Suncast Tumbling Composter Review:
Technology has finally come to the aid of the ancient gardening art of composting and one of the composting tools that poses a technological solution is the Suncast Tumbling Composter.
Is it worth giving it a “tumble”?
Suncast Tumbling Composter Video Demo:
Suncast Compost Tumbler Features:
- • 6.5 cubic feet of capacity.
- • A galvanized steel frame (1-inch in diameter) that is sturdy enough to hold the composting materials while turning.
- • The container is constructed of durable resin material allowing it to withstand the elements of any weather while insulating and maintaining the heat of the materials.
- • Latching lids on each end allowing for easy addition of organic materials and unloading of compost.
- Pronged “mixing” bar. This feature is unique to the Suncast and the prongs help “mix” and break up your decomposing organic materials
Suncast Customer Reviews:
As noted by our Customer Star Review, the Suncast Tumbling Composter did not score as well the Envirocycle Composter or the Tumbleweed Composter. It seems the main reason for the lower rating is the time it takes to assemble the unit and the supplied parts and tools.
Customer Reviews
We will take a look at the Pros and Cons of the Suncast.
Pros of the Suncast Tumbler:
As with many innovations, the brilliance of the Suncast Tumbling Composter lies in its simple premise. It’s designed to allow the compost enthusiast to easily add organic materials to a revolving container which can then be turned for aeration. This “tumbling” mixes the decomposing materials with oxygen, creating heat that further enhances the process. With daily turning, the material can be turned into useable compost in 3 to 4 weeks rather than months or years.
The benefits of this tool include the convenience of being able to turn the material and the speed of the process. Even the most adamantly traditional gardeners agree that the physical labor involved with weekly turning of a compost pile can literally be a pain in the (pick a body part)! This tumbling unit allows this turning process to be completed with ease.
There is also the question of how much time it takes to create useable compost. Since the aeration function of this tumbling unit allows for daily oxygen infusion to the process, it goes much faster, resulting in more compost and therefore more useable fertilizer.
Cons of the Suncast Tumbling Composter:
Assembly Required:
While the directions for assembly of the Suncast Tumbling Composter are concise and simple to understand, some online reviews have noted that the assembly process requires more than one person to complete. Even though it is not suggested in the directions, it is advisable for purchasers of this unit to have a “trusted assistant” on hand to lend a hand in the assembly. This seems fair. Also, some customers suggested that you will need additional tools than the ones provided to make the assembly easier. One reviewer also stated that the included “wrench” needs to be thrown out and that a 7/16 and 9/16 socket ratchet would be easier to use. One reviewer also suggested just using pliers!
I think this customer review shows us that everyone is focusing on the assembly…but what about how the unit works AFTER it’s put together:
I read a lot of reviews of this product before buying and decided that the one-star reviews are focusing on the wrong thing–putting it together. You only put it together once. Once it’s together, I can recommend it highly.With the right tools and some patience, it goes together without a lot of fuss. Hint–a socket wrench to hold the nuts is a must. My grown daughter put it together by herself up until the end, when a second pair of hands is needed. Don’t try to put it together outside in the grass because you’ll lose small parts.
As a composter, it works very well. The stand is sturdy, it is easy to flip, and the lids on the ends go on and off without any fuss.
I took away one star because there are a couple of things I would want a little bit of redesign on: the sliding clip on each lid–to prevent accidental opening–is pretty stiff and hard to open. But I hope it will loosen up with time. Also, the spring-loaded pin that holds the bin in position is pretty small so I’m waiting to see how long it holds up–but so far, so good!
It’s an excellent price for this type of composter, it was delivered promptly, and it is now proudly working in my back yard. I might even get another one.
As you can see, the Suncast does have mixed reviews and most of the negative reviews surround the assembly process. To read all of the Customer Reviews, click here: Suncast Composter Reviews.
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March 16, 2012 at 3:08 am
Well it is kind of big but I do think it is a good idea to have it set up the way it is. The stand that it is on really looks like it would make it a lot easier to tumble. You did a great job putting a lot of information in to this article that will be very helpful when making a purchasing decision. Thank you for the information .
March 25, 2012 at 9:46 pm
Ken, you’re welcome. Be sure and visit all of our reviews on the various bins and tumblers. They all contain actual customer reviews and experiences and the customer ratings will help you make a decision.
March 16, 2012 at 12:01 pm
I really had no idea that there existed so many different styles and types of compost tumblers. This sun cast tumbling composter has a sort of futuristic style because of its various grooves and bevels both on the body of the canister and also on the lids. Of course, I do prefer those bins which have the bar in middle to separate the stuff because I certainly do not want to be reaching into a hot mess.
March 16, 2012 at 12:10 pm
I was watching the video presentation on this composter and it does look sturdy, I think the one review about only putting this thing together once is something to remember for sure. This seems to be a easily used composter for all. You said it takes about 3-4 weeks to turn garbage into compost but how much garbage does it take to make a usable amount?
March 25, 2012 at 9:19 pm
Roland, there is a post called “How to Choose Your Compost Ingredients for Your Compost Pile” and it will explain how much “garbage” you would need to make a usable amount of compost. It will also explain what types of ingredients to add as well!
March 17, 2012 at 9:17 am
So if I got it straight, just the daily turn – or in this case, a tumble – is enough to mix oxygen into the compost and it is this that speeds up the transformation process into the finished product in as little as 30 days. That’s amazing that such a simple maneuver can make such a difference in terms of time. The retail price of a 5 pound bag of rich soil is well worth such a small effort.
March 25, 2012 at 9:32 pm
Amy, I agree! Your garden, plants, and landscaping will also appreciate your effort of making compost! It’s cool that there are lots of tools and containers to help take out some of the “work” involved and you can indeed have a nice batch of compost ready in about 30 days or so!