Has anyone made their own? I know several people on this site use them and like them. I wish I could try one without spending too much $$$ - so my idea is to make one myself. Has anyone tried this, know of plans for making one? I would love to hear about it.

Plastic garbage can tumbler:

You can buy a plastic garbage can, secure the lid on with holes drilled in the edge of the can and the lid, and putting strong garden twist ties to connect it. Drill one-inch holes about every 12 inches all over the barrel.

Then stack up as many white building concrete blocks (not the skinny decorative ones) that will get it off the ground when laying on its side, with the top concrete block being open so the pole can slide through it. Don't stack too high. Get a long metal aluminum pole or heavy rebar that will stretch the length of the garbage can and stick out beyond each concrete block. Put something soft like tennis ball on each end of the rebar so kids and pets won't get poked. Don't use a wooden pole, because it will eventually compost!

Drill a hole big enough for the pole in the bottom of the can and in the lid. You'll need to reinforce these holes to hold the weight of the can on the pole, so using 4 big metal washers that the pole can fit through, put one on the inside and the outside of the garbage can, and fasten these with holes drilled on their outer edge about every two inches, and fasten a twistable wire that goes around both washers and the hole, twist to fasten on the outside, and hammer the poking ends of the wire flat to the can.

Put the pole through the top block, then through each hole in the can, and through the other top block. Use the handles on the can to spin it.

If you do full loads without adding, you can just undo the twist ties at the lid and pour it out when it's done. If you want to add during the process, fashion a door on the side with fine window screen on a frame that is removable with wing nuts. I haven't found this to be very easy to do, and I just haven't bothered.

Use this in the shade so the sun doesn't make the can crack after a few years.

Here's a good article that talks about versions of tumblers that might include features that interest you.

http://www.howtocompost.org/motherearth.asp

I've got the giant round ball tumbler, the Orb, I think they call it, and I don't like it at all. It's heavy, it has to be tethered, the lid is hard to get on and off, and it's a struggle to use.

Sweetpea, I'm not the one who asked the question, but allow me to express my thanks for your response. It's so thorough and well-presented that I think I could actually build one of these composters just from your instructions -- no diagram needed -- and I may do so (and I'm not exactly mechanically inclined)! That you gave the info freely with no strings attached, just because you cared, makes it all the more impressive.

This is what organic gardening, and therefore this forum, is all about, yes? Sharing our information and experience, which is part of our bounty.

I'm happy to be here among all of you.

Thanks for the help! DH says he can do it! I think now that we have cleared the side yard that we will have something new to put there - several new compost tumblers. Maybe my beds will get their favorite treat more often now, and I won't feel like such a lazy composter who never manages to turn the pile often enough, add enough water, or ever have enough in the end to give to the plants.

Nice of you to say, junequilt. I am glad to offer info, as most are in here. I am a do-it-yourselfer, and often get myself into real jams when my enthusiasm collides with my lack of experience on occasion, and life is too short to not try to make things easier all the way around.

INSTRUCTIONS AMENDMENT

let me adjust something in the above instructions. I think that drilling just 8 holes in various places is enough.

Be sure that you get a stiff plastic garbage can. Some of the new ones get soft in the sun and contort their shape and won't work well on a pole.

If you don't want to deal with the pole arrangement, just roll the can on a tarp, back and forth, with your foot.

I made some for our yard years ago. Took plastic trash cans (w/ wheels). drilled holes in the sides & bottom. Take it w/ me thru the yard to fillup. Put lid on & secure w/ ties. lay on side & roll every once in a while. I have them lined up, w/ the oldest stuff on the left, the one I'm adding to on the right. I lay them down roll them as often as I get to it. Sometimes once a day. Mixes up the contents, spreads the microbes. I don't do it to put oxygen into the pile, (imvho) the oxygen isn't going to last very long anyway.