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Off topic - Considering purchase of tiller - Recommendations?
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Posted by
zaphod42 SE WI 5 (
My Page) on
Sun, Feb 12, 12 at 11:32
| This is off topic, but my primary hang-out are the rose forums.
We're thinking of getting a modest sized tiller/ cultivator this year as past experience shows we will use. I'm thinking gas, not electric, and something smaller, but not too small or too wimpy. Was looking at the Craftsman 4-Cycle Mini Tiller which adjust between 6" and 10" path. Any recommendations? Thank you! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Off topic - Considering purchase of tiller - Recommendations?
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- Posted by seil z6b MI (My Page) on
Sun, Feb 12, 12 at 21:17
| We just bought one last spring but I can't remember what brand it was! I'll have to go out to the shed tomorrow and check for you. |
RE: Off topic - Considering purchase of tiller - Recommendations?
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- Posted by hoovb z9 Southern CA (My Page) on
Mon, Feb 13, 12 at 0:45
| Why do you think you need a tiller? |
RE: Off topic - Considering purchase of tiller - Recommendations?
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| I don't know what you are going to do with it, nor what you need it for but unless you have a big farm what about a Mantis? |
RE: Off topic - Considering purchase of tiller - Recommendations?
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| Looks like the Mantis would work. It looks in the same size ballpark as the Craftsman. Do you have a Mantis? Thoughts on it? I would like to get one because we keep adding garden beds and doing it by hand is a pain in the butt. We went the rental route last year and that was less than ideal. So, for all the upcoming plans, it makes sense. |
RE: Off topic - Considering purchase of tiller - Recommendations?
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| Tilling is nice for new beds, but you can rent them from Home Depot for so much less than what you'd pay for a new one. I use a combination of Roundup and newspaper now rather than tilling but I don't have much space left. Anyway, back when I did want one, I found some good ones through Craig's list. There's usually nothing wrong with an old tiller and most of them are sturdier than the new ones. From the research I did, you will want to spend a decent amount on it as the really small cheap ones don't work well in clay or go through grass. If the one you rented worked well, you might want to see about that model since you've already used it. |
RE: Off topic - Considering purchase of tiller - Recommendations?
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- Posted by seil z6b MI (My Page) on
Mon, Feb 13, 12 at 12:56
| OK, I went out to the shed and looked at ours. We got the Earthwise TC70001 electric one and we do really like it. It's so easy to use that even I can do it by myself. Both Al and I have decided that in the future we'll be getting all electric garden tools. The gas ones have just gotten to heavy and unwieldy for us to use. Here's a link to a review on the one we purchased. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Earthwise rototiller
RE: Off topic - Considering purchase of tiller - Recommendations?
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| generally, I find tillers are just not fierce enough to justify the cost - they will turn over the soil to a nice friable tilth but only if the soil is already loose. They actually work better as hoes and with the Mantis, parts and accessories are easily available. When we do require some heavy duty digging, we hire a rotovator such as a Howard or one with a decent Honda engine. This is not a pleasurable activity for me, compared to the slow, regular digging with a good spade. |
RE: Off topic - Considering purchase of tiller - Recommendations?
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- Posted by seil z6b MI (My Page) on
Mon, Feb 13, 12 at 17:57
| We cut the sod out of our lawn for the new bed and that grass was planted sometime in the 50s so it was pretty tough stuff. Once we got the grass out we went back over it a couple of more times to get down deeper. It worked really well. Then we tilled in some compost and manure. So much quicker and easier than digging it all out by hand! |
RE: Off topic - Considering purchase of tiller - Recommendations?
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- Posted by garyt z4-5 N.E. Mi (My Page) on
Mon, Feb 13, 12 at 18:00
| I got a mantis a few years ago. It started the first pull right out of the box. It has a 4 cycle engine. The problem is that taller grass and weeds will tangel and you must stop the machine and unplug it. I would not purchase an a maniti for this reason. Gary |
RE: Off topic - Considering purchase of tiller - Recommendations?
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I have the Craftsman 4-Cycle Mini Tiller.
It is heavy and does not bounce about like the 2 cycle ones.
The tines are easy to remove and clean out the stolons from the very healthy assorted types of grass we have, twine, and other nasties one runs into.
The tines are real thin, so I should buy a second back up set. I am cheap so I have not pulled the trigger.
One of the neighbors used it to loosen part of his gravel driveway so he could lay down some pavers. The unit is not as heavy as a regular garden tiller. It is easier to haul about. I probably would not have gotten it if it were not for our veggie garden which I am going to expand. There goes more grass! Foghorn Leghorn
International Anti Grass League |
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