DIY Sand Sieve Sand Sifter
You can make a sand sifter at home using materials that can be scavenged around your tool shed. The size of the wire mesh to be used as a sieve depends on the size of the materials you want to filter out of the sand. Homemade sieves for sand are generally made out of wood and wire or screen mesh and the assembly requires no expertise on your part. There are a lot of variations in design and materials you can use depending on your DIY skill and the area and amount of sand you want to sift through.
How To Make A Sand Sifter?
Materials required: 1/8″ wire mesh, 8 pieces of wood,( all of the same size), and duct tape Tools required: tape measure, scissors, wire shears, gloves, and a sharpie. First, you have to make two squares with dimensions the same as that of your sieve size. Then you have to fit one square precisely on top of the other one without gaps with glue. Then the positions for each wire are marked mark off a line on all four sides of the bottom wood frame for the wire mesh. Then the wire mesh is fitted into the inside of the bottom square and nails are attached at the ends to secure them. Once the wire mesh has been placed and secured, you must glue everything into place. First, the nails securing the wires are glued. Then the upper square is glued onto the bottom square to complete the assembly.
Things To Consider Before Collecting Materials
The size of the wire mesh or wires to be used will depend on the size of the sieve you are making. Larger sieves require heavier wires; however, most fine mesh sieves are smaller in size. If you wish to make a large-sized fine-mesh sieve, you have to provide additional support for the fine wire mesh with heavier wires running diagonally under the mesh or additional wood pieces as cross braces.
Tips For Making:
The most commonly used size for hand sand sifters is 18″ x 14″. To minimize wire ends that stick out of the mesh, you have to cut along each strand and also have to trim off the edges to prevent wires from sticking out. Add a layer of duct tape on the side of the square at the joining point of the two squares with usually a gap of 1/8″ for extra safety. If you are making the sieve from scratch, you can scavenge wire anywhere like old speakers, cars, boats, or old house wiring or cables. You can buy the wood or recycle it from scrap materials. The two frames can be screwed together for a better connection between the two squares and added durability. Untreated lumber like poplar, birch, ash, or pine which is cut into 1″ x 3″ pieces are the ideal choices for a homemade sand sifter, but you can make them from Styrofoam bowls, old plastic containers, or egg cartons, depending on the type of material you are sifting. Depending on the carpentry skills and materials in your possession, you can sand down the wood for a higher comfort while holding, as well as treat them with paints or wood stains for greater aesthetic appeal.
Variations Of it’s Designs
An advanced design can be used for a sand sifter, with two rectangular frames that have equal width, but one longer than the other. The longer pieces of timber are grooved to function as runners, with the smaller frames have the mesh and caster wheels fixed onto them, which are slid up and down to the larger frame along the grooves, and the whole device is set upon a wheelbarrow for easy collection of sifted materials. You can also melt plastic onto the nails used to secure the mesh instead of wood glue, and use melted plastic to seal the two squares together. This can be used to recycle plastic and increase the strength of the connection.
Conclusion
Whether you are sifting soil for your garden, sifting through sand for stones and minerals, or just cleaning up your local beach, a homemade sand sifter can be very handy. Everything you need to make a sand sifter at home can be scavenged or recycled, costing you nothing but some time and effort.
Can I use plastic mesh instead of wire mesh?
Yes, however, plastic meshes have lower tensile strength than wire mesh, so your sieve size will have to be small.
How can I use wires from cars to make a mesh?
You can use car battery wires or transmission wires after stripping the insulation off the wires. Use a proper frame to wrap the wires onto the squares to make the mesh.
