You may have read my post a few years back regarding my Homemade Compost Sifter Screen Sieve. I’ve received some great feedback and comments on this fun little project. One of them really caught my attention and with the permission of the inventor I’m going to post his amazing improvements here!
It all started back on 5/4/08 when I received the following email:
“Hello Rob,I stole your idea and took it on one stage… hope you like it! Check out Sid, he’s just doing his job… that’s all!Cheers for the inspiration”Attached was the following video:
I was blown away at the design! I promptly asked for more a few picture of the mechanism which I received (click thumbnail for larger image):
I also received a little more info: “I used some old drawer runners for the carriage to slide smoothly and the spinning crank bit is an old component from some office furniture, I think it is a bracket that you bolt a leg onto and then screwed the plate onto the underside of a table/desk top. Quite good as it has a “Hex” shape recess to take an M10 bolt, so the shaft can’t wear out and start spinning around.”
My only question / suggestion to this amazing design was, “Any thoughts on how to make this so you don’t have to dump out the contents? I’ve wondered if a gravity fed system with an agitator would work.”
The reply came: “You were so right about the - having to stop every 4 shovels to take out the stones! A radical free think was required this morning and now Sid sieves, sorts and spits without the need to stop… ever! I end up with rocks over 1 inch in the barrow and stones between 1/2 - 1 inch in the blue box which I recycle to create the walking areas between the raised beds!”
Here’s an updated video:
WOW, no more shoveling. But it got even better with the next design that did 3 individual sortings at once!!!:
Well, just when I thought I had seen it all, the design got even better:
Just amazing!!! This beautiful contraption makes my little manual compost sifter look like a couple of dumb boards nailed together. 
If you have any comments on this design or would like to share your own version please comment below!
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:26 am
Love it! But I can’t view the videos.
June 6th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Fantastic! It even sounds good - like an old steam engine.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:50 am
Totally cool; wish I had the engineering and carpentry skills to make my own. As it stands, all I have is the strength to lift a screen and shake it. He should give instructions on how to build it, or patent and market the design. I’d buy one!
July 6th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Great idea, I have been thinking of doing the same. One question, how do you get so many stones in your compost?
October 5th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Wow, this makes me want to build one and sift all day long!
December 4th, 2008 at 8:30 am
HOW DOES ONE GET A PLAN ? RICHARD
December 4th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Richard, unfortunately the plans are locked up in the head of the evil genius in the UK that built this beautiful thing. I think once he’s finished building his rammed earth wall he’s going to offer a kit and/or plans for sale.