Tumbler Projects

The Tumbler

• Compost tumblers are based on simple components: a barrel to hold the organic material, a frame to hold the barrel and a rod that goes through the barrel connected to a turning handle. Additional components include screws, hinges and black paint. Free barrels may be gotten from food processors or restaurants while inexpensive ones can be bought from companies who supply them to these industries. Wood or PVC pipe for the frame can be bought at home improvement centers or salvaged from scraps from other projects.

Components

• The barrel is made from a food-grade plastic drum with a tight-fitting lid. Food-grade plastic is used to avoid introducing chemical toxins to the finished compost applied to garden plants.The frame is constructed from weather- and rot-resistant lumber. Many plans recommend white pine when using wood. A steel rod is used for the axis on which the barrel spins, while rustproof screws and bolts are recommended for putting the wooden frame together. Most tumblers also have a small door cut into the side of the barrel for adding organic matter and removing finished compost. Rustproof hinges are recommended to secure it to the barrel.

Construction Tips

• Do-it-yourself compost tumbler plans are similar in design but some concepts are common in all of them. One key concept is accurate measuring, cutting and drilling while making the tumbler. This is especially important when drilling the holes for the metal rod that acts as the axis. Tumblers that rotate end over end and those that mimic a barrel's natural roll around its circumference both require accurate axis placement for smooth operation. Similarly, frames and bases that are accurately cut and screwed together will be more stable during operation. Black paint on the outside of the barrel helps the tumbler absorb more solar radiation that's converted to heat, which speeds up decomposition.

Reasons to Use

• Tumblers are worth the effort for several reasons. Traditional compost piles need to be turned over periodically with a garden fork to admit oxygen that desirable decomposition organisms require. When the oxygen level drops, another group of organisms takes over and these are responsible for foul odors emanating from poorly managed composting. Tumblers eliminate most of the hard work and neighbor-offending smells.

  Traditional composting requires larger quantities of plant material to work efficiently. A tumbler is capable of making smaller quantities of compost from limited amounts of organic matter. The smaller scale of input, operation and compost output makes tumblers a good solution for smaller yards and gardens.