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cookiedough
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« on: February 17, 2023, 07:17:39 PM » |
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been comtemplating buyng a new 8 inch propane eskimo hc40 ice auger place has them clearanced out for 30% off msrp, good deal. was thinking of an all electric ice auger but more expensive and battery will not last as long as the propane ice auger probably before needing expensive lithium ion battery replaced.
NO one is buying gas ice augers anymore and seems like all are going for all electric ice augers. 50-60 holes before dying is plenty for an outing with an electric ice auger (and lighter), but still IMO prefer propane.
comments?
P.S. also should buy a new lithium 18 or 20v Milwaukee or DeWalt power drill since have an adapter for my 6 inch hand auger to drill holes as well. Suggestions on power quality 18 or 20v drills besides Milwaukee or DeWalt and any good sales seen lately on the drill and 2 batteries?
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Beardo
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« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2023, 07:32:43 AM » |
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I have a 40V Lithium Strikemaster 10”. It’s amazing. Drills as many holes in 4’ ice as you need and is still at 75% when you get home. Quiet, no messing with fuel. My son used it all day then accidentally left the battery in his truck at -40 for a week then plugged it in, was still over 50%. Had it over a year now, gets used a couple times a week in the winter, sat all summer, no decreased power or battery issues yet.
Yes, they’re expensive. But I don’t look at it as an $850 (CAD) auger…I look at it as only a couple hundred more than a gas one. If you’re going to spend 6 or 700(Canadian prices, yours are lower I’m sure), might as well spend a little more to get the good one. Yes the battery may degrade and need to be replaced someday. But you’ll never have to take the carb apart or have trouble starting it. You never hesitate to go drill a few more holes when it’s that easy…with my gas auger at -40, if the fishing sucks, I was always thinking…no point trying to start my auger and try a different spot. Also doesn’t fill the ice shack(converted camper trailer) with stinky exhaust. That’s big for us.
Ice fishing is supposed to be fun and relaxing. This takes the stress out of whether your auger will start, run properly, etc. I’d pinch pennies for another year and save up and get the good one if I was contemplating getting one and price was a factor.
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cookiedough
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« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2023, 05:12:56 PM » |
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bit the bullet today and fleet farm had 30% off all ice augers. The ION electric auger was 420 bucks originally at 600 bucks. SOOO tempted since they say the ION is best no. 1. 2nd place is strikemaster 40v then 24v., having both in stock and those were around 330 to 380 bucks brand new, so tempted as well. The 24v read up does about 60 to 70 holes which is plenty for a full day of ice fishing.
However, ended up getting for 296 bucks a propane eskimo hc40 ice auger which is about 8-9 lbs. heavier. Yah, ONLY 100 to 120 bucks cheaper is all considering an amazing 30% off msrp. I saw the ION batteries are NUTS in price there as well so figured if the propane auger runs well 10 years from now money well spent not having to buy another ice auger battery. NO mess NO gas is nice. I called local sporting goods store and they have NOT sold even 1 gas ice auger the last 2 winter seasons of ice fishing, all are going electric, not even propane they said sold since of the heaviness of it say near 30lbs. vs. 22 lbs. for electric ice auger.
Propane is cheap 1lb. bottles and I bought a few years ago an adapter that works fairly well transferring propane from my 20lb. gas grill tank to used up 1lb. propane cylinders fills them up to say 80-85% of being full.
going tomorrow to test it out drilling a few dozens holes in local pond downtown just to make sure it runs well before the season is over in another 2-3 weeks. Has 5 year warranty on the eskimo hc40 propane ice auger vs. 3 year warranty with all electric augers is nice as well. Hoping this no mess no fumes no gas propane auger lasts me the rest of my life and ice blades on it are pretty darn cheap as well compared to the ion and strikemaster electric auger.
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cookiedough
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« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2023, 05:46:09 PM » |
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time to put the new ice auger away for the winter, am done. drilled 6 holes but before I got to do that, had to walk an extra 75 yards away to actually get ONTO the small pond since all open water along shore one foot out, not good. found one spot able to walk from shore without open water and only went out 10 ft knowing is about 6 ft deep at most in that area.
at least it works well, easy to start, and drilled holes like butter, although was only 5 inches of dark, slushy, soft ice. I was wondering why 2 guys on the local pond were standing on the island and not ON the lake watching their tipups from shore. Now I know why.
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Ramie
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« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2023, 09:20:13 PM » |
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This warm weather hasn't been any good for the ice, getting pretty thin around here. I think the season will be ending sooner than normal.
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“I am not a courageous person by nature. I have simply discovered that, at certain key moments in this life, you must find courage in yourself, in order to move forward and live. It is like a muscle and it must be exercised, first a little, and then more and more. A deep breath and a leap.”
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cookiedough
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« Reply #5 on: February 22, 2023, 04:40:54 AM » |
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This warm weather hasn't been any good for the ice, getting pretty thin around here. I think the season will be ending sooner than normal.
seems like every year the ice season gets shorter and shorter now ending in Feb. not mid to early March. Even this winter year a few ATV's fell thru the Madison WI lakes during say January when the ice is usually 12 or more inches thick by then, not so this year. I remember in 1993 or 1994 winter ice fishing in Door County WI with just an 8 inch blue Mora hand auger. I was young and stronger of course and drilled 2 holes by hand and was on my knees drilling until about 1 inch before the handle was touching the ice before breaking thru. The ice was well over 36 inches deep and I ONLY drilled 2 holes that day since both took 20 minutes to drill just 1 ice hole. Doubt I will ever do that again now 30 years older thanks to my new propane ice auger. |
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Beardo
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« Reply #6 on: February 22, 2023, 06:21:33 AM » |
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Still 4’ of ice here. Haven’t needed the extension on the auger yet but it’s awful close. Son went out yesterday, had a good day. This one was 24 lbs, 44”.  |
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POPS 57
Member
Posts: 456
Motorized Bandit
Motley MN
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« Reply #7 on: February 22, 2023, 07:34:29 AM » |
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We still have around 20" in the Staples/Motley area. Just spent a week on the hard water. Half ton truck and a 17' R.V. ice castle fish house. Pulled the house Sunday because of the storm that's on the way.
I have an Ion and love it. It's one of the first one's they made. Drills more hole's then this old man needs. It helps to keep the batt. warm. You can't sell or give away a gas auger in this area.
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And as i shifted into 5th I couldn't remember a thing she said.
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cookiedough
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« Reply #8 on: February 22, 2023, 08:21:43 PM » |
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Still 4’ of ice here. Haven’t needed the extension on the auger yet but it’s awful close. Son went out yesterday, had a good day. This one was 24 lbs, 44”. am jealous, HUGE pike. my biggest is on my wall only 40 inches and 13.5lbs. but I caught it out of my little hometown pond ice fishing some 15+ years ago biggest fish am sure outta there ever. yes, no one can sell gas ice augers anymore. Local sport shop told me they have ONLY sold electric augers past 2 winters, NOT one propane or gas auger sold. |
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