Make a cheap soil sifter (sieve)
Unfortunately I only have one compost bin which I continuously add materials to, so I never have a complete “batch” of compost at one given time. In order to be able to filter out the finished compost from the non-composted material I created a soil sifter (sieve)
I checked out soil sifters online but didn’t find anything that I liked so I decided to make one myself. I went to the home improvement store and picked up a roll of ½ inch wire mesh and a 2”X4”X8’ piece of lumber. I cut two pieces one inch shorter than the width of the wire mesh and cut the remaining piece of lumber in half. Screw all the pieces together and pull wire mesh over the rectangular frame. Staple the mess around on the side of the frame and you are all done.
To use, just lean it against a wall or fence at a 45 degree angle (wire mesh facing down) and just dump your compost on top, the composted material falls through the stuff that needs a little more time stays on top which you can throw back into the compost bin.
Related posts:
- How to make a cheap soil moisture sensor – Heavy Duty Version
- Speed Composting
- Gardening products I would buy if I wasn’t so cheap
- How to make a cheap soil moisture sensor
- How to use Vegetronix soil moisture sensor (VG400) on Arduino
Tags: cheap, compost, vegetables
March 1st, 2008 at 5:39 PM
What a great idea! Thanks for the instructions.
March 1st, 2008 at 7:07 PM
My Dad built one just like this. I asked him to make me one last year…I’m still waiting! I think I’ll have to send my husband over here to see your instructions!
March 2nd, 2008 at 6:27 AM
Welcome to Blotanical. Hope you meet lots more garden bloggers.~~Dee
March 8th, 2008 at 7:21 AM
My husband built me a sifter just like this one but with one difference. He measured the top of my wheelbarrow and then made the sifter to fit exactly over that top.Now when I sift soil it’s already in my wheelbarrow and I can bring it right to the spot that needs to be amended.
March 9th, 2008 at 8:43 AM
Great idea putting it over the wheelbarrow, I would do the same but I am missing the wheelbarrow. One of those things that would be really useful but don’t want to give up the space to store it.
January 21st, 2009 at 11:15 AM
Just thought you might be interested in seeing another design for a soil sifter. I actually created an Instructable explaining how to make it!
By the way, mine works best with two people. If I could figure out how to hook up an electric motor it would be great for one person. 
- SteveGoto my Trommel Compost Sifter Instructable
January 21st, 2009 at 8:45 PM
Steve, yes I have come across your design and if I had a bike I wanted to take apart I would have one myself. So when are you adding the motor to it
January 23rd, 2009 at 6:42 PM
I was just unloading leaf mulch from the city leaf pile today and it would have been great to have a motorized trommel. The leaves were well aged and had a pretty high percentage of nice fine organic material but there was also trash, coarse clumps of leaves and big chunks of rock.
I do have a surplus washing machine motor that would probably do the trick I just need to get a belt and rig it up. I wish I had a little more metal working giftedness so I could make a serious power trommel like this one. Is that one awesome or what!? 
January 24th, 2009 at 7:47 AM
My contruction skills are limited to wood as well.
January 31st, 2009 at 4:24 PM
May I ask how much the wire mesh cost? I’m thinking about making one myself! Thanks
January 31st, 2009 at 7:51 PM
I thought it was less than $10 for the roll (had plenty left to make some plant cages) I checked online and coming up as $15 for the roll. May have been different gauges of wire in the store versus what is available online. Definitely one of those things you can find a good use for. One I have seen is making a potting table, construction basically same idea as soil sieve but elevated as a table. Have a container below and any extra soil (mess) is conveniently caught below.
July 21st, 2009 at 5:55 PM
I got tired of trying to find a soil sifter to buy, so I made one myself, too! Then after I made it, I decided that I could make it available to others at a relatively low cost. Check it out at http://www.thesoilsifter.com. I even made two other versions.
August 12th, 2010 at 7:39 PM
electric motors would sometimes overheat if they are not properly ventilated~*;