Fw: Compost screens compared: Cantopper vs A-frame

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html
Here's a post on the best soil screen I've found---the key is the leverage you get from working with the trash can----and it's cheap!   Enjoy! (Still no website photos, sorry....but those who have tried it report liking it!)
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Frank Teuton <f*@total.net>
To: O*@lsv.uky.edu <O*@lsv.uky.edu>
Cc: c*@listproc.wsu.edu <c*@listproc.wsu.edu>
Date: Tuesday, October 13, 1998 3:23 PM
Subject: Compost screens compared: Cantopper vs A-frame

Hello all Og Matter Enthusiasts:
 
I just did a little trial on some two year old vermicompost I have in the yard, screening it through two screens both made with 1/2 inch hardware cloth.
 
One screen was an A-frame 5 feet long and 3 feet across, set up on a 45 degree angle on a large tarp. I tossed 47 liters of compost on the screen; then I sifted the rejects through the cantopper, which is a large riddle 18" across that sits securely on a Rubbermaid trash can 32" high, which can be rocked back and forth or from side to side, or in a rolling motion around the rim of the can.
 
18 liters of compost made it through the A-frame on the first toss. Of the A-frame rejects another 25 liters sifted through the Cantopper; 4 liters of rejects remained.
 
This compost was moist; dry compost might fare better on the A-frame, but I prefer not to dry compost if at all possible.
 
These results indicate to me that the Cantopper is tops as a backyard screening tool; it is light in weight, easy to use, operates cleanly and efficiently, and takes up little space in the garage or tool shed.
 
Here's how to make one:
 
Materials: one piece of plywood 2 feet by 2 feet ( I use 3/4 inch exterior grade)
                    one piece of 1/2 inch hardware cloth (1/4 inch can also be used), 20 " x 20"
                    one 60" length of 6" plastic garden edging
                    three 1" x 2" x 1/2 inch blocks of wood
                    heavy duty 9/16" staples
                    6 1" wood screws
 
Tools: saber saw (aka hand jig saw), heavy duty staple gun, screw driver
 
First, choose a trash can that is sturdy and suits your height. I prefer the tall 32" can, since I am a tall guy who prefers to work standing.
 
Now take the can and set it, open side down, centered, over your plywood square. Use a pencil to trace the outline of the can; this will serve as your reference for cutting out the inner circle of the plywood (go 1/2 inch inside the line) and for placing your three stops, which go on a tangent right at the line, after the screen is placed.
 
Cut out the inner circle 1/2 inch inside the line. The resulting disk makes an excellent single line swing; I drilled out a 3/4 inch hole in the center of three of these and hung them on the maple tree in front by 3/4 inch rope, which is so sturdy even I can swing on them...:-) (Wastenot, wantnot, as they say..)
 
Place the screen on the hole, center it and staple it into place. Use plenty of staples.  I have found it useful to take a tack hammer and nail the staples flush to the plywood.
 
Place the three stops equidistant on the drawn circle and screw them into place. These will hold the sifter to the rim of the trash can during sifting, and further secure the screen.
 
Now turn the plywood over so that the screen is on the bottom. Put the edging material into place and secure it with staples, tacked in as with the screen. Where the edging comes together it is useful to secure the top part of it; I make a couple of holes with a drill bit and tie it  together with cable ties.
 
For fellow residents of Canada, the edging I use is from Canadian Tire and costs about 2.50$ for 20 feet, enough for four sifters. The other materials cost about eight or nine dollars, so the whole thing can be made for ten bucks or so in less than an hour. Not bad, eh?
 
I hope to have photos of the Cantopper up on a website in the not too distant future.
 
Good composting,
 
Frank Teuton
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