[David K]

Hi folks!

I've recently bought on of those Mantis cultivators to help with my plot.
I haven't used it yet, so I wondered if any of you good people who may have one could offer any tips about using it.

[John]

They're great but like any tool you need a bit of time to get to grips with using them. Main confusion I found was which way to put the tines on, one way is shallow and the other is deep.

Sit with the machine and the instruction book to figure it out.

They also do a free one year trial
http://mantis-uk.co.uk/34408807.asp

Enjoy - it's the best tool in my shed!

[richyrich7]

I have 2  :oops:  as John said brill, I found the hardest thing was waiting for the ground to be dry enough, if it's too wet you end up with a ball of spinning mud    and don't let it fool you it's very powerful and will do it's best to drag you into next doors plot 1st time you use it.  

[David K]

Thanks folks! I did have a little trial with it whilst the ground was still workable and (as you say) I did find it (for a small machine) quite robust to handle....there seems to be little between flat out and stop.
Walking backwards seemed to be easiest way to use it.

I haven't found locating the tines for either tilling or weeding much of a problem.

Btw, I bought the four stroke (Honda) engine version.

[PAH48]

Hi .... So is the one being advertised a good price, in John's post
above, OR is there a chance of a beter deal somewhere else?

Cheers PAH...

[shaun]

couldnt live with out mine ,as above realy  

[John]

Hi .... So is the one being advertised a good price, in John's post
above, OR is there a chance of a beter deal somewhere else?

Cheers PAH...

You can get 2nd hand bargains but my experience is that for new ones Mantis themselves offer the best deal. Plus you have a guarantee you can rely on.

[PAH48]

Thanks  John for a straight answer, to a straight question,
much appreciated.

Cheers PAH thanks again

[Coltar223]

My sister bought a Mantis a couple of years ago. She called me up and said" come and see my new rototiller" so I did. When I saw the thing I nearly fell over laughing, ' what on earth is THAT said I ".
 Being the proud owner of a 1962 7h.p. Simplicity Utility Tractor (looks like a big rotovator and I had a professional rebuild it 5 years ago) I was being very superior looking at this 'overgrown powered trowel' as I put it!!

Well, once I started to try it out boy did I eat my words!!
I now own one and use it to great effect in raised beds which have cover crops. I simply put my small rotary mower in the bed with the mulching attachment on, run it up and down a couple of times to cut up the Buckwheat or whatever is in there and then I use the Mantis to quickly and easily turn the mulch in. Couldn't be easier. I do suggest giving these beds a good forking at the end of the season however.

[polly tunnel]

I bought a new mantis in October and it was the best thing I have used, it made the backbreaking work much less painful and in fact quite fun.
Over the |Christmas break it was stolen from my shed. I can't tell you how upset i was, they are not cheap, and it was an indulgence that may well not be justified repeating.
Enjoy yours folks!! I am thinking of you all.

[richyrich7]

Oh agghhh I hate thieves  So sorry to hear you've had yours stolen 

[BIG ZOOK]

sorry 2 hear of your loss polly tunnel BEST advice  for the mantis is -- it`s a tiller not a rotovator  ???use as advised and it`s a good bit of kit.

[Stripey_cat]

Does it create hardpan problems on clay?

[richyrich7]

Does it create hardpan problems on clay?

As far as I know they all do eventually best to hand dig a 3rd each year or so if you can    Unless your lucky enough to know someone with a plough.