Description
Product Details
The ECO-MIXER 84 is $11,500. There is a water rack and dispenser attachment for an extra $600 (water tank not included).
The Eco-Mixer 84 is capable of mixing windrows up to 7 feet wide. Most of the Eco-Mixer 84 is hot dip galvanized for robust protection from weather and the corrosive conditions that goes along with mixing manure and compost.
The tractor needs to be at least 16 horsepower, ideally around 30 horsepower. With a 540 RPM 1-3/8″ 6 spline PTO drive.
The tractor also needs to have a very slow creeper gear or have a hydrostatic drive transmission because
the compost turner needs to be pulled slowly when mixing a windrow of compost.
Contact us for availability.
Gene S –
Eco Mixer 84 for Composting
I purchased The Eco Mixer Nov 2018 from Tim Snow the manufacture of this fine tool. I discovered that Tim is the real deal and he stands behind his composting tool 100% and no excuses. When used as recommended this baby powers though the furrow’s with ease. Trial by fire we discovered that its best if your raw materials are in small pieces. We used 1000+ pound bales of rice hay totaling 80 tons. Enough material to create twelve rows 300 feet long 6 feet wide and 4 feet high or 3200 cubic yards.
We out the spread out the bales using the tractor. Added 40+ tons of aged sheep manure, collected from an over due barn cleaning. Using a 35 hp tractor with a bucket, the manure came out in chunks or layered sheets. Even though we soaked them before collecting, some chunks were 2 feet wide. So a lot of chunky stuff with some oak leafs and few small wood chips and few tons of throwaway produce from a near by grocery store.
We then plowed through the new piles and discovered the ECO’s limitations. Opp’s ! So we sheared the PTO safety bolt’s a few times and had to clean the cutting blades from the long strands of unchopped hay several times, that gets old fast. With each incident we gave Tim a call as a progress update. When we broke a part he sent us a new one next day USPS no charge to us. We started our furrow’s with snow and frozen ground and really maxed out the machine. We ended up using grinder on chopping blades and added a cutting edge to help chop up the hay. With a couple of melting snow’s the manure broke up and started doing its job of raising the temp of the composting furrows. We did break a main bushing on the shaft that turns the blades, due us running the PTO over 510 rpms. Tim and his engineer made a new beefier bushing and so far we have not had any issues except a smooth running composter. Tim has been remarkable with his communications and goodwill. After listening to our concerns Tim has tweaked the composter to greater efficiency and dependability. Win Win as far as we are concerned.
If your using materials such as vines or long strands of hay or long green branches you will spend time cleaning the blades. After about 4 passes our materiel started cooperating. Our lessen learned is using chopped material works best, saves time and labor. If you are using hay/straw and don’t want to chop it, spread it lightly over the manure make a pass then add more.
Everyone here enjoys using and watching ECO Mixer do its job. We have added a rear view mirror on our tractor so we can watch the mixer without over bending our neck. The mixer is fun to use and the amount of time it would take to do this manually far exceed the cost of the mixer.
Our goal at Basaltic Farms is to turn 50 acres of used and abused land back into an organic farm in the misted of old time practices. In 2019 we are reclaiming 6 acres using the ECO Mixer and our farming neighbors have taken notice of the machine that creates huge furrows.
Steve Breedlove –
Feb 23rd, 2020 *****
After much searching and deliberation about a new / used compost turner for our small family needs, my wife and I were very pleased to find the Eco-Mixer 84 both reasonably priced and made in the USA!
Timothy Snow is the Real Deal…honest, great to work with and producing a really great tool
to aid in making our small family farm more productive. We are hoping to possibly even becoming a source for local gardeners’ compost needs.
Delivery was was right on time. Timothy spent the needed time after unloading, to completely set everything up for immediate use. He was very enthusiastic in showing us all the features, adjustments, maintenance requirements and safety issues. Even included extra shear bolts and touch-up galvanized paint.
Our first time thru the 4 X 100’ rows was extremely exciting and educational. Rows varied from 5’ X 3’ to 7’ X 4’. Most were a mixture of wood chips from a local arborist mixed with horse manure, grass clippings, leaves, chicken house chips and household organic waste.
All piles ran as smooth as silk…creeping slowly and letting the turner do it’s job. Our only issue was the removal of all the hay bailing twine mixed in with the (free) horse manure. Only took 30 minutes and about a dozen razor blades to cut everything loose from the blade shaft.
Our turner was ordered with the optional watering attachment and was used with the 275gal IBC tank installed but not filled. We have two days of rain scheduled here (Eastern Kansas) and decided to let Nature do the initial watering. With a pond and running creek nearby the compost rows, future turns will be sprayed to keep compost active.
First thoughts on operation:
This is one great compost turner. It completely transformed our rows into a properly mixed form.
Make sure you leave plenty of room between rows for turns. We run a MF 1725 sub-compact tractor and the space between lower lift arms on the 3 point is the limiting factor to turn radius against the drive shaft.
Take your time, let the blades do their job.
Clearance of the side skirts is very low to the ground. Be sure to raise machine up with lift arms when going over uneven ground to avoid bending. Again, new attachment, new learning curve.
When finished, park machine, have a refreshing drink of choice, and appreciate what Timothy’s forethought, vision, hard work, dedication to details and quality construction afford us small time operators the ability to turn organic waste into Nature’s Gold. Leave the Earth better than when you started and set an example for future generations to do the same.
Steve & Sandy Breedlove
Tonganoxie, KS