Anyone have plans for a homemade compost tumbler they'd be willing to share? Something in the order of THE "Compost Tumbler" ( a barrel laying on its side with a way to turn it easily)

-- Faye Fulper (fayeful@hotmail.com), September 10, 2000

Answers

Faye, When I saw the ad in the magazine and realized it would take a weeks pay, I built an alternative. Mine consists of two 55 gal drums with the band secured lids. I drilled vent holes in the sides and put landscape timbers down railroad track style. I fill the drums, put the lids in place and lay them on their sides on the timbers. I roll em back and forth along the tracks. Seems to work, but the barrels rust out after awhile. We still keep our pit for the bulk of our composting.

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), September 10, 2000.

Faye i made mine out of 2 old dryer drums just welded them togeather cut sone holes and a door then ran a piece of 1 inch pipe thru it from end to end. then i set 2 landscape timbers like post cut them off to the highth you want cut a v in the top for the pipe to rest on and your in business. i set mine on the way to the trash barrel and when i take out the trash i give it a spin. best regards Bob in s.e.ks. ps make sure it high enough to get a wheelbarrow under

-- Bob Condry (bobco@hit.net), September 11, 2000.

Check the gardening books at your library. I've seen plans for turning compost barrels, just can't remember where. Not in Build It Better Yourself, but somewhere recently. If I come across some, I'll post them. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), September 11, 2000.

Faye, I built mine with a 55 gallon barrel mounted upright with a 1/2 inch galvanized pipe running thru it. I don't know how to weld and don't have access to a welder anyway, so that's what I decided to do.

I built a stand out of 2x4's and bought long lags screws to run into the ends of the pipe then used a hole saw to drill the holes in the barrel to run the pipe through. I am using two eye bolts with a bungee across the lid to keep the top on as the metal ring that came with the drum was a major pain.

It works really well except that it takes more like 3-4 weeks to have finished compost. But that is still way faster than any pile I have built. If you need more info on this version please email me and I will do my best to help you out.

-- Doreen (liberty546@hotmail.com), September 11, 2000.

I built a double-barrel composter out of two of those blue 55-gallon plastic barrels and treated lumber. The barrels lay sideways, with a door cut in each one. The frame holds them up high enough to put a wheel barrow under. I ran rebar through the middle of each one, and attached wooden bushings that rest on the rebar. The rebar rests goes through the frame. It works pretty well, but isn't big enough for my needs. If you live in the area and want it, you can have it. If you don't live in the area and anyone else wants it, they can have it too. It could probably be shipped, but I don't think it would pay to do so. Email me if you would like it or if you have other questions.

-- Laura Jensen (lauraj@seedlaw.com), September 11, 2000.

Faye, I don't know if you have found anything or not. My husband just made me a tumbler out of a 210 gal. fiberglass spray tank. He made a wood platform with two sets of wheels on each end of the platform. He set the tank on top of the wheels. He cut a hole in the top of the tank and made a lid out of wood. It closes with a hinge and lock. I tumble it once a day and I can already see it breaking down. We filled it with rabbit manure, straw and grass clippings. I am hoping for enough to mulch at least one of my huge flower beds soon!

-- Brenda Carpenter (bcarpenter@tshainc.com), April 12, 2002.