[WG.]

Gotta get air in and liquid out, mate.  I'd have that sucker drilled to where it looked like a colander until you got half way up.

[richyrich7]

If it's like mine then there's no bottom to drill WG

Shaun I've seen that gadget too don't you get 'em free with some composters ?  I use a fork to ( garden variety not dinner     )

[WG.]

If it's like mine then there's no bottom to drill WG

He says it is a "330L black plastic bin from 'recyclenow'" - I pictured something like a wheelybin (with a solid bottom).

What is it you have then Gaz?

[richyrich7]

Could be this one recycle now WG

[WG.]

Ah!  Apologies to all, I read freecycle instead of recyclenow

[mkhenry]

nope - no drainage holes - I just placed it on some bare earth and started filling!

When placing one of these plastic types of composter,its best to put them on bare earth but break up the soil first. This helps to stimulte the worms etc.If using kitchen waste always break it up first,cabbage stalks and thick items you can break down with a shovel first.
If you are adding lots of wet items balance it up with dry paper type products.Shredding first will help speed up the whole process.

Alway stir the contents and do not add cooked meats or soiled cat litter etc. You need some wetness to keep it all rotting.

Before long you will have a well balanced compost   heap.

[blackhobbescat]

And after you have a well rotted compost heap, how in the world do you get the stuff out the piddly little door at the bottom?   :?

 I can manage to get the first 30 cm out but then I'm stuck, and I'm sure there is plenty of lovely compost in there, I just can't get to it without upending the whole thing!  :shock:

[Sally A]

'Fraid you have to upend the whole thingy.  Take the good stuff from the middle and reload the stuff that's not quite ready yet.

Still, it gives it a turning.

[noshed]

Ignore the little door. Just pull the whole thing up and reveal the pile of compost. Put the empty bin on the adjacent soil and just pile the stuff back in. Layer it with shredded paper, green stuff and kitchen waste. Bung in some comfrey leaves, sulphate of ammonia or wee.
It will heat up lovely and rot to a glorious compost.

[Little Miss Muffet]

i have two of the said bins.both are on soil both are now left rotting down.i forked it and turned much of it over in one a lovely compost smell came up and you could really smell the soil underneath in the other though i have the same problem there seems to be  lot of liquid.
would the liquid hinder the rotting process?
in recent weeks we have got some guinea pigs so the compost is now getting some hay.
imgoing to rot it down then around this time next year im going to dig it in to the soil  on the veg patch.

[muntjac]

mines on a slotted wooden door type planky thing :roll: air gets in the bottom and water drrains out  i plant a couple runner beans in that spot in spring when i use the muck up  

[milkman]

well done on getting guinea pigs LMM  
I add all the guinea pig waste to the compost bin - newspaper, sawdust and hay.

[crowndale]

cant think where i seen this gadget,but its like a spear with barbs that are hinged and you stuck it into your heap and pulled it out,has you pulled it out the barbs came out and pulled the compost from the bottom to the top so mixing it up as you go.
I just use a fork  

Ahh, funny you should say that, I have just seen one in my new dobies catalogue but I use a fork too, but imagine it would be really useful in a dalek type where a fork would be hard to life etc.  It costs £12.95 (plus P&P) from dobies.  I use my dalek for holding almost ready compost so I don't need to turn it as such and save the fork for the two big piles (one rotting, one still growing).

[FatGaz]

Looks like I will be getting some straw - and turning the compost and mixing it in - also got some shredded paper and cardboard to add.

Thanks for the info everyone  

[splodger]

at the house - i just chuck everthing in an old wheelybin - with a few drainage holes - mostly to deter rats - as i'm on a river bank with rats a plenty.

i just let it rot down - when it's full i tip it out, bag it up and take it to my plot - and add it to my posh compost bin (home made hurdles)

i don't care if it's a bit sloppy - it rots down lovely when in the big heap