|
|
|
How to Build a Soil Sifter
A Soil Sifter Can Save Time in Cleaning
Soil and Removing Stones and Debris
By Mark J. Donovan
|
|
When working in the yard it’s not
uncommon to have to pick through soil to remove stones and other debris. I
recently went through this hassle when I installed my new above ground pool. The
old marble crush stoned that surrounded the pool was dug up and thrown on the
lawn and loose topsoil adjacent to the pool. As I was picking through the
topsoil removing the stones, I remember a contraption my father built decades
ago. It was a soil sifter constructed out of some 2x3s, wire mesh and plywood.
He would position the soil sifter over a wheel barrow and then shovel the soil
on top of it.
|
Once he had several shovelfuls of
soil on top of the soil sifter, the two of us would shake the soil sifter back
and forth and side to side. In the process the clean soil would filter through
the 1/4 inched spaced mesh and the rocks and debris would stay on top. In a
relatively short period of time we could produce a reasonable amount of clean
soil to place back into the garden or lawn.
Materials and
Tools Required to Build a Soil Sifter
To build a soil shifter, again all you need for materials are a couple of 8 foot
2x3s, some 1/4” spaced wire mesh screen, a 4’x4’ sheet of ¼” thick plywood, some
staples and 1-1/4” non-corrosive screws. For tools all you need is a skill saw,
staple gun, screw gun, wood glue, wire cutters, measuring tape and pencil.
|
|
You can build a soil sifter as large as you like, however I remember the one my
father built being about 3’x3’. This size was large enough to rest comfortably
on the wheelbarrow yet small enough for us to lift and shake with a load of soil
on it.
To build the soil sifter frame cut 4 lengths of 2x3s each 3 feet in length. Then
using your skill saw cut lap joints on each end of the lengths of 2x3s so that
you create a perfect frame. Apply some wood glue to each lap joint and fasten
the pieces together with wood screws 1-1/4” in length. |
Use the wire cutters to cut out a
piece of wire mesh that is nearly as wide as the frame, preferably so that each
end of the frame extends out beyond the wire mesh by about ¼ inch.
Attach the wire mesh to the wood
frame using your staple gun and staples. In the process of fastening the wire
mesh screen to the wood frame try to keep the mesh fairly tight.
To ensure the wire mesh is securely fastened to the frame cut strips of plywood
so that they traverse the perimeter of the soil sifter frame and cover the wire
mesh that rests on the 2x3s. Again, use your screw gun and 1-1/4 inch screws to
fasten the plywood to the 2x3s. Install screws every few inches along the
perimeter of the soil sifter frame.
Once you’ve fastened the plywood to the 2x3 rails your soil sifter is ready for
use.
|
Find a Qualified Landscape Contractor in Your Area |
|
Get Free Quotes. Easy, Quick and No
Obligations!
For the home improvement or home remodeling project that is
too big for you, check out our partner
NeedContractor. They are a national
resource for finding pre-screened, insured, and licensed home improvement and remodeling contractors in your local area.
|
|
|
Get Matched in 48 hours with Landscape Contractors! |
Planning to have a Brick or Paver Walkway Installed
by a Landscaping Contractor
but not sure what questions to ask to ensure you hire the right one? See HomeAdditionPlus.com's
Brick and Paver Walkway Bid Sheet. The
Brick and Paver Walkway Bid Sheet
will help ensure that your walkway project goes smoothly and you get the
finished walkway you are looking for.
How to Finance your
New Home Project
- LendingTree's
Home Equity Loans
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if
financing is required.
Related
Articles
Grub Killer Products from Amazon.com
|
|
|
