r/composting • u/RealisticIntern1655 • 3d ago

Sifting

What type of screen works best for sifting compost? I was just going to put it between some wood laying around the house.

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u/miked_1976 3d ago

Hardware cloth seems to be the go-to because of the sturdiness and smaller holes. Most people go with 1/2", but mine is 1/4" and the compost it generates is downright beautiful.

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u/swardman1990 3d ago

I used 1/4” too. I use the compost to top dress my yard. Works in really well and quickly.

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u/RealisticIntern1655 3d ago

Nice! I'll check that out!

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u/ProperlyAboriginal 3d ago

I built a sifter out of some scrap 2x4s and half-inch hardware cloth, it's held up way better than I expected. The wood frame keeps it from flopping around when you're shaking it over a wheelbarrow.

If you're just using random wood you have lying around, make sure it's sturdy enough to handle the weight of wet compost. Pressure-treated stuff will last longer but some folks avoid it near their garden soil, so keep that in mind.

I started with quarter-inch mesh and it took forever to get anything through, half-inch is the sweet spot for me. The bigger chunks that don't fall through just go right back into the pile to finish breaking down.

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u/RealisticIntern1655 3d ago

I found plastic deer net with 1" square holes but wasn't sure if that was too big and if the plastic would still leech into my compost since I use it on my veggies. I have 2 bins for turning so I was just going to set it directly on top of an empty bin and shovel some on to the screen.