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Mesh for bonsai soil sieve/sifter

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Mesh for bonsai soil sieve/sifter Empty Mesh for bonsai soil sieve/sifter

Post  nickalpin Sun Dec 09, 2012 8:46 pm

Apologies if this has been covered in another topic, I tried various searches with zero results.

Could anyone point me toward a source for mesh that is suitable for building bonsai soil sieves/sifters? I have the standard round bonsai soil sifter with 3 interchangeable screens. It's nice, but to sift through a number of bags of lava rock, turface and pine bark it'll take a good while. I had built one 22"x11" sifter which is great. I used metal window screen, but I'd like to build others to sift larger particles. Would anyone have any suggestions for U.S. suppliers? The companies that make the sifters source their parts from somewhere.

I'm hoping to get all soil prepared before spring as we're expecting our first child in March, it'll be chaotic Smile

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Post  coh Sun Dec 09, 2012 9:16 pm

I've used plastic mesh that I got from Joannes fabric. I think it's made for needlepoint? Not sure, but it can be used as drain hole covers as well as for sifting. Comes in a variety of mesh sizes.

Edit to add - I think this is the stuff: http://www.joann.com/darice-stiff-plastic-canvas-7-count-12-x18-clear/zprd_01971233a/
coh
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Post  nickalpin Sun Dec 09, 2012 10:26 pm

Thanks coh, great suggestion. It may even cost less at Wal-Mart, amazingly.

In your experience, does it hold up well for sifting?

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Post  Khaimraj Seepersad Sun Dec 09, 2012 10:29 pm

You can get screen material through oil company suppliers or for free from oil companies as discards.

You can also heat set metal strainer mesh into hard plastic rice strainers.

Indian stores also sell affordable stainless strainers with changeable stainless steel mesh.
As well as sets of stainless steel mesh sieves.

I also have 2 x 3 foot sifters for when I go down to the broken brick section of our brick factory. Very fast.
Later.
Khaimraj
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Post  nickalpin Sun Dec 09, 2012 10:39 pm

Thanks Khaimraj, I'm in central Florida, I'll find out if any oil company suppliers happen to be nearby. I'm kind of amazed that an enterprising person hasn't yet set up a site to sell the appropriate sized meshes for those interested in building their own sifters.

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Post  Phillip Elliott Sun Dec 09, 2012 11:48 pm

Its called yardguard from home depot 1/4 in mesh 36inx 5ft for $13.24 plus they have other sizes all called landscape cloth--just a tip --take 2x6's and and cut 2 at 4 ft{48in} and 2 at 3 ft{36in} take 1x2 {called ferring strip} and cut them at 45 in. then screw them to the 48 in. peices one inch up from edge and center lengthwise to leave 1 and 1/2 in. from the end to accept the 36 in. peices to make a 4 x3 ft rectangle. Screw all together with deck screws. you should have a rectangle box with no top and bottom, but two rails on the inside of the long 2x6's. Now build another box using 2x4's cut -2 at 40in. and 2 at 30 and half inches. Now screw those togther w deck screws. and buy the cheapo plasic one inch wheels at home depot and mount them 4inches in from each corner and an inch and a hlf up from bottom of the smaller rectangle. Now stretch the mesh along the bottom of the small box. Flip the box over and put a u shaped gate handle on the top of small box centered on short 2x4, now set the small box inside the big one and the wheels should ride on the rails you installed on the lond sticks of the larger box and the handle is for holding the shaker as you go back and forth to sift what you need---OR just go to dallas bonsai and buy there biggest screen
sorry for makin yall read on a sunday but Im bored
Phillip Elliott
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Post  coh Mon Dec 10, 2012 1:44 am

nickalpin wrote:Thanks coh, great suggestion. It may even cost less at Wal-Mart, amazingly.

In your experience, does it hold up well for sifting?
It's pretty sturdy. I've been using it for turface, granite, and bark with no problems. The only problem is the sheets are somewhat on the small size...maybe 12x16" or so.
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Post  BigDave Mon Dec 10, 2012 5:30 pm

nickalpin wrote: I'm kind of amazed that an enterprising person hasn't yet set up a site to sell the appropriate sized meshes for those interested in building their own sifters.

Its because it is so easy to find, I have three suppliers within 2 miles of my house

I use window screen, 1/8th and 1/4 hardware cloth...made dozens of sets,
also its a fun workshop, cost like 3 bucks, cut the parts and let the folks put them together

Mesh for bonsai soil sieve/sifter Fig07010
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Post  nickalpin Wed Dec 12, 2012 9:24 pm

Thank you Phillip Elliott, coh and BigDave. "Yardguard" and "hardware cloth" are names that are useful to know. My local Home Depot is staffed with unmotivated and unhelpful employees. Having a name does half their job for them, which will make the next visit less frustrating.

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