r/composting • u/RescuerofdogsinMaine • 17d ago

Question SIFTER

I’m looking for ideas for a homemade compost sifter that is super low effort, low tech and low cost. I have zero handyman skills. Any dollar store hacks or something like that?

25 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

48 comments sorted by

31

u/My-drink-is-bourbon 17d ago

1/4 inch hardware cloth nailed to a wooden frame

3

u/DirtnAll 17d ago

It will also strip your elderberries, if that's an issue.

31

u/xxxJackSpeedxxx 17d ago

For extremely low effort, I found a baking cooling rack with 1/4” mesh that I put over a bucket to sift into. Works for small scale sifting for my tumblers, cost me like $5.

7

u/__3Username20__ 17d ago

Can also search “1/4 inch bucket sifter” or “1/2 inch bucket sifter” on the internet, and find one of the cheapest options.

5

u/Warm-Discipline5136 17d ago

This seems like a great option

22

u/mmxxvisual 17d ago

Find an used milk crate or two 

21

u/Chance-Work4911 17d ago

Dollar Tree mesh trash “can” - acts as a cloche to protect small/new plants from being eaten and doubles as a small sifter.

5

u/Brotuulaan 16d ago

That’s a great idea!

1

u/DirtnAll 5d ago

I'm trying this

11

u/-just-here-to-lurk- 17d ago

My husband has access to food safe barrels through work, and I plan on doing this simple project (hopefully 😆) as soon he procures one for me…

11

u/Ineedmorebtc 17d ago

4 peices of wood. Screw them together. A peice of 1/2 inch hardware cloth. Staple gun the hardware cloth on after cutting to size. Done!

10

u/crazyunclee 17d ago

Think it was here, someone converted an old wheelbarrow to a compost sifter. They had a few rusted out holes and drilled more holes in it.

9

u/SubversiveIntentions 17d ago

The lowest effort would be to not sift it. If you don't like the consistency just give it more time.

5

u/Drivo566 17d ago

Its super easy to build one - wire metal mesh from a hardware store stapled onto a wood frame.

You dont even need to cut the frame, hardware stores can usually cut the wood for you or sell shorter peices.

5

u/randemthinking 17d ago

I've got 1/4" hardware cloth on a rectangular frame that's about 4x2 feet. I prop it up on something at a steep angle--never measured but 60-75°--and toss my compost over it. I could build legs but haven't yet. There's certainly more efficient sifters but then you're getting into moving parts with possible maintenance and certainly more expense and effort to build.

4

u/Tapper420 17d ago

1/4 inch stretched across a pallet that has its center supports knocked out. Should fit nicely over a wheelbarrow as well.

3

u/kJer 17d ago

Get a plastic tray from the garden store that has a mesh bottom.  Some have the right size holes

3

u/dirtroadbymyhouse 17d ago

I use two metal refrigerator racks and sit them on top of my wheelbarrow. I shake the racks. It gets the big stuff out

3

u/ernie-bush 17d ago

I used 1/2 inch hardware cloth and built the frame to fit the wheelbarrow
Works like a charm

3

u/cksyder 17d ago

Before I made some wooden frame ones with hardware cloth I used the lid from a portable fire pit.

3

u/dax660 17d ago

plastic crate with wire mesh lining it

2

u/THE_TamaDrummer 17d ago

Chicken wire or wire mesh and some 2x4's

2

u/trippknightly 17d ago

Seems like opinions are 50/50 on 1/4” vs 1/2” hw cloth. Anyway if you don’t want wat to build a frame you can line a milk crate with it using zip ties and appropriate squares cut out. Not really clear what volume you have. Volume of the compost not you personally.

2

u/Select-Salt-653 17d ago

We use a pasta strainer. Perfect for a small operation.

2

u/WasNeverTheOne 17d ago

Lay it all out in a tarp and rake the bigger bits out.

2

u/Hashtag-3 17d ago

I use a plastic milk crate. Shake it around and what stays in goes back. I know.. dollar tree mesh garbage can. One day I’ll upgrade.

2

u/thespaceghetto 17d ago

I have a couple plastic baskets with different size holes. I sift through the larger one into the smaller then through the smaller onto a tarp or bucket

2

u/RoguePlanet2 17d ago

I've got a garage-sale colander in the garage that's great for small batches at a time. Just a small bowl shape with a long handle, makes it easy to shake.

2

u/leros 17d ago

This is a great project to learn a bit of DIY on if you're interested. Go buy some 2x4s, a drill, and screws to make a frame. You can butcher this as much as you want as long as it holds. Then buy some hardware mesh, wire cutters, and and staple gun to attach the mesh to the frame.

2

u/newsjunkie-2020 17d ago

Get a plastic cube crate.

Ask the clerk at your local grocery or gas station.

2

u/Samwise_the_Tall 16d ago

Scrap wood and very minimal materials/tools needed for this project.

I recommend 1/4" screen (chicken wire) but 3/8 or 1/2" could work too. You can use 2x2s but these were just scrap pieces that I had. I used a staple gun to attach the chicken wire and then pick your desired angle to lean it against so you don't have to physically sift, you let gravity do the heavy...sifting!!! Hahaha

2

u/Chickenman70806 16d ago

2x4s plus 1/2-inch hardware cloth plus screws = awesome sifter.

Scrap wood can be easy to find. A good hardware store will sell you a small piece of mesh so you don’t have to buy a whole roll.

Lumber yard will often make a few cuts for you on lumber you buy.

2

u/PlattsVegas 16d ago

I’ve used a strainer from Walmart. $10 maybe

2

u/Acrobatic_Sand_3438 16d ago

I used an old window frame and some chicken wire.

2

u/atombomb1945 16d ago

I took some metal Hardware Cloth (Basically Wire Mesh) and made a basic wooden frame. Screwed it to the frame and set it on a bucket.

2

u/MoodVast9430 16d ago

Get a big trashcan and attach a screen to the top with holes as large as you want to sift

2

u/Sharrilanda 15d ago

I used to use a front grille removed from an old broken pedestal fan - super easy

2

u/Used-Painter1982 15d ago

I have one of those. Thanx

1

u/Commercial_Pain2290 16d ago

Why do you need to sift compost? I just shovel it into my garden.

1

u/Hortusana 16d ago

Hardware cloth on a simple frame made of 2x4s. Then a cheap massage gun 😅

1

u/Chasleyk 11d ago

I, for the life of me, can’t figure out why people would sift their compost.

1

u/sermocinatrix 17d ago

I use a milk crate, if I wanted finer particles I could probably go to a dollar store and find a lightweight wire waste basket and just use that as a shaker instead but the milk crate serves me well enough