For a small compost in 38F outdoor weather, that's pretty good. The bigger it is, the better it holds its own heat. But you've done everything right if it is heating up.
compost tumbler
WOW john 75 is pretty good I would think. But in the cold weather I would not expect to see much composting in a drum. But you can bet when the weather turns warmer it is going to get a awful lot hotter than 75. I think they are suppose to get to about 120+ inb the center.
I packed it pretty good with shreded leaves and fresh green chicken and green horse manure, wet it down good turned it 4 or 5 times.
I just went and took the tumblers temp. It 33F outside and 95F in the center of mix. So it seems to be working better than I expected. John
My record for a large pile is about 165 degrees. I bet a person could get that in a drum in the summer. (whether very high temperatures are good, I don't know, as I once read that it can get rid of beneficial chemicals...)
I found a good link as far as the heat in the compost and when it should be turned. HYPERLINK@www.taunton.com
It didnt work to well Ill try again http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/pages/g00030
I give up I guess I am just showing my hand at how much I know about how to use this thing. But Im getting better I just learned 2 months ago how to turn it on. John
My twin will get hot enough to scald you hand from May to September. I am flabbergasted John had temperatures in there of 95. I turn mine every evening are early morning when I am making compost. I would not be surpised at 165 degrees if there is a big pile and a lot of something like sawdust. Lot of sawdust piles in there these saw mills around here smolder. Some catch fire.
John I do not think you will get a batch of compost to really go in that thing till spring.
ozark, I just went out and checked the temp. It's 30 deg F outside and the temp was 100.
Sound to me like you got a good thing John. It surprised me. Then I got to thinking that you made yours from a plastic drums so it is thicker than metal and plastic does not seem to conduct the cold as fast as metal.I bet it is going to work but it might be a longer than normal in the cold. I know can put a mix in mine and set it up in the summer and the next day it is scalding hot. I have used moving blankets over mine at night in the spring to conserve heat but the results were marginal.