a cheap hot box for compost

[iam]

I have made a hot box for my composting, including all kitchen waste from three large polystyrene boxes the type that`s used for transporting live fish or long stemmed flowers,
Remove the lids from the bottom and middle boxes and run some silicon sealant around the rims of these two boxes then place the three boxes on top of one an other allow the silicon to set then cut out the base of the top and middle boxes check that you have not punctured the sides and if so seal them up. I used some thin poly carbon, the type used for signs, to box them in and give more strength to the box but it is not a thing that you must do, the box is water tight but I have to turn it over to empty it ( I dont want to put a fork through it) I have used this all winter with no problems with vermin etc.

[Bigmallly]

Could you not make a false bottom from the original polystyrene bottom so you can just lift the box as you would a dalek or does that have to be sealed as well.

[veggiechicken]

Could the bottom box be used upside down - so that the lid becomes its removable bottom? Cutting off its real bottom (which is now its top) of course!!
I have no idea what these boxes are like so if its a daft idea, don't hesitate to tell me

[iam]

Could the bottom box be used upside down - so that the lid becomes its removable bottom? Cutting off its real bottom (which is now its top) of course!!
I have no idea what these boxes are like so if its a daft idea, don't hesitate to tell me

the reason I went for the solid base was to keep it sealed and prevent any vermin being attracted to it by leaking fluids What both you and Bigmally have suggested may work but I have had no problems with doing it the way I do and as it is close to the house I don`t want to risk changing it, as I said everything from the kitchen goes into it including bones etc. If you have an allotment and try the way you suggest please let me know how you get on.

[iam]

see the answer to veggiechicken

[iam]

Could you not make a false bottom from the original polystyrene bottom so you can just lift the box as you would a dalek or does that have to be sealed as well.

see the answer to veggiechicken and thanks to you both for asking

[veggiechicken]

I don't have an allotment but more crucially I don't have any fish boxes so can't try it
You're concerned about "leaking fluids". Do the contents become soggy then? I'm just being curious now!
In a wormery, those fluids are valuable liquid feed and are drained off.

[iam]

I don't have an allotment but more crucially I don't have any fish boxes so can't try it
You're concerned about "leaking fluids". Do the contents become soggy then? I'm just being curious now!In a wormery, those fluids are valuable liquid feed and are drained off.

I generally turn over the contents every two weeks and when the box is near empty I run off the liquid into a pail, over the winter I was removing about a third of the contents every eight weeks and kept what I removed in a large plastic drum, this has now gone into a bean trench,the liquid has been stored in 4lt. milk bottles to keep as a liquid feed I also put some back into the box when I added cardboard and some dried wood chippings to increase the moisture content. The material from the initial hot composting can be used in a wormery I have two home made worm boxes going and quite a lot of worm cast to use,( here you may be able to help me), I have added some to potting compost and potted on petunias and the leaves latter started to turn yellow I also potted some using slow release pellets which are looking healthy, should I be adding more worm cast to my compost I`m using flowers to try it out on first as I was unsure of the source of the wood, I now understand it will be ok. to use it on veg. Look the web for poly boxes and it`s the 25kg. type I used

[Guykp57]

I'd read not to turn compost over, leave and use as is...which way is best? Turned or unturned?