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How To: Build A Composter

Build A Composter

Getting Started

Calling all green thumbs! Want to get into composting but don’t know where to start? Grab your Arrow PT18G pneumatic brad nailer and Arrow T50DCD cordless staple gun and give this composter project a try!

You Will Need

Materials Needed

Other Tools

  • Tape measure
  • Pencil
  • Saw
  • Drill with ⅛" drill bit
  • Screwdriver
  • Metal cutting shears

Materials

  • 4 eye bolts
  • 2 galvanized spikes
  • 2" nylon webbing (approximately 12')
  • Hardware cloth
  • 1 row of 1 ½" Arrow 18-gauge brad nails
  • Arrow T50 staples
  • Two 24" x 48" corrugated polycarbonate plastic roof panels
  • ¾" x 2 ½" x 36" pressure-treated wood (16 pieces)
  • Pressure-treated wood to cut for diagonals (lay on completed square frame and mark for cut)
  • ¾" x 2 ½" x 41 ¾" pressure-treated wood (4 pieces)
  • ¾" x 2 ½" x 12" pressure-treated wood cut at 45 degrees on both ends (4 pieces)
  • Your choice of roof structure (we used a gable roof, but you could also use a shed roof or flat roof)
  • Wood spreaders cut to fit your chosen roof structure
Show Less

Start Building

Step 1

Using your PT18G pneumatic brad nailer, assemble the four side panels and top frame of the composter. Set aside the top frame for now.

Step 2

Lay the four assembled panels side by side and staple on the hardware cloth using your T50DCD cordless staple gun.

We chose a 36″ hardware cloth to fit our project dimensions. This eliminated a lot of cutting. You can use the metal cutting shears to trim the excess hardware cloth after securing the last panel, but be careful – it’s sharp!

Step 3

Staple the nylon webbing at the joints over the hardware cloth to add strength and durability to the corners.

Step 4

Stand up the side panels vertically and square them up to create the box. Add eye bolts to the top and bottom of the open joint. Depending on the type of wood, you may need to drill a pilot hole before screwing in the eye bolts. Insert the galvanized spikes to lock the joints together. The spikes can be removed to access the compost.

Step 5

Take the assembled top frame and place it over the box. The corner bracing should allow this to float freely while locking the side panels and roof in place.

Step 6

Using your PT18G pneumatic brad nailer, install gable ends cut from the 1″ x 6″ board to fit your final top frame dimension. The width of your top frame will depend on the width of the side panel material you chose.

Cut and install spreaders to the gable ends to support the roofing material. A simple flat roof or a shed roof can be used instead of the gable roof.

Step 7

Finally, use your T50DCD cordless staple gun to staple and secure the corrugated polycarbonate plastic roof panels. The clear roof panels allow for solar heating while also protecting the compost from the elements.

The roof overhang can be trimmed back if you’d like.

 

Finished Product

Now that you’ve got your composter, it’s time to start saving your leaves, kitchen scraps, and coffee grounds. And the best part? This unit can be moved and stored flat seasonally.

Project 77 of 102

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