Mantis cordless pruner

Any thoughts on this product.
http://mantis.uk.com/mantis-cordless-pole-mounted-pruner.asp

I'm not expecting it to be over powerful, but I do have a fair few, medium sized shrubs and trees that need an annual or at least biennial cut back, so its kind of heavy pruning but not cutting out large limbs.
It says 90 day trial, but be honest, does anyone send this kind of stuff back?

I've got a Mantis tiller and the same applies, not over powerful, but works well, given its size.
I also like the backup from Mantis, they really are good at after sales service.

 

Can't say, pete. I have the tiller and I like that and I like the company.

Why not give them a call and ask what the recommended maximum size it will comfortable "prune" and let them guide you as to whether it will do all that you expect from it?

 

It says up to 4 ins, is that 4 ins in oak or 4 ins in willow.
Or just 4 ins, but takes longer.

I'm kind not wanting to ask them, because they are selling the thing.

 

Yes, good point FC, battery stuff is getting better all the time.

 

Mantis have a Factory Outlet on eBay. I bought my tiller from there, and it came complete with dirt on the tines, so I would say "Yes, they do send stuff back, and Mantis check it and send it out of the back door" !!

Maybe look to see if they have the Pruner on eBay too?

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/mantisoutletuk

 

They have one there but its the same price.

 

I've just ordered one from the main Mantis site.

I'll let you know if they are any good.

 

What's the point of that then? Ho Hum ....

 

Perhaps its harder to use them to prune the whole garden and then return them "as new", unlike their Tiller

Something you could try thuogh, eh?

 

It arrived today, or at least I picked it up today.

Charged the battery and even read the instructions.

"Never run it without chain oil", it said.

Where can I get some chain oil?
A small bottle included, just to get you started, might be a good idea.

 

Garden Centre. Probably expensive, but might be OK as I reckon you are only likely to need a little for the next X-years.

 

Got a litre today from Tool Station as directed by John.
Surprisingly only £3.90 for a litre.

Anyway filled it up and tried it out on a few branches, it seems quite effective, once you put the chain on round the right way, that is.

My main worry was it might not be powerful enough, but it seems OK.

Alright, its not going to cut up logs, but being a fairly small chain and narrow bar it fits in between branches quite well.

It has the usual annoying "safety" features like having to hold a button in on the side while pulling the trigger, which means you need to have wrists made of rubber in order to cut sideways.

Would also have been better if you could shorten it,, it reaches up to 3 metres but at its shortest its 6ft long, so a bit unwieldy close up.

The cut is a bit rough, but I suppose that is to be expected.