Our compost tumbler

ishootaction 10/14/2011, 2:09 pm

Well guys I have never posted a tutorial before or made a compost tumbler. But this project was so fun to do with my son I had to try so here goes.

First we started out with a food grade 55 gallon drum. Then we cut the top off the barrel and fliped it over. This is now the lid held on by bungee cords. We also drilled a 1 1/4 hole about an inch higher than center. This is the axle that the barrel spins on.

Now what we did different is put a 2in piece of ABS pipe down the center of the barrel with alot of holes drilled into it. I made it about 6in longer than the barrel 3 inches on each end. Then we capped them with a 2in cap with holes drilled in them. All this was done to allow good airflow through the barrel. Here are the pics.

Our compost tumbler 110

I am very blessed to have such an awesome helper. Thanks Christopher.

Happy Gardening I love you

MoneyMan94 10/14/2011, 2:23 pm

Looks great and having your son help that is awesome. My 14 yo daughter helped me mix my first box of MM a few weeks ago and she is still talking about it to her friends.

Good luck with the composter.

**RoOsTeR** 10/14/2011, 2:40 pm

Outstanding! cheers

Looks like you had a great helper. I will be trying one of these out for sure.

Your beds look really good in the backgrounds too Our compost tumbler 53366

ishootaction 10/14/2011, 3:39 pm

Thanks guys. We will be building the stand today. I hope. I am not very good at this kind of thing. I will just try an keep it simple.

Happy Gardening I love you

**RoOsTeR** 10/14/2011, 4:57 pm

Looks like you did just fine with your gardens and your tumbler. Very Happy

Thanks guys. We will be building the stand today. I hope. I am not very good at this kind of thing. I will just try an keep it simple.

**RoOsTeR** 10/15/2011, 9:00 pm

Hmmm. Looking at this design a bit more, I am somewhat curious about the weight and turning end over end. I know mine now gets fairly heavy when full and moist. Just kinda wondering if all that weight is going to rest heavily on the bottom. Are you planning on turning it end over end?

ishootaction 10/15/2011, 9:50 pm

Yes end over end. I think as you add it gets heavy. I have heard 4 to 6 weeks to compost without air tube. I think it will be fine. We will see. Trying to build the flipping stand not a good day. Maybe I will have time after work and putting brakes on my car. No rest for the wicked...lol

ishootaction 10/17/2011, 1:46 pm

I have everything ready to complete the stand. Now I just hope I can make enough time to put it together and paint it. I will post pictures as soon as I can.

ishootaction 10/20/2011, 9:18 pm

Did I mention that I hate working with wood? I am a metal man!

Our compost tumbler 2011-120

**Josh** 10/22/2011, 3:23 pm

Thanks ishootaction! This is great!

I have a barrel with a removable lid, and I wanted it on a stand to turn it, but wasn't sure how to go about doing it. I like yours and may give it a try!

madnicmom 10/23/2011, 12:09 am

this is sooo flippin cool!!! thank you! I will add this to my plans!

what is the metal bar that is turns on made of ? it looks like electrical conduit.

ishootaction 10/23/2011, 2:16 am

That was a frame for a golf net. One of the poles.
I decided to use a 1" x 3' Black gas pipe nipple. It is threaded on both ends so I could screw on the end caps. NOTE that 1" gas pipe is 1 1/4 inch outside diameter. Which means you will need a 1 3/8 paddle bit to drill the hole to put it in. Don't ask.....lol
So far I like it. It was fun to build it with my 10yr old son. It is a bit heavy to turn. But beats the heck out of a pitch fork or compost turner thingy.

Good luck and peace be with you and yours. I love you

martha 10/23/2011, 1:34 pm

He looks like a great kid!

Your results look really good, also. My one question is about the turning it end over end. Are the bungies going to be tough enough to hold the lid on when it is upended?

ishootaction 10/23/2011, 6:14 pm

Well Martha we will have to see. So far so good. :scratch:

ishootaction 10/23/2011, 6:15 pm

ohh yeah and he is a great kid. Thanks I love you

littlejo 1/9/2012, 9:04 pm

I broke the handle on my 'purchased' tumbler and am looking to make 1 myself.

Can we have an update please? Does it work well? Any thing you would do to make the design better? Can I borrow your design and make one for myself?

Jo

Guest 1/9/2012, 10:14 pm

Penny to a pound that barrel is very difficult to turn. Think of a teeter totter with an adjustable board. As the barrel is now, you would be on the short end trying to lift up the long end. Compost is surprisingly heavy; the horizontal axle holding the barrel needs to be nearly at the middle (vertically).

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