Tips for compost tumbler

has55 wrote:here's a used one in Delphos, Ohio for 40.00
Used Mantis Compact ComposTumbler- Engineered to Make Compost Fast -pick up only

You won't want that one for two reasons: 1) It is shown as rusted through in one of the pictures; and 2) I had one of those that I gave away due to its frustration of use - It sets too low to the ground and you can't get a cart or wheelbarrow under it to empty it, you have to dump the compost out onto a tarp and then shovel into the wheelbarrow.

has55 wrote:OG would you share how you prepare the mantis tumbler for composting, please.

There isn't much that I do to prepare it for composting. I leave a shovelful or two of compost in it from the previous batch, then add the kitchen waste, coffee grounds, etc., for the greens, and add a sawdust pellets (sold at the farm store for horse bedding) for the browns.  After adding new stuff to it, I turn it for 5 rotations, and leave the doors on the bottom for the drains of any extra liquid. I keep adding kitchen waste, coffee grounds, shredded plants, etc., and sawdust pellets and turning it daily until it is about 3/4 full - then I quit adding to it and let it compost for 4 weeks while I am filling a recently emptied tumbler section.

OhioGardener wrote:

has55 wrote:OG would you share how you prepare the mantis tumbler for composting, please.

There isn't much that I do to prepare it for composting. I leave a shovelful or two of compost in it from the previous batch, then add the kitchen waste, coffee grounds, etc., for the greens, and add a sawdust pellets (sold at the farm store for horse bedding) for the browns.  After adding new stuff to it, I turn it for 5 rotations, and leave the doors on the bottom for the drains of any extra liquid. I keep adding kitchen waste, coffee grounds, shredded plants, etc., and sawdust pellets and turning it daily until it is about 3/4 full - then I quit adding to it and let it compost for 4 weeks while I am filling a recently emptied tumbler section.

 Thank you for sharing extremely helpful I’ll look at the videos and read information on the website but it’s great to hear direction from you, the user. thank you again

has55 wrote: Thank you for sharing extremely helpful I’ll look at the videos and read information on the website but it’s great to hear direction from you, the user. thank you again

No problem, it is always good to do lots of research before taking action.  You can
never have too much compost.... 

LOL, awesome!!!!

OhioGardener wrote:

has55 wrote: The site specifications for the composter says: "Non-toxic powder-coated galvannealed steel, rust-resistant. BPA-free, food grade plastic end caps."

Powdered coated and rust-resistant suggests to me that lead metal may be in the metal part.  As long as the finish remains intact, it shouldn't be a problem.

I decided to buy the twin composter but found out they are sold out. I like the idea of having one compost materials cooking in one chamber and using the other chamber as needed. I have not decided if I want to work out of one chamber yet. Thanks, OG for sharing.

has55 wrote:I decided to buy the twin composter but found out they are sold out.

Sorry to hear that - guess they are picking up in popularity.  The Jora composter I have is also a twin chamber composter, but they are more expensive even with the 10% discount they have.  I only bought the Jora because the insulation allows winter composting here in SW Ohio, but have since fallen in love with it.

What is the item  you are using for flooring for those tumblers

has55 wrote:What is the item  you are using for flooring for those tumblers

Those are rubber stall mats, used in dairy barns: Rubber Stall Mats

OhioGardener wrote:

has55 wrote:What is the item  you are using for flooring for those tumblers

Those are rubber stall mats, used in dairy barns: Rubber Stall Mats

thank you.

Question, the mats are holding up in total sun?

has55 wrote:Question, the mats are holding up in total sun?

So far they are holding up real well - they are over 4 years old, adn neither the winter nor the summer has bothered them so far.  When I bought them, they came with a 5-year warranty, which is about to run out....

Wow, awesome.

A few days ago I received a Heavenly blessing. I decided I would add leaf mold composting to my arsenal of garden food for my SFG beds soil. I needed some wire to make a cage. My neighbor said I could have all his fencing from his chicken bin since he wasn't raising them anymore, but I had to take the fencing down. I made 4 cages. this is fencing use for horses.





later that day my massage therapist sold me two brute garbage cans for 10.00 so I could make more compost tea and protozoan soup, etc...


the following day I met this veteran who sold me a compost tumbler made out of metal for 20.00 dollars. a lot happens in 24 hrs.








I'm going to use this product to preserve the metal. 
Vehicle Rust Proofing 1/2 Gal

What does "sterilized linseed oil" mean? That it was boiled? If so, then it is not food or microbe safe. ?? Can you call the company for explicit information?

on the free, repurposed and/or cheap materials!

sanderson wrote:What does "sterilized linseed oil" mean?  That it was boiled?  If so, then it is not food or microbe safe.  ??  Can you call the company for explicit information?

this why I painted my two outdoor building with their paint because their linseed oil actually penetrate the wood, becomes one with it, won't allow water in and the paint never peels. The color are made from earth rock minerals. it will penetrate metal.
this made be helpful. from their FAQ section.

What makes Allback Linseed Oil Paint an environmentally safe linseed oil paint?

You may be shocked to learn that all these chemicals are unnecessary if you simply clean the linseed oil before producing the paint. Good quality linseed oil comes from a northern climate and contains 30% protein or more, depending on where the flax seed has been harvested. The protein causes impurities which lead to mildew and mold.. Conventional paint manufacturers use large amounts of pesticides and herbicides to offset mildew issues. No company (other than Allback) cleans the linseed oil in paint 100%. The Allback organic Linseed Oil Paint products utilize only 100% cleaned and sterilized linseed oil, directly from the flax farms in Sweden

Is it true that linseed oil paints contain lead white and are poisonous?

The Allback linseed oil paint is a 100 % chemical and lead free paint. Very old linseed oil paint often contains lead in the form of white lead oxide (white lead). When removing lead-based paint, extensive paint removal with sanders and grinders, etc. is hazardous to your health and the environment. Use infrared heat technology - The Silent Paint Remover - for safe and effective lead paint removal.

PAINT COMPARISON ANALYSIS:	Organic Linseed oil Paint	Acrylic Petroleum Paint
Cracks	Never	Always
Peels	Never	Always
Causes wood to decay	Never	Always
Fades	Never	Always
Requires paint removing	No	Yes
Natural	Yes 100%	No, made from petroleum
Dangerous for the environment	No	Yes, cancer causing
Easy to maintain	Yes	No, repainting is required
Organic/made from something living	Yes, pressed flax seeds	No, made from petroleum
Adheres to glass	Yes	No
Primer required on exterior	No	Yes
Historic significance	Used for hundreds of years	None
Dry weight*	100%	40%
One paint for all surfaces	Yes	No
Can you mix colors by yourself	Yes	No, done by computer
Can the paint be considered green	Yes	No
Can the paint be used to restore old windows	Yes, to last for 50 years	Doubtful
Can the paint last for 50 years	Yes, with easy maintenance	Never
What pigment is used	natural pigment from the ground	Chemical dyes
Can the paint be used for wooden roof shingles	Yes	No
* The dry weight percentage indicates how much is left after the liquid paint is dry.

case studies

Since I got the Jora Composter (JK270), I have been able to continue composting all winter long. The Jora is insulated so that it continues to produce sufficient heat for good composting even during the sub-zero days we get in January and February.  But, that creates another problem - what to do with the compost in the tumbler when it is finished. The Jora is a 2-section tumbler, and it takes about a month to complete the compost in a side of the tumbler.  I fill one side until it is nearly full, then allow it to finish composting while I fill the other side - filling a side on the tumbler takes about a month, and by that time the other side is finished.

In order to allow me to empty one of the compost sides every month from December through March, when I cannot apply it to the raised bed, I set up a 55-gallon drum with the bottom removed and set on a piece of 1/2" hardware cloth so the worms can crawl up into it without other vermin being able to get into it. I dump the finished compost in the drum to "age" over the winter. I drilled a row of 5/16" holes around the top of the drum to allow the compost to breathe. If the drum gets full, I have a 2nd drum that I can sit next to it and start filling.   By mid-April, when I can start working the beds to start preparing them for spring planting, I have plenty of good compost to work into the soil. Last winter I collected one and a half drums of compost, which is about 10F³ of compost.  I also have a smaller drum full of Starbucks coffee grounds that I can use as needed.

OhioGardener, thanks for the pictures of your compost system. You have me thinking now if I can wrap my Black Knight composter in some sort of reusable thermal blanket to elongate the composting season here. The Black Knight composter is just a 55 gallon/220 liter plastic barrel with holes drilled and screw on top. For mixing it drops down and rolls around. I thought it would be an easy compost system for people with neighbors that like things looking neat. I also have 3 Garden Gourmet composters but I use an compost aerator on those for mixing and aeration. I will see if I can upload a couple of pictures of the Black Knight composter. Do you take temperature readings of compost inside your tumblers?

Dan in Ct wrote:Do you take temperature readings of compost inside your tumblers?

Yes, I use the compost thermometer a couple times a week to check the status of the compost. Today, I checked them before turning the tumbler, and the side I am currently filling was at 112°F which was pretty good considering the outdoor temp was 29°F and the low last night was 17°F.  The other side of the tumbler was only 98°F, but I that was okay since that side is almost finished and ready to dump into the storage drum.

Trying to figure out how to post a picture. Hopefully as promised The Black Knight Composter. Now I am wondering if I could make a shroud from 2" insulation to keep the process going. Well that was easy enough, posting the picture that is. I will get back concerning the shroud after I have fabricated one.

Dan, I have a barrel like that. Maybe I should put it to use as a composter.