DIY Compost Tumbler

I have been reading a lot and watching videos on gardening and found out that compost piles and compost tea are amazing for nourishing garden plants. That has led my research into how to make a compost tumbler. Over the past several months I have been tending to a compost pile and I have to say that it is no fun turning the pipe every couple weeks. So here we have my tumbler!
Stuff you need:
1 Rain Barrel $12
1 treated 2x4 cut to ~4'
2 treated 2x4 cut to 6"
2 treated 4x4's cut to 7'
2 hinges
2 latches
1 1" pvc pipe cut to 5'
1 metal rod at 5'
3 aluminum bars cut to the door size
several bolts and nuts.
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[@ebo360]

I’m in the process of making a couple tumblers right now and wanted to add some tips. I also used an angle grinder to cut my door. My tip on that is to be careful of melted plastic landing on your arms or hands while cutting. It isn’t dangerous per se, but it’s at best pretty uncomfortable and not something I was expecting. The benefit of the melt the grinder causes is that instead of having tiny pieces of plastic sawdust everywhere you have clumps that are largely attached to the cut edges and are easy to break off and dispose of. As to using a different tool than the grinder, I thought it did a good job. You will end up with a gap around the edge of your door a little wider than the wheel you use, but it gives you some wiggle room when putting on the hardware. I’ve watched people try to use sawzalls and jig saws to cut the doors. They start off working well but, as you get past the first couple cuts, cause so much chattering that it becomes both hard to complete and honestly kind of dangerous. It also doesn’t hurt to have a couple tumblers if you have the space. That way you can be adding new material to one while the other is processing stuff you filled it with. If you only have one you’ll have to find something else to do with your organic waste for a while at some point so it can finish the process with what’s inside. Or you’ll have to contend with compost that has a lot of “not quite yet compost” stuff mixed in. Kind of yucky if you’re composting food waste.

[@roydredge1273]

Seth excellent video as always one thing i would recommend is rounding the corners of the saw cut hole in body of tumbler as that will ease the stress from the cuts, also have you thought about painting the body so that it absorbs sunshine heat to help the process along

[@LandtoHouse]

Thank you. That is a fantastic idea to round off the corners. I had not thought of that. As far as painting goes: yes absolutely! I have a nice dark green paint that will help with heat absorption and look so much better in the woods.

[@mariangie1544]

Like the idea of the post!!!

[@djmaur]

I have been considering making one, and was wondering why in none of the videos does someone layout the hinges before cutting out the door.

[@LandtoHouse]

I took the tank down after a few years. It started to crack and I did not use it as much as I needed too.

[@jimtroupes1797]

Great idea !

[@growNglow]

I made one a few weeks ago, but it is full already. I need another one (or two)

[@JohnDoe-ff2fc]

I hope that the bolts/nuts are stainless steel to prevent rust.

[@nickiredale7387]

Fascinating watching you working it all out and doing it - thank you. I did wonder why you'd used the angle grinder to cut the plastic and I thought the catches you'd chosen weren't the best choice. Have you changed the catches, and if so, what sort did you go for?

[@LandtoHouse]

I took this out a year or so ago. The catches were a bad idea. The whole thing worked ok but I should have painted the barrel to make it more sun proof. It cracked and broke.

[@tangowood]

Should a tumbler stand in the sun or shade?

[@LandtoHouse]

This one lasted 2 years before the sun damaged the plastic.

[@gmann1233]

The hacksaw was a better option for cutting aluminum. A grinding/cutoff wheel has a tendency to get gummed up with aluminum.

[@TwoOnesTanks]

was the metal bar really necessary?

[@LandtoHouse]

I actually never really used this one. :(

[@katgillang]

where did you get your barrel? I've found similar for over $100...

[@LandtoHouse]

The company Baxter's uses these for some salutation and then sells them to the local hardware store.

[@scottjkern]

I am wondering how the food inside gets flipped around there's nothing stated that you put metal angles inside

[@LandtoHouse]

I never did use this more than a few months. To many other things came up and then the barrel cracked in the sun.

[@JohnGodwin30]

Great job.

[@LandtoHouse]

Thank you! I have been wanting to do this for a while. Way better than paying $200

[@tsimmons1974ts]

Are Those small holes big enough so the compost can breathe I wonder🤔🤔

[@LandtoHouse]

To be honest I never really used this compost tumbler. I got so wrapped up in other projects that my gardening went to the Wayside

[@gladtidings4all]

Instead of putting that post into the ground you should just make a stand and let be it be free standing or a dolly with wheels on it.

[@jonny_mazerati9410]

😍

[@parthasarathybalakrishnan8872]

Can you make for us Purchase from you

[@gladtidings4all]

You need to mow that grass! It’s a jungle

[@artofwastemanagement4484]

By rotating drum may spoil

[@LandtoHouse]

+B H Srikanth Srikanth the drum has held up well except for the door. That did not do well.

[@artofwastemanagement4484]

I will try it

[@samcrainich3993]

So did you try it?