Pallet compost bins

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ThatsNice

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Pallet compost bins
« on: February 03, 2013, 21:29 »
I have 5 pallets that I'm intending to put together as an open fronted double compost bin. If I had 7, it wouldn't be open fronted, lol! What I'm wondering, is how best to actually fix them together? Any suggestions please.
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compostqueen

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Re: Pallet compost bins
« Reply #1 on: February 03, 2013, 21:37 »
I used four of the same size for my bin. They are screwed together with long screws. The front one only has four screws so I can undo it easily to get the compost out

I would think about lining it to keep the heat in. Flattened out compost bags or some such material will help the loss of heat through the slatted sides

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ThatsNice

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Re: Pallet compost bins
« Reply #2 on: February 03, 2013, 21:47 »
Will compost bags not degrade and crumble? I like that idea though, to try and keep heat in. That will speed up the composting process won't it. I'm going to fix mesh of some sort across the front to stop compost falling out until I can collect a couple more pallets.

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Yana

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Re: Pallet compost bins
« Reply #3 on: February 03, 2013, 21:54 »
Ive done the same as CQ in that the pallets are screwed together. Ive used 5 to make a two compartment compost bin and have screwed on slats at the front as each one fills up. I know that means having to unscrew them all to get the content out, but I find it easier when filling the first one with manure as I could add a slat as the content got higher. Each bin is 1M high, !M wide and 1.2M deep and there are 5 slats. The first slat is right at the bottom and the last is right at the top. The other three are evenly spaced between these two.
I have lined each compartment with a piece of black plastic that I had used to cover the lottie previously, and stapled the plastic to the insides of each compartment. This will keep the content warm and (hopefully) aid rotting / decomposition.
I have my own cement mixer and not afraid to use it!!

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compostqueen

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Re: Pallet compost bins
« Reply #4 on: February 03, 2013, 21:54 »
They don't last long but it's a case of whatever's to hand. You could  line it with heavy duty sheet mulch etc just to keep the heat in  :)

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ThatsNice

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Re: Pallet compost bins
« Reply #5 on: February 03, 2013, 22:04 »
We've got some heavy duty stuff on the ground at the moment, so could cut off some to line it.
I have assumed the bins need to be on bare soil/ ground. Is that right?   :wub:

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compostqueen

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Re: Pallet compost bins
« Reply #6 on: February 03, 2013, 22:07 »
Yes, that's right  :)

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ThatsNice

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Re: Pallet compost bins
« Reply #7 on: February 03, 2013, 22:14 »
Thank you :)
Now I've cleared the area at the back of my shed where i want the bins to go, this will be my next job :D

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ThatsNice

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Re: Pallet compost bins
« Reply #8 on: February 03, 2013, 22:19 »
Oh, forgot to say as well, I noticed ammonium sulphamate can be used as compost accelerator now, so if I leave the bramble stumps which are where I want to put the bins, would that deal with them? Or should I still try and dig them out first?

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CDave

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Re: Pallet compost bins
« Reply #9 on: February 04, 2013, 07:09 »
They dont last long (about 3 years in my experience) so I dont use screws - instead its heavy duty galvanised wire to lash them together. I just re-use the wire when replacing the pallets.

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Yana

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Re: Pallet compost bins
« Reply #10 on: February 04, 2013, 08:21 »
Can't I re-use the screws then?

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ThatsNice

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Re: Pallet compost bins
« Reply #11 on: February 04, 2013, 10:18 »
I suppose if they rust up Yana, it might make it trickier but I don't see why you couldn't just use new screws?

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Yana

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Re: Pallet compost bins
« Reply #12 on: February 04, 2013, 14:45 »
I'm better with a screwdriver than with wire that's for sure.
I buy the screws from an outlet who charges less than £2 for 200 screws. If they don't get used again, I think I can take the financial cost as each bin costs about 20p.
 :D

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savbo

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Re: Pallet compost bins
« Reply #13 on: February 04, 2013, 15:29 »
I hammer in some stakes for the first and last walls and slide the pallets over them. then fasten the others together with wire - I have a load of fencing wire but coathangers would work as well

sav

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Eblana

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Re: Pallet compost bins
« Reply #14 on: February 04, 2013, 16:34 »
I have a three bay pallet bin - I have screwed the back and side pallets together and put stakes down into them as well just to give them a little extra support in the wind.  I have used wire to attach the front pallets so that I can take them off easily - mine are in place for nearly 3 years now and not a bit of bother with them.



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