Floating Screens / Sieves

[Steve Herschbach]

Joe Beechnut OBN inspired this post and I hope he puts a copy of his other post on this thread. Thanks Joe!

I have several scoops but my favorite by far is a heavy duty stainless steel model with 3/8" square holes that has held up very well in rocky material. It works just fine for rings. However, the 3/8" holes are a little large for when I get into places where there are lots of smaller targets. Many times I know the targets are no good, like .22 shell casings, but for areas I will hunt a lot I hate to leave them and then find them again. I got pretty good at retrieving them on the lip of my scoop, but that only works in calm water where I can clearly see what I am doing.

I decided a floating sieve would be more efficient. I used to sell mining gear and have lots of the stuff myself. Keene came up with a line of deep sieves in various sizes that I really liked, though there are now other people making them also. The stainless models range from 1/2" to 100 mesh plus an all plastic model with 3/4" to 1/4" sizes. They measure about 4" deep from rim to screen. They are 14" at the top and 11" at the bottom, designed to sit in the top of a standard 5 gallon plastic pail. Very handy items to have around for multiple uses.

I went with 1/8" for chasing micro jewelry and so far have been very happy with that choice, though some may think it a little too small. It depends on the beach - 1/8" works great in finer sand locations. I found tossing stuff in a floating sieve to be so handy though I also have a 3/8" plastic sieve I can mount for coarser material.

The sieve mounts handily in the middle of a standard trailer tire tube, and I just tie it to my waders and float it around behind me as I hunt. I use the same scoop but employ it more as a shovel, and have even used duct tape to close the holes off temporarily, which worked surprisingly well.

Anyway, this is one option. I really liked Joe's also, since it uses dense foam for the float, so no inflation issues, plus a little wider and lower profile. If anyone else has ideas or options please post away. 

Floating inner tube with 1/8" screen and 3/8" alternative

[Joe Beechnut OBN]

One reason I made this type of Sifter is I have several beach's I have to walk a distance to get to so I needed light weight and easy to carry. I just loop the pull rope over my head and it crosses my shoulders to carry, it rides on my side.

I used a bread tray from the local grocery story, trimmed it up but did leave the handle on one side for when I need to empty the shells or debris in the water I just push the handle down to flip the sifter and push it back. Plus its a good way to carry it coming out of the water.

Very easy to make, some short cable ties, 4 inch and larger one's for the Noodle,.... 24 inch heavy duty

Then the mesh, I get from McMaster Carr. And a friend of mine gave me something called Rock shield which seems to last forever.

The Pool noodles I have used several and found I like the real big Jumbo size, and the reason is I like to slam my scoop in the sifter when I'm dumping the scoop. The big jumbo noodle breaks the shock of the scoop when the handle hits the noodle. Saving the plastic mesh, got those off of Amazon. 

[Joe Beechnut OBN]

The the items need to complete...

[Joe Beechnut OBN]

Steve I have two bread tray sifters and I'm getting ready to redo one sifters with a smaller plastic mesh. I just came across this the other day and ordered. Should be here in a few weeks...I have one spot I get lots of little things by "accident" .........most come up with another bigger target I was digging......Like. Ear rings, charms, small gold chains....Hoping it's what I need and can help me save a few of the gold ones ......It was a Small beach but really packed them in during the 30's to 60's.  I'm not really a Micro Jewelry hunter but nothing worse then seeing a gold earing post fall thru the holes in the sifter....Got it off of ebay, used for the bottom of planters or pots to keep the soil from washing out..I'll keep you informed on this..

 

[afreakofnature]

I’m thinking combine the two concepts. Use the mining sieves but use the foam and zips for the floatation!

[Lacky]

I made this version and it worked well and is light as can be. Only change I made was I used a 3/4 inch tubing I spliced to make a circle for the shape instead of PVC, mostly because I had it sitting in my garage.

 

 

[kac]

I almost got this scoop from Deeptech but the handle is too short for me as I don't want to squat down. The scoop part looks effective but holse might be too big for the small stuff. Other option is a mud shovel but need to see if the holes are small enough on those too.

[PPP]

On 1/17/2020 at 3:53 AM, Joe Beechnut OBN said:

Steve I have two bread tray sifters and I'm getting ready to redo one sifters with a smaller plastic mesh. I just came across this the other day and ordered. Should be here in a few weeks...I have one spot I get lots of little things by "accident" .........most come up with another bigger target I was digging......Like. Ear rings, charms, small gold chains....Hoping it's what I need and can help me save a few of the gold ones ......It was a Small beach but really packed them in during the 30's to 60's.  I'm not really a Micro Jewelry hunter but nothing worse then seeing a gold earing post fall thru the holes in the sifter....Got it off of ebay, used for the bottom of planters or pots to keep the soil from washing out..I'll keep you informed on this..

 

Hi Joe!

Could you please give the info about this chineese(i think) net you have purchased from internet.i would like to buy one.I wanted to buy a PVC net but i think its not gonna last long in salt water.Thanks

[Joe Beechnut OBN]

On 5/29/2020 at 9:48 AM, PPP said:

Hi Joe!

Could you please give the info about this chineese(i think) net you have purchased from internet.i would like to buy one.I wanted to buy a PVC net but i think its not gonna last long in salt water.Thanks

I would not call it the strongest but it does seem to be holding well. I think in part for two reasons. I use the big noodle (which takes the blunt of force of the scoop hitting it)  and I have another matting under to support. I've been using it for about 3 or 4 months now, no issues... 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-Plastic-Drainage-Mesh-Sheet-1m-x-50cm-Cuttable-Pot-Bottom-Net-Roll/273294773156?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

 

 

 

[F350Platinum]

I bought one of the $21 Matlock sifters on Amazon, and turned that concept into a better one. Got some 3mm ballistic nylon mesh and replaced the galvanized 1/4" screen with it. Totally undetectable.