Mantis Tiller???

[City Bound]

Any good? Use one? pros and cons? What gas powered tiller would you recommend?

[MoonShadows]

From my experience, it works well if your ground is already relatively soft or your garden is already established. When I tried to break new ground to extend my garden, the tines bent. I sent it back and bought a White Tiller.

[Big Dave]

Stihl has a mini tiller that has several attachments. I like it for the places I can not use the big one. I have a mantis under the deck. Been there for a while. Just never use either one or the big one any more as I have gone ton layering no till.

[haypoint]

I have used a Mantis tiller a lot. It won't break up sod, but it'll mix up garden soil. I had 10 yards of top soil brought in . I used it for potting fruit trees and daylilies. The Mantis broke up the dirt and made it fluffy so I could easily pot my plants. In light soil, it tills a garden just fine. I thought it looked like a toy, but it held up well.

[SJSFarm]

I got mine when I had clay soil in CA. The commercials about it pulling out rocks could have been filmed at my place! I ran that puppy over some seriously hard soil, hard red Sierra Nevada clay. Pulled out rocks larger than a grapefruit.

It is hard, especially on the hands with the vibration- it dosent help that I've suffered carpal tunnel as well.

I use it now to clear and mix the soil in my beds. I made 4x16 beds and now the soil is softer and it simply rips thru it easy.

Before I had beds I cleared the entire garden area, 16x50. That was time consuming, but once done- would be easy to maintain. I have the attachments- edger, lawn aerator, and I think something else- don't know I never looked thru the box (I got it in 2000)!

Id try to find a used one. I don't know what they are going for now, but mine has been used for over 10 years and still going well- with the same blades!

[lonelytree]

Echo makes one too.

[Darren]

Look at the Honda FG110. Straight gas engine for less money. Look at a used one off eBay to save money. Do not buy the older Honda FG100 model.

[electronrider]

I love my Mantis tiller.

I have used it in conditions that would make the mantis people cringe, and it gets the job done. It WILL eventually cut through everything you can throw at it. eventually. It really is designed for ground that is already broken up a bit, and works aesome for weeding inbetween the rows of your garden. Small raised beds is another place this unit really shines, as it is lightweight and small.

I have tilled far too big an area with mine in the past, before I got my bigger tiller. It can be done, but takes a LOT longer due to how narrow it is compared to a big rear tine tiller.

Buy with confidence, they are excellent value for the money paid in my opinion.

[brosil]

Mantis tillers will not repeatedly cut through 6" tree roots. That got my first one. My cousin got my second one. I'm on my third and considering buying a fourth electric one to use in the barn to till the manure to make it easier to shovel. Yes, I love them. I have a big rear tine tiller as well.
I had to use my Mantis to till up sod as the rear tine kept bouncing off.

[FarmboyBill]

I have one, a used one. Its good at what it does. At my age, I find that its kinda hard to pull it back to me repeatedly. There is a bit of vibration, and I find it a bit hard to get close to plants without getting too close. I think tho, IF I were 25yrs younger, I wouldnt have any of those problems.
IF, when you buy one, some of the times look bent, There likly made that way. I had used mione 2yrs and noticed some bent tines. The tines come in 2 sections. The company offers new times for free, so I sent in for some. Got them. Some of them were bent too.

[mistletoad]

Mine sits in the shed and collects rust. Once in a while I drag it out to see if it still works (yes) and see if I can stand using it (no). I have used it to fluff compost, but on soil it is awful. If it isn't bouncing, it's sliding sideways - even on beds you could dig with your fingers. I did think about tying a cinder block on top of it, but I didn't really fancy having to carry a cinder block around.

[simi-steading]

Good tillers, but your soil has to be well worked before it's much good.. .It's great for keeping the weeds chopped back, but it's not made for digging new ground.

[switchman62]

Originally Posted by brosil

Mantis tillers will not repeatedly cut through 6" tree roots. That got my first one. My cousin got my second one. I'm on my third and considering buying a fourth electric one to use in the barn to till the manure to make it easier to shovel. Yes, I love them. I have a big rear tine tiller as well.
I had to use my Mantis to till up sod as the rear tine kept bouncing off.

Thanks for the idea about using to till manure in barn. never thought of that. It would make scooping alot easier.

Dave

[Tabitha]

That is what I want to get pigs for.

[Paquebot]

Bought the original when they first came out. It's only problem was that it was a 5-pound brick too light. When one of those was tied on, worked great. Mantis listened and next generation came out 5 pound heavier. Originally the new model still had the same transmission as the old and the more powerful motor was hard on it. I have two of the newer ones in case something happens and I can't wait for it to be fixed.

I've yet to find any ground which it will not chew up. Mistake that many make is trying to chase it all over the garden. Arms, legs, and back wear out in hurry that way. Just hang on and let it dig itself down. Then slowly walk backwards while it does its thing. Your arms and back are always straight and your entire body is the weight pulling it back rather than just arms and shoulders..

Martin

[1shotwade]

I've used them since they came out. Once you get used to them they're so much better than dragging out the big tiller or trying to weed with a hoe. I am going to try an area of my garden in "back to eden" this year and plan on using it to lay off my rows then plant and cover the sides with cardboard & wood chips to be dragged in latter as the plants grow.I see them used around here for $75.Good luck.


Wade

[Paquebot]

The Mantis comes in real handy at planting time. When planting a double row of beans or peas, make on pass with the Mantis. Then merely push the seeds into the loose soil near the edge. (That same system is now used at WeGrowGarlic.) It also works well for potatoes. For all planting, just do one row at a time and not worry about stepping on where the next row will go. When done with one, run the Mantis through where the next will be.

Martin

[Callieslamb]

I love my mini tiller but I went with a 4-cycle so I don't have to mix oil/gas to run it. Much more simple for my brain. I don't think I'd garden without it.

[TheMartianChick]

I have an electric Mantis tiller and I love how quiet it is. I did use it to expand from a small garden plot to a much larger one. I'm thinking that some of you must have some tough soil to break up, because mine didn't have an issue. I did bend a few tines when the tiller discovered the brick foundation of an old outbuilding on the property. It still works well. I bought it used on Craigslist for $75 in 2008 or so.

[SJSFarm]

Originally Posted by brosil

Mantis tillers will not repeatedly cut through 6" tree roots. That got my first one. My cousin got my second one. I'm on my third and considering buying a fourth electric one to use in the barn to till the manure to make it easier to shovel. Yes, I love them. I have a big rear tine tiller as well.
I had to use my Mantis to till up sod as the rear tine kept bouncing off.

I did this in the stalls. Oh my was it fantasticly easy to clean that area afterwards.

I ran it over small areas then cleared them out. So very easy to clean out a deep bedding barn come spring.