Sieve Set Construction Manual

BioSand Water Filter

Humanitarian Service
Last Revised: March 2005

BUILD A SIEVE
Estimated Time: 30 minutes per sieve
Tools Needed:
• Hammer • 1” x 4” timber (or whatever
• Nails is locally available)
• Saw • ½” (2 gauge) screen
• Tape measure • ¼” (4 gauge) screen - 5
• ½” staples (if readily gauge is also acceptable
available) • mosquito mesh (14 gauge
• 1” x 1” wood strapping screen)
Note: The gauge indicates the number of slots per inch, so 4 gauge screen
would have 4 slots per inch. Screens must be metal, not nylon or
fiberglass.

1. Construct a square frame for the

sieve.
 The suggested size is 18” x 24”
(45cm x 60cm). This size is
intended for use by two people.
 A smaller sieve can be
constructed if only one person will
be holding it.
 Other sizes may be constructed
depending on the material
available and the preference of
the users.
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 A group in Brazil suspended their

sieves from ropes so that they
don’t have to hold the weight of
the media; they only have to
shake the sieve.
 The two longer sides can be
made longer than 24” to form
handles.
 Don’t make the sieve so large that
it is too heavy to hold when filled
with media, or that the weight of
the media deforms the screen.
2. Cut a piece of screen that is larger
than the frame, so that there is 1”
extra on all sides.
3. Centre the screen over the frame.
Tip: For the mosquito mesh
screen it is necessary to add a
piece of ½” screen for
support. Place the mosquito
mesh on the frame first,
followed by a piece of ½”
screen the same size, so that
when you flip the sieve over
and use it, the ½” screen will
be underneath the mosquito
mesh, supporting it.
4. Nail staples through the screen and
into the frame on all 4 sides. If staples
aren’t available, pound a nail in
halfway, and then bend it over and
pound it into the frame.
5. Bend the excess screen back on itself
so that the bent edge lines up with the
outside of the frame, and the excess
overlaps the rest of the screen. Doing
so avoids sharp edges that could cut
your hands while sieving.
6. Cut the 1” x 1” wood strapping to the
same lengths as your frame to form a
covering frame.
7. Nail the covering frame over top of
where you’ve nailed the screen to the
frame.

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8. Repeat the process until you have

three sieves, each with a different
screen size: ½”, ¼” and 14 gauge.

NOTES
• A well-built sieve will last for a long
time so it’s worth taking the time to
build it well and make it comfortable
to use.
• Never use a sieve that has ANY
holes in the screen or where the
screen is separating from the frame.
• When the screen wears out, simply
remove the wood strapping, pull off
the old screen and attach a new piece
of screen to the existing frame.

#12, 2916 – 5th Ave N.E.

Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2A 6K4
Telephone: (403) 243-3285
Fax: (403) 243-6199
Email: cawst@cawst.org
Website: www.cawst.org

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