Mantis CT02001 Compact ComposTumbler, 88 Gallons, Red

Got tired of messing around with less expensive and poorly made composters and finally got the one I always wanted. Should have just started with this one.It wasn't easy to put together but I managed it with a little help. Solid, well made. Turning it can be a workout but it is easier than the other spinners.

Using the correct recipe you can hot compost in this thing as well as cold compost. I currently have a hot compost batch running right now though I am continually adding to it because the compost quantity really reduces in size once it starts breaking down. The gear mechanism is very nice and solid engineering. The air vents are also well built but the green air pockets seemed to have loosened slightly but nothing I am concerned with during this batch. I will re-tighten and add some lock-tite before next batch. I have not experienced any rust as of yet but I am going to put this in my shed over winter in hopes to prevent any rust issues like others have mentioned. the frame doesn't seems very sturdy when you look at it but for now it is holding up and once all bolts are connected is a pretty solid frame. The door has a post and a latch mechanism I recommend leaving the bolts a little loose then putting door on to adjust the locations of post and latch brackets then remove door and make tight. I did use lock-tite on the bolts for the door.There is a word of caution while operating the handle on this composter. If you let go of the handle while the weight inside is shifted off center the handle will KICK back and if your face (Or your daughters) is in the way the handle will come back and hit you. She is okay but has a small scratch and bruise from the impact.Also keep long hair away from the gears and handle as it could get wrapped around the handle during kickback and could potentially rip out a person's hair. No this did not happen, though I started thinking of other safety concerns after the first kick-back.Summary:Works very well and I would have had my first batch of compost by now but I keep adding more material into this composter so I get more product once it is full. It is easy to take door off and add more material. In a home of 4 people who eat vegetables, eggs, and healthy foods as well as grass clippings, a maple tree leaves and a willow I can keep this composter running continually and have a stockpile of material ready to go.Only downfall I have now is I can only make one batch at a time. If they made this same style with two doors/ two sections I could have started once and then started another 4 weeks later. If this all works out I may just buy a second one of these.Once batch is complete I will add pictures of the final product.

This product may be sturdy, it may be easy to use and it might even be a good value, but I can not report on that, because I can not complete its assembly. When I received the order it was missing a package of parts to complete the frame. After reaching out to customer service it was quite apparent that there is NO customer service. I believe that if you have customers you should have customer service. I say don not give them your business.

This is my 2nd Compact ComposTumbler. The first Tumbler lasted for almost ten years of constant use before it became too rusted to use anymore. The rust started around year 5 at the removable door cutout corners on the body of the bin and eventually compromised the door attachment points, and I also noticed a couple of rust cracks in other locations on the bin body. Yeah, I wish the bin lasted a "lifetime" but, frankly, the bin was easy to use, worked very well for almost 10 years and I got a lot of great compost from my household and yard waste during that time. Considering that composting involves constant moisture and heat over time, I'm not surprised that rust is an eventual problem. It'd be great if the bin was made from stainless steel but I suspect it'd be so expensive that almost nobody would buy it. All in all, though, not a bad tradeoff for a modest cost amortized over a decade. As for assembly: I'm moderately skilled with tools so I didn't think assembly was very difficult (but this was the 2nd time - albeit in ten years - that I assembled a ComposTumbler). Challenging, yes, because setting the partially assembled bin into the exact locations in both end cap slots was tricky and a 2nd pair of hands would've been very helpful.A note: as an experiment to deter rust I sprayed the interior side of the bin body sections and removable door with two coats of clear silicone sealer and allowed the silicone to thoroughly dry before final assembly. The silicone sealer is still intact after three months and several compost cycles, but I'll have to wait years before I know if the silicone sealer experiment works to delay or deter rust.

This unit seems to be the perfect setup next to my chicken coop. I am hoping that the cleaning out of the run and coop will provide enough material to create some good mulch? The design is perfect for the trays of poop from the coop to the large door opening to clear them easily.