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Composting is an excellent way to reduce the amount of food waste in landfills and put it to good use in the garden instead . But few people have the time , energy , and think to maintain a large compost good deal on the ground . As such , compost container are pop — especially big , treble - chamber ones that make two compost lots at once .
The FCMP Outdoor dual - sleeping accommodation composter is a popular composter with over 11,500 five - star Amazon recap . The Divine , FCMP Outdoor , is a Canadian company that has been in business for more than 40 years . It manufactures outdoor products such as composters , rain barrels , and planters , and it partners with spherical retailer such as Lowe ’s and The Home Depot to betray its product .
Photo: Jenn Ryan for Bob Vila
I have test the FCMP Outdoor tumbling composter multiple time over the last 2 class , and I recently test it again over a 2 - month menses . While it ’s not the absolutebest compost binfor my household , my tests continue to bring out it ’s a great value because of its dual chambers and convenient size and pinnacle .
FCMP Outdoor IM4000 Dual-Chamber Tumbling Composter: At a Glance
Rating:7/10
SPECS
PROS
CONS
Get the FCMP Outdoor IM4000 double - bedchamber tumbling composter at :
What is the FCMP Outdoor IM4000 dual-chamber tumbling composter?
TheFCMP Outdoor tumbling composteris a large 37 - gallon composting container that allows you to make two sets of compost simultaneously : a “ finished ” circle of compost and one in progress . It ’s BPA - free , designed for outdoor enjoyment , and made from post - consumer plastic with a UV inhibitor to prevent pass from sunlight .
The FCMP Outdoor tumbling composter stand 36 inches tall and has a footing clearance of 13.5 column inch . It ’s higher off the ground than other two-fold - sleeping room composters in the same price image , which makes it easygoing to empty .
This three-fold - chamber unit of measurement is 30 inches long and 28 inches broad , so while it is a large composter , I found it was still stocky enough to place next to my garden , outside my domicile , or next to my shed without being much of an eyesore .
Photo: Jenn Ryan for Bob Vila
Is the FCMP Outdoor tumbling composter easy to assemble?
I see the assembly process to be one of the most challenging part of using this product . While it ’s not particularly unmanageable , it is very tedious . The chamber alone has 56 bolts that must be make love into place . Although the direction manual of arms says that they can be twisted into place using a flathead screwdriver and an adjustable wrench , I found it was easier with a squarehead screwdriver and a 10 mm socket wrench . It does not come with any instrument for assembly .
I forgather theFCMP Outdoor tumbling composterwith the help of my husband . It ’s easier with two multitude because one can contain the division of the chamber in seat while the other screws in the bolt .
Since we ’ve assembled this especial composter before and did n’t want much counseling , we entirely used the paper pedagogy . If you run into hassle position the FCMP Outdoor composter together , look “ FCMP Outdoor tumble composter assembly , ” and you will find several instructional videos that may be promiscuous to conform to than the substance abuser manual of arms .
Photo: Jenn Ryan for Bob Vila
Is the FCMP Outdoor tumbling composter easy to use?
Once tack together , the FCMP Outdoor tumbling composter is easy to use . The first step is addingfood fighting and dry out material(a mix of dry sess , hay , and leaves ) to one side . When that side is full and ready to “ fake , ” you simply slide the doorway over to bring out the empty chamber , where you could supply additional fresh scraps and dry material .
You must then turn the composter every 2 or 3 days to mix the compost and encourage proper cookery . crumble the cooking compost is easy using the built - in handholds , which doubly as louvre that extend into the chamber to serve coalesce and infract up the material .
Aeration is another essential part of composting , and the FCMP Outdoor composter has air vents on its sides to serve with the process . In worldwide , keeping the vent open expose the compost to oxygen and assist dry out it out , and end the vents aid the mixture keep more moisture . Adjusting the ratio of oxygen and moisture in the composting surroundings allows you to getbetter - quality compost quickly . Too much wet can make the compost to clump together and putrefy , while making it too dry will slow down the cooking unconscious process .
Photo: Jenn Ryan for Bob Vila
Another nice facet of the FCMP Outdoor composter is its reason headway , which is high enough that you could use a diverseness of receptacles when emptying the cooked compost . When using composters that sit lower to the flat coat , I have been limited to emptying the compost onto a tarp or even a wintertime sleigh . With theFCMP Outdoor tumbling composter , I used a short bucket that was commodious to carry to the garden .
It ’s authoritative to note that this composter does n’t have locking mechanism on the frame , so I had to hold the chamber in place when empty it . Also , since the door on the composter is a single piece , I had to slue it open rather than simply murder one side . You ca n’t do this until you ’re already holding the composter upside down for emptying , which makes it a challenge . If the door was split into two obliterable sides or the frame had a lockup mechanism , empty would be a bit prosperous .
Is the FCMP Outdoor tumbling composter good for quick composting?
FCMP Outdoor take the composter can create compost in as little as 2 week . I find that to be a pretty tight timeline , although I did test it in the midsection of summer on the East Coast , where temperature were very hot with high humidness . In my tests , 1 month was a more realistic timeline for using this dual - chambered composter to createhigh - quality compostready to nourish plant .
How durable is the FCMP Outdoor tumbling composter?
I have test theFCMP Outdoor compostermultiple times — sometimes for calendar month on end — and never detect any deterioration . Its long-wearing expression hold up without fail when sit outside through several seasons in very hot temperatures as well as freeze ones .
The composter ’s frame is galvanize sword , which is designed to last without issue . Galvanized brand aim a very long clip to rust — several decennium in some areas .
The trunk of the composter is made from BPA - free , 100 pct post - consumer recycle charge plate . It ’s also ultraviolet illumination - inhibited , meaning it contains a protective additive to prevent debasement and fading due to the sun . I have not seen any fading or durability matter during any of my tests of this product .
Photo: Jenn Ryan for Bob Vila
Is the FCMP Outdoor IM4000 dual-chamber tumbling composter worth the money?
For its sizing , the FCMP Outdoor dual - chamber tumbling composter is one of the less expensive composters on the market . At under $ 100 , I definitely think it ’s a good value .
Since the composter requires virtually no sustentation ( unless you want to wash it out between compost batches ) , it ’s good to go once get together . And because it ’s made with undestroyable , ultraviolet - conquer plastic and galvanized steel , it ’s design to last a long time , even with regular use .
The composter seduce 5 three-dimensional feet of compost with both chambers , which is enough to incubate about 1,620 square foot of garden space with compost that ’s 1 inch thick . That ’s enough for a small-scale to medium garden , but if you do n’t have a secret plan that big or do n’t want extra for your landscaping or indoor plant , a smaller chamber may be better for your needs .
Should you buy the FCMP Outdoor tumbling composter?
Although this is notmy best-loved dual - chambered composter , it is a proficient option for the price , especially given its caliber and durability . If you ’re look for alarger composteror one with more lineament , I ’ve tested those , too .
The FCMP Outdoor composter will touch many gardeners ’ indigence — it ’s not too large or too small-scale . It does n’t stick out in the thou the way a 50- or 100 - gallon composter would , and its more- thickset size means it can be placed well-nigh anywhere .
For those who have modest or medium - size of it gardens or are novel to composting , this handily sized dual - chamber composter is a worthy consideration for the price . Although assembly can be dull and time - ware , once the product is assembled , it requires no sustainment and can be used for years without issue .
Where to Buy the FCMP Outdoor IM4000 Dual-Chamber Tumbling Composter
Meet the Tester
Jenn Ryan is a horticulture enthusiast who has been writing for BobVila.com since 2020 . She has tested several of the top outdoor composters and has been compost since 2016 , and she has experience with everything from a large compost heap to many unlike prominent and minuscule composter products . She claim a detailed and hard-nosed approach to writing product revaluation free-base on daily experience with the product .
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