Customer Reviews

Bosmere Compost Aerator 36in

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have used this several times since I received it. I like it. But I would really like it much more if it were longer and had a sharper point on the end. I filed mine down to be sharp and the metal holds a nice edge which helps with the insertion process. I am not a little guy and I have plenty of brute strength but, I really have to give it some serious effort and use it like a drill to get it deep enough into my pile or my bins. Then the aerating is a whole different subject. Pulling this thing out of a pile is a lot like work. And because of the length of the tool (36") it leaves some space that is not being touched, thereby requiring actual turning of the pile or bin. If it were 40" or 42" now that would be sweet.
I guess one more issue with it, the fold down blades (which need to be oiled to work properly) could be longer too. But that would even make pulling the aerator out so much harder.
I really do like it because it allows me to aerate my compost without having to turn a whole pile and for the idea that when I pull it out of my compost I can see and feel the heat of the cooking inside.
Buy with care. If you can't get it in or pull it out - do not buy! But the blade issue that so many others talk about, is no issue if you care for it properly when you first get it.

This seemed like a clever, ergonomic way to maintain our compost piles. What we've found, though, is that it isn't sharp enough to slice its way through dense organic matter. The blades, which are supposed to fold against the pole as you push it down and then spread out as you pull it up, tend to do neither. It might be fine once the stuff breaks down into small bits, but we gave up and returned to using a pitchfork.

It's a neat concept. It's too bad it doesn't work.

I bought this last year and just started using it. We put all our kitchen waste in a small trash barrel to "compost" (i.e. freeze solid) over the winter. By spring it had started to "ripen." I was pleased to find that this tool does a great job of turning the composting material in just a few minutes. The four "wings" seem to grab stuff off the bottom on every plunge, especially with a little twist before pulling it up. I cannot say for sure, but I think it was worth the added expense compared to the two-wing version.
I was pleased to find it already composting in early spring. This will make my composting much easier.
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Highly recommended if you compost in a barrel and are too cheap to buy one of those rotating units.

It works fine. I didn't do it as often as recommended, but I'm happy with my compost taking 1 year before I use it. Very good quality compost results from leaves and household vegetables. Aerator seems to accelerate process. Takes some physical activity to use it, but if you have a big pile of leaves and you don't want to spend $hundreds on a plastic rolling composter, it's fine.

There must be 15 or more compost aerators that pop up when you use the amazon search. Most look goofy, and a bit hard to use. I'm picturing myself wearing suspenders and a red flannel shirt, heading out to turn the pile by hand. Not being the farmer type, but committed to trying this composting thing, I take a hard look at the one turned by an electric drill, before choosing the Bosmere model. A little exercise is good for me right? So it arrives in a day. It gets wrapped and put under the xmas tree, and before you can say "mulch" we are out in the yard poking the Bosmere aerator into the pile. Wow. At first it works great! Those blades fold back, allowing easy penetration into the pile, then flip out when you pull back, resulting in a gratifying huge amount of compost to be sucked up from the bottom of the pile. Over and over. We all give it a try! Great! 5 thumbs up!. Then it happens...The little right angle handle, which is mounted about 6 inches below the main handle starts to loosen up. Hmmm. This is a a good time to mention that the aforementioned little right angle handle does not come pre attached to the main unit. Instead, when you unpack the unit, a small allen wrench and a hardened bolt falls out of the package, and you realize, that a tiny amount of assembly WILL be needed before use. Oh well, no big deal: The parts are all there. The tool (allen wrench) is supplied. The predrilled holes are all aligned easily. In a minute, the right angle handle is attached, and off we go. But, after a few twists of the aerator, the handle starts loosening. No big deal,a few turns of the allen wrench tightens it back up. Then, after 5 minutes of use, it loosens again. More tightening and we are good for a while. Then loosening... I guess you see where this is going. Eventually the "Nut" end, (a fancy circular washer welded poorly to the interior of the handle) tears our completely, rendering the handle nonfunctional. The unit was broken and could not be repaired. Too bad. A great design, ruined by poor manufacturing. Don't buy this unit until the manufacturer provides a much more durable connection of the right angle handle to the main stem of the unit.

This product is not worth the price. the wings were too tight to fold/unfold, right out of the box. had to tweek them before I even went to the compost bin.
after the first use the handle bent, along with the butter bolt that held it together. A good idea if built srtonger. I would recommend this product.

You have to use some muscle to really get it down deep into the compost bin. It does work well and has helped our compost to decompose faster.