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Rotovator
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Topic: Rotovator (Read 1378 times)
OliveOil
Hectare
Posts: 1,543
Lincs
Rotovator
«
on:
February 23, 2007, 13:10:23 »
Just received info on the Mantis Tiller - I'm so tempted now that they are offering 4 monthly installments!!!! Arghhh what to do!
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quizzical1
Acre
Posts: 391
Ceanothus in Northampton
Re: Rotovator
«
Reply #1 on:
February 23, 2007, 13:38:37 »
Mantis Tiller is ONLY a lightweight machine, suitable only really for breaking up the surface, not really designed for wholesale digging of an allotment.
Ideal for going in between rows though.
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Grow your own and enjoy the fruits of your labours,
Regards Alan.
http://achalmers-quizzical1.blogspot.com/
Barnowl
Hectare
Posts: 3,738
getting back to my roots [SW London]
Re: Rotovator
«
Reply #2 on:
February 23, 2007, 14:26:09 »
The website says it goes down 10 inches - isn't that about one spit and surely that's enough?
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John_Pearce
Not So New ...
Posts: 16
Grow, grow, grow
Re: Rotovator
«
Reply #3 on:
February 23, 2007, 14:31:47 »
I've had a Mantis for 3 years. Doesn't go too deep and you have to run over the ground twice to get the 10" deep but couldn't do without it. Lot of money initially but the small motor just keeps on going with little maintenance and I've run over the whole plot four times each year and I'm still on my first 5l of unleaded so not too expensive to run.
Saved me at least two slipped discs digging in the past two years at my back of the envelope rates.
John :)
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tim
Hectare
Posts: 18,607
Just like the old days!
Re: Rotovator
«
Reply #4 on:
February 23, 2007, 15:11:14 »
DON'T like it - much prefer the Honda, which does a real job & is still portable.
10" yes - if you spend several minutes rocking it back & forth.
There was much chat about it some time ago - try Searchiing?
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kenkew
Hectare
Posts: 4,336
Don't look now but...
Re: Rotovator
«
Reply #5 on:
February 23, 2007, 15:12:55 »
Had my Mantis about 11 years. Still does me good.
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cornykev
Hectare
Posts: 9,893
Sunny Cheshunt just outside North London
Re: Rotovator
«
Reply #6 on:
February 23, 2007, 15:53:50 »
How much are they OO. Looks a good job done to me KenKew, talking of jobs I think your dog is about to do one on your plants. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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MAY THE CORN BE WITH YOU.
tim
Hectare
Posts: 18,607
Just like the old days!
Re: Rotovator
«
Reply #7 on:
February 23, 2007, 16:12:46 »
And your soil, Ken, is.....?
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Wasp_Box
Not So New ...
Posts: 31
Re: Rotovator
«
Reply #8 on:
February 23, 2007, 16:39:54 »
The Mantis is not designed for heavy duty use. I looked at one but I don't think it would last 10 mins in my clay soil.
I ended up buying an ancient beast in an auction. Cost me £50 and, after a swift tune-up it's been doing a fantastic job for the last 5 years without a problem.
Top tip: if you ever pop over to France, you'll find that rotovators are about half the price that you would pay in the UK (search Garden Centres and Supermarkets). More than pays for the ferry crossing. Thats where I'm heading when the beast dies (it will probably see me out).
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RobinOfTheHood
Hectare
Posts: 1,005
South Yorks
Re: Rotovator
«
Reply #9 on:
February 23, 2007, 16:44:49 »
Quote from: tim on February 23, 2007, 16:12:46
And your soil, Ken, is.....?
Brown.
;D ;D ;D
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I hoe, I hoe, then off to work I go.
http://tapnewswire.com/
cornykev
Hectare
Posts: 9,893
Sunny Cheshunt just outside North London
Re: Rotovator
«
Reply #10 on:
February 23, 2007, 17:44:44 »
Manured. ;D ;D ;D
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MAY THE CORN BE WITH YOU.
mellor
Quarter Acre
Posts: 92
Re: Rotovator
«
Reply #11 on:
February 23, 2007, 20:05:11 »
i'd say if you've got a lot of work for it then get an old beast like wasp-box. i managed to get hold of an old rotavator that cost next to nowt just needed a bit of tinkering.
has been a god send to help with my very heavy clay soil, makes mixing muck and sand in very easy. and if you get one that can remove a set of tines it becomes light enough to quickly run over a bed to make a fine tilth.
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OliveOil
Hectare
Posts: 1,543
Lincs
Re: Rotovator
«
Reply #12 on:
February 24, 2007, 10:47:21 »
My soil is quite loamy but at the moment quite wet... I'm thinking it would be good when it all dries out a bit. I just cant face the digging! Its been reduced to £289 incl delivery and a free lawn edger - plus the 4 monthly payments sounds good to me. And a 1 year money back guarantee if your not happy with it!
It'll be a good few weeks before my soil dries out yet so time to still think about it.
Thanks for your responses.
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cornykev
Hectare
Posts: 9,893
Sunny Cheshunt just outside North London
Re: Rotovator
«
Reply #13 on:
February 24, 2007, 12:20:18 »
Give it a bash for a year then send it back. ;D ;D ;D
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MAY THE CORN BE WITH YOU.
ruffmeister
Acre
Posts: 270
Re: Rotovator
«
Reply #14 on:
February 24, 2007, 12:38:19 »
buy one on ebay when its our of rotorvator season, our lottie site has a picture of the one we got off ebay, a non runner for 99p yes 99p, tweak here and there now it works and would live without it!! heheh
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Come visit.
www.lottieblogs.co.uk
OliveOil
Hectare
Posts: 1,543
Lincs
Re: Rotovator
«
Reply #15 on:
February 24, 2007, 14:00:13 »
Yeah but its rotovator season almost now.... My neighbour has kinda just offered to go halves! He's my actual neighbour and lotty neighbour so could work out well.
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