The Mighty Mantis

[Jolly]

I've now had mine for a decade. It's probably one of the most used garden tools I have. Light enough and small enough to lift into and work my raised beds, I also use it to cultivate in my big, rowed up garden. I'll even use it to make the drills for planting purple hull peas, corn or snap beans. And it still sees some use in making or re-doing flower beds.

It's one tool, that if it dies beyond repair, I'd buy another...

[daw]

Is it rough to handle,? Does it shake you? I know nothing about them...would like to know more.

[solargeek]

Jolly
I am startled to hear you say this.
We had a total of 3 Mantis’ over the course of doing Gardens at various places. Not one of them worked well.

They either had to keep going to be repaired
or I had to sit down and cut away tough soil from each tine before I could use it next time. Way too much effort on the user for us.
We were so frustrated with it we decided never to use it again.

We actually got the SunJoe which is Electric and we’re very happy with it.

Maybe it was because I had so much square feet in my garden. There was nothing unusual about our soil.
So I’m glad you’ve had a great experience!

[Jolly]

The secret to my two-cycle Mantis is to make sure there's no gas left in the carb when you put it up. I also run full-synthetic 2-cycle oil, with no alcohol gas. And if all else fails (and I've had to do this), a new carb is about $20. Maybe I've just had good luck with mine.

The spring garden is three 4'x8' and one 4'x 16' raised beds, along with the row garden, which is fourteen 120' rows. I ain't gonna lie...They ain't using my garden for any magazine covers, but I usually get enough to keep us fed. 😊

[Ozarks Tom]

I'd think the type of soil would be important too. A slightly damp soil containing clay would be tough on a lightweight machine to turn. If wouldn't work here at all, just either bounce along or fill up with clay quickly. A sandy soil would be perfect for it I'd think though.

[fixitguy]

I must say the mantis cultivator is the best on the market. The tine speed in higher than others and the tines are pointed.
I think it will work in heavy clay soil fine.
Let's point out one thing, this is a CULTIVATOR not a TILLER. Tillers are used to break ground, cultivators are to turn soil and weeds.

We have a earthquake M-43 cultivator, works fine for our raised beds. I would not attempt to till my garden with it

[cornhusker]

I had a similar machine from Ryobi, and we used it a lot.
It was great for weeding between rows and small jobs.
I have a larger 17 inch for the bigger jobs.
I don't really garden anymore due to no time/too many projects, but if/when things slow down, I'll start gardening again.