Compost Tumbler

Step 5: Final Assembly

Place the wood plank on bricks to keep it off the ground. Add the barrel. Spin it a couple of times and load it full of rotting jack-o-lanterns to get your compost off to a good start!

Some parting thoughts:

1- I might consider getting bigger hinges and locks- I've not filled it completely yet and am a bit concerned about the structural integrity.

2- If you're a perfectionist, replace all the screws with short bolts and nuts- they're likely to stay assembled longer and you don't have to worry about getting cut on a pointy screw.

3- For those of you needing a primer on compost- leaves, yard clippings, kitchen scraps (meat/fat/oil are NO NOs, veggies, eggshells and breadstuffs are YES, YESs), maybe some worms, and water til moist sponge consistency. Turn once or twice a week.

Comments

[gorozco]

Just made myself one today I use a moving dolly as the base, small door in mine to keep the integrity of the barrel, I found a place in my town that recycles barrels from big companies they are food grade (mine comes from a pop maker) so is easy to clean instead of the ones with soaps or other chemicals will post pictures once I finish the holes for ventilation. Thanks for the idea

[jahbic]

this also helps to do compost cleanly, the only time I did it, had a problem with mice cause of the remaning food I used

[mystrwizard]

(removed by author or community request)

[sangretoro]

About how powerful do you think the gear motor should be in order to be able to rotate a heavy drum slowly (safely) but strongly?

[jfaurschou]

I built mine on your design and it's working very well. I made the door longer and narrower, Perfect size for my mower bag to fit up against to dump, as well as a good size for a shovel/rake to get stuff out. I keep a small metal tub about the size of a flower pot in the kitchen for kitchen scraps and so forth, and the whole family is getting into this as my boys (7 and 9) love being the ones to empty the tub into the bin each day, and they fight over whose turn it is to roll it. Thanks for the idea!

[mcasey1964]

you could use piano hinge riveted to bottom would give support the whole length

[Doug Sousa]

You can only use piano hinges if the door (barrel) is flat, if it has a curve from end to end it it will not operate correctly.

[WaducK]

But the long side of the barrel IS flat, so I guess a piano hinge will work. anywayz, I'll try to build one next weekend... I'll let you guys know.

[aquaponic dave]

Cool idea. You might want to build it out of a metal rather than plastic barrel. Compost gets pretty hot when it's cooking along well and the plastic could warp.(I have seen 170 degrees in mine, but it is 2 cubic yards, so it might be getting a lot hotter than this one would since it is only .15 cubic yards). Making the door smaller could also help, and making the corners of the door more rounded would also help reduce warpage issues. Another good thing to add would be some crossmembers inside the barrel to help stir the compost as it tumbles, otherwise it will tend to roll up into a ball and not mix like you want. A few pieces of conduit with flattened ends bent over will do the trick, screw through the barrel to attach, use self-tapping screws.

[QuietStorm81]

On which side would you put these crossmembers if you were to do this?

[aquaponic dave]

They would cross from one side to the other, connecting on both ends. Viewed from the end of the barrel they would bisect the circle. More crossmembers would mix better, but too many might make it a pain to unload the compost. I'd try two or three. If the crossmembers were attached near the edge of the door it would help reduce the plastic flexing there.

[wancho]

nice idea and post. I would put the door on either end of the barrel to help the warpage issue.

[TnT101]

Good point about the door....except, once its close to full it may expell while attempting to fill it. I'm gonna make mine with HIS & YOUR idea... I'm making my door like his, but about 1/3 smaller. Smaller to make it stronger, but large enuf to fill/empty with a shovel.

[CrouchingFather]

I think you could recycle some old roller skates for the rollers..

[austinr1999]

Looks like a good plan, I've been looking for something like this.