Customer Reviews

Mantis 1322-00-02 Tiller Tine Detangler

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The tines on the Mantis are fairly closely packed, and it is inevitable that you will wind some fibrous roots around them while tilling. The Detangler works great at picking them out without bruising or scratching up your knuckles on the tines. It has a vinyl wrapped handle to make it somewhat grippy, and fits easily and comfortably in your hand. A must-have accessory.

Previously I used my pocketknife and pliers. This is larger so your hand is further from the collected gunk on the tines. Worth using. If I lost it, I would buy it again. For really tangled gunk, it is easier to simply pull the cotter pin, remove the tines and pull off all the junk.

This tool is so handy to have when roots or worse yet, rocks become tangled or stuck between the tines. Believe me, it's worth the $10 to $15.

Okay, in one of my weaker moments, I bought this thing. It works fine - cleans out the tangled weeds around the hub. But I can't believe I paid $20 for it. It's not like it's a magic wand or anything.

I have an idea of how it would work even better. If the inside of the curved hook were knife-edged, it would slice through the weeds better, making them easier to remove. I would do this on my hook, but since I paid $20 for it, I feel that I would be modifying a piece of fine art or something... just can't bring myself to do it.

If I were to do this all over again (without money burning a hole in my pocket), I'd buy a piece of 5/16 or 3/8 round steel, heat it, bend it to match this shape, and put a point on the end. Then I would sharpen the inside of the curved hook. It would probably cost less than $5, and would do the exact same thing - except probably even better (with the sharpened curved hook). I would then take the leftover $15 and get myself some Thai food.

I'm giving 4 stars simply because it costs more than it should.

Before you use your tiller, you will probably see the detangler as an overpriced plastic-coated wire. After you use your tiller, you will probably see the detangler as the thing that could have prevented a trip to the emergency room for stitches and a tetanus shot. The mantis tines are sharp, long, and closely packed: trying to navigate your hand through them to free a weed-choked shaft is suicidal.

You're going to have to clear the tines regularly, even if you have reducers. Using the detangler will save your skin, so I suggest you make the investment.

And even with the detangler, I recommend you don't go near the tines without hand protection. Use leather or cut-resistant gloves at least.

I know it's just a piece of tempered steel with a dipped in plasticote handle but it's the perfect piece. It really makes digging out tangles easier. I have owned Mantis Tillers for nearly twenty years and just got a detangler a month or so ago. What a difference! Don't buy the tiller without buying this!

I tried it, and it is easier than trying to stick your hands in there to pull out the debris. But I find that it is just faster and easier to pull the wheels off and clear it out.

I found this device saves my hand when trying to untangle weeds or grass that is wrapped around my Mantis tiller's tines.

product just to have a product. Not really much other than plasti dipped piece of co cr with semi sharp hook on it. works by pulling rather than pushing but screwdriver should do the trick for you.

I have only recently purchased the tool, but I do believe it to be absolutely required for easy use and maintenance of the Mantis Tiller.