I live in Minnesota where it is freezing half the year.
Is it still worth composting at all and if so, will this thing survive the winter outside?

That's what happens when you log on to Woot @ 11:40... all the good Deathstar / Sputnik jokes about a crap maker are already used... fml.

I see lots of complaints about how the installation may be a pain with all of the parts.

Think of how many allen wrenches will be provided! Sounds like an investment to me

I bought one of these at the end of summer. I am a natural born procrastinator who specializes in getting things half done and then letting them sit in their incomplete state for weeks, months, or years - so when I got this, I decided to assemble it all in one fell swoop. It was really easy for me to assemble... time consuming, but easy. If you own a thimble, you're golden because my thumbs were all jacked up from pressing the pins into the hole, but other than that and the time it took, the assembly couldn't be easier.

So far, I haven't seen any decomposition, but that may be due to the cold weather. It spun like a charm when it was empty, but now that it's full, it's a real pain. I can get it to spin by putting my fingers into the holes and pulling, but it always seems to spin back to its former position. I don't know what's up with that, other than to hypothesize that the tubes on the inside cause the material to stay in one place and create an imbalanced sphere.

Costco had similar yet smaller spherical composters for as low as $49 a few months ago. It was too late for me, as I had already purchased and assembled this e-composter, but I certainly would have been interested in what Costco was selling had I not.

for the people who claim it is not working and that it's "full", I'm assuming that since it's FULL, the materials inside can't tumble/movearound like they're supposed to.

just my logic. No charge.




anyway, Not in for 1, 2, or 3. I'm saving up for a REAL full-size deathstar. these little ones can't blow up anything bigger than a car. A small japanese car at that. The neighbor's American SUV only has a slight scorch mark on the door, while the neighbor behind us has a black stain where his prius used to be.

On amazon they were saying that there is a new version that doesn't rust and is better, does anyone know if this is the new or old one?? Also, do you know if they fixed the problem with the spider base denting the ball?

I'd appreciate a rapido response so I can order this sucker soon in case they're sold out by tomorrow.

Thanks.

ddegroat wrote:Two hours for two people to construct? That's enough to keep me away. I'll stick with my little beach bucket.

It's not that bad, the first 1/4 will take about 40 mins, but after that it is all the same. I did it myself in just over an hour

dhcruiser wrote:I've been debating the various composters out there. Saw this one on previous woots and finally decided to pull the trigger. In for one!

good choice, best part is that you don't need worms

ehh.. i got it

lumpyplumpo wrote:good choice, best part is that you don't need worms

the worms ARE the best part, silly! yummmmmy!

KamikazeKen wrote:the worms ARE the best part, silly! yummmmmy!

my mistake

Much like the real Death Star, this one keeps coming back.

reverendc wrote:Much like the real Death Star, this one keeps coming back.

Only this one is fully operational!


edit: unlike the ability to post an image here from either picasa or webshots.

robertvaldivia wrote:That's what happens when you log on to Woot @ 11:40... all the good Deathstar / Sputnik jokes about a crap maker are already used... fml.

What about the robot in the Disney's: The Incredibles?

Oh god sputnik is back.

bought 2 last time around and gave one as a give

work very well

vrwl wrote:There's a video about this product at the WalMart site: http://www.walmart.com/ip/EComposter-Model-STC33301/10965911 (WalMart's price on this item is $170)

Is "decomposting" even english? I think the word she is looking for is decomposing.

"Eight Arms to Hold You" was the working title of the Beatles' movie "Help," just sayin'

anyway, I already have a big barrel composter I'm not using, I don't have time to not use another one.

It looks like R2D2's cousin Billy2Bob2.

If any still cares at this point, previous woots:

October 20:
http://www.woot.com/Forums/ViewPost.aspx?PostID=4195609

August 25:
http://www.woot.com/Forums/ViewPost.aspx?PostID=4110965

June 11:
http://www.woot.com/Forums/ViewPost.aspx?PostID=3987821

and NightGhost's previous summary of relevant links http://www.woot.com/Forums/ViewPost.aspx?PostID=4195624

Also, product manual:
http://www.ecomposter.net/userfiles/products/1_Lang1.pdf
and website:
http://www.ecomposter.net/Lang1/products.aspx

This could be a great novelty in Wisconsin in winter. Just fill it with water, allow to freeze. Then, get an over-sized set of bowling pins and a decent hill and there you go, a whole new sport invented - Winter bowling!

I bought this the last time around. It took 2 1/2 hours for both my wife and I to hammer it all together. (be sure to assemble on level ground). I thought it would be pretty neat but the contents have become a bit acidic (more shredded paper?). I have read in some places to add dirt as well to it. I was disappointed that it provides no light sabor training.

Imagine waking up and seeing this thing in your front yard.

cbs2208 wrote:A LOT of little parts, but not extras to substitute if, say, the dog pushes a couple of them down through the decking and they're gone forever. A hassle to get substitute parts.

I got mine the last time it was on a woot off (3-4 months ago?). There were a ton of extra parts. I still have them around, not wanting to toss them. The bigger pieces like the wheels and slices are, of course, limited to how much you need, but every screw/bolt type and tiny plastic widget had many extras.

Did the person who won one of these ever receive theirs?

Does anyone else think that this composter looks like an old fashioned planetarium projector?

My wife really wants a composter but every time I look at one all I can see is that it appears to be the equivalent level of materials and construction as an $8.00 trash barrel. I ask myself "How can they justify charging $150.00 for a simple molded plastic container?" My only response is, "Because they know people trying to be ecologically conscious are willing to grossly over-pay for the privilege of rotting their own vegetables at home." I make a mental list of all the things I could buy for an equivalent sum of money and I walk away.

At least this one looks like it actually cost something to manufacture.

Got one of theses the last time it was on Woot. I love it! Good buy.

PITA to put together. A hundred screws and about fifty pieces. Keep your dog away or it'll spread all over! I'd use 2X4's and a skilsaw to make a box composter. Cheaper too and you still get the skilsaw. I'd get rid of mine in minute. Save your money!

This works. We bought this last spring. We harvested one nice helping of compost - I believe it took about 3 months. We have not gotten a second load, but I think that might have something to do with the cold weather.

One issue you should know is the set up time. I think this took me 2 to 3 hours to put together. There are literally hundreds of pieces for the composter.

tugg wrote:PITA to put together. A hundred screws and about fifty pieces. Keep your dog away or it'll spread all over! I'd use 2X4's and a skilsaw to make a box composter. Cheaper too and you still get the skilsaw. I'd get rid of mine in minute. Save your money!

I like the idea, however our NA rules ban homemade composters.

$100 for your own personal Death Star seems like a bargain to me.

Sellout.Woot or Kids.Woot should've been Star Wars action figures so you could complete your playset.

Flies love them!! If the temperature is warm, and you throw away composed fruits and vegetables, you can easily create a huge fly farm!

I created one in less than 2 weeks with over 500 housing flies.

It was an interesting experience. Thank god for winter now since they've seem to have vanished for a while, however composing time takes a lot longer as well.

Assembly of this unit is horrible, will take about 1.5 - 2 hours to assemble everything.

Material is a plastic material, however seems durable. Have one for the past 5 months and it still is good to go.

drcabrejos wrote:Flies love them!! If the temperature is warm, and you throw away composed fruits and vegetables, you can easily create a huge fly farm!

You can deter fly problems by burying fruit and veggies under a few inches of leaves or grass clippings and not tumbling for a while. Of course if you are adding food scraps daily, that can be a bit of a hassle.

Is this the newer version of the composter? I read reviews that said the older version had metal parts that rusted and the spider stand was too high. The newer version is better materials and has a really low base.

Is this thing bear-proof? My last composter died a horrible death-by-bear-claw...

Gosh, the most appealing thing to me about this *is* the assembly. I love to put tings thing together! Where are the nerdy engineers among us?

To help the folks that don't want to see this come up ever again... I'm in for 3... I plan to assemble all 3 the same day (learning curve should make the last one go quickly)... and then deliver them to the gardener's in our family...

hroen wrote:Is "decomposting" even english? I think the word she is looking for is decomposing.

Wouldn't that be the proper term used if Woot edits a post?

is this item a grill? or could it be used for bon fire? please let me know asap, i may need one.