Sifters????

[marine03116092]

I see where people here are talking about building sifters and going digging. I was wondering where you go digging and what type of stuff are you finding??? Also what is the best way to make a sifter??

[robzombie852]

i just made a 2'x2' frame from 2"x4''s then used u shaped nails to tack chicken wire on it.

[PAPPY]

THE VERY BEST THING TO BUILD SIFTERS OUT OF IS PVC PIPE. YOU CAN BUILD ONE ANY SIZE YOU WISH USING PVC AND IT IS LIGHT WEIGHT...LUGGING AROUND 2x4's CAN GET KINDA BOTHERSOME. HALF INCH PIPE IS THE VERY BEST UNLESS YOU DECIDE TO DO SOME REALLY HEAVY DUTY SIFTING. THEN YOU CAN USE ONE INCH PIPE. YOU CAN MAKE ONE FOR UNDER $5.00. I'LL POST A PICTURE LATER TO SHOW YOU EXACTLY HOW.....PAPPY

[PAPPY]

A SIMPLE "SIFTER" FROM PVC PIPE.
1. You can make any size you wish. I have made one that is 5'x5' and used it with a set of "work horses".
2. Simple to construct and VERY lightweight for field use.

MATERIALS LIST: 4-2' length's of 1/2" PVC Pipe
4-90 deg. 1/2" PVC Couplings
"Heavy Duty" Plastic tie bands
PVC Glue
1/4" Mesh wire

Cut Four lengths of 1/2" PVC Pipe..each 2' in length
Clean the excess plastic from the ends of each cut (plastic dust left after cutting) inside and outside.
Work on a level work surface.
Glue the four 90 deg couplings to the ends of the PVC pipe to make a square and place on level surface and allow to dry..This shouldn't take over about 5 min's.
Cut wire ( 1/4" mesh wire) to size of sifter frame and attach with "heavy Duty" plastic tie bands...SIMPLE...You are ready to sift.
Should weigh about 1/2 pound when you are finished.

You can make these sifters as large or as small as you wish and the supplies are very cheap. If you make larger sifters..Adjust your PVC Pipe size and your 90 deg Couplings such as 1" on up.PAPPY

[PAPPY]

A.J., Sifting is a LOT OF FUN. You find coins etc. I have found clay pipes, coins, buttons and a whole lot of other things sifting..TRY IT...PAPPY

[warsawdaddy]

If you want something that is really portable,you can buy round 'classifiers' of any size mesh screen from any of the md or prospecting dealers.They have them from 6" dia up to where they will fit the top of a 5 gal bucket.

[marine03116092]

Thanks for all the info.!!! I think I will give this a try. My only question is what type of places would you do sifting? I maen I can't dig up the yards in base housing!lol So what kind of places should I be looking for?

[PAPPY]

A.J., Ole' cellar holes, old homesites, dumps, old trash piles, old out houses..Go to construction sites where they will let you in to sift and sift what they are tearing up....PAPPY

[swizzle]

Party spot sifting? I have good reason to believe that a local swimming hole has been in use for over a 100yrs. Unfortunately this means tons of trash. Its probably no more then 15 feet wide and 15 feet out during low water. Its also a very popular fishing hole. Any idea's on how to build a sifter that I could break down and tuck into a backpack? Since I'll be in the water should it float or rest on bottom? I'm thinking of making something like a 2' by 2' box about 8" to 12" inches high. With mesh all the way around. The mesh would be just small enough so that a dime won't slide through. I was also thinking that i might want to put legs on it and not worry about it floating away or sinking it with a few big rocks. Just set it on bottom and keep shoveling in dirt. I wish I could make something that I could drag bottom with and go down 3 or 4 inches. This might help get enough trash out that I could go in with my detector. My worst enemies will be beer caps and sinkers and fish hooks and who could forget the never ending river of pulltabs. Any input, feedback or instructions are more then welcome. Jason

[goldie]

I find a great place to go sifting/raking is in rivers under and around old bridges. My brother and I would go down to the river in the summer when the river was shallow enough to comfortably wade in. We would never come away empty handed. On one occasion we found 13 gold pocket watches (all approx.120 years old). We can only speculate how they got there, but suspect it could have been a thief who became nervous and decided to dump the loot.
If you are into bottle collecting, go downstream of an old bridge, say from 10 to 300 yards. Rake the mud in the river bed. the best places are usually closer to the edges or at or just after a river bend. I have found countless bottles this way and usually in very good condition. I guess people have always loved throwing bottles off bridges to see how far they can float.
If you are looking for the ultimate place to go sifting, and if you are lucky enough to get the chance, try under old floor boards. That dust and gunk and old straw under the floorboards is just loaded with coins etc. I know, not many people get the chance to take up a floor from a 200-300 year old building. but if you do, carefully sift the debris under the floor, you won't be disappointed!!! I'm lucky enough to be the owner of a restoration company that specializes in historic buildings/churches so I get the chance every now and then. I'm not sure if my labourers have figured out yet, why I never need help with that job.

Treasure hunting: 1% luck 99% knowing where to look.