It actually worked pretty well too. But it was too slow and small scale so ended up collecting dust in a corner for a while. However, necessity is, as they say, the mother of invention. I started trying to work toward Zero Waste (as little garbage as possible, so no food waste in the trash) and I was looking for a way to efficiently/cleanly/decently compost meat scraps (in the winter, in the house). I thought, "Oh what the heck, why not try the FrankenComposter? It's just sitting there, right?" So, I put blended meat scraps, sawdust, leaf litter, and a little compost into this thing, sealed it up and turned it once a day for about 8 weeks.

A better solution for meat scraps ended up presenting itself and I eventually stopped bothering with the FrankenComposter. It sat unattended for another month or so. It never smelled at all, but the looming horror of the grossness percolating within its interior started to get to me and after a while I was downright haunted by the thought of this thing sitting in my basement. ...Waiting for me.
So finally today I thought, "That's it! No more living in dread, I'm going to take care of this mess right now." I geared up-- gloves, breathing filter, the works. If I could have gotten my hands on a hazmat suit, I would have used it. I dug a nice big hole to dump the contents into. I had the hose standing by, ready for action. I warned everyone in the house, if they valued their lives, they had better not come between me and the shower the second I was done.

Then, with everything ready, the hard moment had come. With some choice words to myself about "me and my *brilliant* ideas," I gritted my teeth, held my breath, and opened up the FrankenComposter to dump it as quickly as possible into the hole. I couldn't help sneaking a quick peek though-- and OH MY GOD, it was DIRT! Nothing but DIRT! No smell, no bits, no sawdust, just Dirt! Plain old beautiful Dirt!
It was like a miracle. I stood there in total disbelief for way too long. My jaw actually hung open. I had no idea how this ended up being okay, but I was deeply, infinitely grateful. And then I wanted to jump up and down and shout my ecstatic relief and jubilation from the roof top-- "The FrankenComposter worked! It's Diiirrrrrrrrttttt!!!!"

But that would have been more than the neighbors could have handled, so I peeled off my protective layers, pitched the Franken-dirt into the perennials, filled the hole I had dug back in, and had some breakfast instead.

Had to tell you guys about it.

Lloyd

P.S. It's better than just "dirt".

P.P.S What did you have for breakfast? ;-)

The FrankenComposter's not much to look at. Just something I thought, "Oh what the heck?" and slapped together from stuff I had lying around.
(Bear with me while I try to figure this photo sharing thing out, there should be pictures below this text)

http://s1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg632/vitaverde8/?action=view¤t=d afkjg.jpg
http://s1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg632/vitaverde8/?action=view¤t=d kjhijj.jpg
http://s1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg632/vitaverde8/?action=view¤t=d skjfjh.jpg
http://s1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg632/vitaverde8/?action=view¤t=e rigjk.jpg
http://s1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg632/vitaverde8/?action=view¤t=e sjhgh.jpg

Materials list:
1. Igloo type water cooler (with a spigot for the leachate)
2. PVC pipe for the spoke/crank shaft and air conduction, also for the legs of the platform
3. Dowel rods for the handle and spokes (something non-wood would be better)
4. Egg crate for the platform
5. Screen for over the egg crate
6. Zip ties to hold the platform together
7. Panty hose, rubber band, and Great Stuff to seal off the outside of the crank from fruit flies

Method:
1. Screened platform on legs within the cooler to allow leachate to drain from compost.
2. Crank with spokes inside and handle outside to allow for turning the compost.
3. Crank is hollow to allow air exchange, but screened in order to prevent pests.
4. The cooler itself is designed for a little insulation, so this (in theory) helps to support good temps.

Recipe:
I wrote it all down originally, but naturally can't find that list now!
My memory is not exact, but I think it was something like 40% cooked, food processor-ized meat scraps, about 45% sawdust, 10% leaf mould, and 5% compost from my pile. I mixed them together thoroughly and deposited them in the cooler. Turned the crank once or twice a day for about eight weeks. Then it sat unattended for about another eight weeks (so for almost four months total).
But I don't recommend this method.
I've been using a much easier and quicker way to compost small amounts of meat scraps instead. I have three well established vermicompost bins; a portion of one bin is allocated for small amounts of cooked, food processor-ized meat scraps (alternated with veggies). The worms have been doing well with this for the last couple of months (lots of babies and no smell at all). It only takes them about two-three weeks to process about a cup or two of scraps. No work on my part-- frees me up to go turn my outside pile :)

I was just so flabbergasted (and relieved) by the outcome of the ol' FrankenComposter experiment, I had to tell someone. And if there was anyone in the world I could tell, it would be you guys! Thanks for being such a gracious audience.

P.S. Lloyd-- breakfast shoulda been cake ;)

I usually just throw them in my regular compost bin, always well covered of course. But I don't have that much at a time, it's pretty rare. When I make chicken or turkey stock out of all the bones etc. that I save up in the freezer till they fill the pot, I throw all that in the bin and it composts fine in a fairly active pile.

I would never have had the nerve to try something like that in the house but it just goes to show every thing leads back to compost no matter how you do it. Congratulations!

Val

I tip my hat in your general direction.

Lloyd

P.S. You might want to take a felt marker and obliterate the "drinking water" on the side. ;-)

Terrene- We think he's about eight, a mix from the pound. He's a really sweet fellow and a good gardener. He helps me water the compost, dig holes, and "mows" the grass like a sheep ;)

Val- Thank goodness for basements! And I drool over their operations too. I think of them every time I get my little pitchfork out. I positively yearn for a backhoe! Or even better, that mechanical thing Sigourney Weaver used in Aliens! Wouldn't that be fun for turning the compost? Somebody should be working on that...

Lloyd- Ha! Thanks, and excellent suggestion; will get on that immediately. You always make me laugh :)

OMG! That would be perfect! I've always wanted one of those for various things...scare little children, scare big dogs that poo in the yard, check the gutters...you know the usual things :-)

But I never thought about turning the compost with one...you ARE a genius!

You made me smile again.

Val

I don't have a basement so I'm not attempting this! Besides, I rarely have leftover meat, except cat food. Two picky cats.

I cook almost daily so the only thing ever left is bones and fat. I take all of that stuff to a corner of my property every few days and leave it for the wild animals and strays. I have 10 acres so it is far from the house.

I'm curious (but not that curious).

Lloyd

For the first one scroll all the way to the bottom where it says "Stay away from her you b***h!"

Ripley Alien Masher

This one is a slightly different view:

Aliens

Just in case you ever decide to watch just to see this machine (smile) don't rent Alien. It's actually the sequel you want Aliens.

I think you should watch the movie to see the machine in action. You can watch the first 15 or 20 minutes and a guy uses the "loader" on a space ship to load cargo....long before the ending in which Ripley uses it to kill the monster. Everyone remembers the ending much better though. I bet you could build one of these...eh? :-)

Val

P.S. I couldn't really find good shots of it but it's a truly awesome machine.

Power Loader

Val

There's more than one of these movies?!?! Be a cold day in YKW before I rent a scary movie.

Cool machine though. More like something Jon would use I think.

Lloyd

:-)

Lloyd

If I could put pitchforks on the ends instead of magnets, I'd be in business for sure.

Lloyd, I have to say I'm surprised at you...who'd a thunk a wheat farmer would be scared of scary movies. Some of the real life stuff you pull out of those bags is much more scary to me than the Hollywood special effects are. :-)

Somebody went and invented the power loader from Aliens

Enjoy

Val

That is one very cool machine!!

Lloyd

My friend, just wath a couple "the making of" dvd's and you will look at scary movies in a whole new light. Takes some of the magic out of them, but they are really good movies.

I personally love anything with FANTASY type monsters, I avaoid the ones with human monsters as those are a bit too real for me. I like my scary to be make believe, not a reminder of how sick some humans can be.

Ya, when I watch pretty well any kind of suspenseful show I actually have to say out loud "The cameraman will save them" to keep myself grounded. I know it's just a movie and special effects but....

As an example, when Signs was on, I actually yelled at the television to the dumba$$ guy not to run into the corn after the dog yelped. Then I got up and left. DW and DD won't take me to a theatre to watch scary movies. I don't know why. ;-)

I think I'll stick to Disney, good war movies and The West Wing.

Lloyd