Last Updated on October 2, 2023 by Kyle Whitley
A tiller is a tool used to dig holes and move dirt around. It’s also been called a “digger” or a “shoveler.” A tiller is typically powered by gas or electricity. Electric tillers are becoming increasingly popular as homeowners want to save fuel costs. So how strong is an electric tiller, and can it handle all the tasks a homeowner needs it to run.
However, some people believe that electric tillers are too weak to perform heavy-duty tasks effectively. This article will examine whether or not an electric tiller can handle the workload of an ordinary homeowner.
Table of Contents
Find Out What Tilling Means
Tilling refers to digging holes and moving dirt around. There are two types of tilling tools – hand tills and power tills. Hand tillers are used to drill holes and remove soil from a garden bed. Power tillers are designed to dig deeper holes and move dirt around quickly.
Know the Difference Between Hand Tillers and Power Tillers
Hand tillers like a hoe or spade are generally made of metal. They are lightweight and easy to use. They are often used to create raised beds.
Power tillers are heavier and more robust than hand tillers. They are typically made of plastic or steel. They are most commonly used to prepare large land areas for planting crops.
Determine Whether or Not an Electric Tiller Is Right For You
Electric tiller owners need to consider several things before buying a new machine.
- First, determine how much power you need.
- Second, find out how big the area you plan to till is.
- Third, decide if you want to use a smaller cultivator or a power tiller.
- Fourth, determine whether or not you want to buy a self-propelled model or a walk-behind model.
- Finally, choose between a corded or cordless model.
I am going to compare two types of tillers, gas and electric. One uses electricity, and the other uses gasoline. They both have similar features. Which would you choose?
What is better, gas or electric tiller?
Understand the Difference Between Gasoline and Electric Tiller
Gasoline-powered tillers are powered by gas, which powers an internal combustion engine.
Corded electric tillers have been around for a long time. Still, battery-powered tillers make their way into gardens and flower beds worldwide as battery power and longevity increase.
Compare Features of Gasoline and Electric Tillers
Both types of tillers have similar features.
They both have a blade, a handle, wheels, a motor, and an ergonomic handle with comfortable grips. However, there are some differences between the two.
Power
The electric tiller has a cord that connects to the wall socket. A battery could also power an electric tiller. In modern tillers, that would be a lithium-ion battery pack. There is a switch inside or on the machine that turns the power on and off.
An electrical tiller is powered by an electric motor usually rated in AMP power.
The gasoline tiller has a gas tank that holds the fuel. You must fill it with fuel before using the machine.
The fuel provides power to the engine via combustion. This combustion of fuels turns the tiller’s tines and provides power to the drive wheels if it is self-propelled.
Size
Generally speaking, gas tillers come in a more extensive array of sizes. There are small two-cycle tillers (think a weedeater engine) attached to tiller tines. Then, more considerable front tine and rear tine tillers are used to break up the soil on a larger scale.
Electric or battery-powered tillers usually come in the mini cultivator size powered by a smaller electric motor or a more extensive front tine tiller that can handle moderate-sized soil tilling tasks. Electric tillers are usually defined by their lightweight designs.
There are also mid-tine tillers and large rear-tine tillers. They are reserved for gasoline-powered models.
Convenience and Maintenance
All gas engines require routine maintenance. They need refueling, oil changes, air filter replacement, and spark plug replacement. For tillers, you also have to maintain the tines.
Electric or battery-powered tillers require little to no maintenance. You will have to clean off the tines and tiller body, but that is about it: no oil changes, air filters, or spark plugs.
Keep in mind that a corded tiller can run almost indefinitely, as long as you have an extension cord that can reach the tiller. The battery capacity and runtime limit Battery-powered tillers under a load.
Battery and gas-powered tillers will need to be refueled with a freshly charged battery pack or more gasoline.
Price
Electric garden tillers are going to cost less than their gas counterparts generally. Corded electric garden tillers are the cheapest since many consists of an electric motor and durable steel tines.
The next most expensive would be your battery-powered electric models. These tillers are generally as powerful as the corded models, but they have the added expense of the battery packs. The battery packs are usually a good portion of the price increase from a corded to a cordless tiller model.
A gas tiller will be at the top of the price range, mainly due to the size and power these tillers provide. Gas-powered models have plenty of power to spare, which are larger tillers. They are usually mid or rear-tine tillers that can handle a large garden.
Choose the Best Option for You
Which option would you choose? Would you prefer the convenience of an electric tiller, or would you like the extra power of using a gasoline tiller?
Electric Tiller Manufacturers
Below are some major electric outdoor tool manufacturers that produce electric or battery powered tillers or cultivators.
How do you till with an Electric Tiller?
Farmers and gardeners use tillers to dig holes to plant seeds or condition the soil in a garden. Before tillers, farmers and gardeners used a spade tool to cut into the ground and create holes and rows. A tiller works much like a spade, except it has two to eight blades instead of one.
There are several different types of tillers available. There are corded electric tillers and battery-powered tillers.
Today, most electric and battery-powered tillers consist of a plastic body that contains the electric motor, metal tines, and gearboxes.
Tiller sizes range from about 4 inches wide to over 24 inches wide. Most models come in widths between 10 and 16 inches.
When using a tiller, you need to know how to operate it properly.
First, you must turn it on. To do this, you must push down on the handle until it clicks. Then, it would be best if you held the handle steady until the motor started. Once the motor turns on, you must release the grip so that the blades spin freely.
Once the blades are spinning, you need to move the tiller forward. You must keep the blades moving, making sure you maintain control of the tiller at all times. Tillers will move forward on their own since the tines are digging and clawing their way into the soil.
If you are tilling and hit something solid, disengage the blades and stop cultivating. At that point, you must stop the blades by pushing down on the handle again. You then need to lift the tiller back up and dig up the object by hand or maneuver around the thing and continue working.
To finish tilling, you need to reverse the process. Reverse the steps above and repeat until you’ve finished tilling up your garden.
Summing it Up
In conclusion, I hope our review of electric tillers has helped you decide whether or not to purchase one. Electric tillers are potent tools to help you work your garden faster and more efficiently. They are also very affordable, making them an excellent investment.
