Before you put the nutrients from the compost on the bed, any components that have not broken down should be screened out. This is easy with a wooden frame, which is tightly covered with tight-meshed wire. Our guide shows how to build a compost sieve yourself.
The principle of a compost sieve is as simple as it is effective. Even beginners can build it easily. The trick: The wire mesh hatchet can either be used freely in the garden or put on the wheelbarrow, so that the sifted compost immediately falls into the hollow. If the strainer is not needed, you can simply fold it up and store it to save space.
Build a compost sieve yourself: you need
Materials:
- Wooden slats for the frame and the support (40 x 25 mm in approx. 75 cm and 120 cm length)
- stable, close-meshed hare wire with 10 to 13 mm mesh size
- two 8 mm thick threaded or metal rods
- ten angle connectors (4×4 cm) matching the wooden slats
- eight L flat angle connectors
- Wood screws of various lengths
- J-bolts
- Nails with a broad head (eg roofing nails)
- 4 x 6 mm eye bolts (metric thread), matching washers and nuts
- two folding hinges
- weatherproof cord
Tools:
- Puncture or chop saw
- Cordless screwdrivers, drills and bits
- hammer
- hacksaw
- if necessary, screw clamp
- shears
- Ruler and pencil
Build a compost sieve: instructions step by step
Build frame: Cut the required slats to size. Then screw the frame together using the four angle connectors. Tip: Set the dimensions of the frame to fit your wheelbarrow and stick out a few inches on both sides.
To reinforce the connections, four L-flat angle connectors are screwed into the corners on one side of the frame.
Assemble the support as well: This is similar to the frame with the angle connectors mounted and reinforced the L-connectors, but a cross strut is not placed below, but rather in the middle of the reinforcement.
Cut the wire so that it almost fits in the wooden frame. The wire must be about 2 to 3 cm smaller, because it pulls it when tightening something else. After cutting the wire cut off or bend over protruding sharp wire tips.
Screw the hook bolts at regular intervals on the inside of the short sides of the wooden frame.The number depends on the wire mesh used and the dimensions of the wooden frame. In our case, six hooks per side hold the rather thin wire, with stronger wire and a narrower frame, even a hook screw in the middle may be enough.
Hook screws can be easily screwed in with the cordless screwdriver and an additional hook.Pre-drill the holes and screw in the screws by hand. Clamp a second screw hook into the chuck of the drill and engage in the first hook. When turning it pulls itself almost by itself into the wood.
Cut the threaded rods to length using a hacksaw. The rods must fit in the frame. Clamp the pole well, so that it does not slip away.
The wire mesh is clamped in the width of the frame between threaded rods, which are held on each side by four eyebolts. Always thread the rods alternately up and down through the wire with rotating movements, placing the screws evenly. Nevertheless, the rods can be continued to thread well.
Then mark the eyebolt positions on the frame and drill the holes.
The tensioning of the wire can be accomplished alone, but is best for two people to do it. First attach a threaded rod to the frame with the eye bolts (secure with nuts from the outside) and pull the wire tight with the other one. Then lift the wire slightly and let it snap into the hook screws gradually as you lower it. If necessary, help with a screwdriver.
At the bottom end of the frame (ie on the side with the screw hooks), two corner connectors are screwed on the inside so that they can hold the compost sieve on the wheelbarrow and prevent it from slipping.
At the upper end of the frame (ie not where the two locking angles sit), tighten the folding hinges. Then fasten the support frame on the opposite side.
To lock the maximum span of the two frame parts, cut two equal pieces of the weatherproof rope. Nailing each at the same height of the frame sides.
To sift, simply toss the raw compost with a scoop against the sieve and strip. The sifted, coarse ingredients come back on the compost and are mixed with the next fresh ingredients. The fine parts fall through – either directly on the bed or in the wheelbarrow.
Gerhardt Richter is a writer and a trainer at trade technical colleges, specializing in carpentry, plumbing, mechanics and construction.
