Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: mpdjulie on February 16, 2011, 08:26:16

Title: Where to buy a compost turner?
Post by: mpdjulie on February 16, 2011, 08:26:16
I have looked in B&Q, Wickes and Argos and they don't do them.  I am after a long handled compost turner.  Anyone know where I can buy one from?
Julie
Title: Re: Where to buy a compost turner?
Post by: betula on February 16, 2011, 08:40:56
I have never seen one in a shop.

A few years back I bought a lovely old long handled turner from a boot sale ,it had a lot of weight to it though.Sadly passed it on to people on the allotment when I left.
Title: Re: Where to buy a compost turner?
Post by: manicscousers on February 16, 2011, 08:46:24
here, but they're expensive  :o
http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/HarrodSite/pages/search/search.asp?txtSearch=compost&submitflag=true&ctgry=Harrod&serial=11021631525005910&x=13&y=8
Title: Re: Where to buy a compost turner?
Post by: grannyjanny on February 16, 2011, 09:57:59
I'd read a thread on here I think about them, when someone on our allotment site asked me about them. I said they hadn't seemed like a good buy. She did buy one but when I saw her last year she said it had been a waste of money.
Title: Re: Where to buy a compost turner?
Post by: Chrispy on February 16, 2011, 10:06:04
A couple of people on Amazon sell this one...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0028YOOE4?ie=UTF8&tag=aldershomodel-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B0028YOOE4 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0028YOOE4?ie=UTF8&tag=aldershomodel-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B0028YOOE4)
I was thinking of buying one, before reading the thread grannyjanny is referring to, then decided not to.
Title: Re: Where to buy a compost turner?
Post by: tomatoada on February 16, 2011, 11:01:35
My nephew bought one of these.   He too does not use it.   Like me he stacks his compost,  I use dialeks and he uses wooden bins.   We make sure that we layer different stuff.   Works OK so far.
Title: Re: Where to buy a compost turner?
Post by: Poolcue on February 16, 2011, 12:43:58
My wife brought me one 2 xmas's ago.I have used it once not very keen on it.A fork is much better.
Title: Re: Where to buy a compost turner?
Post by: antipodes on February 16, 2011, 13:48:05
As I can't actually open up my compost box, I never turn mine. I just let it settle and make sure that I add a variety of different stuff. Doesn't seem to make any difference...
Title: Re: Where to buy a compost turner?
Post by: ipt8 on February 16, 2011, 13:59:14
I bought one and it was so good I got another. The one I have is like an upright drum on a stand, is is suspended by a bar that runs through the middle and you just rotate the drum each day. it is not too difficult. Works very well and in a few weeks or months rather than nearly a year or more. Just remember to get a good mix of stuff in it.
I think it was less than a hundred pounds, I know thats a lot but hell its a hobby and it does make free compost.
If anyone has one they no longer want I will have it....
I searched on the internet for compost tumbler. I cant remember if Two Westa and Elliot have them, but I found two or three when I searched. I decided the horizontal drum ones for hundreds of pounds were just a bit too much money.
Title: Re: Where to buy a compost turner?
Post by: cornykev on February 16, 2011, 17:08:20
Are you talking about a tumbler or just a mixer, there seems to be "a mix" up here, the tumblers are very expensive and the mixer as said is better turned or mixed  with a fork.  ??? ??? ???
Title: Re: Where to buy a compost turner?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on February 16, 2011, 19:49:33
I just have a row of bins, fill them all up during the year, and use the compost each spring.
Title: Re: Where to buy a compost turner?
Post by: plainleaf on February 16, 2011, 23:45:55
you could build you own out scrap lumber .
Title: Re: Where to buy a compost turner?
Post by: lottie lou on February 17, 2011, 00:11:02
Be careful if you are thinking of purchasing a tumbler.  When full I have heard that they are very heavy and difficult to turn.
Title: Re: Where to buy a compost turner?
Post by: mpdjulie on February 17, 2011, 10:33:52
Thanks for all your replies.  I was talking about the hand held type.  I am going to purchase one from Two Wests as they are cheaper then Harrod Horticultural.
Thanks
Julie