How To Make Your Own Homemade Hot Composter | Save Money, Make Compost... FAST!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 มิ.ย. 2024
- Today I explain exactly how to make your own homemade hot composter! Cost-effective, easy-to-build, and a really effective way to start into hot composting!
Making compost is a brilliant thing for any gardener to do, whether experienced or brand new to gardening. Hot composting makes the process super-quick and allows you to compost a much grater variety of materials.
- - - Everything You Need To Make Your Own! - - -
Links to the materials I've used to make this can be found here: kit.co/niallgardens/diy-hot-c...
You'll also need some basic tools:
A ruler (ideally metal)
Pen
Craft knife (or kitchen bread knife)
Drill with wide-ish drill bit
- - - Chapters - - -
0:00 Intro
0:40 Why should you make your own hot composter?
2:22 What do you need?
4:59 Making the front section
8:22 Making the side sections
11:12 Making the top and base sections
17:10 Putting it all together
20:56 Outtro
Check out my Niall Gardens KIT page www.kit.co/niallgardens for all my favourite gardening gear, my everyday carry, and even my filming gear!
Help support the channel by subscribing here! th-cam.com/users/niallgarden...
#gardening #irishgardener #irishgarden - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
![[HIGHLIGHT] หมีLIVEปะ? | EP.171 เห็นแต่ในจอ วันนี้มาต้องขอคารวะ](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gPWLxa0e_Z8/mqdefault.jpg)
I built this and didn't think much to be honest - then one day - I opened the lid and it was steaming - the material about 2" below the top was too hot to hold comfortably - this definitely works and the instructions are really clear - but follow them to the letter to avoid costly mistakes - the 5cm thick Jablite board from B&Q is pricey enough. Also, it is prone to tear out but easy to repair with the offcuts and glue you will have. I built 3 which gets the price down to about £40 per composter. Well done Niall for a fantastic cost effective hot composter and super easy build instructions.
This is how a tutorial should be done. Clear, concise, no jargon, no dominating music. Thank you.
Thank you! That's such a kind comment!
I liked the part about cutting on the rug. In one of my books, it says, "Do not use the coffee table unless you are either single or wish to become so again." When you talked about cutting on the rug, it all came back, LOL!
Ha! I wondered if someone would pick up on that! 😂
Hi Niall. Great video for a simple 'hot' bin. I work in polystyrene manufacturing/recycling and one issue with the grey polystyrene (manufacturerd from a BASF granule called Neopor) is that the graphite in the beads absorbs radiant energy and so these can get very hot in full sun. I have seen packs of this EPS get hot enough to melt when covered in clear plastic. Polystyrene is made with steam just over 100°C so any exposure that gets it over about 70°C can start causing problems.
You can however make an easy low cost protection for polystyrene by stretching a stretchable mesh with about a 1mm grid like curtain mesh over it and painting with a thick coat of house paint. The combination of mesh and paint gives a stronger more impact resistant surface that is also easy to clean. I built a 'hot' bin by putting old 100mm sheets of polystyrene as a box around a $10 end of life wheelie bin. It was for a composting toilet receptacle so the use of a more rugged bin was to keep me out of the shite. We had days averaging 6°C this winter and the bins been 50 - 55°C right through. FANTASTIC!
Which brand of paint and colour did you use please?
Can you just use old packaging polystyrene? Assuming it is quite insulating.
I built the hot composter with one modification, I wrapped the entire body in builders damp proofing after construction. This added some binding strength and also a little extra protection for where it is located. I used the same impact adhesive to bid the plastic sheeting to the composters exterior and also to the top plug. I allowed a little extra on the sides to help rainwater run off over the seems without seeping into the seems between the sheets of polystyrene - and I can report that it is working as hoped. I have yet to add the thermometer - but right now its as hot as a sauna in there. Cheers for the inspiration!
I love the rain run off and other ideas. I am rubbish at building but will definitely do this. Now whats the number for Task Rabbit.
Brilliantly explained and with exactly the right amount of fear that you might damage the carpet or floor. We have all been there! Getting into trouble! Thank you sir. A touch of the David Tennant's about you!
I use an old chest freezer. Been using it for yrs works fantastic..
The video quality is through the roof! I wish all TH-camrs filmed their video's like this.
That is a really lovely comment! Thank you!
I was just looking into buying one of the commercial ones and saw this just in time! Looking forward to the rest of the playlist to learn about how to use it properly
Love it Niall! Long awaited! I bet this was a pain in the bum to produce so thanks for making the effort for all of us!
Thanks!! It's always much easier to make something when you're not having to film it at the same time! 😂
Always a pleasure to watch your videos Niall. Great composter, you made it look so easy to make, thank you 😊
So nice of you, thanks very much!
Good job. Your application to be a Blue Peter presenter has been accepted 😜
Hi Niall, I made one today, following your instructions. The only difference I made, was to have the bottom part removable, so that the holes could be cleared out if they get blocked. And like you raised it up on bricks, but with a seed tray beneath the holes to catch any compost juice, which I can dilute with water to make a flower feed. Thank you for your very professional channel. And look forward to more content.
Great job! That's great that you've made one! Mine is actually the same as yours, I don't stick the bottom to the main unit for the same reason - makes it easy to clean 👍 Let me know how it goes for you - I'm sure you'll have loads of success!
Does any heat escape from your hot bin, as I wish it to double up for starting off seedlings
@@christinespragg1942 No signicant heat from what I can tell, though there must be some heat escapeing. I suppose with modification then extra some small holes could be put in the lid.
Hi Tom -question: how exactly are you collecting the juice? I would imagine that if it’s just open you’d only be getting drops at a time, which would then evaporate before you can even collect it, no? Do you have some sort of a contained system for the juice? I’m almost compelled to carve it out a bit enough for the juice to collect in the middle and drip onto a closed, small container attached to the bottom.
@@christinespragg1942 it is great that you have the initiative to make this project for multiple uses, BUT this is a COMPOSTER, which means it's main purpose is to heat up to kill seeds and seedlings. It's form is tower so core heat is at its optimal and rises through the rest of the compost, and the humidity drips back down to some and keep the process going. .. just my two cents here
That’s the best do it yourself I’ve seen in awhile! Thank you ! Great content!
Awesome! Thank you!
As you always say -- "Brilliant!" Watched at least three times -- I've got to do it. Thanks for the great information and it's doable.
Awesome, thank you! Glad you found it useful!
So, so good niall! Really ingenious design with the lids and the base, I was always intrigued to see how it all went together. Hopefully this will help a whole load of people!
Thank you! Cheers! Yeah it's simple and I've found it to be really effective... a year on and my first one is still going strong!
wow, this is excellent. I've only just come across you searching for info on tumbling composters so I watched that one and now going to make my own hot composter. Lovely having the practical info.
This may be a stupid question, but has anyone tried making one of these with an old chest freezer? I'm thinking a few strategically placed holes from outside skin to inside of the body with pipes inserted to allow air in and liquid out. The rest is pretty much already made for you. A thermally lined water proof box, with tight fitting lid and it has the added benefit of being metal clad for strength / durability. Yes you'd need to take material out through the top, rather than that little door at the lower front, but it sounds like a pretty quick, cheap, hardy solution. Time for a bit of research I think!
Many thanks for this video!
Just made one of these ! Really hopeful and pleased with the clear instructions and suggestions. Thank you Naill
Reporting back after 6 months Good results and have made another one so I can turn the compost into it to speed things up even more.
Really, really helpful and so well done! Thanks so much for this video! Excellent 💚
Almost finished with mine using your tutorial. Looking forward to awesome compost this year. Thanks Niall! Brilliant.
Glad it was helpful! Please do keep me posted with how you get on!
What i did was a variation to your method.
I had large wooden pallets.
Four sided with a opening section on the front.
I used polyestyrene panels similar to yours but slid them into the gap between the outer & inner pallet walls. Thus lining the pallet walls.
Put a wooden top on the compost bin and a floating polystyrene lid (sits on the top of the compost)
Result really durable compost bin (capable if taking 1.3 cubic meters full)
Applying a chaffed mix of green & brown material created with the mower i can take about .5 cubic meters every 8 weeks grom the composter.
Having the insulation i can keep a composting temp of between 60 - 80c.
Great info! Thanks!
Thank you so much! You really helped a lot
I’m so excited to get one of these started
Let me know how you get on with it!
Great video, easy to follow instructions! I love your ruler with the handle!
Glad you liked it! Thanks very much! Yeah the ruler is VERY handy!
Exactly what I was looking for. Good Job Niall. subbed :-)
Simple and good. I will not overcomplicate this by explaining polystyrene electric hotstring cutting and such. But the material as XPS rigid/high density sands very well with a flat block and finer sandpaper (120-240 grit), to make the cuts smoother, prettier and less prone to edge crackings/crumbing. A youtube video on basic boat glassfiber epoxy laminate repair and a small boat store supply shopping spree later, this box can easily be made into a tough skin everlast that will outlive most shovel strokes inside and be able to endure direct UV exposure outside for many years to come. Do NOT use Polyester or Acetone on Styrene, it will spontaneously turn the plates into liquid goo. Use unthinned Lamination Epoxy.
Just lovin you Niall! I’m always so inspired :))
Thanks so much! That's really kind! ❤️
Brilliant tutorial, Niall. This is now an addition to my to-do list🌱🌱🌱
Glad it was helpful! Hopefully you have success with it
Sounds great might try this.
Thanks! Please do!
Thank you for sharing this video, loved it 😍 Definitely will give it a go 👍
You’re welcome 😊
That looks very doable Niall - great video. Will definitely explore doing this form of composting. It’s not something we’re familiar with in our part of Australia. Love the idea of how quickly we can get usable compost! Thanks for the information.
Glad it was helpful! Yeah it as new to me when I came across it last winter but I'm a TOTAL convert now!
Love the video, very inspiring.
Thanks so much!
Very very good, well done young man..
Beautiful ❤
Thank you! 😊
Thank you Niall I haven't started my wheelie bin core one yet this was just the inspiration I needed
Great to hear! Keep me posted!
Thank you ❤Niall!
You're welcome 😊
Going to make one myself thanks for the tips
Great!
You sir are an absolute genius, thank you so much
No problem! So chuffed that you like it!
I have a tall bin that's for towel warming. (A Christmas gift ive never used) I'm hoping to turn it into a hot composter..
Thank you so much, been wanting to make my own \hot Composter for ages.
Glad I could help!
Niall just watched your hot composter tutorial. its a fantastic idea and ill be making one asap. thanks a millioon. monica
Wow. Another great video. Laura
Ah thanks!
amazing!
Thank you! Cheers!
This looks doable for my Norwegian cool climate. I just need to find a good spot for it.
I made one of these after watching your video. I found a building render supplier that sells the foam sheets in varous thicknesses. The first night I filled it up a fox broke into it. I had to make a new base and repair the side but so glad I didn't buy an expensive one as the same thing would have happened! Now it's repaired I'm going to fill it again and keep it in a safer location. Would be good to cover it in wood as another person suggested, would keep the pests out! Luckily I had just enough adhesive left to make the repairs. Thanks again for posting!
I've actually had a go and made it up after viewing your vid quite a few times hehe. Just waiting for the morning now to fit the base and the lid and fingers crossed it'll be a good 'un.
Thanks for the clear instructions and smooth delivery. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Hi Owen! Well done and good luck with the compost making! I've been really happy with mine, so hopefully you'll be just as happy with yours! From your photos, it looks BRILLIANT!
@@niallgardens thanks, as I mentioned earlier the instructions you gave are so clear and straightforward. The whole thing came together really well with no fuss. I'd recommend it to anyone to have a go. Thank you once again. 👍🏼
Thank you so much🤗🤗🤗
Just found this-have seen one like it on another channel, so thought I’d look see what I could find and you came up first and I’m already subscribed but only in last year so missed this. But omg I’m gonna make one of these. Thanks
Hello Niall. Many thanks for taking the time to reply to my previous comments. Greatly appreciated.
David
You are very welcome
Great video Niall, have two composters in my allotment, its so handy to have ones own. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks Lorraine! I've now got two composters having made the video! 😂😂😂
@@niallgardens that's good to hear. Plenty composting
@@niallgardens the bustaseed tray arrived. Thrilled, its such durable plastic. Delighted,thanks again. Put as my profile pic for pr for them.
Built and ready to go. I covered whole bin with ‘correx’ and also made a cover for the lid, this cover extended down over the bin by about 4” to do a descent protective job and hopefully enhance chimney effect created by the hole for thermometer. I’ve fixed some correx to inner face of the bottom foam base before drilling the air holes through all layers. Hope the above details sound ok.
Building up some more scraps before start using.
This is brilliant! So cool that you've gone for it, and made your own. I have no doubt that you're going to love it. Have enjoyed your updates - I'm playing around with the Correx myself to make an upgraded composter... could make an interesting video for everyone perhaps.
@@niallgardens does your hotbin give off any heat as I was hoping to use it to start off seedlings too
I've made one, so lets see how it goes, thank you for the tips
Oh fantastic!! Good on ya! Make sure to keep me posted in the comments and let me know how it goes for you! 👍
This is great tutorial ! I already have a hot bin which I love. My problem is with the leachate that seeps out the bottom ☹️. I’ve just bought a large square plastic tray (£6.50 from my local garden centre) and placed 4 bricks in the centre and sat the hotbin on top so liquid will hopefully collect in the tray 🤞🏻. It will be easy enough to siphon off the liquid to use 🙂. Hope this helps
Thanks Moira! Yeah I think that sounds like the best plan... saves the liquid going everywhere, plus you can reuse it. Great to see a fellow hot composter!
What a brilliant video, totally inspired to make one, I'm Googling the boards already! Dreading the squeaky cutting though 😱 Thank you😃🌻
The squeaky cutting is the fun bit!! I kinda love that! lol
😂
Great video with plenty of detail I I reckon I'll be giving it a go. I would suggest a tray of some sort under a raised up version to catch liquids escaping from the compost which can be either put back into the composter or fed to my plants.
That's a good idea - a tray or something similar could be very handy! If you make yourself a composter, let me know how it goes!
@@niallgardens
I attached a 75mm deep hdpe tray/tote to the bottom of mine. It has 81 x 1/4" holes drilled near the top for air intake and a 15mm tube/tap for the drain. The bins internal aeration is what you mighjt call non standard ..just for the craic :) th-cam.com/video/cr8iYC99l1M/w-d-xo.html
Hi Niall, Thank you for an excellent video workshop. I built one over a year ago and was delighted with the results. Unfortunately, I discovered rats had eaten through the back wall and made their nest among the lovely warm compost. I am now building a new one and intend wrapping it in strong small square wire. Has anyone else had this problem? MB Australia
Thanks Niall & all! Inspired to build this :) Has anyone had trouble with the drilled holes in the bottom clogging up & so reducing airflow thru the compost?
Not that I know of - the odd one will clog now and then, but I haven't found any negative impact to the overall airflow
@@niallgardens Good to hear, thanks Niall :) I noticed the commercial hotbin has a small open/close vent (flap) on the top to adjust airflow. Does your design allow airflow at the top? Loose fitting lid maybe?
I’m just finishing mine having followed this tutorial. I’m using reclaimed, 6cm thick polystyrene plates. They don’t look as good as yours but hopefully, it will work just as fine! I have just a small garden, so I shortened the design by 20cm. Smaller volume doesn’t work well with normal composts, but that’s what I hope that the insulation will fix
I just order the supplies 😍😍 thanx
Great! Enjoy!
I’ll try it Niall
Great hair cut
😂😂 Thank you!
Hi Niall,
I did a variation of your method using some of the packaging that our cat and dog food arrives in - basically cellophane wrapped sheep's wool. I sealed this in 'compartments' between two sheets of polystyrene in the sides of the composter. This made the sides essentially 3 polystyrene sheets thick and reduced the internal capacity a little but still plenty big enough for our garden/kitchen waste. I'm hoping this will help maintain the internal temperature.
Been pondering some more on a protective layer. I thought about a sheet of thin ply that’s in shed and was planning to use after a coat of weather proofing before sticking to the outside.
Then I remembered Correx’, (had used it years ago in aero modelling), think this will give decent protective layer on the styrene and a protective sheet such as correx is not expensive, think just under £5 for a 1.4m x 2.5m sheet. It won’t add too much weight and will give a good layer of protection against knocks etc so might be worth a try
I don't believe it! Great minds think alike - I just bought sheets for Correx to do exactly that! It's light, easy to work, and I think it'll do a good job... I'm planning on making a follow-up video where I 'level up' the hot composter with the Correx!
@@niallgardens I'm thinking that before drilling aeration holes in base plate I'll fix a piece (cut to size) on the inner base plate and then drill the holes through all those layers of the base.
This is really helpful. I'm going to make one for sure. Unfortunately the insulation board you used is no longer available on Amazon but I've found the same size in white at Wickes but as tongue and groove. I think I'll go ahead with this and cut off the tongue and paint the polystyrene ... unless anyone else has found a suitable alternative. Thanks for posting this and for the feedback on your hot bin!
Glad that you enjoyed the video and found it useful - that sounds like a good plan in terms of the materials you've been able to source 👍
Wish I’d have seen this before I shelled out for mine. It has also explained why mine is not getting hot enough. Will now enlisted a neighbour.Thanks for the info.
So glad that the video was useful. Don’t worry - although you bought one, it’ll be great and it’s a nice professional product. If you’re interested in how to really get your hotbin working, I’ve made a specific video on the best ratios of materials etc… Just have a look back on my channel page. Enjoy!
This video is really inspiring as well as educational. I'm still bouncing between making one and buying a premade one, but if I were to build one I'd follow this guide with possibly a few additions. Maybe lining the walls with either silicone, or some sort of inert material (glass would be nice, but far too expensive). Also putting a screen over the bottom to help keep the holes cleared. A bit over engineered, but you could also build a wooden frame for it to help protect it as well as keep it ridgid, as well as making it look better. All these things are nice to haves, but your design looks like it works great without too many extra frills to over complicate things. A good springboard for the imagination. Thank you for making and posting this video.
Thanks very much, that's really cool. I like your suggestions also!
I feel like a ton of duct tape would help the rigidity.
An upturned shallow square tray with small holes would allow the air to circulate and stop the holes on the bottom getting clogged.
Great video! Building mine as we speak. The '25mm Multi Purpose Insulation Boards Floor Wall Roof & Underfloor Heating (12)' boards are fairly fragile, I wonder if anyone has found a supplier for EPP foam? It's the same stuff Hotbin use to make their bins. I'm tempted to skin the inside of the bin with the blue damp proof sheet for an extra bit of durability.
So, where do I get the glue?
Looks fantastic, I'm going to make one! 😄 Would the polystyrene sheets hold up to outdoor weather (South East England) do you think, or best kept under shelter in a greenhouse or polytunnel?
I keep mine in the polytunnel, but I think they should be ok in general. They may get a little 'beaten up' on the outside, but the main thing is that they'll still provide an insulating barrier for your hot compost.
Hi Niall, loved your video on the Hotbin, just wanted to ask if you use an activator in it at all? Thanks Ruth
I'm a bit late to the party 🎉but saw a how to by Wiltshire Man who used your method and made some tweeks. Thank you for the brilliant, easy to follow tutorial! Just finished making my hot box😊🏴
Great video very informative and clear. How much "compost tea" is coming out through these bottom holes? I'm planing to put my compost on patio so would have to add some kind of catch tray...
Truthfully I don't know because I've never collected what comes out of the composter and I think it'll depend on the water levels of the materials you put in... I think a catch tray would be a good idea. Just make sure that it's something you can access the liquid from without having to lift the composter because it'll be mega heavy once it's got stuff in it!
This looks so amazing, I'm going to make one just the same! Although I'm going to store mine inside my polytunnel as I live up on Isle of Lewis so our winters are as wild as yours but colder! Would you recommend still using 5cm thick sheets or do you think 2.5cm would be enough since it's inside?
I would err on the side of strength and go with 5cm thickness from the point of view of the structure. You should check out my other hot composting videos because I had mine in my polytunnel for a while for the same reason!
Why don't you glue the base on? I have built one and the sides by the door are opening out with the pressure. I think I might try and glue this in the summer
Thanks for this, Niall! I've made one and it works! Can't believe that half-rotten apples, kitchen scraps, grass clippings and some weeds create some much heat!!! Reached 60C in about 3 days!!! Mine is actually 7cm thick, with top and bottom double that, of course, as these were the insulation boards I got off FB marketplace for under a tenner. A steal, right?
This is such good news! I'm honestly delighted that you've made one and that it's working well for you! And yes, you bagged yourself a proper bargain there!
Is this foam board and glue non-toxic? I would really like to make one but I’m concerned with the possibility that the foam board would leach into my precious compost. Great video…I found you today from a Huw Richards video. You make it easy to follow along with your instructions. I’m in the USA about 3 hours south of Chicago and we’ll be getting more snow again this week. Thanks for the info!
Hi Susan! Thanks for the comment. I did quite a lot of research before making the video around leaching of polystyrene and my findings were that extreme heating was required and at that, any levels were low. For that reason, I'm confident that the pros outweigh the cons. Hope this helps!
Is there any concerns of the chemicals from the polystyrene leaching into your compost that is being made It looks great. I just don’t want to defect my growing organic veggies. Thank you for your programs
My idea is you could use this same design but build a wood box and insulate it on the outside so only the wood makes contact with the compost and the insulation keeps it warm from the outside
Hi! I actually did quite a lot of research before making the video around leaching of polystyrene and my findings were that extreme heating was required and at that, any levels were low. For that reason, I'm confident that the pros outweigh the cons. Hope this helps!
Great video. How did it stand up in the outdoor weather? Also ever though of introducing a copper coil with water to create a biomeilier?
Hi Niall,
Great video. Did you use the same adhesive to glue the 25mm panels together and with that in mind, how many tubes of of it did it take? Cheers
If you have a jig-saw I'd recommend that for cutting. Very fast and clean
Nice idea - I like it!
great video what adhesive did u use ??
I used an adhesive called 'sticks like #&^$%' which is brilliant. If you look in the description of the video and click on my KIT page link it'll take you to everything I used to make this! 👍
Thank you for sharing. Based on your video I’m planning to construct one this week and am thinking whether it’d be worth fitting some plastic protection on the corner edges where the straps are secured. Thinking maybe something similar to sections cut from plastic milk containers glued to the relevant corners. Do you have any thoughts on this being needed?
Glad it was helpful! That's so cool that you're going to make one - I'm certain you'll have success! I like the idea of using the milk containers to strengthen the corners. It'll allow you to get the straps tight without it biting into the corners of the polystyrene, which has happened on my first composter I made. At the minute I'm experimenting with what I could cover the composter with to act as protective 'skin'.
@@niallgardens Thank you.
Hi Niall, I watched your video about building your own hot compost bin, which was absolutely brilliant and definitely something I’m going to do. I was just wondering if you had had any thoughts on a design whereby you would be able to tap off the compost liquid for use as liquid fertiliser? Obviously with the holes you’ve drilled in the bottom for aeration, all your liquid is going to drain out through those and potentially be lost. Could the aeration holes be drilled low down on the sides thus allowing for the liquid to collect at the bottom and be tapped off? I would appreciate your thoughts. Many thanks, Duncan
Hi! Apologies for such a late reply - I seem to have missed the notification! I tend to think that the holes are better on the base but... I'm wondering if placing some kind of tray underneath the composter would allow you to collect the compost liquid?
Hi Nial and Happy new Growing Year to you and all your subscribers. I have been thinking about this for a year. I went down the bokaski route last year but I still can't produce enough compost for my small allotment. So now I think I might take the leap of faith but I wondered if you still think its a good idea?
The commercial ones allow the collection of leachate - does your leachate just go through the holes and is wasted?
I'm really looking for a way to do something similar whuich avoids using the unsustainable hydrocarbon based polymer. Do you think a double walled structure lined with wool insulation would work?
Great idea and great video. Thanks for sharing. Just wondering if there is any danger of it going on fire in the hot summer months?
Honestly, this is a really excellent video. It's so clear, well presented and easy to understand....exactly what is required. I am going to make one of these. You have an extra subscriber. Can I ask Niall, is it waterproof? Also, a little tip to make it easier on the eye, you could buy some trellis that has fake leaves, cut it up to the appropriate sizes and clip on to the bin. One more question, do you ever have to add water to your mixes or is it ok with just the mixes of browns, greens and bulking agents? Kind regards, Dave.
What a lovely message and welcome to the channel! It is indeed waterproof! Your idea of the trellis with the fake leaves is a brilliant one! Generally, the mix of materials works perfectly without needing to add anything. I have a friend who owns a Hotbin and she finds her compost to be very soggy and yucky. Mine seems to trend on the drier side so occasionally I'll add a little water, but only on a rare occasion.
@@niallgardens Thanks for the reply Niall. I just finished the bin last night and i followed your exact instructions. Looking forward to getting started.
@@niallgardens Hi Niall. My bin is going really well. It's up at around 70 degrees at the moment. Is it a bad idea to be adding material every 2 days? Should I wait for the temperature to start going down before adding again? I have enough material to fill it now, but i'm afraid that when the temperature starts to come down, i won't be able to fit anything more in!
I found an old forum post today where it mentions a price of £150 for the hotbin (I assume the 200l one as that came first). Hotbin have now put their prices up again and are asking £300 for it! It's a bit of plastic! Glad I got mine second hand
Great tutorial Niall. I am now on the case for making one myself. Two questions though.......don't you get leachate dripping from the base of it, particularly if you get worms in there (if so you could put a tray underneath and catch it) and what brand is the adhesive you used? Thanks
Thank you! We can't get the HotBins in the US. This clears up my questions about ventilation. Shocked that the one vent hole in the top is enough but the end product speaks for itself.
Yeah the key is to have a bit of ventilation, but not too much so that it doesn't lose excess heat, or at least that's been my experience!
I found insulation with silver foil to be much more durable, you need the 50mm stuff. Unfortunately it does still bow over time so a few extra cam straps will be. Needed, and a plywood base. To be honest, I managed to buy a used hotbin for £100.00, which was less than the build cost
I think that's the thing - if you can either build your own, or get a used hotbin for a decent price, then either will be totally worth it. Enjoy the composting!
As an extra precaution, you could make an inner plug that fits snugly on top of the composting material to lessen the heat escaping into the dead space? Nice bin by the way.
Thanks Howard and that's a good idea!
hi where did you buy the polystyrene board? having trouble finding it.. thanks
Hi Niall,
Great video, hadn't thought of making my own hot bin. I clicked on your link for insulation boards but doesn't come up with anything. Can you advise which ones are now available?
Lee
Oh! Thanks for the heads-up - I’ll have a look to see if I can get an alternative link. What I would say is that the identical panels are generally in stock in major hardware stores like B&Q etc… so that would be my next port of call 😃
Niall, I've only recently taken on an allotment and also have small gardens back and front of house. Really fancy having a go at building a hot bin to your design. I Have purchased the necessary equipment. Is there anything you would do differently, now that some time has past since your first build?
Hi Niall, thank you very much for sharing this. I will make my own now..what are your thoughts on adding compost worms - would that be great or too hot for the worms?
I think it would probably be too hot for the worms and the good news is that with the heat, your compost will break down nice and quickly even without the worms
@@niallgardens thank you ❤
Hi there! Came across you while researching hot compost bins. Ready to make my own now! Just one question: Doesn't your leachate seep out at the bottom between the walls and the base, since you simply popped the walls on without glue? Thanks in advance! :)
In keeping with the worry of leaching of toxic chemicals into a compost; every thought of cork sheeting? May need to line the inside though if it breaks down/ or rebuild it every so often.