WORST Compost Tumbler EVER!... and Here's Why! Honest Review

Here's 8 important reasons why I think you should NOT buy THIS compost tumbler! I usually recommend things, or show you how to make them, but this week I'm going to explain why I don't think some compost tumblers are the right choice for many people.

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#gardening #composting #irishgarden

[niallgardens]

Hopefully this gives you some useful information if you’ve never used a compost tumbler before - let me know. Or, if you have one, let me know what you think also! 👍

[HollyOak]

Did it never cross your mind, the way to empty the tumbler was to leave the door off and turn it so the opening faces down? Put a tarp underneath and use a small trowel to help move things. One further off the ground is also a better idea. It gives you leverage.

[chrislu]

A big plus with these tumbler type composters is that it keeps pests (mice, rat, raccoon, opossum) away from the kitchen scraps.

[scientiaarsvita]

We use two tumbler composters and they work well for us. I think that some of your negativity is because you are not using it in an optimal manner. Tumblers are expensive, but mine have lasted 8 years and are still going strong. For some, that is preferable and frankly looks way tidier than an open heap. In addition, I need all the space available to garden. The tumblers are set up on a shaded hard scape area. We use the tumblers primarily for kitchen waste, so the size of the opening is not a big deal. To get the compost out, I simply roll it across the yard, take off the opening, then roll it around on our vegetable garden until most of the compost has fallen out. That is way more fun and less work than trudging back and forth with a shovel-full of compost. I think it is unfortunate that by only focusing on what hasn't worked for you, you may cause people to miss out on something that might be a good solution for their situation.

[nautilusshell]

Hmmm....a friend of mine has a tumbler that she uses for her kitchen waste.
1) It has two compartments, so can be used on a progressive basis
2) It's raised on a frame, so access to load and unload isn't a problem
3) Instead of having a screw top, it's got doors with a catch
4) It rotates freely and doesn't involve a lot of effort (it's got sturdy handles on the drum)
She's had it for years, it's hexagonal and it is wearing out (it's metal and it's corroding), but it does seem to work for her. Each to their own.

[JBNat]

When you said "I've got 8" at the start of this, I thought you were going to say you had 8 compost tumblers 🤣 Glad for you that you didn't get 8! Really interesting video, I'm a fan of the open piles on my allotment, but the tumblers I've seen before are on legs (so you can empty by spinning upside down) and a handle to give you leverage and make it much easier to tumble.

[TheDPStL]

I'm glad I watched this video & from wanting to buy a tumbler to I certainly won't buy one now. I've been composting for 12 yrs & will continue to use my large container with 4 open bottoms. Thank you.

[geoff]

I have a 70L tumbler that has worked well for me and my small yard and garden.

- The small size is easy enough to roll across the ground - only need to go a few meters then roll it back every few days. When ready to use, just roll it to where I want and dump it out there.
- It has a panel that slides out sideways, very easy to remove and replace. Not a large opening for access if you need to reach in, but that isn't something I've had to do.
- I'm in an urban area where rodents and other critters could be a problem, but haven't been an issue with the enclosed tumbler.
- I found that things need to be broken down before being put in the bin, to help everything mix sufficiently and prevent clumping. I'll use garden shears to dice up dried leaves and chop long plant stems, and dice kitchen scraps into smaller pieces. Grass clippings worked best when let dry a little before being added, and also pre-mixed with brown material.
- I'll fill the bin about two-thirds at most with fresh material so that it can still mix. Once it starts to break down and get denser, I'll continue adding material until it gets about half full.
- Excess moisture was a problem in the spring, I think when I added too much wet green material and with a cool and very rainy spring climate. I emptied out the bin so that I could break up the wet (bad smelling) clumps and mix in some dry brown material, and things started working better. Once summer came around, I needed to occasionally add water, and any clumps were smaller, drier, and didn't end up smelling bad.
- Last year I was able to get three batches of compost - one in early spring (that was started with fresh fall leaves), then in mid and late summer. I think it took longer than necessary because I was gradually adding kitchen scraps for several weeks - loading it up all at once and leaving to mature will probably have a completed batch much sooner.
- There is another model that uses the same bin, but is two compartments raised on a frame, so that they can easily be spun in place, and emptied out onto a container underneath. Having multiple bins would allow filling one with fresh material while the other is let to mature.
- I've seen more expensive tumblers that are insulated to keep composting active in cooler temperatures, and have large latched doors so loading and unloading would be easy.

[NickiUn]

I want it because it is supposed to not attracting rats to small gardens with having it close and off the ground and I don't really want compost, I just don't want kitchen garbage into landfill as well the mess in the collection bin. So it would be good.
One need one with 2 chambers to let one set and feed the other. I would only need a small one.

[myrustygarden]

What I think they would be useful for is seed growing mix, rather than mixing by hand on a table so add all your perlite seed soils and any additives, flip it around a few time to mix your soil and then store in poly to access seed starter soil as needed. At least it won’t go to waste. 👍🇨🇦🐝 safe both of you

[chesterhobbs]

I have the same basic model as you and quite enjoy using it. Mine must be a better model. The lid is no problem, turning the drum1/2 turn once a week, using a pitch fork to load and a small spade to empty is all there is to it. Like most I compost using several methods. The rotating drum is the quickest.

[lgfl]

Nautilus Shell makes a good point that I'll add to.. You are referring to a specific type of tumbler. Some of your 8 reason are nullified by 1) using a dual chambered tumbler that allows for the cooking of one batch of compost while feeding the other; 2) a compost tumbler held off the ground on a stand will make it easier to maneuver, spin, access the contents ( dumping it into a wheelbarrow or tarp underneath) and it can reduce stress on your back. It also can deter wildlife. 3) Some tumblers are made with much larger doors than what you're showing. Large doors make it easier to add in materials and remove finished compost. Look at some of the reviews that are shown on the side of this video to see other types of compost tumblers and their features before deciding based on this commentary.

[juanramos.jr.]

I agree 100percent with you . I bought one and didn't take long to regret it. It is better to put in a pile and turn it with shovel. The compost comes out better. Now I just use it to mix soil.

[arjenschroevers]

You are very wrong.

I made myself a rotating composter. It is electrical driven, It has a size from 3.500 liter. It has a door from 1, 5 meter wide. I can load 500 kilo dead fish in it. I can load a huge amount of grass in it. Everytime when i Load it, the temperature rises to 60 degrees. In just 15 minutes.

[PointofimpactTV]

Nice video, the gadgets are often about saleability rather than practicality. If you can sell an idea and people don’t see how flawed it is, people will buy it.

[ellellbee]

I have one of those but I only use it for my kitchen compost during the winter when I have at least 60 cm of deep snow between the house and my garden compost bins. I totally agree about your points. I don't bother turning it as my contents are usually frozen. I have a small trowel to push the contents to each side when I add a bucket of kitchen scraps. In the late spring, I shovel out as much as I can and then roll it to my garden compost bins and add it to those to help them get hotter. They are usually mostly leaves over the winter and the greens from this rolling thing helps them heat up. I have to roll it over and back to get the compost out. Many, many times back and forth. Sigh.

[katrinejensen]

So refreshing with real information about a product and not just a commercial. Thank you!

[margaretmccollum]

Great information! Thank you for sharing. I was thinking of buying one just like this for my small back yard. I’ll now look into alternatives.

[happydaysveg]

Once again, from a man who has recently made two rotating composters, i agree with everything you say! lol. The costs are a major factor for most, and as you say, there are a number of problems with them.I did lots of homework and came up with a composter that hopefully will suit my needs and eradicate those problems you mention.But i do have a large three bay compost heap and planning a better one for this season to help make as much compost as i can.With the rising costs of compost, i think we need to make our own as much as possible.And of course not to mention the knowing of whats in there and where all the material has come from in the first place.Being a gardener that does not use any chemicals or other nasties in the garden, i am happy to wait as long as it takes for my own compost to mature.Keep up the good work, and i hope these storms are not causing you too much trouble.From a very windy and wet North Wales.Shaun.

[Candi]

I have a compost tumbler and another "new age composter" that is large and on the ground. I use the tumbler on my deck for kitchen scraps along with paper towels and scrap paper. The other bin I use for yard waste. My tumbler is elevated on metal legs and has 2 sides. It makes compost in about a month-6 weeks and it's much faster than my other bin. It's conveniently located close to my door and is easy to turn. The most annoying thing about it is that the sliding door blocks you from turning the barrel upside down to empty it while blocking the side that isn't ready yet. I use a piece of cardboard to block the side that I'm still adding to while emptying it and that solves the problem. Mine never smells and has plenty of holes and grooves for aeration.