Compost Tumbler

does anyone have the big green Compost Tumbler that sits on a stand that you have to turn the handle a hundred times just to get the tumbler itself to turn over 5 times each day??????????????

well, turning the handle is getting old quick.
I thought about taking it off of its stand and putting it on the ground.
REconstructing the door which has two air vents that stick out . Remove the air vents and attach some mesh wire some how and just rolling the darn composter on the ground.

whatcha think

I think you need a bigger wheel that turns your composter. A bigger wheel would make it a bit harder to turn, but would turn the composter farther with each rotation - less turns to get the composter through a full rotation. I don't have one of these, but looked at them a lot on-line when I was searching for compost tumblers. I'm not sure how you would have to change the mounting, but I do know that it would basically be like changing gears on a ten-speed.

I have the compost tumbler that sits on the ground and you rotate it by pulling it toward you by hand every time you add something to the composter.


That's my composter tumbler (the black thing) far left beyond my new A-frame last spring.
It took from April to October for my first batch of compost but its hard work to turn even with less than half full. That composter gets very heavy and hard to turn. I'm going to have my son move it for me so its on some bricks on a slant so its slanted a bit toward me so gravity will help me turn the darn thing (I hope).

A friend has the kind you have and I've turned it for her when she's been on vacation, and your type is a lot easier to rotate. Of course, it wasn't even half filled when I was turning it.

I made one using these instructions. Roller skate wheels or casters on a wood base make it spin easily.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Compost-Tumbler/

Wow, that's great. I like the idea of casters or roller bearings to make the tumbler spin easily.

My hubby found some fairly large wheels for a great price at Northern Tool and Equipment - I think they were only about $4 a wheel? The larger wheels would likely be sturdier and last longer (they also had a much more substantial bracket).

That is so simple and easy. Did yall see the barrel chair too? Ha
wow. I could of made 10 tumblers like that compared to the money I
spent on the Compost Tumbler.
A day late and a dollar short but there is the future.

today I built this from some scrap metal and a food grade 55gal drum that I got for free. I cut and welded the frame today and all I have left is to add hinges and a latch for the door and paint the frame. I hope this gives others some ideas.

HOORAY! Somebody who speaks my language!


Here's an idea back at ya: a compost sifter I made

Aw JEEZE! Why do all you handy guys live on the west coast or Canada?!

boffer wrote:Here's an idea back at ya: a compost sifter I made

WOW!! It's even motorized! I want one. Can you ship it to me please?

Wow, great tumbler and sifter.
You guys are great.

Blackrose wrote:WOW!! It's even motorized! I want one.

Do you want one with or without the optional hopper so you can load it with your tractor?


I give away more compost than I use. Next time you're out this way on vacation you can take home as many suitcases full of compost as you want!

Well I have a tumbler.....but no handle or wheels. It is on a tripod thingy, but there are pins on either side that stick out and they rest in the V of the two side legs. ? Sorry hard to describe. But I grab the plastic container and spin IT. no wheels, gears, or crank....I just spin the big barrel. And it is heavy and sometimes I have to get some momentum going, rock it back and forth a few times to get the gusto up to go all the way around....but it works pretty well.

Could the OP maybe do that? stick some pins out from the sides and set in V shaped legs? Instead of modifying to roll on the ground?

Mine is similar to this, but mine opens differently, and probably has a smaller capacity based on their price. http://www.ourcrazydeals.com/spinning-compost-tumbler-barrel.html

Ok boff....I may be making a trip your direction. LOL

Boffer, care to share your plans and schematics?