Selections Garden Rotary Soil Sieve Sifter Earth Riddle Compost Screener (18 Litre)

Got this after digging 40 or so 30cm cubed holes to plant a bare-root hedge. Should have bought it after digging the first hole. Riddling, or sieving, the earth to be able to put it back stone-free was back-breaking until I got this little device. It fits perfectly into a wheel barrow and is very easy to use. Some reviews said that the assembly and usage instructions weren’t clear but that’s not the case; it’s a simple device and the instructions were easy to follow. Other reviews said that the knob on the handle unscrewed as you rotated it; again, not my experience. It’s a very simple and effective device. It works with compost too.

Easy to build, flimsy construction, but works a treat.I use it in a trug that is just the right size, I can load it up on the floor, sit on a chair and turn it to sieve.Trick is to just turn it anticlockwise so the knob does not unscrew.No bother with it missing the edges, just push down and turn the handle, so, so much easier than shaking a sieve, a pleasure to use. My compost was damp and had lumps in it but it handled it well.Recommend.

Good quality finish, sturdy and easy to assemble, I fixed the bolts with their heads inside the sieve so when I'm using it there's no protruding thread and nuts to snag in the compost. I used it to sieve my bought bags of potting compost to take out lumps or other rubbish and make a seed compost with it. It performs well but works better with dry material as it tends to clog if its too damp. I had to stop regularly to brush the underside of the mesh to clear it but I didn't really find that a problem. The knob on the handle can unwind and come loose if its not tightened on well (but don't overtighten). A bit more thread and a lock nut would have solved this. Overall its a great bit of kit.

As well as being great for me sifting soil, my two year old grandson loves playing with it

Firstly, the unit arrived in parts with no instructions, so be prepared to have to put it together. I had limited time to do the job so couldn’t contact supplier and had to get on with it. Really annoying!I managed to work it out but there are few issues:The ball handle unscrews every time you use it...unless you over tighten the ball.The base and sieve seems sturdy enough but the fastening on the underside broke and popped out of the sieve when I first used it. I didn’t have a choice but to carry on as I had to get the job done.It did work but I still have a slightly broken mechanism, which I plan to fix...and improve on!

After years of backache from standing bent using a hand sieve, I decided to splash out on this rotary model.It was simple to assemble and seems pretty study, though I suspect it will rust if not kept fairly clean and dry.There’s definitely a knack to using it (assuming that, like me, you stand next to a compost bin with the sieve placed on a wheelbarrow). Use an oscillating motion rather than a circular one (this stops roots and twigs being wound around the spindle). Give it a shake every few seconds. And now and then, scoop up the compost that’s packed itself around the perimeter. I throw in 3-4 spadefuls of compost in each time.I’m slightly surprised that the blade (it’s actually a rod) doesn’t reach to the very perimeter of the sieve, nor to the bottom. There may be a reason for this, but it’s beyond me. There’s a spring on the handle to lift the rod up; this loses tension very quickly, but this doesn’t actually matter much.Overall, then, it’s quicker than hand sieving, but not by much. But the enormous plus is that you can lean on the crossbar with one hand while turning the handle with the other, thus preventing any strain going through your back. This alone makes it worth the price. (I reckon that in 20 minutes I’d produced the equivalent of £5-6 worth of compost, so you could argue that it would soon pay for itself.)

Had been using a hand sieve last year, treated myself to this, very pleased, easy to put together, and sturdy,

Seed sowing compost is not as fine as one would like for seeds and seedlings - this device saves hours of sifting time when compared with the traditional way - and gets seed compost even finer! Very pleased with it - even used it to wash gravel that the 'RHS packet' stated had already been washed (not as clean as the RHS had suggested). The only thing that comes off now and again, is the black knob on the rotating arm - so the technique is not to hold onto it too tight and let it move under your hand, when rotating. Works best when partially filled, so never fill it to the top or it might break something. An excellent product which I would thoroughly recommend & well worth paying the price for the time (& arm aches) it saves - DCM