Compost Tumblers-Ideas for gleaning

I really liked #6.

Here's one that I made



Some factors to consider before making one:

The volume of the finished compost is relatively small.  A full 55 gallon barrel is about 7-8 cubic feet.  Finished compost will be 2-4 cubic feet, which is about enough to make MM for one 4x4 box.

Compost breaks down OK in warmer weather, but I get better results in cold weather from small piles on the ground.

Be sure to use some sort of flange.



Make the access door as wide as possible.  When unloading, you'll be reaching in with hand or trowel to get the compost from the ends of the barrel.  The wider the door, the easier to unload.

Try to put something on the inside to help break up the big clumps of compost.  I made paddles, but 2x2s or PVC pipe fastened on the inside will do the same thing.


A barrel full of properly moistened compost is heavy.  Surprisingly heavy.  Choose a way to make turning the barrel easier, with handles or a hand crank as shown in the second video.  Goosegirl made a barrel similar to #4; I  got the handle idea from her; it makes turning the barrel a piece of cake.

I can't say a metal barrel is better than plastic; I just happened to have the frame and a metal barrel on hand to use.  I considered a motor to turn the barrel, but decided it's not worth the time and money for as seldom as it is  used.  

A compost tumbler makes a great MM mixer.  One 5 gallon bucket each of compost, peat, and vermiculite twirled 10x or so, then dumped into a wheelbarrow.  It doesn't get any easier.

I used my tumbler a couple years and then retired it.  Piles on the ground work just fine for my circumstances.  If anyone wants it, come and get it.

Boffer, Don't tempt me! It's only 868.3 miles from Fresno to Yelm.

sanderson wrote:Boffer, Don't tempt me!  It's only 868.3 miles from Fresno to Yelm.

I always wondered how those tumblers compared to ground piles.  Thanks for the info!

Thanks Boffer, you answer many questions., esp the weight issue. It sounds like you're saying that a handle on the barrel will allow for easy turning. Is this correct?

Has, correct. There's just not much on a barrel to get a good grip on.

Also if there is a little too much in there, it is hard to start turning. The indentations in my barrel are at the limit of my reach so it is also uncomfortable.  In addition,  the contents freeze to easily. The sliding panel at the opening also sticks when frozen,, or when stuff gets in the grooves and the sliding panel is too small.

No wonder my friend sold me her $80 tumbler for $20.

The best one IMO was the large spherical one that had a huge hinged  door and I had the feeling that one could climb into it.

Like this one?

sanderson wrote:Like this one?

Preview
I got 2 of those...similar anyway. Girlfriend picked them up as a close out at Walley World I believe for like $20.00 each. Great for mixing and storing both compost and Mel's Mix. I just roll them around the yard back to the SFG and scoop out what is needed. Easy pleasy.

Car guy,  I couldn't remember who had bought them.    Can you post a link to the funny discussions we had about them?

sanderson wrote:Car guy,  I couldn't remember who had bought them.    Can you post a link to the funny discussions we had about them?

 Sanderson, not sure is it this one???

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t17803-compospin-tumbler

That's no compost tumbler... It's a space station...

naughtymoose wrote:That's no compost tumbler... It's a space station...

Hummm...
Guess it does look a bit like Sputnik...

That's the one. Love that Benny Hill music for the ball.

naughtymoose wrote:That's no compost tumbler... It's a space station...

LOL

boffer wrote:Has, correct.  There's just not much on a barrel to get a good grip on.  

thanks Boffer

68carguy wrote:

sanderson wrote:Like this one?

Looks like the Galactic Empire is getting into the composting business...on a HUGE scale

Has,
Thanks for posting these. I was thinking about trying to make one and these are great.
I am a curious person and like to know how things work and are made, so when I had to replace my electric hot water heater...I started to dissect it. now I am trying to decide what i can use it for. I was thinking about cutting it in half and making a couple of burn barrels, but now I am thinking about a big composter or a couple of them.
Here is what I have:

(I left the ends on for now so I could stand it up because I believe the tank ends are actually rounded)

Any thoughts from the DIY'ers out there...compost tumbler, burn barrels, something else, haul it to the dump???

Does it have a glass/porcelain liner? That would make it hard to make opening. I vote metal recycler. I think it would be easier to find a 55 gallon food grade metal barrel to make a composter.

ralitaco wrote:

68carguy wrote:

sanderson wrote:Like this one?

Looks like the Galactic Empire is getting into the composting business...on a HUGE scale

LOL

sanderson wrote:Does it have a glass/porcelain liner?  That would make it hard to make opening.

Not sure. I haven't cut into it yet. Not even sure I would know how to tell but I will let you know what I find out.