blue compost barrel

I followed Toni's suggestions (http://www.gardenstew.com/about8112.html) and made one this weekend. I used skate board and in-line skate wheels, thinking that they may be more weather-resistant. And inside you can see metal baffles to keep things stirred up when i rotate it. If i like the mechanics, i can put it on a stand later.
Check the pic here and in the photo album.


former Kikkoman home ( photo / image / picture from pattysoo's Garden )

 

HAAAA! That is brilliant! Esp the skateboard wheels!

 

Where did you get the barrel? I would love to make one of those.

 

I saw an ad in a local paper. Just chance. Unless you live near Charleston, WV, you'll have to find a local source.
Cost me $16 each. I thought a little steep, but that seems to be the rate, if you can find them at all.

 

Well, now that weight is in it, i'm having trouble keeping it on track. I wants to move to the right and run off the wheels. Next, i will try a set of in-line skate wheels under the right rim--that may hold it in place.
Check new pics in my photo album.

 

So awesome! I will have to see if I can come up with wheels and try this out!

 

My brother-in-law sez "just wait outside the ER door for a while".
I bought mine at Goodwill for $2.65.

 

That's wonderful. The skateboard trucks are a great idea! I wish I'd thought of that.

 

The barrels are readily available on Craigslist around here -- all kinda price points. They seem to have been previously used for food products, like veg oil and such but are cleaned out.

FYI -- I saw them listed under the heading Rain Barrel. Some folks also retrofit them for rain barrels. Any good ideas about how to do that, smart Stew-people?!

 

I changed the wheels and screwed the wood into a solid mass, and that has cured (i think) the running-off-the-track. The barrels got really symptomatic when loaded. In fact, if i could do it again, i would get 30 or 40 gal barrels. In the pics, you can see in-line skates under the rim (too keep it in line) and skate board skates on the base of the barrel, to distribute the weight.
Another problem that i was having was that the barrels wanted to dent in at the in-line skate wheel on the left (base of the barrel) side. Just too much weight for the plastic. So, i replaced the in-line with a skate board wheel set.
This and reducing the amount of compost seems to be working. Good luck in you own permutations.


( photo / image / picture from pattysoo's Garden )






( photo / image / picture from pattysoo's Garden )