I know a lot of you have questions about how the the composting potty, in Cozy, was built. So hopefully, this will answer all your potty building questions (potty use questions will be answered in a separate post).
Supplies
2 large plastic buckets
A length of plastic tube or garden hose
Plumbing hardware pictured
Cotter pins
Zip ties
Silicon chalk
Rubber washer
Screw
Knob
You are going to use two plastic buckets. One will be left whole, I'll call this one bucket (a). The second bucket will become the funnel, for the urine diverter, and I call this bucket (b). For the first step, cut the bottom off of bucket (b), as shown in the above picture. We cut about an inch from the bottom, but this might vary, depending on the construction of the bottom of your bucket. I suggest you read through the whole process before you make this cut. Discard the top of bucket (b), youre only going to use the bottom.
Next, we made these cuts to the bottom of bucket (b). Cut it into two piece, saving both pieces. Cut a half circle from the edge.
Now, cut a hole in bucket (a), that the L-shaped plumbing piece can fit through.
Here is a picture of the two pieces of hardware we used (including the L-shaped piece I mentioned in the last step).
This is how all those parts fit together.
This show how bucket (a) will connect with bucket (b). Bucket (b) actually becomes the funnel.
Next you work on bucket (b) again. Take the two pieces and reassemble them with a cotter pin and a rubber washer.
Bottom view of bucket (b). Disregard the screw - we'll get to that in a minute.
A view, from above, of bucket (b). This photo also shows how we attached a knob for easy opening and closing.
Next you connect bucket (a) to bucket (b). Drill holes, and use zip ties to attach bucket (b) to the inside of bucket (a). Attach at an angle to create a funnel. Seal gaps with chaulk.
Attach the L-shaped plumbing piece, by drilling through it, and attaching with cotter pins. Seal around all of this with caulk too. Caulk is your friend, seal everything, that could leak, very well! I had to do a few layers, allowing them to dry thoroughly in between coats.
When all the caulk is completely dry you can attach the tube/hose. My first try, I used garden hose (as pictured), but I ultimately switched to a more flexible tubing. It worked better to be able to move it around to help gravity do it's magic, and drain the urine more easily. The hose then goes into a urine holding container. I use a 2.5 gallon counter top style water container, with a hole cut in the (upper) side of it.
Here it is installed in my toilet container, underneath the toilet seat. This is it in the easy peeing position. Ladies: good news, no aiming required.
This shows it in the open (poop) position. I use coco coir in the bottom of my bucket.
Here is the finished bathroom. I'm sure there will be many questions about the use of the composting potty, and I be answer all those questions in another post. Hopefully, this answers all the "how to build" questions. A big thank you to Nat Montoya for working with me on the design, and build, of this potty!