Auger Comparison?

[aaron42ash]

On the very very slim chance.... Does anyone know what kind of blades an Ardis QuikDiggger uses? My grandpa owned this gas auger since the '50's and it still starts on the first pull. Just needs a new blade I think. It takes a bit to cut through a foot of ice. By a while I mean like 30 seconds. I'm impatient.

[MarkFromSea]

I use the Strikemaster Lazer 8", 6 yrs now, I haven't sharpened the blades, it still "rocks" thru the ice quickly. I punch around 20 holes on each lake that I hit. The Strikemaster that is NOT the Lazer sucks from the blades to the handles with out the bearings. I have seen that the 6" augers cut thru in half the time that I do. Pi X radius squared, 27in sq vs 48 in sq, the 6" should be twice as fast and require half the effort when compared with an 8" of similar quality. I did find myself thinking of getting a 6" this year for this very reason, I think I'll just sharpen the blades on the 8" and buy a new reel instead! LOL Have a GREAT ice fishing season this winter!

[raffensg64]

I know this is an old thread but, truth be told, a standard Mora Strikemaster with well maintained blades will tackle any ice in eastern Washington. Quickly and efficiently at that. I own both a 6" and 8" and have been using them for several years. They're a bit slower now, but 5-12" of ice is no problem. And anyone who fishes with me will tell you I punch a lot of holes! I believe in moving and moving often......sitting on one hole is an exercise in futility.

It's true, with my Strikemasters, I can't punch old holes. They must freeze irregularly or something. My blades will get stuck if I try it. There are some augers out there that will do it, though. I was told that the new Lazer will do it with ease.

[Jay K]

My vote for Nils; I know aaron42ash also uses the same 6".

[MarkFromSea]

I know this is an old thread but, truth be told, a standard Mora Strikemaster with well maintained blades will tackle any ice in eastern Washington. Quickly and efficiently at that. I own both a 6" and 8" and have been using them for several years. They're a bit slower now, but 5-12" of ice is no problem. And anyone who fishes with me will tell you I punch a lot of holes! I believe in moving and moving often......sitting on one hole is an exercise in futility.

It's true, with my Strikemasters, I can't punch old holes. They must freeze irregularly or something. My blades will get stuck if I try it. There are some augers out there that will do it, though. I was told that the new Lazer will do it with ease.

My Lazer, strikemaster 8", punches thru old 6" holes with ease..... I didn't know there was risk of damage or issue with density..... I'll just drill fresh holes from now on,,,,, thanks folks for gettin me all "knowed up" on the subject.

A smaller diameter WILL make it easier to punch holes! so will bearings in the handles and quality blades, sweden or norwy??????

[raffensg64]

Wow, I swore by Strikemaster Mora until today! My fishing buddy, needing a new auger, got an 8" Strikemaster from Gander Mountain, on my recommendation. At only $39.99, we figured we couldn't go wrong.....until it cut it's inaugural hole. What a piece of crap!!!! My original Strikemasters, both the 6" and 8", have old blades that power right through ice, despite having already cut hundreds apiece. His new one struggled to get started and once it did, required enormous effort. Pissed, I began checking it out. There it was....."Made in China". Are you kidding me????!!!! Did Sweden turn over the flagship of hand-powered augers to China....really??? I had no idea.

Anyways, now he's stuck with having to probably return the darned thing, and I feel horrible.

[MarkFromSea]

Wow, I swore by Strikemaster Mora until today! My fishing buddy, needing a new auger, got an 8" Strikemaster from Gander Mountain, on my recommendation. At only $39.99, we figured we couldn't go wrong.....until it cut it's inaugural hole. What a piece of crap!!!! My original Strikemasters, both the 6" and 8", have old blades that power right through ice, despite having already cut hundreds apiece. His new one struggled to get started and once it did, required enormous effort. Pissed, I began checking it out. There it was....."Made in China". Are you kidding me????!!!! Did Sweden turn over the flagship of hand-powered augers to China....really??? I had no idea.

Anyways, now he's stuck with having to probably return the darned thing, and I feel horrible.

if you get a strikemaster, it has to be at least the LAZER model, about $80 or so, swedish blades, the lesser model sucks mud and I returned mine also 6 years ago after using it one day,,,,it just didn't work at all! it was wal mart, somewhere in Wisconsin, Minoqua maybe on that trip.... REMEMBER LAZER if strikemaster or just get a different brand.......

[raffensg64]

Lazers are good, especially for punching out old holes. But don't write-off the original, Swedish-made, Mora Strikemasters. The two I own are FANTASTIC. Despite blades which are several years old and have punched several hundred holes, mine still power near-effortlessly through ice.

The key here is country of origin. I'm sure that folks other than Swedes could screw up the Lazer, too, if given the opportunity!