<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>>>A while back I saw plans on the Internet for a 55 gallon drum rotator
made of wood, but I don't recall where I saw that. Does anyone know
where I can find plans like that?<<<
I recall seeing that but not sure where? Did you try searching for
composter+55 gal drum?
The one I recall seeing was a frame built from 2X4's and had some, I think
6" wheels for the drum to turn on. RM~
> Rob Mills wrote:
>> >> Found the one I had seen before,<<
That's cool. When I have some time (which will be never if I keep spending
all my time in here) I think I'll make one. Prestone Hardware (Ottawa) used
to sell olive barrels that would be perfect for this. Maybe they still do.
>> I personally would mount a pair of 6 inch or so wheels at each end of
>> based
>> spaced maybe 12 inches or so apart so the drum could rest on them. Most
>> hardware's have fairly inexpensive wheel in various sizes. RM~
I wouldn't. Keep it simple, like it is. I'm willing to bet this one works
very well.
> I'd agree w/ you on that...this doesn't look like it would be very
> sturdy at all from the description. A 1/2" rod for a 45/55 gal drum of
> damp material isn't much and the frame isn't all that stout, either.
The material shouldn't be that damp, and unless you fill it in one shot
completely full of tomatoes or something, and if you follow the
instructions, it won't be. I'd say my existing composter has about the same
capacity as this one. It takes me most of the winter to fill it once, and
after spreading it in the garden in the spring, all summer including fall
cleanup to fill it again. I end up with half a dozen wheelbarrows of fine
compost, not that heavy at all.
What I would do, though, is add a couple of stops on each runner so the
whole thing couldn't roll off the end and drop to the ground.
- Owen -
Rob Mills wrote:
> >> Found the one I had seen before,<<
>
> I personally would mount a pair of 6 inch or so wheels at each end of based
> spaced maybe 12 inches or so apart so the drum could rest on them. Most
> hardware's have fairly inexpensive wheel in various sizes. RM~
I'd agree w/ you on that...this doesn't look like it would be very
sturdy at all from the description. A 1/2" rod for a 45/55 gal drum of
damp material isn't much and the frame isn't all that stout, either.
On Wed, 30 Aug 2006 08:17:47 -0500, "Rob Mills" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>
><[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>
>>>>A while back I saw plans on the Internet for a 55 gallon drum rotator
> made of wood, but I don't recall where I saw that. Does anyone know
> where I can find plans like that?<<<
>
>I recall seeing that but not sure where? Did you try searching for
>composter+55 gal drum?
>The one I recall seeing was a frame built from 2X4's and had some, I think
>6" wheels for the drum to turn on. RM~
>
>
>
>
It sure doesn't sound that challenging. The trick is finding the right
motor I imagine but I bet a windshield wiper motor might work with
some pulley type speed reduction. Maybe you could salvage the drive
wheels and transmission from a self propelled lawn mower.
On Wed, 30 Aug 2006 23:26:40 -0400, "Owen Lawrence"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>>> I personally would mount a pair of 6 inch or so wheels at each end of
>>> based
>>> spaced maybe 12 inches or so apart so the drum could rest on them. Most
>>> hardware's have fairly inexpensive wheel in various sizes. RM~
>
>I wouldn't. Keep it simple, like it is. I'm willing to bet this one works
>very well.
The wheel idea may actually be simpler. You could just make 2 "X"
bucks with bracing between them. Mount 4 wheels on the bucks and drop
the drum on them. If you found an old self propel lawn mower out for
the trash man you might have all the parts and a belt drive
transmission to boot, in case you wanted this to tumble automatically
every once in a while. (Motor and a timer) I said earlier, a
windshield wiper motor coupled to this transmission would tumble it
slowly