I’m also waiting until after next week when I collect all my deer pool winnings 

[AQUAASSASSIN]

I also considered the power tool route but using them every single day for a living I can’t fathom how they don’t burn out in a fairly quick fashion especially with the amount of holes I’ll drill and I really prefer 10”

[jibbs]

im a gas guy..the internet is loaded with gasser's for cheap

[TheCrittaC]

im a gas guy..the internet is loaded with gasser's for cheap

This is the route I'd go if you don't want to spend too much money. Plenty of guys are switching to electric or propane and want to get rid of their gas auger. You can get a used Jiffy Model 30 for $150 or less, and the maintenance on them is pretty simple.
Propane and electric have the added benefit of no harmful exhaust, but the propane ones are heavier than the gas ones.

[Thorney]

Just bite the bullet and get a Clam plate / drill setup. I switched a few years ago. Ended up giving my Eskimo gas auger away. Very few people are going with gas these days for all of the obvious reasons.

[Digs]

I run a DeWalt and a Nils. Love it I tried one a few years back and gave my old jiffy away to someone getting into ice fishing and bought that.

[TonyThunder]

I run a DeWalt and a Nils. Love it I tried one a few years back and gave my old jiffy away to someone getting into ice fishing and bought that.

One of the best setups for drilling, I love my nils wouldn’t trade it for anything

[Zachbfish]

I was running a nils and milwaukee drill but switched to the eskimo pistol bit last year and its  awesome! The bit is super light and theres way less stress on the drill. Both are 8 inch augers. Pistol bit is definitely quick. Still have the handle for the nils as a backup

[jibbs]

This is the route I'd go if you don't want to spend too much money. Plenty of guys are switching to electric or propane and want to get rid of their gas auger. You can get a used Jiffy Model 30 for $150 or less, and the maintenance on them is pretty simple.
Propane and electric have the added benefit of no harmful exhaust, but the propane ones are heavier than the gas ones.

they are everywhere

[Turd Ferguson]

I’ve had a Jiffy model 30, Jiffy propane and just switched over to an 8” Nils with a Dewalt 996.

First, I’ll never go back to anything but an auger/drill combo.

The Nils hype is real. I’ve used the hand auger set up multiple times and the drill combo a few times. I use the Kovak ice master adapter. This auger absolutely slices  through the ice.  So far, I love it.

[Coffin Dodger]

Does "Alice’s" belong on AA's thread tangent?
Regardless, would you explain to me?

signed,
Genuinely Curious ?

[AQUAASSASSIN]

Alice In Chains 

[Coffin Dodger]

Frank, you young bucks are talking over my head??? 

[SALMONEMIA]

Frank, you young bucks are talking over my head??? 

Alice in chains is a band.  Not sure what alice means in regards to drilling through ice.

[Mr.Harry]

That’s gotta be a spell-correct thing. I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt on that. If it’s some new kind of new dangled slang, like referencing rabbit-holes from Alice In Wonderland,

Nahhh

I’d have to swallow my vomit.

[Seamonkey84]

That’s gotta be a spell-correct thing. I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt on that. If it’s some new kind of new dangled slang, like referencing rabbit-holes from Alice In Wonderland,

Nahhh

I’d have to swallow my vomit.

I was thinking along the lines of “like down the rabbit hole”.

[Fishermen]

I'm not going to nock anything a man's doing to get a hole  it's all preference and asking the wife with fear how you need a new auger I'm still running fuel and when the ice is thick strike master pro 8 inch is no joke

[Iceassin]

You say you want cheap and reliable upgrade? Well, you already have the augers, right? And do you already a cordless drill? Then just get a $25 adapter...done. But there is more. Rule of thumb is 100# of torque per inch of auger, but not set in stone. Brushless drill is better than those with brushes, but not absolutely necessary. Clam plates and the like do make it safer and easier to use on a drill setup, but again, not the says all that ends all...just use caution.

My setup? A brushed, 600# drill with 4ah batteries,  4" and 6" laser augers, no Clam plate. I have used this setup for the past 2 years, going on 3, and would guess I have punched 500+ holes during this time ( I'm retired and fish a lot 😁) and have had zero issues. The one thing that may cause "overload" with this is ice thickness. But where I fish here in Michigan, it is rare to find ice over 12" thick. But so far so good.

Anyway, you got the auger,  you got a drill?, get the adapter and give it a go. If it doesn't work...just go up from there. Just my (winded) opinion. 😉

[meatandmetal]

Frank, you young bucks are talking over my head??? 

Me too.

Alice in chains is a band.  Not sure what alice means in regards to drilling through ice.

Who knows with Frank what it means ever since he moved to Maine and stopped drinking PBR he has gotten a little loopy.

[Turd Ferguson]

Does "Alice’s" belong on AA's thread tangent?
Regardless, would you explain to me?

signed,
Genuinely Curious ?

Haha. Sorry. Stupid autocorrect.

[AQUAASSASSIN]

Me too.

Who knows with Frank what it means ever since he moved to Maine and stopped drinking PBR he has gotten a little loopy.

Vacationland, it happens.