Design a tumbling composter!!

[george356]

VC - I will make up a couple of sets and post one to you to trial. Cost will be minimal. I will pay for the bits and the postage

[Potstubsdustbins]

Whizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Potty

[veggiechicken]

VC - I will make up a couple of sets and post one to you to trial. Cost will be minimal. I will pay for the bits and the postage

Whizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Potty

I've never had this effect on men before

[Bill HH]

Just for you george because you asked so nicely

When you see pots attached to fences or walls to maximise growing area they're usually attached as single pots, either vertically or horizontally - like this

[ATTACH=CONFIG]40450[/ATTACH]
Imagine that the dark blue dot is the plant and the pale blue arrow shows the water flowing out of the pot into nothingness (or dripping on the plant below).

If each pot was attached to the wall at an angle of say 45 degrees, the plant would, by nature, correct its growth and grow up vertically (or with trailing plants drop vertically).
This would overcome the problem of water dropping onto the leaves of the plant beneath and give the plants more head room.

So, taking that thought on, if each diagonal pot, locked into the pot below in a zigzag pattern, the water would run from one pot into the one below - like this

[ATTACH=CONFIG]40452[/ATTACH]

The open blue circles indicate where additional plants could be grown, through holes cut from the pot.

This is a comparison of the number of pots you might get in a similar amount of space

[ATTACH=CONFIG]40453[/ATTACH]

Although I've said "pots" I think parallel sided "pots" would be better and something like square section downpipe might do the job

So there you are.......what have I overlooked?
.

This is a stunningly good idea.

How would you overcome the first pot having too much water and the last pot too little?

[veggiechicken]

Same as ever, I suppose, by feeling the compost - but you could water at an intermediate level too.

[rary]

I made one quite similar to Broms design but made an A frame with the barrel being high enough to allow a barrow under the drum I placed a strap of wood across the top, and fitted rope handles round the drum to allow for turning it, I then fitted a metal bracket inside the drum to help mix the contents when it was being turned. I turned the drum regularly and after 8 or 9 weeks I removed the door and empted it quite easily using the rope handles to roll it back and forward, the compost I got out of it was...a waste of time I got better stuff by turning it with a fork.

[Bigmallly]

So there you are.......what have I overlooked?

The only thing that springs to mind is that the water will not run @ 45 degrees but will naturally run vertical...............

[Bren In Pots]

Would the barrel turn easier on something like this instead of having a spindle through the middle :-

Mod 2 Oil Drum Stand - Static

that's if a DIY one could be build cheaper.

[Brom]

Bren,
what a good idea. Most DIY stores sell castoring wheels, about 2" in diameter, that can be fitted to large tool boxes and cabinets. Four of those upside down on a wooden framework and a plastic barrel would do the trick. Provided you could get a barrel cheaply then it could be quite inexpensive.
Hmmm...think you might have found my next project for me.

[Bigmallly]

A plastic barrel would be no good.........it would dent after resting on the wheels.

[Brom]

you might well be right there Bigmallly. I may just give it a try using the barrel I already have. Steel barrels are a pain to get hold of, so if it doesn't work it will be back to the drawing board for me.

[veggiechicken]

Instead of using castors, could you use sections of metal pipe like scaffolding pole (the length of the barrel) to act as rollers. This would spread the weight and support the length. A bit like those rollers on luggage carousels?

[Bigmallly]

It doesn't matter what roller system is used, the weight of the barrel plus contents need to be suspended so that minimal contact is made between the barrel & the wheels.........yes I'm talking from experience, weeks & weeks of it................



http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...hed_40164.html

Sorry, I must have deleted the pics.

[veggiechicken]

BM, I read your threads before I started this one - hence my initial comment about the problems of supporting the drum. Just noticed that you did all that 4 years ago to the month
For the record, I don't actually want a compost tumbler, I'm just throwing the ideas into the Grapevine think tank and seeing what you can come up with..........of course, if it was simple I might change my mind

[Bigmallly]

The ideal soloution would be for the centre bar to run on bearings. Something similar to these: Not sure how they would fasten though.