DIY Rotating Composter
- 1). Drill a 1/2-inch hole in the exact center of each end of the barrel to accommodate a 1/2-inch steel rod. On the side of the barrel, mark a 16-inch by 8-inch horizontal cutout; round the corners slightly. Drill a 3/4-inch hole at one corner of this rectangle to accept the metal blade of a saber saw. Carefully cut out the rectangle, which will become the door.
- 2). Spray-paint the inside of the barrel while the door rectangle is removed with a can of primer to inhibit rust. Reattach the door rectangle with two hinges on one edge and a hasp in the center of the opposite edge using 1/4-inch stove bolts.
- 3). Cut two 7-1/2-inch-diameter circles and two 2-3/4-inch diameter circles from 3/4-inch plywood using the saber saw with the wood blade. Drill a 1/2-inch hole in the exact center of each circle. Slide a set of the larger and smaller plywood circles temporarily onto the 1/2-inch steel rod to hold them in position to each other. Put wood glue between the two circles and clamp them until dry. Countersink three or four 1-1/2-inch wood screws from the smaller disc into the larger disc. Repeat with the other set of discs. These two plywood units will become the spacers for the bin roller.
- 4). Build a frame of 2-by-4 lumber that will support the bin. Brace the legs well to add rigidity to the frame. Make the height of the frame something that will be comfortable for you to add and remove materials from the bin. A height of between 36 and 45 inches will probably work well. Make the width of the frame 3 inches wider than the height of the barrel. This will allow the inner wooden circles to ride just inside the frame. Cut 1/2-inch notches exactly opposite each other in the frame to accept the 1/2-inch steel rod.
- 5). Drill a line of 1/2-inch holes spaced approximately 3 inches apart along the entire length of the barrel, on a line just below the door. This will allow excess moisture to drain from the barrel. Assemble the steel rod through the barrel and attach a plywood circle spacer at each end. Bolt the 7-inch spacer disc to the barrel using four 1-1/4-inch by 1/4-inch stove bolts. Set the ends of the steel rod into the notches in the frame. If your frame is 38 inches wide to accommodate a 35-inch-wide barrel, your steel rod will be about 42 inches long. If the rod jumps out of the notches when you rotate the bin, nail small pieces of wood over the rod to hold it in place.
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