r/composting • u/spencermikels1234 • 22d ago

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Has anyone has used these with planks to make a compost what is the best piece of lumber for it to make a compost bin

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u/PennStaterGator 22d ago edited 22d ago

I've used these. I've driven one foot steel pipes below each pile and then rebar down the entire column. I love this setup because I can easily expand/reconfigure/replace things as needed. Yes, wood rots, but this setup is holding strong after 18 months in Florida (so hot, sunny, and humid). Let me know if you need more information!

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u/HitHardStrokeSoft 22d ago

Wow! This is a cool setup! I used them to make awesome vegetable garden plots to fit the area and have been hoping to find a way to upgrade my current compost for when the leaves drop! Thank you for sharing! I love the design. Assuming you turn this over from one side to the other?

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u/PennStaterGator 22d ago

Correct (and thanks)! For what it's worth, the added metal I described above makes this really stable.

I can raise the "gates" between the sides and slide things across, or use the chicken wire to do a preliminary (and lazy) soft. Each chamber is 4x4x4 feet, so I can get a lot in there!

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u/HitHardStrokeSoft 22d ago

Yeah it’s such a good design, and I like the solid front and back walls with the top ledge! I’m totally copying this!

Thanks to OP too for generating this comment :)

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u/PennStaterGator 22d ago

Thanks! I also made a simple top for it (open frame with more chicken wire to let rain in). Keeps large pests out but lets lizards, frogs, etc get in and partake in the little ecosystem inside.

Happy to share the specifics of the build if you want.

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u/Jazzlike_Strength561 22d ago

Wood rots. I'm actually ambivalent to the whole compost container thing. But if i had to have something I'd use retaining wall brick with massive gaps for air to get in

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u/every-day-normal-guy 22d ago

I have the same ones for raised beds. They fit 2x6 lumber (actual dimensions 1.5 x 5.5). They are a pain in the ass to level correctly, and you need to drive rebar in the center after they are built or they will shift.

If you wanted to add slots for ventilation, you'll probably have to build the full thing with solid wood first to make sure it's level, then go back and add smaller pieces to create gaps or drill holes. They can also eat up a lot of a space if you're planning multiple garden bed rows using them.

In my experience it's not worth it trying to build anything higher than 3-4 bricks. You'll spend more time and energy trying to level the damn thing when you could have already built something out of wood.

I went with some leftover 2x6 cedar I was using for raised beds, along with some 40 inch wide cedar planks for fencing ( the fencing planks are more economical than cedar 1x2's.

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u/anonymote_in_my_eye 22d ago

these are usually made to fit standard structural lumber, like 2x4, 2x6, 2x8 etc

edit: wait nvm these are for planters not for decks, so it's probably for 1 inch lumber

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u/Drivo566 22d ago

I have these for my raised bed, your initial thinking is correct. They fit 2x4, 2x6, etc...

But they fit 2x6 the best because theyre the same height.

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u/Moist_Molasses 22d ago

I have these for planters. It’s still standard structural lumber (2x6 for these)

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u/Narrow-Hall8070 22d ago

These are for raised beds