Easy Stand-Up Dirt Screen for Garden/Landscape

1) Review the instructions and photos, determine if you have a screen box or need to build one.

2) Cut the lumber to size as noted for the frame/stand. If you need a screen box too, I’ve included descriptions for that based on the box I had that’ll work with this as a complete project.

(1) screen box (already made or you can make one to the size you want)

(2) 1-1/8" dia. poles (use large dowels at least 1" dia or thick wooden broom handles, measure to your box size + at least 12" at each end, cut off the end w/ the screw/taper)

(4) 2-1/2 - 3" pan head bolt w/ (4) nuts and (8) washers [or (4) carriage bolts + (4) nuts

(8) 1x4x30" (cut to length as noted later)

(4) 2x6x30" (or to your desired height)

40ct 2" #6 wood screws

Tools: table/circular saw, drill + bits, screw bits or screwdriver, clamps or a helper to assist with assembly.

Optional: silicone or WD40 lubricate (as noted if desired)

1) Cut 2x6 (or 2x4) legs to size.

2) Photo of my screen box with handles/poles attached.

Once the box is made, cut the handles 24” longer than the box (extend 12” past each end).

Mark & drill holes through the poles/box and attach w/ the carriage bolts with the nut/washer on the outside.

*hold the poles to the box w/ clamps or have a helper assit, it can be hard to drill a hold ‘straight’ thru the pole accurately being that it’s a round surface. If you have a drill press, that would make it easy.

This is the screen box I had on hand that I added the handles to first to help with sifting. While that helped, I made the frame to help yet again.

Front view of the frame showing how the screen box w/ poles sits on the top to glide.

Close-up detail describing the fit of the box w/ poles on the frame.

Several close-up details of constructing the frame, fastening the horizontal frame in to the vertical 2x6 supports.

.MOV showing how the screen box moves on the finished frame.

I sprayed the top rails with a food grade silicone, and it made it slide VERY smoothly. It also doesn’t build up or collect dirt. You could also use WD40 or graphite.

The screen sifts dirt MUCH faster and easier than previously when the two of us had to continually pickup the box full of dirt, lift/shake it, then dump the remaining contents. The height of this also allows one person (if just two) to sit (if needed) and do the sifting while one does the shoveling. If you have three people you could really speed this along. The height of the frame also allows you to sift a lot of soil before needing to move it to another location.