Mantis ???

[MGO]

Lookiong for some feedback on the Mantis....please.

How does it do as far as power? When used as a tiller for gardens how does it compare to a Multi-Use String Trimmer with a tiller attachment....I assume the Mantis is more powerful??

Anyone ever use the Mantis with the Dethatcher Attachment??? How does that do?

Thanks in advance! Mike

[kevB]

I used a Mantis tiller for some work at my in-laws' shore house. I borrowed it from a friend that uses it a lot in his yard and has owned it for several years. He said he tried a DR and a Troybuilt, but they broke fast. The Mantis was great, though I was tilling thick grass and thatch in a loamy sand- very easy work. But, the carb quit on me. At the end, I could barely get the tines to spin while it was lifted in the air. I took it to the Mantis repair shop. $20-30 for a carb rebuild. Or $60 for a new carb. Not bad, EXCELLENT customer service. I may buy myself a reburb unit from them when I pick up my friend's unit. I think $280-290 new and refurbs are around $230. They only will only till a swath about 14", so it won't conquer large areas. But, it is a great, strong unit for smaller work. I'll give a report when I try it at my house in Philly. We have silt loam soils (with lots of clays).

[highlander316]

I have one. In loose soil that thing will burrow itself. Tills my garden real nice. The edging attachment works pretty good too.

[Mike J]

Ive havent used the mantis, but the attachment cultivator I have used. I wouldnt recommend them to be used for anything bigger than a small (very small) bed.

The vibration and angle you have to hold them in order to get some weight behind it to get the tines to dig in is rough on the shoulders.

Do a search on here for Mantis...you should get some info that way, its been brought up before.

[Scaper-S2k]

Decent in okay soil. It works better pulling it backwards. We have had one for about 6 years. It only gets used for floral installs in the spring and fall, but has never let me down.

[MGO]

Scaper....

Have you by any chance used the DETHATCHER attachment with your Mantis.

It seems to me that there would not be enough weight for it to work well, however, I have done several yards that had straw down from the year before when the house was built and the initial seedin. I have had to get the straw up before aerating, overseeding, and fertilizing....and I am thinking that the dethatcher on the Mantis might work o.k for this.

ANy recommendations on that?

Thanks,
mike

[Scaper-S2k]

Sorry MGO, I've never put the dethatcher attachment on it. I think it would work okay though.