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Home Made Tumbler
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Posted: Jul/06/2008 8:52 AM PST
I made this tumbler a few years back, which worked really well. The shaft runs all the way through the drum, and I have fingers welded to the shaft on the inside so the compost doesn't lump. I drilled hundreds of holes in each end and leave the top open while the compost is brewing, and close it to turn it. I also have a 12 inch thermometer stuck in one of the holes to tell me when it needed to be turned or watered. I also have small drain holes in the bottom to collect the manure tea. The whole thing is high enough that I would back my garden trailer under it to unload. It is sad that I can no longer do the manual labor, and ther is just so much that I ask of my Wife. John Attachments:   |
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Posted: Jul/06/2008 9:44 AM PST
bugnut, Looks great I'm sorry to say my compost is a pile of what ever i can find to add from one year to the next but i bet your will turn out fast compost. |
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Posted: Jul/06/2008 10:22 AM PST
Oh, that looks great, bugnut! How ingenious is that! |
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Posted: Jul/06/2008 11:57 AM PST
John, that's exactly what I was shooting for when I built mine, but I fell short in two important areas. One, I did not drill hundreds of holes in either end, so air flow was a persistent problem. Two, I did not attach a handle to it, so I had to turn it by grabbing the barrel itself and giving it a spin. Did you put some kind of bearings on your shaft to make it easier to turn? |
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Posted: Jul/06/2008 1:07 PM PST
Steve, the shaft turns on the inside of some collars that I put grease zerts in. Any one could turn it, even all the way full. I just can't load it anymore and pull the garden hose to it. It always made compost even in the winter, of course I always have fresh manure and I also have a wood chipper shredder. I have a fully furnished welding shop as well as a fully furnished wood shop. Which I hope to be able to use again some day. My shop is 45 ft X 60 ft with 15 ft walls. I have a large A-frame with a electric hoist on wheels to roll around and handle the heavy stuff. I may be dreaming but I refuse to part with my equipment until I know there is no chance for me to use them. John |
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Posted: Jul/29/2008 11:52 AM PST
A great big thanks! we made one but I am unhappy with it.... first we figured out the compost just slid as I turned it so we found a way to make some baffles... problem solved.... not exactly I see now we do not have enough air holes and we did not put a crank on it it rolls on some old bed casters which would work except it falls off for me and then is heavy to get back on and slow ( guess that is the lack of air?? maybe santa will bring me a big green one. just realized the big blue plastic ones dh just brought home for rain barrels would be lighter to turn and they are bigger than my metal one...hmmm maybe I will send him back for more |
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Posted: Aug/22/2008 3:26 AM PST
I use a concrete barrel mixer, the mixer is appox. 1yd type mixer, every thing goes in it except the kitchen sink, I throw chips/drywall scraps/cow poop /grass clippings/oak leaves/paper and peat mixed up time "a glass of ice tea" filled 3-24"-28" wide x 24"- 28" deep containers, planted squash and let it do it's job, Later Guilt Trip |
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