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Composting is becoming increasingly popular because it allows us to responsibly dispose of garden and kitchen waste while providing nice compost to enrich the garden. This three-section compost bin is simple to make and will keep your composting area looking organized and tidy.
Materials:
One 2"x 4"x 8' cedar board
Three 2"x 4"x 10' cedar boards
Four 2"x 4"x 12' cedar boards
Two 1"x 6"x 10' cedar boards
Four 1"x 5"x 12' cedar boards
2 ½" and 1 ½" stainless steel screws
26'x 36"x ½" galvanized hardware cloth
¾" galvanized poultry staples
Twelve 4"x 3/8" galvanized carriage bolts with matching washers and nuts
Exterior wood glue
Tools:
Pencil
Hammer
Adjustable wrench
Miter saw
Table saw
Dado blade
Drill
Screw bit, screw gun, or screwdriver
3/8" wood paddle bit
Tape measure
Countersink drill bit
Plug cutter
Palm sander
Medium-grade sandpaper
Directions:
1. From 2"x 4"x 10' and 2"x 4"x 12' stock, cut out:
Three 9' lengths (from the three 10' lengths)
Eight 3' lengths (from two 12' lengths)
Eight 32 ½" lengths (from two 12' lengths)
2. Construct 4 dividers, which will be 34" tall and 36" wide. The corners will be connected with a rabbet joint for strength. Set up dado blade on the table saw to a height of ¾" and notch out each end of one side of all eight 3' lengths. The notch should be 1 ½" wide (the width of 32 ½" boards).
3. Fasten frame of each divider together with exterior wood glue and 2 ½" stainless steel screws. Countersink the screws visible on front top of each divider so they can be hidden with plugs later.
4. Using hammer, attach galvanized hardware cloth to one side of each divider with poultry staples. Be sure enough staples are used to keep attached to frame, as the compost will be pressing against it.
5. Stand each frame up with 34" side being used as height and space each frame 2' 7" apart, making sure countersunk screws are facing downward. For the 2 outer panels, be sure that the side with the hardware cloth is facing in. Attach a 2"x 4"x 9' to both the front and back of the top of dividers. Use 3/8" paddle bit to predrill the holes and fasten with carriage bolts. Once all 8 carriage bolts are secured, flip unit over. Attach last remaining 2"x 4"x 9' to back top of dividers with 4 remaining carriage bolts.
6. Attach hardware cloth to the backside of the compost bin with poultry staples. This is done on the back side with one continuous length of hardware cloth.
7. Using table saw, cut four 35 ½" lengths from 1x 6 cedar. Rip down 2 of these boards to a width of 4 ½". Attach 2 wider boards to 2 center dividers. Be sure 1x6 is centered on 2x 4 divider frame so that the edges of the 1x 6 overhang the 2x 4 equally on both sides. These overhang s will act as one side of pockets used to hold removable front panels. Use countersink drill bit and 1 ½" stainless steel screws to fasten these boards to dividers.
8. Attach 2 narrower width boards to end dividers with overhang running only along side closest to interior of bin. Use countersink drill bit and 1 ½" stainless steel screws to fasten these boards to dividers.
9. Rip down remaining 2x 4 stock into six 1"x 1"x 34" pieces to create back sides of pockets. Attach to divider frame with 1 ½" stainless steel screws so they are set 1" back from front side of pockets. This will create a slot into which front panels can be inserted.
10. With remaining 1x 6 stock, cut out 18 front panels at an approximate length of 2' 6 ½". (These panels may need to be fit to size, after bin is fully constructed.) Once cut to appropriate length, sand each end edge of panels to prevent chipping and so that panels will slide more smoothly into pockets.