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Re: Big container for leaf mould

Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2019 9:18 pm
by Arzosah
jansman wrote: Thu Nov 14, 2019 6:54 pm Just re- read your OP Arzosah.You have unused wheelie bins? If so,then perfect! I appreciate that your diy skills and tools * may* be limited,but it sounds as if you have a drill. If so,then ( with the biggest bit you have) drill a series of holes in the bottom,around the edge to cut the bottom out.Holes drilled around the perimeter,close together to ' cut ' it out. I am sure you get the idea.If you want to push a few holes through the sides with the drill,then great! You then have an easily moved ( and lidded) compost heap.Don't worry if the council want it back,just say it was nicked! It happened to me.
That's exactly what I was originally thinking of :mrgreen: I've made a rocket stove, I could hack this sort of thing. I was imagining a downside of the holes not being big enough for my little wormy friends to make their way in - but as grenfell mentioned, its about fungal processes, not worms. And guess what, they're genuinely *my* bins, old fashioned type with a dustbin lid and all, just made of plastic, not metal :mrgreen:

Part of me is desperate to get some organic matter into this very clay-ey soil (though I know its fertile) and part of me is desperate to replace the nutrition that the weeds keep sucking out of it. I haven't been able to do any weeding for weeks, so it was great to get back to it these last few days. That's why I'm so enthusiastic about the leafmould.

Re: Big container for leaf mould

Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 6:14 pm
by ForgeCorvus
When I need to put holes in plastic tubs/pots/buckets I use a blow torch to heat the end of a piece of metal pipe and melt them through, its less likely to crack

Re: Big container for leaf mould

Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 8:13 pm
by Arzosah
Oh wow, I love that :lol: thanks ForgeCorvus. Sorry, it's the "hobby" aspect that we've talked about on here sometimes, that just sounds **amazing** :mrgreen: and also very practical as well as fun, because that sort of plastic really does split. I don't have a blowtorch ... I could heat a fire poker over the flame of a camping stove (or even the gas cooker) ...

Prosaically enough, I'm currently filling up the big check bag - man, its big, it takes a *lot* of leaves. Photos tomorrow.

Re: Big container for leaf mould

Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 11:03 pm
by grenfell
I did a leaf clear for a customer today . There were a lot of leaves and in a very short period of time the wheelie bin was full. Part of me wanted to bring it all home with me but i've already brought a load home and have p!enty of my own , well once i get round to picking the.m up

Re: Big container for leaf mould

Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2019 4:26 pm
by ForgeCorvus
Arzosah wrote: Fri Nov 15, 2019 8:13 pm Oh wow, I love that :lol: thanks ForgeCorvus. Sorry, it's the "hobby" aspect that we've talked about on here sometimes, that just sounds **amazing** :mrgreen: and also very practical as well as fun, because that sort of plastic really does split. I don't have a blowtorch ... I could heat a fire poker over the flame of a camping stove (or even the gas cooker) ...

Prosaically enough, I'm currently filling up the big check bag - man, its big, it takes a *lot* of leaves. Photos tomorrow.
Yes, that would work. It doesn't have to be red hot as the plastic (probably Polypropylene ) melts at less then 200C.
I've used pokers and other bits of steel rod, but I find that tube works best for larger holes (a bit of copper plumbing pipe is fine, but hold it with a rag as it can get hot at the handling end pretty quick)

Oh, and doing it outside prevents the house stinking of melting plastic and the following 'discussion' :oops:

Re: Big container for leaf mould

Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2019 10:26 pm
by Arzosah
Sigh ... tech always wins. I took a couple of photos this afternoon, with my phone. My phone has decided that it's not going to let me transfer any photos to my computer. I haven't logged in here on the phone ever, so I've no idea if I could do it that way. Not going to do it tonight, in any case, and y'know, its a photo of a bag of leaves :mrgreen: not exactly exciting. I know that the illusion of tech having a mind of its own is caused by conflicting programmes/ electronic static/ lost babelfish etc, but its still annoying. Such is life.