Remodeling

Build a Compost Bin

Fix It Up! : Episode FIX-123 -- More Projects »

Did you know that in a lifetime, the average adult can throw away approximately six or seven times his or her weight in garbage? Host Pat Simpson reveals two projects to help make your home more waste efficient.

Compost Bin

Composting is the natural process of decomposing and recycling organic material into a rich soil amendment called compost. By recycling your kitchen and yard scraps you can help reduce landfill waste while creating rich and useful organic material for your garden and flowerbeds.

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

There are several composting structures available such as this unit that features air vents along the sides and is made from recycled plastics (figure A).

You can also assemble a wire bin from fencing materials (figure B).

Compost tumblers rotate to turn and mix the organic materials (figure C).

Building your own composting bin:

Materials:

2' by 4' pressure treated wood
2" by 4" welded wire
2 ½", #8 galvanized deck screws
3/4" galvanized staples
3/8" by 6" long carriage bolts
washers
tape measure
gloves
wire cutters
drill
saw
hammer
wide wood chisel

Steps:

1. Measure and cut six, 2" by 4" boards 48" in length.
2. Measure and cut six, 2" by 4" boards 45" in length.
3. Pre-drill the holes along the corners and fasten them together using 2 ½", #8 galvanized deck screws to create a tight joint along the corners. Connect all four sides to make a square shaped frame.
4. Measure and mark 4' in length along the wire, and cut to size. Be sure to wear gloves.
5. Place the wire on top of the wooden frame, and use 3/4" galvanized staples to fasten the wire in place. Start in the corner with the wire positioned flush with the frame corner edge. Secure a staple in place about every third wire to hold the wire taut.

Figure D

Figure E

Figure F

6. Use a wide wood chisel to stretch the wire across the frame along the opposite edge. Be careful not to over-stretch the wire, which can cause a break in the welded sections. Hold the chisel in one hand and stretch the wire while stapling the wire in place (figure D). Staple along the edge every third wire.
7. Bend the overhang wire edge flush with the frame to avoid creating a jagged perimeter.
8. Assemble the 8' frame the same way the first panels were joined.
9. Secure a divider along the center of the frame (figure E).
10. Attach the wire to the edges of the frame, and tighten the wire along the outer edges.
11. Attach the center frame along the center brace of the 8' frame (figure F) using 3/8" by 6" long carriage bolts and washers. Drill through the top board and just enough of the lower board to mark the location. Then, move the top board to the side and drill through the bottom board.
12. Line the frames up and secure them in place with carriage bolts. Be sure the wire is along the inside of the frame.
13. Attach all three 4' by 4' frames to the large 8' frame.
14. Connect an 8' long 2" by 4" to support the sides of the compost bin.
15. Attach supporting arms along the top of the three frames. To allow the arms to swing open and closed, secure a carriage bolt and nut on one end.
16. Although the compost bin is somewhat portable, you still need to remove the nuts to relocate the entire bin. Carefully consider its placement and choose am easily accessible location.
17. Remember to only use food scraps and yard waste in the composting bin. Do not use bones, oils, or meat scraps.

Host Pat Simpson explains how to create your own home recycling center and useful ways to recycle common household items.

The key to a family recycling center to recycle plastic, aluminum, glass, and newspaper it to make it manageable.
Involve your children by asking them to design or paint the recycling bin covers.
Determine how much space is available for your recycling bins, and how often you plan on taking your recyclables to the recycling center before purchasing your bins.
There are a variety of bins available for collecting your recyclables. Chose from plastic containers with lids that are stackable vertically or horizontally side by side. Consider using a simple cardboard box for gathering newspapers.

Figure G

Use scrap carpet in the wood shop. Place carpet pieces inside a vice to protect the surface of your wood as you make cuts (figure G).

Cut slits along the center of old tennis balls to store and protect bladed tools. You can also slip a cut tennis ball over the head of a hammer to protect wood and use as a mallet.

Save old toothbrushes for the wood shop. Dip a toothbrush in mineral spirits to clean saw blades or smooth out bead of glue.

Cut the lid off milk jugs to use as a painting container or for storage.

Coffee cans are great for storing miscellaneous materials like saw dust which works great as a compost component, or for cleaning up shop and oil spills.

Save old or outdated tools to donate to charity or schools.

Cut scrap lumber to make push tools for the table saw.

Also in this Episode

Fix It Up! : Episode FIX-123
•	Build a Compost Bin

Remodeling

Build a Compost Bin

Tools

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Remodeling

Build a Compost Bin

Tools

MOST POPULAR

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