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How to Make a Dirt Screen

Screening dirt while looking for gold or gemstones, sifting through dirt at an archaeological site or creating the ideal garden soil can be done with a simple-to-make dirt screen. The device makes sorting soil an easy task and cuts down on time and effort. Dirt is placed on top of the dirt screen which is then shaken, allowing small material to fall through the screen but keeping large matter on top of the screen. A dirt screen is made of wood, screen and wood staples that are available at a hardware store.

Things You'll Need

1 8-foot-by-2-inches-by-4-inches wood
Wood saw
Tape measure
Pencil
Wood staple gun
¼-inch stapes
1/4-inch mesh screen 26-inches by 23-inches
Fine sand paper
2 kitchen drawer handles with the manufacturer's screws
Drill
Drill bits to fit the kitchen drawer handle screws

Instructions

- 1
  Lay the wood on a flat surface. Use the tape measure and the pencil to mark the length of the wood into four 2-foot sections.
- 2
  Saw the length of wood at each of the marks to get four 2-foot lengths.
- 3
  Set 2-foot lengths of wood on their long narrow sides. Push the pieces together to form a square. Two of the lengths will be on the inside.
- 4
  Staple each corner from the outside in with three staples. Flip the frame over and staple each corner again with three staples. Sand the wooden surfaces.
- 5
  Lay the screen on a flat work surface and measure a piece to fit the bottom of the wooden frame: 26 inches by 23 inches. Cut out the screen.
- 6
  Place the screen on the bottom of the frame and staple it into place with staples every couple of inches.
- 7
  Set the dirt screen down on a flat surface with a 2-foot side facing you. Measure and mark the center of this 2-foot side 2 inches from the top edge. Center a kitchen drawer handle over this point. Use the pencil and mark the opening for the screws on the wood. Repeat for the opposite side.
- 8
  Drill the marked drawer screw holes. Attach the drawer handles.

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