Soil Sieve Riddle

[jands]

I have my name on the local allotment waiting list but want to use my time wisely before I am lucky enough to get one.

I am growing veg and fruit in pots in the garden to get a idea of how things grow, and am spending my free time reading books.

From my experiance of working in the garden, I have had to sieve lots of soil to remove stones/rubbish, I was thinking of making some sort of sieve with a larger capacity than my current 14" one, has anyone got any advice/plans or photos of anything they have built.

I am not sure if a rotoary or a table design would be best, I know it needs to be moveable.

Your help would be appriciated.

[zazen999]

You can get sieves that fit over dustbins...we used to use them for sieving soils in the laboratory....if you have a soils lab anywhere near you [and I don't know where you are or I'd point you in the right direction] you could ask for one of their old ones as they have to be calibrated and not used once they don't meet BS requirements.

[Creemteez]

Back last year, GW Magazine had a "make yourself a riddle" feature which was large enough to fit over a wheelbarrow.
You basically need sufficient 2x1 legnths of timber to construct TWO rectangular frames that will sit comfortably over your wheelbarrow.
Attach a sheet of half inch wire mesh (the sort DIY stores sell for the front of rabbit cages is ideal) to one of the frames, place the other frame on top and screw them together securely.
Mr Creemteez made me one of these and it has been in constant use ever since! It's lightweight, I've riddled eighteen bags of homemade compost, three of my raised beds, used it as a potting table (spilled compost just falls into the wheelbarrow beneath, a tea table (very important) and it stores neatly! It's my very favourite bit of garden kit. -Cheap too

[Squizz]

Large sieve

When I was younger my Dad made a large sieve which took the two of us to drive it! It was made up from 2 fence rails (2"x4") about 8' long. They were held apart by 2 more bits of 2"x4". Then we nailed a 2'x4' sheet of 1cm square mesh to one side.

We piled up the soil onto the mesh then picked the sieve up like a stretcher and then did a Chuckle Brothers "to me - to you" for a while.

Worked a treat but you need some stamina and someone to help. I've attached a sketch as I'm sure the above isn't that clear.

Mr Squizz

[jands]

Update

I have just aquired two old bike wheels all I need now is the mesh and castors, visit to B&Q coming up tonight to price it all up, I will try and draw my sketch up neater and post it on here.

[nilling]

Back last year, GW Magazine had a "make yourself a riddle" feature which was large enough to fit over a wheelbarrow.
You basically need sufficient 2x1 legnths of timber to construct TWO rectangular frames that will sit comfortably over your wheelbarrow.
Attach a sheet of half inch wire mesh (the sort DIY stores sell for the front of rabbit cages is ideal) to one of the frames, place the other frame on top and screw them together securely.
Mr Creemteez made me one of these and it has been in constant use ever since! It's lightweight, I've riddled eighteen bags of homemade compost, three of my raised beds, used it as a potting table (spilled compost just falls into the wheelbarrow beneath, a tea table (very important) and it stores neatly! It's my very favourite bit of garden kit. -Cheap too

I am going to make one of these too. Last time I sieved compost from the bin using a small hand held riddle was just plain hard work...

[Irie Jan]

I have just aquired two old bike wheels all I need now is the mesh and castors, visit to B&Q coming up tonight to price it all up, I will try and draw my sketch up neater and post it on here.

Hmm now there is a plan My sons old bike is still in my garage from years back. I wonder if he would mind if I canabalised it? I cant ask him for 2-3 weeks is is on his holls in Australia.

[jands]

Update Part 2

Hmm now there is a plan My sons old bike is still in my garage from years back. I wonder if he would mind if I canabalised it? I cant ask him for 2-3 weeks is is on his holls in Australia.

Here are two photos of the master plan!! found these on the net and I am really copying the idea. Once completed I will post some pictured of mine

Ordered casters off ebay tonight sadly could only get the ones which swivel without spending alot more money I needed 17-20mm wide wheels to fit inside the bike rims - not sure if the swivel will be a problem - I am thinking it may help if eveything is not 100% square. I have also gone for rubber wheels as I think they will grip and turn rather than plastic ones which may not turn as the rums are smooth.

[jacob marley]

What do you want to sieve the soil for if you have a allotment surely if you dig it and bury the weeds under the soil that has been dug and stones are all part of the soil they help to keep the topsoil moist .
It would seem to me that you are going to make a hard job of gardening and there is no need to .
I have told newcomers on our site many times that gardenig is as hard or easy as you want to make it .
Just dig it over and plant it and sit back and enjoy that is unless you are masochist of course ....jacob

[bubblewrap]

You could riddle the soil if you are growing carrots/parsnips as stones cause them to bend or be forked but why bother they still taste the same anyway.
About 2 spades down on my lottie is gravel & the stones work their own way up so for me riddling is a waste of time.

PS I take out the really big stones as I dig.