Fresh, homegrown vegetables require sunlight, water, soil, and a lot of work. Fortunately, with the introduction of the Lifetime 60058 Compost Tumbler, Black, 80 Gallon Capacity, the soil and the work parts will lessen a little bit! With its large capacity, the 60058 Composter by Lifetime [Amazon Link] [Wayfair Link] ranks as one of the biggest tumblers in the market today.
The Lifetime can produce 80 gallons of compost at a time, enough to cover an average and large-scale home garden. Typically this composter will produce compost in 3-4 weeks, depending on the type of source material used, and only has one compost bin. However, it is quite a nice unit at a good price point.
This article provides an in-depth look at the Lifetime 60058 Compost Tumbler panels, examines the specs and details of the product, and reviews it.
Lifetime 60058 Compost Tumbler Black 80 Gallon Review
Composting is a way to help our environment, reduce our footprint, and produce high-quality home-grown fruits and vegetables for our family and loved ones. The larger the quantity the organic materials we compost, the larger the greenhouse gas we reduce, and it’s always helpful to keep waste out of giant landfills!
The Lifetime 60058 Compost Tumbler is a great solution for many home gardeners and is capable of converting a large amount of kitchen waste, lawn clippings, and brown and green organic materials into naturally safe fertilizers.
Size does matter, and this 80-gallon composter is big!
Basic Specs
- Constructed of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Plastic, with a Powder-Coated steel stand
- Large Tumbler capacity: 80 gallons, 10.72 cubic feet
- Double-walled panels absorb and retain heat to speed decomposition
- Internal mixing system with multiple vents mixes compost and encourages airflow
- Tumbler turns easily on its axis for balanced rotation
- Lock to secure it in a stable position
Here is a quick video of the Lifetime Compost Tumbler, showcasing the major features:
Dimensions and Capacities
- Dimensions : 38.5 x 36 x 44 inches
- Weight: 42.1 lbs
- Capacity: 80 gallons, 10.72 cubic feet
The Details
Aesthetics
The aesthetics of the Lifetime Compost Tumbler are designed with the goal of making it recede into the background. The unit is a generic molded black plastic system, on a small metal stand. Tucked away in a corner, most visitors won’t even notice that it’s there.
The metal frame has a smooth and bright coating, powder coated for rust resistance. The black color and unique barrel shape contribute to its modern look, though it won’t win any aesthetic awards.
Materials and Construction
The panels are made out of two layers of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Plastic, a sturdy material common to many products Lifetime makes, such as their deck boxes. This means that the panels can sustain relatively strong blows by an errant shovel.
The Lifetime Tumbler Composter can be exposed directly to sunlight without deforming or melting, though it may fade over time.
The panels are BPA and PVC free, which means that no toxic chemicals can leak from the housing to contaminate the compost. The thick panels also help to provide extra warmth for the compost to encourage compost processing.
Using the Lifetime Composter
Filling the compost bin can be done in two ways. If users are just dumping in kitchen waste, all that is required is to lift the lid and pour the waste in. When shoveling heavy yard waste in, users can completely remove the access panel to give them wider opening.
If you use a garden shredder on your yard waste before placing it in the Lifetime 60058, it will break down more quickly.
The metal latches attached in the panels can be secured, which keeps the compost in the bin during rotation, and also prevents critters from getting into the bin.
To mix the compost, users simply rotate the bin every day or so. Inside, the barrel has an internal long metal pipe that mixes the compost as the user rotates the barrel. In terms of time to cook, the compost should set for 2 days, and users should rotate the barrel daily for a week, and added daily rotations for 12 days.
To rotate the barrel, users just grab the side panels and turn. When full, the Lifetime Composter can be heavy, and compost tumblers with a handle certainly have an advantage over this unit.
When on its stand, the bottom of the tumbler is 12″ off the ground: high enough to place a wheel borrow below for easy transfer of compost, and low enough that putting materials into the barrel is not difficult.
Be sure to check out our article How to Use a Tumbling Composter for more information!
Single Bin Compost System
The Lifetime 60058 is a single bin composter. It only has one chamber, and adding material in the middle the composting process can reset the clock. Some other units such as the Jora JK270 and the Yimby Compost Tumbler use two chambers, which allows users to have multiple smaller batches going at once. Depending on your needs, this system may be advantageous and should be considered.
Ventilation
The compost barrel has many holes that allow air to circulate through the composter, keeping the process rolling. There are two larger vents on the ends of the composter where the mixing pipe meets the housing. These should provide enough airflow for most users. That said, some gardeners find this ventilation setup insufficient, and lock the barrel in a stationary position and prop up the lid a few inches to allow additional airflow.
Temperature and Proportion
The Lifetime 60058 Compost Tumbler is made out of thick, black panels. These absorb heat, which radiates to the interior of the barrel and provides warmth to cook the compost. You generally want to aim for no more than 160′ for your compost, as that temperature will kill the microbes doing the composting. A composting thermometer will help give you some guidance.
If you’re in a very hot, sunny area, you may want to keep the Lifetime Tumbling Composter in the shade to prevent overheating.
The goal for a good mixture of carbon-rich organic materials (e.g. lawn waste) and kitchen waste in this unit is approximately a 2/3 proportion, though we encourage you to check out the manual for your specific situation.
Assembly
Assembly of this mammon tumbler is a two-person job. Also, you may need to drill the panels in a few spots to provide holes for the screws. One has to drill through the panels, the latches and even the metal stands which some may find tough to do.
To review the assembly instructions prior to purchase, click here and scroll down to Download Latest Manual.
Cleaning and Maintenance
All that is needed to clean the composter is a good hose-down with water. There is no need to paint or maintain the unit, though you should keep an eye out for bare metal on the frame. If there is bare metal showing, spray with Rustoleum paint.
Also, some users report the hinges rusting after a few years out in the rain, so beware of this issue. Lifetime does sell replacement hinges if needed.
Accessories
There are no major accessories needed for the Lifetime 60058, though a couple of accessories may be helpful. Perhaps the most useful would be the composting thermometer to monitor the internal temperature. Also, a compost starter/accelerator can help improve the quality of the compost and speed up the process a bit.
The Bottom Line
The Lifetime 60058 Compost Tumbler is a large single-bin composter and succeeds admirably at making compost quickly and easily. The lack of a hand crank is a bit of a downfall, and if you’re concerned about difficulty using the composter, you could look at the Mantis Compost Tumbler which has a crank setup (and a higher price!).
If a single bin composting system is what you’re looking for, the Lifetime is a great option for those who don’t want to break the bank.
Be sure to check the price on Wayfair before you buy!
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