Pros and Cons of Propane Augers

Pros and Cons of Propane Augers Quick Chart

The vast majority of propane ice auger reviews are positive, which proves that it’s one of the most useful tools to have at your advantage when you head out to your favorite fishing spot. Propane powered augers are also used to dig post holes.  

With the ability to slice through thick ice or chew through roots, a propane powered auger is super efficient at getting your job done.  Here are 7 Pros of owning and using a propane auger compared to gas, electric or manual augers.

Pros of a Propane Auger : 7 Reasons to Choose Propane

• Quiet 
• Emissions
• Refueling
• Easy Maintenance
• Starting is a Breeze
• Torque
• Long Lasting

Quiet

Although a propane auger isn’t as quiet as a manual or electric auger, they are quieter than gas, which is ideal for fishermen who want to avoid scaring away fish. If you’re particularly sensitive to sound, you’ll appreciate their low volume as well.

This is one of their largest selling features, as you can have far more peaceful fishing experiences.  If you’ve got post holes to drill and don’t want to bother the neighbors a ton, a propane auger will get the job done.  

Emissions

Propane burns cleaner than gas.  You won’t be filling the air with as much pollutants and other harmful toxins. 

With a propane auger, you have the ability to control the number of emissions that could affect you, but also the environment. This is what helps to make them one of the better alternatives for the eco-conscious.

Refueling

One of the largest cons to gas augers is you have to bring messy, smelly fuel and oil with you on your trips. You then have to mix the fuel at the perfect ratio to get your gas auger started.  

If you have to refill your auger with gasoline, it’s more likely than not that you’ll spill gas either all over yourself or the floor of your shack. This forces you to constantly inhale the unappealing fumes of gas.

With propane, you don’t have to worry about bringing extra fuel that might spill, mixing fuels or dealing with a fuel stabilizer.  You can refuel your propane auger by simply attaching a new propane canister and get back to drilling much faster.  

Simple Maintenance

Maintaining your auger can be a hassle, especially if you’re the type of person looking for a low-maintenance tool. With propane, there’s no need to winterize the fuel as propane is less volatile when it’s stored away. You’ll also appreciate how cleanly propane burns, as you won’t have to deal with clogged carburetors or spark plugs wearing out.

Easy Starting

As there’s no need for you to have to try to prime the motor and then attempt to start your auger multiple times in a row, as you would with gas, propane augers are easier to get started.

They may not be the fastest starting, (electric augers are the best here or manual since you don’t have a motor to deal with) but they are easier to start up in colder weather. This saves you time so you can get back to work faster.

Torque

Your new propane auger is full of torque.  Depending on the model you choose, you may even have more torque than higher-end gas augers. Some of the top-tier brands have created augers that can make up to 100 holes in three feet of ice easily and quickly.  

Longevity

Because propane augers don’t have all the same engine parts as a gas auger, there’s is less wear and tear on parts.  And because propane burns clean there isn’t any gunk accumulating over time inside your augers engine.  This makes it so your propane auger will last a long time.

What’s the Bad News About Propane Augers?

There are always Pros and Cons to each type of auger, including a propane auger.  So, what should you know about the cons of propane augers before buying one?  Here are our top 3 things to know about the cons of propane augers.

Pros and Cons of Propane Augers: The Cons

Cons of a Propane Auger : 3 Cons to Consider

Requires Warmth

Propane augers are quite easy to start up, especially when compared to gas, as there are fewer steps to be followed. Unfortunately, the propane will need to remain warm in order to be the most efficient. This can be quite a hassle, especially since ice fishing typically requires you to be outside in negative temperatures, depending on where you live.

With that said, there are many ice fishing enthusiasts who suggest keeping a backup tank of propane in your vehicle is the perfect way to make sure you always have ready-to-use fuel.

In addition, it’s not as if you need to heat the propane, as this is an extremely hazardous idea, but it needs to be kept from extreme cold.

Heavy 

Propane augers are known to be one of the heaviest types of augers, which will limit how easy they are to carry. Although you’ll be able to avoid carrying extra tanks of gasoline and oil, you might still need to bring extra propane canisters with you. 

Propane augers are also heavier than both electric and manual augers.

By far, the most lightweight type of auger is a manual one, but propane auger reviews found they are also far more time consuming and require more effort to use. 

Fuel Disposal

The other two types of powered augers allow you to reuse their source of power. For example, electric models require you to recharge their batteries.

Propane, on the other hand, requires you to dispose of their fuel containers once they have been consumed. This isn’t a huge inconvenience, but it is an extra step that you’ll have to do every time you replace the propane.

Depending on where you live, you may be able to dispose of the canisters for free, but in most cases, you’ll have to pay to dump them at your local waste management facility. This is an additional cost to keep in mind at the end of every season.

Pros and Cons of Propane : Are Propane Augers Better than Gas?

Which type of auger you choose all depends on your needs and personal preference. For me, I would choose a gas auger over a propane auger because of their sensitivity to cold temperatures and gas augers have a ton of torque for getting through thick ice fast and efficiently.

Are Propane Ice Augers Loud?

Propane ice augers tend to be one of the loudest augers on the lake. Only gas augers are louder. They might even be loud enough to scare fish away, so be aware of that fact. For quiet auger operation, you should choose a manual auger, an auger operated by a drill, or an electric ice auger.

Pros and Cons of Propane Augers Conclusion

Now that you know the pros and cons of propane augers your able to make a decision if that type of auger is the best for your fishing or hole digging.

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