Using a Mantis.

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noshed

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Re: Using a Mantis.
« Reply #15 on: June 03, 2009, 22:03 »
A spade
Self-sufficient in rasberries and bindweed. Slug pellets can be handy.

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Celery

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Re: Using a Mantis.
« Reply #16 on: June 03, 2009, 22:10 »
The 4 sfoke is a lot quieter and not anti social, and thats from somebody who owns a 2 stoke.
         celery :)

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Bigbadfrankie

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Re: Using a Mantis.
« Reply #17 on: June 03, 2009, 22:37 »
A spade

A Spade is ok if you are retired or only gardening a window box. But to manage a resonable area mechanical assistance helps reduce the time involved, so allowing a life behond the allotment
always have a target
and an objective.

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shaun

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Re: Using a Mantis.
« Reply #18 on: June 04, 2009, 06:39 »
A spade
you are funny noshed  :) :)
feed the soil not the plants
organicish
you learn gardening by making mistakes

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noshed

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Re: Using a Mantis.
« Reply #19 on: June 04, 2009, 14:48 »
Sorry. I don't really mind digging in the winter but my soil is a good clay/loam which is getting easier to dig the more compost I put on it. I've never had to deal with bad soil or a hugely weedy plot (well there's loads of weeds now but they're just annuals).

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out4nowt

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Re: Using a Mantis.
« Reply #20 on: June 05, 2009, 10:30 »
Just to update a bit, now I've owned and used my 2 stroke Mantis for a wee while......

It's is absolutely fab.
Easy to store and transport, being small and lightweight.
No worries about it running out of oil like the 4 stroke I killed earlier in the year.
Fits between narrow rows.
Banks tatties in seconds.
Not tiring to use.
Goes easily into even the hardest soil & deep enough.
It saves a lot of hard work.

One negative is that it picks up a certain size of stones which need clearing out of the blades now and again.

I'm well pleased.    :D

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richyrich7

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Re: Using a Mantis.
« Reply #21 on: June 05, 2009, 10:42 »
I love mine too, AbFab IMHO.
He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever.

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chickenboy

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Re: Using a Mantis.
« Reply #22 on: June 10, 2009, 23:04 »
Me too. Good arent they?
joey and charlie's gran-da.

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japagow

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Re: Using a Mantis.
« Reply #23 on: June 12, 2009, 10:46 »
Mantis is really useful, light weight and strong.  More of a bouncing up and down push and pull rather than up and down like the groundsmen at Lord.

I found the turning around of the tines a tad confusing with up and down pointing prongs etc but that will come with experience.

I bought some engine oil from thegarden centre to replace the Honda oil and it seems to be okay.

A local farmer shop had a mantis copy at £70 cheaper which hurt when I saw the price label but the tines didn't look so strong. Still a Honda engine mind.

I got a 4 stroke engine because of ease of use.

The mantis is no substitute for digging up roots in waste ground however. There is no easy way.

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Thompson24

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Re: Using a Mantis.
« Reply #24 on: June 12, 2009, 12:52 »
wheres the cheapest place to get one of these from?

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richyrich7

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Re: Using a Mantis.
« Reply #25 on: June 12, 2009, 13:36 »
wheres the cheapest place to get one of these from?

Fleabay but be careful  ;)

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Kristen

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Re: Using a Mantis.
« Reply #26 on: June 12, 2009, 18:54 »
The Mantis UK folk have an "Outlet Shop" on eBay (their eBay store name is obvious, once you find it).  They sell "ex demo" machines which are, in effect, returns I think. That's where I got mine.  Normal factory guarantee etc. as far as I recall. I was just a bit miffed that, as the UK Outfit, they wouldn't also supply me with the extras I wanted - their loss as I still haven't bought them!

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richyrich7

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Re: Using a Mantis.
« Reply #27 on: June 12, 2009, 18:59 »
think I paid £229 for mine  BNIB from ebay inc del

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grumpydad

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Re: Using a Mantis.
« Reply #28 on: June 16, 2009, 22:00 »
decided not to have a mantis, and had a stihl combi instead, but does the same job, plus i can use it to remove moss from the lawn when i change the tines.

martyn

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Larkshall

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Re: Using a Mantis.
« Reply #29 on: June 17, 2009, 23:25 »
I use a Mantis Electric, very quiet and three speed, but you do have to have power available.
I have extension leads to cover my 1/4 acre garden.



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