advice re compost tumblers
 

The bears never go for our compost, but with more types of critters moving in across the street we have decided to ditch the regular methods of composting and get a tumbler.

We are open to advice as to what you have found works well and what doesn't. Brands, prices, and if it matters, we are in fairly arid SE Colorado.

Good thread! I've been thinking about building one but wonder if they really are as great as all the ads say.

I was given one, but I couldn't find a brand on it. The frame had rusted, so we only got the tumbling part and my husband made a new stand for it, so I suspect the manufacturers name was on the stand. I've had it about 5 years, and it composts much quicker than my bins. I usually put partially composted material in it from one of my bins, then it is composted within 2-3 weeks in the summer (if it's in the sun and spun daily), and about 2 months in the winter.
Dawn

4 pallets with hard ware cloth nailed around the outside a siple 2x4 frame that fits over the top with hard ware cloth , we were just to a confrence that focused on building soil as the basis for all growing. they had things that looked very much like forunners extreem compost pile to dozens of these pallet compostors
they followed a 75% carbon 25% nitrogen for thier compst always error on the side of carbon


i have found a screw top 55 gallon drum works well for me i cut the bottom off and just set it down next to the garden it didn't take long dumping our bucket of waste in it every couple of days and it wasn't going anywhere , had it almost full then it warmed up
to 40 and it took off went from almost full of frozen house food waste to half in a week of above freezing temps

I bought one years ago, a big drum type...it is worthless as far as I am concerned...does not make compost....the best is the old square on the ground....it works....LOL

We want to stop doing bins and in the ground composting--we need something that can be closed up.

Risking bear and coyotes in the yard was not smart, but now that we have mountain lions combined with a young grandchild--well--if it comes to a choice, composting has to go.

We are considering a tumbler but just unsure if they really work.

We have this one:

http://www.compostbins.com/compost-b...ecomposter.cfm

It only works if you shred everything real small and get the mixture just right between browns and greens. And then you better make sure and turn it 2 or 3 times daily.

Ours has turned into a storage place thru the winter for kitchen scraps until we get enough togethor to bother with the compost pile.

I've had the original Compostumbler since 1997. Barrel finally began rotting through last year. Replaced it with next thicker gauge metal and should do me for next 15 years. Winter's accumulation was finally thawed enough a week ago to mix everything. Added 15 gallons of shredded pine boughs 3 days ago. Next day had 100ºF. Yesterday and today have it holding at 140ºF. Cooking down a few squirrels, rabbit offal, and cull pigeons. Smells almost good enough to eat!

Martin

I have had two compost tumblers, a large one and the small one. Neither worked for me. When they got more than half full, they were too heavy to spin. When the compost is almost ready but you put more in, you have to start all over again. They have air and drain holes, so the odor attracts critters who try to tear them open, so that was no advantage over the non-tumbling composters! I gave both mine away. I have big compost bins made of pallets and I have some very lively chickens!

What might work better for you would be to dig a fairly big pit to drop your compost in. You could "seed" it with worms. Then cover it with a heavy board or park your vehicle over it. Let the worms do your turning and churning!

Mine's still holding around 140ºF today. Added about 3 gallons of pigeon loft droppings for another nitrogen kick. Did see one tuft of rabbit hair after 6 turns but little else recognizable despite a good 4 months worth of kitchen scraps. Definitely going to be a potent batch.

Martin

Yet another tumbler owner who's quite disappointed with the results.

I have one of the originals
http://www.compostbins.com/compost-b...osttumbler.cfm

It works good, but not as good as they claim

Run two rods through it, front to back. Length will be 38". I used to use 1/4" threaded rod but they would eat through after 3 or 4 years. (The company also tried that but nixed due to same results.) When I replaced the metal last fall, went with 3/8" rod. The rods act as knives to swirl the material creating 4 vortexes. Without something like that, the material mostly just rolls since the baffles are too short.

Martin

i just bought a really small cheap one that i like, from sears..it was the cheapest one i could find..as i can't afford much..we have a pile outside but it is huge and 300 feet from our house..so i wanted a small one on the deck for household scraps and some other things (mostly shredded paper, cardboard, houseplant scraps, some soil, some deer berries..and all the kitchen scraps)

it is working out well for me..

here is the link

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...0070921x00003a

I have a Tumbler and don't use it. The pile works best for me. If you are worried about animals, just don't put any meat scraps in it. Nothing edible goes in mine, edible goes to the chickens.

I've owned three over the years. I say, if you're gonna get one, only get the biggest one.

I also say, that rather than get one, get chickens and don't fool with composting anymore.

Even if I were to not get chickens, I think I would still not get a composter again - I think I would rather let the bears have a good time in the compost.

The problem with rusting through that Martin mentioned can be remedied permanently with stainless steel threaded rod. It can be ordered through better hardware or metal supply houses and is well worth it if you're planning for the long haul.

Agreed. I picked up one that was tossed on the curb. Very disappointed with the results. More often than not, I give up and move the contents to the bigger ground pile. Glad it was free.

Wish I had bought a larger one and have not been real happy with the results of the one I have now. Probably my fault. If you keep adding stuff then when it full you have to find another place to put the scraps until the stuff in the composter is finished. I forget to turn it daily.

I'd like a "composter", but my pile is already too large and it's hard to justify a $8K tractor/loader just to turn it. ;)

If it's $150 (or more) for one of those plastic barrel types, that only holds 60 gals or so, would it not be easier and cheaper, to turn the compost pile by hand in a minute or two?

It's all in how much material you are going to generate over a year's time. If it's only incidental scraps from the kitchen, a 10-gallon plastic garbage can may seem too big. As stated, I have the biggest one that Compost Tumbler makes. It takes up an area exactly 40" x 40". Black raspberries grow right up to the left and back sides. Original compost area was about 10' x 10'. Still make almost as much as before while enjoying the raspberries which I could not have had before. No matter what size tumbler one gets, it doesn't do much good if the instructions aren't followed. I made mine work and many, many others have made theirs work. But then, not everyone can ride a bicycle, either.

Martin

my husband is considering making a few compot tumblers to sell at the farmers market this year.Last season "The Sierra Club" had a booth and were selling rain barrels for $80 bucks!People were snapping them up left and right.
He can get the large barrels at work for free.And we sure would not charge $80!
These barrels have had citrus soap in them,I don`t think that would harm the compost.
We never had one ourselves,they were always asking to much for them.He`s gonna make a couple and see if they sell.

In addition to taking up less space, tumblers allow recovery of nearly all of the original nutrients of the raw material. Many are built with means of saving the leachate which would otherwise be lost into the soil. They are also not affected by rainfall which causes nutrients to be washed out. That liquid is one of the main reasons for tumblers to fail. If not turned within the prescribed schedule, the material on the bottom will become a waterlogged mess. All it can do then is roll up into a ball and that's not the tumbler's fault. About 25 miles north of me is a tumbler that will entirely consume a roadkill deer in a week's time. Mine does the same to smaller critters. Only traces that I find are pigeon bands.

Martin