How to Build a Tumbling Composter
To aerate your trash and make it compost better, you can use a compost turning tool. You can simply buy one, but since it can be a bit expensive, it’s better if you build your own. Here’s how to build a tumbling composter.
What You’ll Need:
A plastic drum. You can get any size you want, but a 72 to 200 liter (20 to 55 gallon) is the preferred type.
A PVC pipe with a two-inch wide diameter, and four feet in length.
Nails
Four pieces of treated 2×4 lumber, each at least four feet in length
Drill
Drill bits
Hole saw
Two hinges
Measuring tape
Hammer
Hasp closure
Rebar, two feet in length
Procedure:
Get all your equipment and put them in a wide working space. Put all your tools and materials at ready.
The drum you choose must have its lid and bottom still intact. Using the drill, make a two-inch hole in the center of the bottom and the top of your drum. You should also make a hole that’s big enough to pass the rebar through in one end of the pipe. Pass your pipe through the drum.
Create a hole on the outside of the drum. It should be big enough so you can insert composting material. Carefully cut out the rectangle, making sure the plastic on either side of the mark isn’t disturbed.
On one side of the door opening of your tumbling composter, put two hinges. On the other side, attach a hasp closure.
To make an X, cross two 2×4s. Nail these two securely, then make another identical X.
Get two 2×4s, measuring them. They should be longer than the drum, plus a couple more inches. To form a brace, nail the two pieces of woof from one foot of the X, towards the other. Use the other 2×4 to brace the other foot.
Set the pipe and the drum into the top of the wooden frame you built, slipping the rebar through the hole you drilled. The rebar will be the handle, as you turn the composter.
Fill your composter with leaves or other compostable material, and let it do its job. You can rotate the drum handle a few times everyday, depending on the temperature outside.
Check the contents every now and then. When you see them broken down by the bacteria in the drum, take them out and use for mulch and soil amending around your garden and lawn.
A Few Tips
If your drum is light in color, you can paint it a dark color, like dark green, black or brown. Use paint that works well on plastic. Dark color absorbs light better and raises compost temperature.
Moisten the contents of the drum with a bit of water, to accelerate the process. Don’t saturate, though.
If you need to, add supports for the drum, especially since it’s made of plastic.
Remember to rotate your container occasionally, especially if it’s filled with green lawn trimmings. It may start to smolder because of too much heat.
There’s no need to spend money on a costly compost turning tool. Just follow these steps and you’ll end up with your very own garden compost helper.