Down and Dirty basic Soil Screener

[SkunkWerX]

This one falls under the category of "rickety contraption". It's not clever nor highly technical, but it gets the job done.

Total cost to build: $0.00 (cha-ching) All parts were scrap and surplus.

Doesn't require much of a description.

Soil Screener

Soil Screener next to screened pile of topsoil/compost

 

[RonMar]

Yep, they work well. I made one smaller that sets on my wheelbarrow. The filtered soil goes in the bucket and the rocks and debris fall to the ground between the wheelbarrow handles...

 

[SkunkWerX]

Ronmar,

I was also thinking of one like you describe for your wheelbarrow, that would set over the FEL bucket, rocks & clumps would slide off, fine stuff goes right into bucket for transport.

 

[RonMar]

That would work if you were planning on shoveling the material into the bucket... I don't think it would work to scoop like a normal FEL bucket, as the material would bunch up and the screen would act like a plate and bend/collapse under the load. The shovel throw allows the material to break up and slide and separate as it does so.

 

[Luremaker]

This one falls under the category of "rickety contraption". It's not clever nor highly technical, but it gets the job done.

Total cost to build: $0.00 (cha-ching) All parts were scrap and surplus.

Doesn't require much of a description.

I like your screen. It looks like it would be great for screening soil right in the garden and its really portable. I think I'll make one like yours. Thanks for posting the pictures.

Here are a few pictures taken last summer of my screen in action. It has a large footprint of 10' x 10'. I have lost count of how many yards of soil I have screened with it. My ground is littered with rock between the size of golf balls right up to 5' x 6' so when ever I do any dirt moving I always run into lot of rock.

 

[StrangeRanger]

I like these KISS method screeners, and it's what I'd prefer to do, but I've got a mixture of grass & weed clumps to deal with too. I think they'd just clutter up the screen and feel I need to vibrate the screen to get the most out of these clumps. But I sure do like these designs.
j

 

[Luremaker]

I like these KISS method screeners, and it's what I'd prefer to do, but I've got a mixture of grass & weed clumps to deal with too. I think they'd just clutter up the screen and feel I need to vibrate the screen to get the most out of these clumps. But I sure do like these designs.
j

That's what the rake and shovel are for. After every bucket I have to get off the tractor and pull the roots and branches off the screen. Easier than it looks. It goes much faster if you have a helper knocking off the branches as you go.

 

[SkunkWerX]

Thanks Luremaker, copying is the greatest form of flattery.

The portability will come in handy, like you said, screening directly into the garden is a good one, I have a pile of fill dirt a few acres away from my compost pile, not large, it will be nice to take it over there, isntead of having to move the pile, bucket at a time.

For extra ease in transport, I'm now thinking about getting longer bolts and mounting some lawnmower-sized wheels at the top, where the Leg's pivot. That way it can be folded and picked up at the bottom end, and rolled around easily.

Using a small piece of chain, it could be hooked to the rear of the tractor and towed.

 

[cruzer]

Very cool ideas!
I recently got a couple yards of sand for my kids playscape and it is not washed/screend so it has a lot of rocks in it and have been thinking about making something like this up.
Only thing i need is something to make the screen out of but the local hardware store sells screen by the foot so i should be able to make one pretty cheap.

Stew

 

[LBrown59]

I've got a mixture of grass & weed clumps to deal with too. I think they'd just clutter up the screen and feel I need to vibrate the screen to get the most out of these clumps. But I sure do like these designs.
j

Till the dirt first before sifting.