Return to the Soil Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
Homemade tumbling composter
| | |
Posted by
tomva 7-central virginia (
My Page) on
Fri, Apr 15, 11 at 11:12
| I made this tumbling composter very easily and cheap..I really dont know how well it will work but I will keep you updated on it.. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Tom'sGarden
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Homemade tumbling composter
| | |
- Posted by tomva 7-central virginia (My Page) on
Fri, Apr 15, 11 at 12:41
Here it is finished |
RE: Homemade tumbling composter
| | |
Tom nice craftmanship I'm just not sure how well the piece of PVC pipe you used will hold up in supporting the tumbler once you start loading it up and the heat of summer softens it up a bit.
I would recommend finding a length of steel pipe that can slip inside the PVC one.
1 1/2" black steel(gas pipe) from your local hardware store would slip inside your 2" plastic with a touch to spare. It should be fairly inexpensive or you might have a length of something else that might fit which would be even better. Steel fence posts etc... again nice work and if I'm wrong about the axel being made of PVC, please disregard the above post. |
RE: Homemade tumbling composter
| | |
- Posted by tomva 7-central virginia (My Page) on
Fri, Apr 15, 11 at 13:58
| Darth weeder,haha I started to use pvc but I changed up and went with a 2 inch steel pipe.My thoughts exactly on it once weight was added but I do like your idea of slipping the 1 and half in inside the pvc,wish I would have thought of that one...good thinking... |
RE: Homemade tumbling composter
| | |
| Looks familiar! I've got 2 just like it. You're going to have problems with warp-age. The door and around it will warp the first time it heats up. You can fix this by mounting some wood or aluminum framing at the top and bottom of the opening and around the door. I'll take some pics tomorrow and post them. These are the first I've built, made modifications to the first after building and revised plans on the second so it was done better the first time around. I plan on raising them higher but for now I've just got the axle setting in cinder blocks. Got 2 more to make but would like to see how these work first. My first one got up to 130 degrees yesterday. |
RE: Homemade tumbling composter
| | |
- Posted by tomva 7-central virginia (My Page) on
Fri, Apr 15, 11 at 15:51
| Taz what did you make your bearing out of.I hear you with the warpage should be an easy fix though my mind is clicking now,Im thinking drywall cornerbead... |
RE: Homemade tumbling composter
| | |
Yeah Tom, I wasn't sure what you used once you painted everything black because it sure looked like white 2" PVC to me in the picture.
Good luck with it and hoping you'll keep us up to date with problems, if any, and the modifications you come up with.
dw |
RE: Homemade tumbling composter
| | |
| Tom I don't have a bearing. I just cut a hole the same size as the OD of the galvanized gas pipe I had (1 1/4" pipe) using an adjustable hole saw. If the hole wears too fast I'll just use some wax for lube on the next ones. I can get more barrels free. I work part time at a car wash and just bring home the empty white chemical barrels (painted the first one black also). I also have a friend that works at a uniform company that brought me 2 of the blue ones (what I made the second out of). I'm thinking about getting more of the blue ones and saving the $6 for the paint. We'll see how much of a difference there is in temperature between the 2 before deciding that. I'm also using these barrels for rain storage. I only get the ones that came with biodegradable products in them. All the car wash products are biodegradable. I figure it's much better to reuse them for something than let them go to a landfill. I might even cut some in half and use them for planters. I'll bet I could make some hefty SWC's from them that would last longer than any I've seen. |
RE: Homemade tumbling composter
| | |
| Well here they are, not the prettiest things but functional. 
These show where I placed the boards to fix the warpage problem. Top and bottom
 And the door.
 Here's how I mounted them with cinder blocks. Just stacked 3 blocks high with the axle inserted in one of the holes.
 I plan on raising them so I can just dump them like with yours. This is just to test their functionality and temporary. |
RE: Homemade tumbling composter
| | |
- Posted by tomva 7-central virginia (My Page) on
Mon, Apr 18, 11 at 8:22
| Taz I like your ingenuity,very good job..I like your idea of reinforcing the door and opening and I like Darthweeders idea of the steel pipe inside the pvc.This would allow me to use pvc glue to glue the flange bearing to the pvc pipe allowing me to mount a handle on the outerbearing to turn the barrel.Better than my idea of I-bolt through the barrel with rope attached then wrap rope around barrel and pull like cranking a lawn mower or I could bolt a sprocket to the bearing run a chain down to a bicycle frame and petal my way to fitness,lol,just kidding on that idea.I would like to use both of your ideas on another that Im building for a friend and I will give both of you the credit during the steps.ThankYa'll very much..Tomva |
Here is a link that might be useful: Tom'sGarden
RE: Homemade tumbling composter
| | |
| I just made one today (blue barrel) that lays on 3" fixed wheels and rolls, no center pipe thru it, I'm sure I will have to tweak it some but that's part of doing it yourself, mine too is sitting on solid cement blocks. I did add 10" all thread bolts in the sides to help mix it so the materials inside won't just slide around as the barrel turns, if it works as well as I hope then will maybe work on better looking base that I can move around. Filled it up about 3 hours ago and gave it a twirl, seems easy enough to turn even with the weight. Will try to get pics posted soon. Ya'll's look great! Dolores |
RE: Homemade tumbling composter
| | |
| You guys are awesome. Tom, loved your blog. I go to "church" everyday as well :-) |
RE: Homemade tumbling composter
| | |
| There's no need to spin the barrel at high speeds or turn it more than a couple times. I just grab the ends and turn it over a couple times. You just want to mix it a little not separate it's DNA. |
RE: Homemade tumbling composter
| | |
- Posted by tomva 7-central virginia (My Page) on
Sun, Apr 24, 11 at 7:57
| Thankyou tjani,I hope you come by and read some more,I'm gonna build a porch swing next and a hectagon picnic table before summers out plus lots of flowers and veggies on there.. |
Post a Follow-Up
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in.
If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Soil Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.
