If I can't find sieves with hole sizes I need, I make them. Covered tea cans are ideal because you can really shake them, sideways and upside down (to mix the particles well), without losing any material. The can's metal is so soft/thin you can make holes by pushing metal objects through with a vice grip. I have made even finer holes than the ones shown here. Took less than 1 minute to complete this tea can sieve.
7j43k Frank, I'm not seeing a listing for 1/32" expanded mesh. Ed
Frank,
I'm not seeing a listing for 1/32" expanded mesh.
Ed
Ed,
I wonder if they discountinued it or it's special order now. I ordered it directly from Amaco, been about three yr's now.........glad I got two full sheets left.
I guess You could put two 1/16ths together if You wanted for straining.
Take Care!
Frank
Benjamin Maggi,
I use Sculpting wire mesh screen for what You want to use it for and also for making chain-link fence. It looks like a diamond shape, but can be slightly stretched in a square like in a fence by just holding it and stretching it out. Made out of Aluminum, can be cut with scizzors, will also retain it's shape. Comes in all kinds of sizes. I use the 1/16'' and 1/32'' for the fences......should work just as well for Your purpose. I ordered it direct, but You may be able to find a dealer near You if You so desire.
http://www.dickblick.com/products/amaco-wireform-mesh/
Thanks for the ideas. I will pursue them.
Modeling the D&H in 1984: http://dandhcoloniemain.blogspot.com/
Real old school. I use four screens, three are cheap and easy the last is more expensive. At HD or the local hardware, I use 1’ x’1 squares of animal cage wire with ½” squares for the 1st screen, the second is animal cage wire in 1/8” squares the third screen is window screen in 1/16” squares - the fine screen I use is a ceramic glaze screen that filters the dirt/debris down to fine dust. I like the idea of silk screen silk as well for this screen.
If you are doing dirt in HO – you want powder for it to look realistic. BTW -The $35.00 set isn’t a bad deal.
My two cents/screens,
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
I wandered over to Amazon and entered "seive sets". The affordable ones (define "affordable") are for fairly large sizes. One for about $35 was 1/4" up to 9/16". For the fine ones, it's about $200 a set. It's a lot of money, but when ya need 'em, ya need 'em.
I have used silk screen cloth to sift and sort that which needs sifting/sorting. It goes down to 305 per inch. Which I found out is way too fine for my purposes. I tend to use 74 per inch. Mostly. But after going through coarser first, of course. Amazon shows 3 yards of 100 mesh for $13.
If you go to the Walmart website and type sieves in the search box you'll come up with many different options.
What is not necessarily clear is do the different diameter sieves have different screen sizes, or is the only difference the size of the sieve itself. I don't know if the following link will work, but it is a 5 piece set: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Stainless-Steel-Fine-Mesh-Strainers-Set-of-5-All-Purpose-Colander-Sieve/192609880#about-item
If you come across the Walmart item #, I can probably order it online. Looking at their website, I found sets of differnet sizes but not different "screen/mesh sizes."
I bought a four pack at the dollar store. They also had six packs of various sizes. My wife also has a vast selection in the kitchen that I have put into service. She is an awesome cook whose Dad was an executive chef, so she only uses the best equipment. So that means only the best was used for some of my dirt.
The dollar store also has electric fly swatters for four dollars, if you want to make a cheapo static grass applicator.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Benjamin, since I don't know where you live, but I found a set of 3 or 4 sieves at Walmart. They come in different diameters and screen sizes. I save empty spice bottles with shaker screens under the cap. They come in handy for sprinkling scenery and dirt/sand. The hole sizes vary too, depending on what you want to sprinkle, and since they are smaller, the application is easier than, say a Woodland Scenics ground foam bottle.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
For purposes of layout scenery, I want three or four different size sieves to screen things like real dirt, ground leaves, rock dust, etc. By "size" I mean the size of the mesh screen (course/fine). I have been to several cooking stores and ordered some things online but when they arrive they generally all seem to be the same size mesh.
I have found "Geological Partical" screens which would work but are priced much too high for what I am doing.
Anyone have a good source for various sieves? I am fine with the round ones that have a flat bottom (like a leaky cake pan) but the smaller types with the handles that come out the side are okay too.