[Tony P]

New to Allotment, looking to buy a Mantis Tiller/Cultivator, my allotment is made up of 4 area's, all netted up to keep out the rabbits, (this how it was when I got, so don't want to change it)  want a tiller to turn over the area's so has anyone any experience with the Mantis or can they recommend another, many thanks.

[Gwiz]

There have been quite a number of posts about the mantis in the past.
I can't think of any that have been negative at all. I have a similar machine and a slightly larger Alko rotavator which I am very pleased with indeed.
Have a look at the "search" function, type in Mantis, and you should see quite a few posts about it.
If you buy one, I don't think you'll be disappointed!

[Kieronl]

we have one and we do love it. But it can get clogged if your plot is heavy. Worth borrowing something bigger then use the Mantis on the rotorvated bits and you end up with a very nice soil structure

[hayter]

Hi

I got one yesterday from freecycle I took it home and cleaned the carb and air filter put a new plug in and it runs great. I took it up to my allotment today to give it a try i very pleased with it . Not bad for something that way going to the tip because it would not start.

 

[harry]

I bought one last year,i'm very pleased with it

[Swing Swang]

Keep looking at a Mantis myself.

But - if your reason for getting one is to save a lot of time in your first year because your plot looks very weedy then you'd be better off thoroughly clearing/digging/double digging it a bit at a time, by hand, in the first instance.

Then - in your second year you'll probably end up putting in permanent 'crops' that won't lend themselves to merry tillering in future years - soft fruits, asparagus, rhubarb etc etc.

This will serve to reduce the size of the plot the needs turning over each year.

You might then consider that a powered cultivator is no longer required.

This is where I've found myself and I'm very happy that I don't have a tiller (although I did at one point hire a rotorvator which was a complete waste of time because the soil was far too compacted and it only skidded along through the top 2"). Not saying that you shouldn't get one mind you, and I think that you'd be happy with it. Don't you just love the smell of napalm two stroke oil in the morning?

SS

[Swed]

Been using Mantis 2-stroke since around 1997.

Their commersal is the first, and only American commersal/ads that presents an understatement. That tiny toy-like thing is as good, infact even better, than the Mantis video shows/presents.
Still, after over a decade with the tiller, it amazes me everytime I use it

I can recommend Mantis without any hesitation.
http://www.mantis.se/
http://mantis.com/home.asp
http://mantis-uk.co.uk/home.asp

[lightyears]

Picked up  4 stroke recently, best bit of kit ive used it years, a bit wierd to get use to but once there its a doddle

[Comfortably Numb]

I've had a 4 stroke one for a couple of years now.

Wouldn't be without it now