Has anyone tried these sifting screens used in mining?
They are stackable and fit on top of a 5 gallon bucket so I was wondering if you could sort three sizes at one time?
Maybe toss the bucket in a garden cart, add the sifters dump in a half a bag or so and rock the cart back and forth…
I have been using the metal ring with three screen sizes and I am looking for a easier way to sort more sizes at one time.
Has anyone tried this?
I have not used these, but I stack my sifters so I can do multiple sizes at one time. The biggest downside I see to this set is that it does not have a size in the 1/16" range to clear out the fines, but keep the small stuff.
I build my own from wood and hardware cloth/wire screen. I have a 1/2" screen, but find that the 1/3" is better for the larger 1/4" plus material for the bottom of larger pots.
Marty
They do make a 1/20 th size in a shallow style that is available separately.
Or I could use the metal ring style with the smallest screen for the 1/16.
I saw a video of Ryan using that black custom soil sifter and it sparked my thoughts about sifting multiple layers at once.
I hadn’t thought about making my own but I guess some with some dimensional lumber it would be pretty easy.
Do you save the fines? Can they be used for muck or spag soil?
Up until this point I just have let them go on the lawn as I try to sift on a breezy day to keep the dust down.
Thanks!
Glad to hear they have a smaller size. I think some of mine are closer to 1/20" since that is typical of window screen.
Here is a picture of one of my sets. I have the ability to cut compound miters which makes for a nice stack. A similar effect can be achieved with simple bevel cuts although the ends of the pieces that run through will need to be sanded flush.
Keep it simple…
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I have similar round sifters, plus a 1/10" brass mining sifter.
I use three ~2’ round planter trays to sift into sequentially. A medium hand scoop comes in handy. I keep several 5 gallon buckets for large, medium, and small trees. I have never found a satisfiying use for the <1/10 fines. They go on my lawn for fertilizer… I also discard the >1/2 inch into my garden…
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I only have 15 gallons of bonsai soil on hand, I will need 30 come spring. I better get crakin… I can fill a sifted 5 gallon bucket in an hour…
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But, then, I only have 150 medium to small trees. Rototap (?) makes an industrial / mining sifting setup, if you have the bulk need… and the bucks.
KurtP
I sift my Akadama through a window screen to remove fines. I sift the mix again through a bakery (flour sifter)sifter to remove the rest of the fines before I use the mix. I keep the resulting Akadama fines and mix them with broken long fiber sphagnum and fresh moss to help retain moisture and grow moss on the top of recently repotted trees.
I have a set of similar gold mining sifters and they are okay but not ideal. Mine have 5 gradations of sifters. I also have a set of the more traditional Japanese sifters, but I don’t feel I am getting an ideal separation with either set. I do have to say that the way the gold mining sifters fit together is very nice. Thank you for the idea of sifting into 5 gal buckets - I never thought of that and have been making do with other containers.
Ideally, I would like to get screens in millimeter gradations and make my own sifters - I think I will get a better separation than with Imperial sizes.
Those look great, Marty. Being able to stack is key.
I got them in.
The holes sizes are accurate.
I think I will bungee cord all three to the top of a five gallon bucket and shake and bake… And see if they work well and if it allows sifting a half or even an entire bag at once.
Then I will sift the left overs through a small traditional screen or if it works well I will order the 1/12 for the bottom, and do it in one shot.
Thanks for all the ideas, thoughts and inputs!
Much appreciated!
Keep in mind that you get optimal separation when you only have one or two layers of particles on the screen. The biggest issue most folks have when sieving particles is to load the screens to heavily. Even with very vigorous shaking it is hard to get good separation when heavily loaded. I also like to put a screen that is one size larger than desired to help break up the material before it lands on the largest desired sieve.
I believe that Mirai sieves using 4 wires per inch, 8 wires per inch, and 16 wires per inch referred to as 1/4", 1/8", and 1/16" which are not really accurate since the wire has some diameter. The lowest cost and most commonly available steel wire mesh has the warp and weft wires in two layers and held together with a quick spot weld between rollers and zinc dip (galvanizing). This product from McMaster-Carr uses a 0.025" diameter wire for the 4x4 mesh so the opening is nominally 0.225" (5.72 mm). The 8x8 uses a 0.017" wire so the opening is 0.108" ( 2.74 mm). Woven wire mesh is normally made with larger wires so it lasts longer and as a result the openings of a given mesh size are smaller. I use the lower cost mesh and call them 1 mm (window screen which is often 20x20), 3 mm (8x8), 6 mm (4x4), 9 mm (3x3 which is not common), and 12 mm (2x2 and only used to get rid of big junk).
