Compost Tumblers
(Page 2 of 4)
TUMBLER STYLES
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Compost tumblers fall into four general categories based on
their construction:
Crank-operated drums. A horizontally
mounted drum rests on a raised framework. A crank assembly
lets you turn the drum easily, while the internal baffles
help mix the materials, adding air.
Because the drums are raised relatively high, emptying them
is simple. Merely push a wheelbarrow under the drum,
position the door and open it. Compost pours directly into
the wheelbarrow.
This style of tumbler tends to cost about twice as much as
other styles. But, as with anything else, you get what you
pay for. In this case, you trade money for ease of
operation.
The Mantis ComposTwin (Page 105) and the ComposTumbler
(Page 108) are examples of this design; the former has a
double drum and the latter has a single drum (available in
two sizes).
Center-axle drums. A vertically mounted
drum rotates around a central, horizontal axle supported by
a wood, metal or PVC frame. Operation is generally easy,
particularly with the models that have doors on both ends.
The central axle acts to break up and mix the materials.
Most of these tumblers are mounted low to the ground,
however, so emptying them can be a chore unless you have a
low-boy wheelbarrow that happens to fit under them.
The Urban Compost Tumbler (UCT) and the Tumbleweed are this
type.
Base rolling drums. A horizontally
configured drum rolls on a ground-level base. Some of them
actually have rollers, while others have molded rounded
points to suspend the drum and let it rotate. Obviously,
the tumblers with rollers are easier to turn. To help make
rotating easier, several of this style have steps molded
into the body, so you can use your feet and legs to turn
them, thus theoretically easing back strain.
Because the base rolling tumblers virtually sit on the
ground, emptying them can be awkward. You have to shovel
the compost out—through relatively small
openings—rather than pouring it.
Typical of this design are the Envirocycle, the Step-down
Composter and the EZ Composter
Roll-around spheres
These are giant molded angu lar balls that you fill with
composting material and then roll around your yard. The
idea is initially intriguing; in practice, however, they
tend to he the most awkward to use and the most difficult
to empty.
Roll-around composters are not really round, but are
faceted like a geodesic dome. As a result. they only roll
on what would be their equator. And, instead of rolling
like a snowball, they swing to the left or right in sharp
arcs. The heavier they are loaded, the less control you
have.
