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One of the things Mrs Z’s family has started doing the last few Christmases is to make or build one gift a piece. In looking through their Christmas lists I noticed my mother-in-law wanted a composter. Hmm. I think she expected it to be purchased, not made, but my mind immediately went to a few food-grade barrels we had just purchased. I wonder if I can build a composter.

Yep, you can. Here’s how I did it.

I took the barrel, which I had purchased for only 5 dollars at a used goods store, measured the center and drilled holes into either side of it using a 1.75 inch spade bit. Then, figuring it may need a little more strength I found two flanges in the plumbing section of our local hardware store, aligned them with the holes I drilled and screwed them right into the plastic. The plastic was nearly .25 inches thick anyway, so adding the metal flanges easily made it strong enough to hold whatever food/compost she decided to fill it with. Slide a 1.25 inch metal pipe through the center and that part of the project is finished.

Back tomorrow to tell you how I built the rack.

Before I can get going on any other projects I need to clean up this mess. It probably won’t even take very long. All I know is that, if I get things organized, I can build a little table to hold the compound miter saw and some of the other tools. This is where it all begins.

Thanks for stopping by. This site is obviously under construction. I hope you don’t mind, but I wanted to, shall we say, “retheme” it to match up with my newspaper column, Hands On with Mr Z.

For the time being, please be patient and check out my facebook page and my twitter account.

Thanks.

z.