Reviews:

Required Tool

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.

What the heck... it's a $20 hook...

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.

Works as advertised

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.

Overpriced but saves skin

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 and 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.

Simple and effective

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!