Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Chatting => Design and Construction => Topic started by: ThatsNice on February 03, 2013, 21:29
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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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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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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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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.
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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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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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Yes, that's right :)
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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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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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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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Can't I re-use the screws then?
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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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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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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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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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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?
Never used an accelerant, but they wouldn't compost on their own ,you would still need a mix of 'greens & browns', & then they would probably start to re shoot. I think you wiuld be better to burn them,that'll finish the b*ggers.
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I built a three bin compost set up using pallets that I stripped down and and rebuilt with out gaps.The slats were nailed back in place. They are held together with cable ties 12" long. I just drilled holes and threaded through. The OH got some carpet samples to go on top. Has been in place for 2 years and made some lovely compost!
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This is one I built 2 years ago and it's still going strong. I used rolled up waste cardboard as insulation in the sides. The green mesh was just to help it blend in a bit. In the left bin we put plant waste and in the other horse poo. We have a separate plastic bin for the waste fruit and veg. From this we get our liquid fertiliser.
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn180/djshadesnumber1/cave%20stuff/250211no2_zps8cdf4093.jpg)
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i was just flicking through a copy of growyourown mag and spotted an article on making a pallet strawberry planter. and then thought how about making 3 or 4 of them as sides for a compost bin. it would be a practical and attractive addition to the plot so i may give it a go and see what happens.
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Good tip about the plastic lining. I didn't do that on mine so maybe that's why it has been slow to work. I just tied my pallets together with cord which I simply cut to get access from all sides when I empty it once a year , then tied back up and started again. I also cover the top with a piece of carpet or underlay. Have to be honest though I haven't ever had steaming heat producing compost which I would really like.
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ive literally just got 3 pallets and put them together side by side attached wire mesh in the inside did this on top of open ground next to my shed, Am going to do as someone suggested and put old cardboard down the sides as i can slot it in. My query is that i wasnt getting along with the DALEK as it fills up pretty quick and wasnt breaking down so have put contents into new com poster..now what do i do cover it with a sheet of plastic and can i add anything to help speed things up??? im a novice
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Pee is a good compost activator.
What I'm wondering is, is there any reason I shouldn't build a double size pallet bin? I have quite a bit of material that needs composting, and as I understand it, the bigger the volume, the better it will work. Is that right?
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I have daleks and a pallet compost bin and the daleks cook quicker, much quicker I'd say. I know they say that big is beautiful but I don't think so, not from my own experience any way
If your dalek contents are not cooking then you need to maybe shift it into direct sunlight and maybe give it a poke and a stir to get some air into it. Water it if it's too dry :)
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I guess it would be easier to turn over/tend to smaller amounts of compost. I'm not sure I could bring myself to site the pallet bins in a sunny spot which would be good for growing though... although I guess if the compost that comes out is of higher quality, it'll be worth it. Looks like I will have to rethink the pallet-bins positioning!
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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.
I made 2 up from pallets. Tied together with nylon rope. They tend to rot after a few years, especially at the bottom, so it's easy to replace them. I also have one on the front and tie that too. It opens so you can turn the compost now and then (a back-breaking task by the way). I put down builder's plastic and empty it on to that then fork it back in).
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If you can layer with fresh manure that it gets it moving faster.
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I have made a 4 pallet 'cube' that i plan to fill wiTh a one tonne builders bag, then fill with compostable material. If I repeat this for a few years I will end up with a number of raised beds. Am I mad or is this a sensible idea?
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You will need holes in the bottom of the bag to allow the worm's in.