Our assembly time was roughly the same as other reviewers. Everything went together easily and watching the video beforehand helped. I'm glad that the price tag was affordable. If it were partially assembled, it might be out of our reach price wise. The design seems well thought out. So far it's easy to add raw materials. Looking forward to the end product.
New video doesn't allow comments but it took me around 45-50 mins alone to assemble the new version. Steps are fairly similar but there's a lot less of them. Interested to see how this unit holds up.
Just got mine. Took me about 2 hrs. Used video as well as instructions which to me, major difference. You need both. Seems to be worthy so far. The only thing I can say negative, is the Allen bolts lack depth as far as using a Allen wrench. The Allen wrench stripped out about 3/4 way into install. Make sure you have a backup. Torx would have been the ultimate. NOT Allen wrench. Other than that, no legit complaints. Time will tell on longevity. Gonna fill it today 😉
I started assembly about 4.45pm with sunset at 5.30pm. I laid out all the parts on concrete slab and started being amazed at the complexity. Then instructions say assemble 2-4 hours. Would be really handy if this was stated on outside of box to guide when to start assembly. Early in assembly you have to attach the 1st black panel to green frame. See video, th-cam.com/video/jY17CvB1exY/w-d-xo.html “Maze 245 Compost Tumbler Assembly” … from 18seconds to 42 seconds. Black panel was about 2mm to long to fit in Green panel. Took back to Bunnings. They agreed it was manufacturing error. They checked another box and same problem. They checked yet another box and fix OK with about 3mm free-play = GOOD. I took that. Manufacturing tolerances obviously too wide. Now these 2 pieces fit but I don’t have much confidence that manufacturing error won’t cause more pieces to not fit together correctly … I’ll see tomorrow when I try to complete assembly. Thanks for Dicko Thomas for the assembly hints.
Hey Mark, you don't know how much I appreciate all your info! Partner and I thought we were losing the plot - but our black panels were also too long. You saved us much torment! Just got our Bunnings refund and have decided we're gonna buy a second hand one that is already assembled now. Cheers.
It seems that I am an exception here. I has taken me MUCH longer to put mine together, but, I have gotten the barrel together, just not both sides onto the barrel yet. it is all simple to do for me as far as knowing what steps to do, BUT, what is hard is getting all the parts to meet up right. Like getting the sides fastened to the barrel, those silver pieces you drop in and then put the screws in, well, my lid wouldn't sit down and line up right so I could put in the screws. I had to beat on it with a hammer to get some parts to sit down as they need to do so I could fasten them down. Once I can get the sides of the barrel on and fastened down, I can likely go on with the rest of it all. After getting 5 parts fastened down, using the silver pieces that you line up and screw in, the rest of it won't line up right, the lid wouldn't fit on right. I just don't get what might be wrong. I see everybody here has had no problems, so, I just can't figure out where I went wrong. It should all just go together smoothly. I used the wrench to tighten up all of the bolts, maybe I made it all too tight? Maybe I need some help from a guy to help line the lid up better, because it does NOT just automatically line up like it should. I also need to buy some of the 3 inch long bolts since I must have used them already, and now have none for putting on the turning arm. I can't wait to get it together, I have slops waiting for it, and some shredded wood for my carbon source. My other composter was not this hard to assemble for me. I have the old one waiting for me to empty it in about 2 weeks. Now, IF anybody can tell me how to get the sides to get on more snug, so the holes meet up to use the silver pieces and the bolts to fasten them, I really welcome it. From this video I did everything right. Maybe since its a bit chilly out it has shrunk a bit? I'm at a loss at what is the problem. The first 5 holes matched up with the silver parts that go in the slot, then you put the screws in the side, so HOW can the other holes be so hard to get done, even once I forced the side (round) piece on better, it would NOT match up. Like I said, I understand the instructions, but, the plastic parts haven't been so easy to just put together, as in the video, meaning really the round side pieces. Sorry to whine, but, it has been so much harder than the video. Maybe I'll try and get a friend of mine to help me, he may be strong enough to force the sides on enough so that I can bolt them on.
Hi Julie, I'm sure we have help you solve all these problems. I suggest it is easiest that your call our office on 03 9544 6999 or you can email Aaron and he is best to help you out agionis@mazeproducts.com.au
Just put our one together, took me 2.5 hours, I was going pretty slow with it admittedly but that's only because there was quiet a few more parts to it than expected. Would you consider shipping it with the barrel already put together in the future?
Hi, the problem with it being sent assembled is that as we ship these all around the world the extra freight cost could end up doubling the cost of the item to some areas. This way it allows us to keep the cost as low as possible.
Assembled as indicated. The locking mechanism is too stiff to fall down into the gears as you are turning, thus it will spin freely (forwards or backwards) until you manually push the lock down into the gear. Are you meant to leave the bolt a little loose? In other videos it shows people turning it and the lock "ratcheting" in the gears to prevent backward spin. The instructions don't mention this, but as assembled it isn't working as intended.
The video makes it look so easy but I’m sure it’s a lot more difficult then the video shows. I am going to be purchasing one of these soon and I hope I won’t be wasting my money on it because I’m skeptical as far as the difficulty and I have heard many people say the bolts that are exposed to the elements rust. I hope that’s not the case. Does anyone have any ideas and tips to make this whole process go easy??
Hi Daisy, this certainly should not be happening and i suspect something is not 100% with the assembly. Can you send some photos to agionis@mazeproducts.com.au
So did mine, I used a longer bolt for it, now I have to buy extra bolts though. BTW how is your composter working? I know its been a year, so, maybe you aren't going to reply, but, I'm just wondering.
Amy, I THINK that you and I both may have gotten a "dud" Maze composter. I've read that some folks had bought one in person in Australia, or Europe, at a hardware store, found that it didn't work out right to assemble them, so they'd simply returned them to a store in person. Maybe those "rejects" had been resold to us poor suckers online? My guess, is yes that IS what happened.
Took about 2 hours to assemble. Seems like a quality product. I'd seen some reviewers complaining about the zinc plated hardware rusting so I put a dollop of silicon on the end of all the nuts and stuff that are exposed to the decomposing matter. Also I'd seen reviewers complaining about rain/ water ingress into the drum so I assembled it using a line of silicon to close up the joints around the drum. Maybe unnecessary, but easy to do during assembly rather than try to come back later if it does turn out to be an issue. Also I plan to store my composter on concrete surface and didn't want compost juice dripping out of its joints. I may need to drain it in a controlled manner in future, using the air vents. Purchased stock from bunnings May 2019 and the handle seems strong. Perhaps these are shipping with the upgraded handle now, as early reviewers had noted some handles seemed flimsy.
Just bathroom type silicon but not the acrylic type, the proper solvent based silicon. I see my review is 3 years old - the composter is still going well. No obvious signs of failure etc. Here are some more observations after 3 years of use: *make sure you place it in a sunny spot. It needs heat to break down. It takes all winter to break down one side, or about 1 month of summer. *if you leave it with the lid open at the top, water gets in. Drainage of water and the compost being too wet is the biggest issue with this composter. *don't add newspaper to try to dry it out. It just clumps and doesn't break down. *make sure you peel all the store stickers off your fruits before composting. Finding your compost with plastic sticker rubbish all through it is terrible. *realistically the composer gets too heavy to turn over when it's about 2/3 full. Ie. One side full and in composting mode, and the other bin less than half full. *the 'vents' are sunken in the tub, so they don't act as very good drains when positioned on the bottom. Overall after 3 years in happy with this product. It looks like it will last many more years.
Also it's quite difficult to empty the compost out. I turn the opening to the bottom and use a soft sided plastic round tub with the handles and scoop out the finished compost. It's a messy and fiddly job. I use a gardening hand trowel to scoop most out, then my hands sometimes too. It's messy, fiddly and pretty gross.
Too much for me as a lawyer living in Australia. So I'm going to bet far too much for someone in Nigeria, unless you're one of those email scammers, I hear those guys are rich.
It's really expensive. $250 US Dollars, & I imagine shipping would also be a lot. :( I have been using buckets with little holes in it, but havent made my first compost yet to know how well it's working...Stay tuned til the first batch is done!
just took me 2hrs 10mis. if the bolts on the legs wernt extra long it would have saved a lot of time. i also flipped the barrel so it would crank on the right side costing time to disassemble and reassemble.
Hi John, maybe your tumbler came with the wrong bolts as the leg bolts are significantly longer than needed. If you would like more details please call our office and maybe send photos so we can make sure it is assembled correctly.
@@mazeproductsau it's the right bolts according to the printed directions with the "actual size" compare visual. It just seemed like a lot of extra turning, wish I could have used a power tool. Product isn't difficult to assemble some bits are just fiddly but it is study. Happy with it.
@@johngriffin5446 thanks you your feedback. I read your feedback incorrectly as i thought they were not long enough. You are right it is faster with a power tool.
Hi Angela, thanks for your feedback. I understand what you are saying and it is hard to see but in fact the spanner is concealed inside the hand. The circle end of the spanner is used to hold the nut. Next time we will make this more obvious in the instructions and the video. thank you.
Maze Products text or VO with helpful hints on the video would be great. Definitely need both video and written to make sense of it. And the woman who has made her own video of tips was a great addition.
Cute but I have three major problems with this composter. 1) The leg assembly is off balance and could tip on someone and is so low to the ground you cannot get a wheelbarrow under it making 245 litres of unmanageable product you have to shovel out one spade full at a time taking hours instead of opening a gate and dropping it into a barrow in 2 seconds flat. 2) It isn't waterproof, meaning that all the nitrates and important chemicals you want to keep IN the barrel will seep out of the barrel and rain can get in thus washing out everything good, meaning you don't get compost, you just get rotted plant matter stripped of all vital nutrients, and 3) the price point is absolutely inappropriate for something with these two major flaws. For the same price you can get one that doesn't have either major flaw, can make wet and dry compost, and is barrow friendly, and also auto-rotates from a small electric motor (and with the small savings you could buy a cheap 12V solar panel to power that motor for free so it spins all day long slowly in the sun.)
Thank you for your feedback. To address some of your points: 1) We have put a lot of effort with industrial engineers to design this so that it is stable and so far in the four years of selling we have never heard of one tipping. I agree it would be good if a wheelbarrow could fit underneath and we looked at raising it but it made it too unstable. Keep in mind you are only emptying one side at a time so 123L. 2) The composer is not waterproof however it is important that the liquid drains constantly from a composter as having the compost too wet is one of the biggest problems people have as it smells, attracts flies and slows the process. We do have a composting cart which can sit underneath and not only collect the liquid but also be used to empty some out and wheel it to the garden (like a wheelbarrow). I should add that the liquid coming out (Leachate) is made from the waste and not mature compost and can be detrimental to some plants. Happy to discuss this more if you like as we always value the feedback and we are always looking for ways to improve current products and new developments.
![ILLSLICK - WINTER IS COMING [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dwTMeM1zIhQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Our assembly time was roughly the same as other reviewers. Everything went together easily and watching the video beforehand helped. I'm glad that the price tag was affordable. If it were partially assembled, it might be out of our reach price wise. The design seems well thought out. So far it's easy to add raw materials. Looking forward to the end product.
Just put mine together. Thankful to have this video and the included instructions. This is a solid product that won't be wasted. 😁
New video doesn't allow comments but it took me around 45-50 mins alone to assemble the new version. Steps are fairly similar but there's a lot less of them.
Interested to see how this unit holds up.
Just got mine. Took me about 2 hrs. Used video as well as instructions which to me, major difference. You need both. Seems to be worthy so far. The only thing I can say negative, is the Allen bolts lack depth as far as using a Allen wrench. The Allen wrench stripped out about 3/4 way into install. Make sure you have a backup. Torx would have been the ultimate. NOT Allen wrench. Other than that, no legit complaints.
Time will tell on longevity. Gonna fill it today 😉
It would be so much more helpful if this had the pieces labeled and actual instructions talked through whilst demonstrating the steps
2.5 hours to finish. Video was super helpful! Thanks!
Took me 2.5 hours to assemble with a couple do-overs. Overall it was pretty straightforward.
Thank you so much. This video was tops.
I started assembly about 4.45pm with sunset at 5.30pm. I laid out all the parts on concrete slab and started being amazed at the complexity. Then instructions say assemble 2-4 hours.
Would be really handy if this was stated on outside of box to guide when to start assembly.
Early in assembly you have to attach the 1st black panel to green frame.
See video,
th-cam.com/video/jY17CvB1exY/w-d-xo.html
“Maze 245 Compost Tumbler Assembly”
… from 18seconds to 42 seconds.
Black panel was about 2mm to long to fit in Green panel.
Took back to Bunnings.
They agreed it was manufacturing error.
They checked another box and same problem.
They checked yet another box and fix OK with about 3mm free-play = GOOD.
I took that.
Manufacturing tolerances obviously too wide.
Now these 2 pieces fit but I don’t have much confidence that manufacturing error won’t cause more pieces to not fit together correctly … I’ll see tomorrow when I try to complete assembly.
Thanks for Dicko Thomas for the assembly hints.
Hey Mark, you don't know how much I appreciate all your info! Partner and I thought we were losing the plot - but our black panels were also too long. You saved us much torment! Just got our Bunnings refund and have decided we're gonna buy a second hand one that is already assembled now. Cheers.
It seems that I am an exception here. I has taken me MUCH longer to put mine together, but, I have gotten the barrel together, just not both sides onto the barrel yet. it is all simple to do for me as far as knowing what steps to do, BUT, what is hard is getting all the parts to meet up right. Like getting the sides fastened to the barrel, those silver pieces you drop in and then put the screws in, well, my lid wouldn't sit down and line up right so I could put in the screws. I had to beat on it with a hammer to get some parts to sit down as they need to do so I could fasten them down. Once I can get the sides of the barrel on and fastened down, I can likely go on with the rest of it all. After getting 5 parts fastened down, using the silver pieces that you line up and screw in, the rest of it won't line up right, the lid wouldn't fit on right. I just don't get what might be wrong.
I see everybody here has had no problems, so, I just can't figure out where I went wrong. It should all just go together smoothly. I used the wrench to tighten up all of the bolts, maybe I made it all too tight?
Maybe I need some help from a guy to help line the lid up better, because it does NOT just automatically line up like it should. I also need to buy some of the 3 inch long bolts since I must have used them already, and now have none for putting on the turning arm. I can't wait to get it together, I have slops waiting for it, and some shredded wood for my carbon source. My other composter was not this hard to assemble for me. I have the old one waiting for me to empty it in about 2 weeks.
Now, IF anybody can tell me how to get the sides to get on more snug, so the holes meet up to use the silver pieces and the bolts to fasten them, I really welcome it. From this video I did everything right.
Maybe since its a bit chilly out it has shrunk a bit? I'm at a loss at what is the problem. The first 5 holes matched up with the silver parts that go in the slot, then you put the screws in the side, so HOW can the other holes be so hard to get done, even once I forced the side (round) piece on better, it would NOT match up. Like I said, I understand the instructions, but, the plastic parts haven't been so easy to just put together, as in the video, meaning really the round side pieces.
Sorry to whine, but, it has been so much harder than the video. Maybe I'll try and get a friend of mine to help me, he may be strong enough to force the sides on enough so that I can bolt them on.
Hi Julie, I'm sure we have help you solve all these problems. I suggest it is easiest that your call our office on 03 9544 6999 or you can email Aaron and he is best to help you out agionis@mazeproducts.com.au
Just put our one together, took me 2.5 hours, I was going pretty slow with it admittedly but that's only because there was quiet a few more parts to it than expected. Would you consider shipping it with the barrel already put together in the future?
Hi, the problem with it being sent assembled is that as we ship these all around the world the extra freight cost could end up doubling the cost of the item to some areas. This way it allows us to keep the cost as low as possible.
Great video. Took me a little over 2 hrs by myself
thank you for the feedback.
TG for the video 😂 without it there may have been a divorce. Only a few expletives putting the separation piece inside.
Quite stylish for city homes and societies
Assembled as indicated. The locking mechanism is too stiff to fall down into the gears as you are turning, thus it will spin freely (forwards or backwards) until you manually push the lock down into the gear. Are you meant to leave the bolt a little loose? In other videos it shows people turning it and the lock "ratcheting" in the gears to prevent backward spin. The instructions don't mention this, but as assembled it isn't working as intended.
I am having the same issue. I might consider removing the locking mechanism.
The video makes it look so easy but I’m sure it’s a lot more difficult then the video shows. I am going to be purchasing one of these soon and I hope I won’t be wasting my money on it because I’m skeptical as far as the difficulty and I have heard many people say the bolts that are exposed to the elements rust. I hope that’s not the case. Does anyone have any ideas and tips to make this whole process go easy??
Use video along side of supplied instructions. Only way to go
Will this work without the divider in the middle?
yes it will.
@@mazeproductsau is unit still strong with divider missing?
The ratchet cog comes out when turning the handle - under a small load. Wondering what I’ve missed?
Hi Daisy, this certainly should not be happening and i suspect something is not 100% with the assembly. Can you send some photos to agionis@mazeproducts.com.au
IDK how he got it done so fast. Took me forever to put this thing together and I had to have help with some of it. 😅😅😅😂😂
Is anyone else having major issues with Step 5? My second screw on the half part in the middle will not line up no matter how hard I try...
So did mine, I used a longer bolt for it, now I have to buy extra bolts though. BTW how is your composter working? I know its been a year, so, maybe you aren't going to reply, but, I'm just wondering.
@@juliegogola4647 it’s awful. We’re selling it on fb marketplace and buying a subpod
Amy, I THINK that you and I both may have gotten a "dud" Maze composter. I've read that some folks had bought one in person in Australia, or Europe, at a hardware store, found that it didn't work out right to assemble them, so they'd simply returned them to a store in person.
Maybe those "rejects" had been resold to us poor suckers online?
My guess, is yes that IS what happened.
Took about 2 hours to assemble. Seems like a quality product. I'd seen some reviewers complaining about the zinc plated hardware rusting so I put a dollop of silicon on the end of all the nuts and stuff that are exposed to the decomposing matter. Also I'd seen reviewers complaining about rain/ water ingress into the drum so I assembled it using a line of silicon to close up the joints around the drum. Maybe unnecessary, but easy to do during assembly rather than try to come back later if it does turn out to be an issue. Also I plan to store my composter on concrete surface and didn't want compost juice dripping out of its joints. I may need to drain it in a controlled manner in future, using the air vents.
Purchased stock from bunnings May 2019 and the handle seems strong. Perhaps these are shipping with the upgraded handle now, as early reviewers had noted some handles seemed flimsy.
How did the silicone joints fair? How much, how thick did you apply? Was it the clear silicone you used like what is considered bathroom chalking?
Just bathroom type silicon but not the acrylic type, the proper solvent based silicon.
I see my review is 3 years old - the composter is still going well. No obvious signs of failure etc.
Here are some more observations after 3 years of use:
*make sure you place it in a sunny spot. It needs heat to break down. It takes all winter to break down one side, or about 1 month of summer.
*if you leave it with the lid open at the top, water gets in. Drainage of water and the compost being too wet is the biggest issue with this composter.
*don't add newspaper to try to dry it out. It just clumps and doesn't break down.
*make sure you peel all the store stickers off your fruits before composting. Finding your compost with plastic sticker rubbish all through it is terrible.
*realistically the composer gets too heavy to turn over when it's about 2/3 full. Ie. One side full and in composting mode, and the other bin less than half full.
*the 'vents' are sunken in the tub, so they don't act as very good drains when positioned on the bottom.
Overall after 3 years in happy with this product. It looks like it will last many more years.
Also it's quite difficult to empty the compost out. I turn the opening to the bottom and use a soft sided plastic round tub with the handles and scoop out the finished compost. It's a messy and fiddly job. I use a gardening hand trowel to scoop most out, then my hands sometimes too. It's messy, fiddly and pretty gross.
how much is the product , i need one in Nigeria
Too much for me as a lawyer living in Australia. So I'm going to bet far too much for someone in Nigeria, unless you're one of those email scammers, I hear those guys are rich.
It's really expensive. $250 US Dollars, & I imagine shipping would also be a lot. :( I have been using buckets with little holes in it, but havent made my first compost yet to know how well it's working...Stay tuned til the first batch is done!
just took me 2hrs 10mis. if the bolts on the legs wernt extra long it would have saved a lot of time. i also flipped the barrel so it would crank on the right side costing time to disassemble and reassemble.
Hi John, maybe your tumbler came with the wrong bolts as the leg bolts are significantly longer than needed. If you would like more details please call our office and maybe send photos so we can make sure it is assembled correctly.
@@mazeproductsau it's the right bolts according to the printed directions with the "actual size" compare visual. It just seemed like a lot of extra turning, wish I could have used a power tool. Product isn't difficult to assemble some bits are just fiddly but it is study. Happy with it.
@@johngriffin5446 thanks you your feedback. I read your feedback incorrectly as i thought they were not long enough. You are right it is faster with a power tool.
STEPS 11 & 12 - USE spanner with allen key to hold nut in place when tightening! not shown in video
Hi Angela, thanks for your feedback. I understand what you are saying and it is hard to see but in fact the spanner is concealed inside the hand. The circle end of the spanner is used to hold the nut. Next time we will make this more obvious in the instructions and the video. thank you.
Maze Products text or VO with helpful hints on the video would be great. Definitely need both video and written to make sense of it. And the woman who has made her own video of tips was a great addition.
Thank you for adding this Angela I was struggling for over half an hour trying to figure out what I was doing wrong
Cute but I have three major problems with this composter. 1) The leg assembly is off balance and could tip on someone and is so low to the ground you cannot get a wheelbarrow under it making 245 litres of unmanageable product you have to shovel out one spade full at a time taking hours instead of opening a gate and dropping it into a barrow in 2 seconds flat. 2) It isn't waterproof, meaning that all the nitrates and important chemicals you want to keep IN the barrel will seep out of the barrel and rain can get in thus washing out everything good, meaning you don't get compost, you just get rotted plant matter stripped of all vital nutrients, and 3) the price point is absolutely inappropriate for something with these two major flaws. For the same price you can get one that doesn't have either major flaw, can make wet and dry compost, and is barrow friendly, and also auto-rotates from a small electric motor (and with the small savings you could buy a cheap 12V solar panel to power that motor for free so it spins all day long slowly in the sun.)
Thank you for your feedback. To address some of your points: 1) We have put a lot of effort with industrial engineers to design this so that it is stable and so far in the four years of selling we have never heard of one tipping. I agree it would be good if a wheelbarrow could fit underneath and we looked at raising it but it made it too unstable. Keep in mind you are only emptying one side at a time so 123L. 2) The composer is not waterproof however it is important that the liquid drains constantly from a composter as having the compost too wet is one of the biggest problems people have as it smells, attracts flies and slows the process. We do have a composting cart which can sit underneath and not only collect the liquid but also be used to empty some out and wheel it to the garden (like a wheelbarrow). I should add that the liquid coming out (Leachate) is made from the waste and not mature compost and can be detrimental to some plants. Happy to discuss this more if you like as we always value the feedback and we are always looking for ways to improve current products and new developments.
that's 5 hours of my life gone having big fingers doesn't help in step 20
I think IKEA engineers designed this....;-)
2 - 4 hours assembly?!! I wanted a tumbler, not a major construction hobby. Some of this, such as the ratchet wheel, should have been pre-assembled.