Topic: £100 OFF A NEW MANTIS TILLIER

[kt.]

I am off to buy this magazine and check out page 83.   listed in the readers section of the magazine near the bottom of the page. I will let you know what it says when I buy it. Unless somebody has got any more info:
http://www.kitchengarden.co.uk/contents.php
The offer is of £100 off a new Mantis Tillier. I was gonna wait until next year but may be swayed now if this is correct.

Alternatively I am looking at item M43, a 4 stroke mantis (with accessories!), on here:
http://www.classic-lawns.co.uk/acatalog/tillers.html?gclid=CLuA__qX-5ECFQ0RuwodjjSHpg

Are these prices ok or can I buy them cheaper

[kenkew]

I have the smaller 2stroke Mantis. Can't remember what I paid for it but it's been a boon for the last 12 years or so.

Rough dug.
[attachment=1]


Mantis finished.
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[twinkletoes]

I too have the smaller Mantis tiller with attachments which I bought last year.  Unfortunately I can't remember what I paid but I am dying to try out the plough attachment to do my potatoes this year.  If you are expecting it to do the work of a heavy-weight rotovator you might be disappointed (going by comments from others at the lottie) but it gives a great tilth for carrots, etc.  I'm very happy with it.
Twinkletoes

[kenkew]

Furrows for spuds....use the single tines facing forwards. Saves lots of time and back ache.... ;)

[Mr Smith]

I'm on the lookout for a 'Mantis' and the cheapest price I have come across is £248.99 can anyone beat this price :)

[kt.]

I'm on the lookout for a 'Mantis' and the cheapest price I have come across is £248.99 can anyone beat this price :)

Is that for 4 stroke or 2 stroke?  There is a big price difference between the two.  Also: some os the more expensive ones do come with attachments that would be more expensive if purchased seperate.

[Mr Smith]

KT,
        That is the price for the bog standard 2 stroke which will serve my purpose, the chap on the opposite lotty to me uses a 2stroke Mantis and the tilth it gave to his soil was remarkable working it first with his rotovator, I hope this will give me a better chance of growing some nice carrots and parsnips next year :)

[Mr Smith]

Just found another brand new 'Mantis' 2stroke for £245.00 post free :)

[Duke Ellington]

Can a mantis be used in raised beds ? My raised beds are 10x4 foot.

Duke

[twinkletoes]

duke - I thought the idea of raised beds is that you don't have to do all that back breaking digging? But if you do - why not use a Mantis. I love mine.
twinkletoes

[Duke Ellington]

Ok smarty pants!! ;D I was wondering about creating a nice fine tilth in my raised beds I suppose. They were created this year.

Duke

[Robert_Brenchley]

What do you want a tilth for? A small seed needs about 1/4 inch square, which you can make with a dining fork if you're that fussy. If you make a whole bed into a tilth, you make a whole bed which is ideal for weeds. they will take advantage, I promise!

[Mr Smith]

I want a nice deep tilth bed to put my carrots and parnips in next year, not having the time I would like for the lotty I think a 'Mantis' would be a little bit quicker than a fork :)

[bionear2]

I bought the 4 stroke mantis two years ago for £297, which was good at the time.
It starts like a dream, almost never stalls, and you dont have to mess about mixing petroil (and your carb wont clog up if you dont run it to empty)
Does a great job in a raised bed, but DONT let the tines hit the boards, or you may follow it into the air!
Only thing, as with all Mantis: it only digs deeply when pulled back towards you against the thrust - used over too large an area you can go home like a orang-utang(untie your boots without bending down!)

[Mr Smith]

Even found a better Mantis 2stroke deal for £219.00 post free it arrived this morning easy to put togetther out of the box and runs like a trooper :)

[Deb P]

I was wondering about creating a nice fine tilth in my raised beds I suppose. They were created this year.

Duke

I have used my 2 stroke Mantis on my raised beds to incorporate chunky cow manure and it worked very well, but you have to contol it carefully or you will get a lot of spillage onto the paths! I didn't use it last year, just spread manure and forked it over (only because I was ill most of the New Year!), but we are now starting to tackle the wilderness of the new plot, so it will be useful to go over any new beds once they have been dug over to get a nice finish. I still find the 2 stroke a b*gger to start though, and I'm not a frail little flower.... ;)

[Mr Smith]

I think with 2strokes it is choke control that causes a lot of the starting problems, even with my new 'Mantis' with only five minutes running on the clock if it does not kick up on the third pull I will put the choke back in give it another pull and away it goes :)

[Mr Smith]

Just used my 'mantis' for the first time today and what a good bit of kit it is, get one of e-bay quick before  stocks run out for only £219.99 :)

[Larkshall]

I still find the 2 stroke a b*gger to start though, and I'm not a frail little flower.... ;)

2 stroke engines are renowned for being difficult to start when "between heats", that is neither hot nor cold. I always steer clear of 2 strokes, I use an electric Mantis. An excellent machine and very quiet.

Can a mantis be used in raised beds ? My raised beds are 10x4 foot.

Duke

My beds are not raised but are 1 metre wide x 8-9metres long. It tills the ground in 4 or 5 passes. Makes a good tilth in about 10 minutes.

http://www.erowell.co.uk/Gardening/clay-soil.html

[Mr Smith]

I know I'm crowing on about these 'Mantis' but I used mine this morning on some ground what I want to prepare for next year for mi onions and it really did a good job, if I had been it by hand I would of not have been typing this but would of still  been  digging, so all I can say is don't knock em untill you've  had a go with one ;)