Jiffy's new auger

[Fish-icer]

Let me know if anyone purchases Jiffy's new propane powered auger...Would like to hear some reviews on it.  Saw it at a Sports Show this weekend and want to know how it works out in cold conditions.

[jimyoumook]

that makes 2 of us

[hookemandcookem]

Id like to know how efficient it is? does it take a small propane bottle I imagine?

[pooley]

look here.
http://www.jiffyonice.com/EComStore/product/new-pro-4-model-40,3664,46.htm

[SINX53]

Talked to the reps for Jiffy at the Fleet Farm Outdoors show at Lambeau in Sept. They said that a bottle should last about the same as a 3/4 of a tank of gas. They also said that the power is immediate unlike gas where you have the hesitation before drilling.

Big plus no smoke or oil on the clothes.

[servocam]

Propane version would be nice - don't have to have to worry about gas spilling out of the tank, the smell of the gas..etc.  No smelling up the shack when drilling inside.  I read One 1-lb. propane cylinder is approximately equivalent to one tank of gas on other augers. 

I see it is $500 for 8" and $520 for 10".  The Jiffy will be at the local GM this weekend for their Ice Expo.  I'll take a look at it.  I don't have a gas auger yet and this would be a good option, but pricey (I'm too frugal and may have the chance to pick up a good used gas one).

[jopes]

How much fuel does a 2 stroker hold?  1 quart?    If so then it is going to use 4-5 green bottles to equal 1 gallon of 2 stroke, I guess it is just me, but I think fuel would get far too costly over time for the propane version.

[dkfry]

How much fuel does a 2 stroker hold?  1 quart?    If so then it is going to use 4-5 green bottles to equal 1 gallon of 2 stroke, I guess it is just me, but I think fuel would get far too costly over time for the propane version.

Its not just you.

If LP augers become popular the bulk fill adapter to fill pounders just may be in high demand.

[jopes]

Its not just you.

If LP augers become popular the bulk fill adapter to fill pounders just may be in high demand.

from my understanding the LP pumped into 20 pound grill tanks is not filtered like the green bottles used on your lantern or Coleman stove.  From reading Jiffy's site on the new propane auger there is no filter for the propane.  My guess is you run the risk of plugging something up with refilling the green bottles.

[dkfry]

If thats a concern I'm sure you can rig up a filter of some sort. For what pounders cost nowdays it can get expensive quick. It kinda annoys me that their is no fuel filter on Jiffy augers. I had to put one on my 2hp. Depending on the screen in the carburetor as the filter is not a good idea.

[backwoodswalker]

Guys you can get a 12' hose and a filter from most sport stores now. People used them for small grills and lanterns. A 20 pound tank here is 15 bucks= 20 1 pound bottles at 2.50 each. BIG SAVINGS. Gander mountain has them so does dunhams, Or you can do as me and get it at fleet  farm. I usually use this for buddy heater with a 10 pound bottle. Small light and easy to transport. I am gonna give these augers a year and see how they do. If good, I will get one. With the problems of ethanol this may be a good thing.

[servocam]

For someone like me that only drills 3-6 holes on an outing, I'm sure it would be just fine.  For those chasing the fish and drilling a new one every 15 minutes, I can see it will be a P-I-T-A.

[ICE KID]

Propane version would be nice - don't have to have to worry about gas spilling out of the tank, the smell of the gas..etc.  No smelling up the shack when drilling inside.  I read One 1-lb. propane cylinder is approximately equivalent to one tank of gas on other augers. 

I see it is $500 for 8" and $520 for 10".  The Jiffy will be at the local GM this weekend for their Ice Expo.  I'll take a look at it.  I don't have a gas auger yet and this would be a good option, but pricey (I'm too frugal and may have the chance to pick up a good used gas one).

I saw on the cabelas web site that 1 tank was equinlant to 1 tank of gas, but I'd take a rep's knowledge over cabelas any day.

[iceman clem]

if i use my stove  or lanteran  on the ice the green bottle starts to freeze on the out side i wounder would this be a problem or not

[servocam]

So I spoke to the Jiffy Rep at the FL GM Ice Expo this morning and had him fire it up in the store.  It is pretty quite running compared to the 2-stroke gas and of course a lot cleaner smelling.  I drilled him on how long the 1lb propane tank will last.  He said their test results give you about an hour of non-stop drilling, so hundreds of holes on one, 1lb tank of propane.  With new blades, it will chew 24 inches of ice in 8 seconds.  I also asked about a filter and he said because it is a high-pressure system, the need for a filter is not required like on low pressure systems. 

He did say that some were taking a 28 ft hose and plumbing that in off their 10# and 20# tanks. At $3.50 per a 1lb tank, being able to drill well over a hundred holes, would work well for me.....just don't have $500+ budgeted to buy one.

[stumper]

Hmm, soooo, about 450 holes through 24 inches of ice per tank? if my math is right. Jiffy(as well as Cabelas) Claim 1 hr of run time under load per tank.

[Hardwater Problem]

Thanks servocam, I am on the market for a power auger this year and this sounds pretty cool.  Any bad press on this thing yet, how is jiffy for augers anyway???  I've been a member for years, so I dont wish to start a war on brands, but are there any serious consistent problems with the jiffy's???

[Dana]

Here is our demo video.  I can take more if there are features that anyone wants to see.  That's not me in the video by the way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT5BHSUknpc

When I took it out of the box I filled it with oil, hooked up the propane tank, and pulled the handle; and it started in one pull.  This is a brand new unit.

[servocam]

I searched for reviews, but came up empty.  Pry because it is new for this season. Buy one and let us know

[topher7694]

I can say that I picked one up at the local Gander Mountain this afternoon....not nearly as heavy as the Jiffy Legend I currently own, but I cannot see spending 500 bucks on something that I do not need at this current time....maybe if mine goes out...

[MEMAGGIENCOMET]

I was at gander tonight and they had one on display.  The thing weighs a ton.  You would have to take a break every couple of holes lugging that thing around. Not for me.

[gaudetskie]

I would think it would be decent for re-opening holes in the shack. If my 1972 Ardisam (Eskimo) would ever die I would look at it more seriously. My 6'' hand powered Nils should still get beter fuel economy!! I wonder if the throttle sticks on the LP models?

[stumper]

I would think it would be decent for re-opening holes in the shack. If my 1972 Ardisam (Eskimo) would ever die I would look at it more seriously. My 6'' hand powered Nils should still get beter fuel economy!! I wonder if the throttle sticks on the LP models?

They have almost NO throttle return spring on them. 

[gaudetskie]

They have almost NO throttle return spring on them. 

No kidding Stumper! Also all the linkage looks to be plastic.  As I said my auger is a little older ('72  ) so are all newer augers going with the plastic linkage??

[stumper]

They use a plastic throttle handle with a steel throttle cable coated with plastic. I just dont get why they cant put a stronger throttle return spring on it. NONE of them on the show room floor will return to closed a lot of the time.

[gaudetskie]

Now imagine that on a cold day, or getting wet! Looks like trouble!

[Ben Ekrem]

I used the Model 34 pro II last winter and never once did i have a problem with the throttle sticking.
If any one has any thoughts or worries, a shot of silicone spray on the exposed areas will help you sleep better im sure.

[Dana]

In our demo on our site we experienced that same thing.  If you have the auger running at max and let off the throttle it takes a little longer than normal for the throttle to return and the auger to slow down.  I'm planning on letting our rep know about it and see what he says.  Not a huge issue as long as you know about it.  Us non-patient people are the ones who are going to be bothered by it the most.  Just that much longer before I can wet a line.

[gaudetskie]

Dana, will anybody be doing any field testing of this auger over at Glens?

[dkfry]

They have almost NO throttle return spring on them. 

I noticed that on the one at Cabela's today. If the cable gets dry and sticky your in for some trouble.