Compost Tumbler

CarolynPhillips 2/3/2011, 12:52 am

does anyone have the big green Compost Tumbler that sits on a stand that you have to turn the handle a hundred times just to get the tumbler itself to turn over 5 times each day??????????????

well, turning the handle is getting old quick.
I thought about taking it off of its stand and putting it on the ground.
REconstructing the door which has two air vents that stick out . Remove the air vents and attach some mesh wire some how and just rolling the darn composter on the ground. bounce

whatcha think

Odd Duck 2/3/2011, 9:25 am

I think you need a bigger wheel that turns your composter. A bigger wheel would make it a bit harder to turn, but would turn the composter farther with each rotation - less turns to get the composter through a full rotation. I don't have one of these, but looked at them a lot on-line when I was searching for compost tumblers. I'm not sure how you would have to change the mounting, but I do know that it would basically be like changing gears on a ten-speed.

quiltbea 2/3/2011, 12:31 pm

I have the compost tumbler that sits on the ground and you rotate it by pulling it toward you by hand every time you add something to the composter.

Compost Tumbler 03-19-11

That's my composter tumbler (the black thing) far left beyond my new A-frame last spring.
It took from April to October for my first batch of compost but its hard work to turn even with less than half full. That composter gets very heavy and hard to turn. I'm going to have my son move it for me so its on some bricks on a slant so its slanted a bit toward me so gravity will help me turn the darn thing (I hope).

A friend has the kind you have and I've turned it for her when she's been on vacation, and your type is a lot easier to rotate. Of course, it wasn't even half filled when I was turning it.

Squat_Johnson 2/3/2011, 3:47 pm

I made one using these instructions. Roller skate wheels or casters on a wood base make it spin easily.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Compost-Tumbler/

quiltbea 2/3/2011, 5:47 pm

Wow, that's great. I like the idea of casters or roller bearings to make the tumbler spin easily.

Odd Duck 2/3/2011, 6:36 pm

My hubby found some fairly large wheels for a great price at Northern Tool and Equipment - I think they were only about $4 a wheel? The larger wheels would likely be sturdier and last longer (they also had a much more substantial bracket).

CarolynPhillips 2/3/2011, 6:45 pm

That is so simple and easy. Did yall see the barrel chair too? Ha
wow. I could of made 10 tumblers like that compared to the money I
spent on the Compost Tumbler. Rolling Eyes

A day late and a dollar short but there is the future.

model a man 2/4/2011, 9:13 pm

today I built this from some scrap metal and a food grade 55gal drum that I got for free. I cut and welded the frame today and all I have left is to add hinges and a latch for the door and paint the frame. I hope this gives others some ideas.
Compost Tumbler DSC04827

boffer 2/4/2011, 9:54 pm

HOORAY! Somebody who speaks my language! Compost Tumbler 1

Here's an idea back at ya: a compost sifter I made

Compost Tumbler 100_1310

**camprn** 2/4/2011, 10:06 pm

Aw JEEZE! Why do all you handy guys live on the west coast or Canada?!

Blackrose 2/4/2011, 10:53 pm

boffer wrote:Here's an idea back at ya: a compost sifter I made

WOW!! It's even motorized! I want one. Can you ship it to me please? Wink

quiltbea 2/4/2011, 11:22 pm

Wow, great tumbler and sifter.
You guys are great.

boffer 2/5/2011, 1:27 am

Blackrose wrote:WOW!! It's even motorized! I want one.

Do you want one with or without the optional hopper so you can load it with your tractor? Wink

I give away more compost than I use. Next time you're out this way on vacation you can take home as many suitcases full of compost as you want!

middlemamma 2/5/2011, 2:07 am

Well I have a tumbler.....but no handle or wheels. It is on a tripod thingy, but there are pins on either side that stick out and they rest in the V of the two side legs. ? Sorry hard to describe. But I grab the plastic container and spin IT. no wheels, gears, or crank....I just spin the big barrel. And it is heavy and sometimes I have to get some momentum going, rock it back and forth a few times to get the gusto up to go all the way around....but it works pretty well.

Could the OP maybe do that? stick some pins out from the sides and set in V shaped legs? Instead of modifying to roll on the ground?

Mine is similar to this, but mine opens differently, and probably has a smaller capacity based on their price. http://www.ourcrazydeals.com/spinning-compost-tumbler-barrel.html

Ok boff....I may be making a trip your direction. LOL

FarmerValerie 2/5/2011, 12:38 pm

Boffer, care to share your plans and schematics?

Blackrose 2/5/2011, 3:32 pm

boffer wrote:I give away more compost than I use. Next time you're out this way on vacation you can take home as many suitcases full of compost as you want!

I may just take you up on that boffer! Now to convince my hubby that I need a vacation before we have to make up the Mel's Mix. Wink

staf74 2/5/2011, 10:09 pm

I use tires for composting. Somewhat controversial (chemical leaching?) but free I might add and captures the suns heat quite nicely even on cold days and is easy to adjust height by simply adding / removing another tire.

However, Boffer.....you're simply in another league. FANTASTIC ! I must admit that turning with the tires is certainly more time consuming than turning a tumbler on wheels. I usually dump it all out on a tarp and turn it the same as when I prepare Mel's Mix.

I might just build my own tumbler. Looks pretty straightforward. Thanks for the great ideas folks.

The Cat's Other Mother 2/11/2011, 10:46 pm

Reading this thread inspired me to build one. I got a barrel for free from a car wash, and have it nearly done except for a paint job and a better latch for the door( I used the bolts as shown, but it doesn't seem to close as well as I'd like. I was going to slap together some lumber for the wheel frame, but my handyman dad wanted to help, so I think I'm getting a heavy-duty metal one this Sun. I should be good to go Monday, and I'll try to get pictures up then.

Anyhow, I have a half-done pile in my bin, and a lot of leaves, horse manure and kitchen scraps waiting to get started. Can I use the tumbler to quick finish the stuff from my bin and set up the bin with the new material to get started?

**Josh** 2/11/2011, 11:19 pm

This was a plastic food grade barrel I got for 15.00 it has a banded lid that comes off so it's easy to add or remove compost. It worked great last year and was very fast at composting. This is how I turned mine Razz

**Furbalsmom** 2/11/2011, 11:53 pm

Josh, you are great. golly gee whiz

Gardening can be fun, even turning compost.

If I tried to turn mine like that, they would have to call the paramedics. :nurse:

LaFee 2/12/2011, 5:17 am

I was gonna say...I'm older and a LOT more klutzy...I'd have to chance to see if a cast will compost.

cautery 2/12/2011, 10:05 am

I remember when "I" was still made out of rubber! Wink

quiltbea 2/12/2011, 10:31 am

quoted by The Cat's ..."Anyhow, I have a half-done pile in my bin, and a lot of leaves, horse manure and kitchen scraps waiting to get started. Can I use the tumbler to quick finish the stuff from my bin and set up the bin with the new material to get started"

Yes, I believe I've read that someone else on this board has done that, finished off their started compost in a tumbler, with great success.

Good luck with the new compost barrels everyone.

Josh, it looks like you have fun making your compost. Go for it!

The Cat's Other Mother 2/15/2011, 1:34 pm

Ta-daaaa!!! My nifty new tumbler! Can't wait to get it filled and started cooking.

quiltbea 2/15/2011, 4:25 pm

The Cat's.....What a great tumbler.
Good luck with it this spring.

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