How to Make a Homemade Tumbler Composter
Make your own homemade tumbler composter for less money than buying one. This composter also has the ability to use more than one tumbler (bucket) and prevents the amount of compost from getting too large to move to the garden. When the time comes, just carry over the bucket and dump it into the desired location. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Two 2x4 boards
- Four sawhorse brackets (two pair)
- Four pipe clamps
- Wood screws
- Washers
- Drill with bit (same diameter as screw shaft)
- Two rolling pins
- 5 gallon bucket(s)
Instructions
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Cut two 3-foot boards out of 2x4s. Place these two sections into the sawhorse brackets to form the legs and then use the left over (extra) section of board between the clamps that tighten as the legs of the sawhorse spread out. One person online made one of these composters out of a laundry bucket (which may alter the flavor of your vegetables and it was turned by kicking it over and rolling it around the yard. This solution is just as effective but a little more elegant).
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2
Screw a pipe clamp into the wood in the board 8 inches apart (4 inches on either side of the center) of this spare board. Use wood screws and pre-drill the hole to prevent splitting where the screws will enter into the wood. Make sure that the bit is slightly smaller than the screw (the size of the shaft, not the teeth). Screw through the pipe clamp at a hole on the side. If your clamps are not designed for this with a hole that already exists, add a washer between the screw head and the holes to prevent the screw from tearing through.
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3
Repeat the process from the beginning for another sawhorse with two clamps attached 4 inches on either side of the center of the extra board.
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4
Insert the handles of rolling pins into the hose clamps so that the rolling pins are parallel to each other. Tighten the hose clamps by screwing them tightly or latching them shut.
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Get a round 5 gallon bucket from a grocer or restaurant that they are willing to part with (for free). Make sure that it comes with the lid and that the lid snaps on tightly. Take this bucket home and clean it well to remove any residual food. Drill a series of holes (the same size as used for the screw pilot holes) into the side of the bucket into any decorative pattern that you desire so that they bucket has enough holes for the soil to breathe.
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Tips & Warnings
Test the number of holes by using a second bucket to fill the first (containing the holes) with water. If the holes take longer than five seconds to drain the bucket, add more holes. Too many holes (a bucket that drains in less than one second) is not good for maintaining the moisture level and you end up watering the compost to maintain moisture. The number of holes and the diameter will vary according to the climate and the season. Experiment with the number of holes and holes sizes to see what works in your geographic area.
The bucket is to be hand turned every day or every other day and the compost is kept moist (but not wet). Make sure that the rolling pin and all other wood parts are properly prepared to prevent weathering. Make sure that if you use pressure treated wood that it does not bleed toxins into your garden over time by using non-pressure treated wood. Make sure that you use a safe paint that is waterproof on all wood surfaces.
