Mantis 120-Volt Electric Tiller with Border Edger 7250-02-02
by Mantis

List Price: $349.95 Category: Lawn & Patio See more product details

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Product Details

• Electric tiller and border edger with fold-down handles and reversible tines
• Lightweight, 3-speed tiller; digs down 10 inches; weeds 30 by 40-foot garden in 20 minutes
• One-piece die-cast gearbox and double-insulated motor
• Additional accessories available
• 20 pounds; 1-year warranty; lifetime guarantee on tines

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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Mantis 120-Volt Electric Tiller with Border Edger 7250-02-02

Customer Review: Great product for homeowners
Summary: 5 Stars

At $300 plus shipping, and some of the concerns about bouncing, I did go back and forth on the decision, but once I finally pulled the trigger, I couldn't be happier. I am really surprised by the poor reviews on this board. At the GardenWeb forums and epinions the reviews are much better and are from many more people.

Ironically, I actually used it several times out of the box to do edging rather than tilling as it came with a free edging attachment. The edger not only works great around the lawns and walkway, but also around the garden to keep grass from creeping in, and lastly to cut sod into chunks for removal.

When I put the tiller to use, it really showed off its worth. I live in Northern Virginia with lots of touch clay and our share of rocks. Yes, when getting going, the Mantis does bounce on the top of the clay turf. That's a factor of its lightness. Once you get used to how to best work with it, though, you find that it digs in pretty good and away you go. Once through that initial starting point, it digs through the hardest clay I've thrown at it. Make sure that you use the "walk backwards" technique that people suggest - it works.

In getting ready for fall, I've dug a drainage ditch and planted seven shrubs in various areas. Without the Mantis this job would have been tough beyond belief. Clay and small to medium rocks passed through pretty easily. Bigger rocks were loosened up enough to pull out by hand. It shredded many roots after a pass or two, with some of the bigger ones needing to be cut out with shears. It was also terrific for mixing in peat moss and compost with my existing clay soil. The soil was perfect for planting when I was done!

Of course, the Mantis isn't a miracle worker, but I can't imagine any tiller is. Yes, roots and sod do get wrapped up inside the tines, but that doesn't stop you from tilling until it gets really bad. The tines pop off pretty easy to make getting the roots off pretty easy.

Using the Mantis also takes some getting used to. It can be a tiring, and a bit heavy after a long day of using it and your wrists and forearms will get a workout. If you are breaking ground, you will feel the vibration in your arms. Yes, it does bounce initially until you get it worked in. But I can't imagine any of this comparing to what it feels like after a long day with a shovel.

Will the bigger tillers work better? As a homeowner with a quarter acre lot, not necessarily. To break ground for my new garden a friend came over with his bohemeth. He needed a pickup truck to transport it and it was a bear to maneuver and left many tight spots untilled. I could never have used it for the digging I've done for shrubs and drainage tubes. Plus, it stores neatly on the wall of my garage with a couple of $1.00 hooks from Home Depot.

My only complaints: I wish it had an off switch. I was lifting it out of a ditch (incorrectly I must say), and I hit the power and the tiller ran right up my sweats. Cut the heck of of them, but never broke skin thankfully! The long bars have a metal clip on them which has nicked me pretty good a couple of times when I lifted it up to store on the wall until I got used to watching out for them. Also, after one particularly long day of repeatedly breaking new ground on hard clay, a screw popped off. I found it, reattached it pretty quickly and haven't had a problem since. Not sure how to fix that in the long term.

Lastly, I love the electric feature. You do have to watch the cord, but man is that thing quite. I would have no reservations about tilling in the early morning. It simply doesn't make any real noise. My neighbor who has a similar tiller (I don't think it is a Mantis) with a gas motor that makes a racket and smells even worse. I don't think I sacrifice any power with the electric version.

With a no-hassle return policy and lifetime guarantee on the tines, you can't go wrong.

Description of Mantis 120-Volt Electric Tiller with Border Edger 7250-02-02

Tillers Tools

• Mowers & Outdoor Power Tools > Tillers