Test Sieve

[Min]

Thought I would do a quick post of the test size sieves I make.  I got tired of paying 23- for the Talisman ones from my local supplier so I had a rummage through Home Depot for plumbing bits and bought some stainless screen for 2- a running inch (by 12†wide) from the ceramics supplier.

 

Plumbing PVC reducer, piece of irrigation pipe, 3†of mesh.  On the inside of the reducer there is a flange, I cut the mesh to fit that, cut off a length of the irrigation pipe then tap the pipe into the reducer and it’s done.

 

With the first one I made I glued the mesh in with cement so I didn’t have leakage between the 2 pieces of plastic, I was concerned about a darker glaze contaminating lighter glaze if I didn’t get it all washed out. Worked okay but I couldn’t separate the two pieces when I needed to replace the mesh. Now I tap the piece of pipe in, no cement, the 2 pieces fit really tightly together. I cut the pipe long enough to have about 1/2†sticking out at the bottom so I can wiggle it out with a pair of pliers when I need to replace the screen or really wash it out. 1 for light glazes, 1 for dark. 

 

 

[MatthewV]

Yours looks just as nice as the Talisman ones!

 

A coarse hair brush works well to stir a slurry through.

[neilestrick]

Those look great!

 

I have found that a stick blender eliminates the need for screening small batches.

[Min]

Thanks guys!

 

I run all my glazes that I'm going to spray through this size sieve rather than the big ones on the day I'm using them, usually about a litre. I use the smaller sieves more for this than testing. (this size is about double what the Talisman ones are) I like the stick blenders too but find some stuff like wollastonite doesn't always get blended in all the way.

[Roberta12]

I like your idea!  Thanks for sharing, Min.....I sieve before spraying also......

 

r.

[glazenerd]

Min:

I see your creativity extends beyond pottery: clever indeed!

Nerd

[Callie Beller Diesel]

I have a slight variation on this, using a screw-top plastic jar instead of plumbing fittings. Cut the bottom off the jar with a hacksaw, and cut a circle out of the lid. Cut the screen to fit inside the lid, and it just unscrews for easy cleaning/replacement.

[Babs]

Canadian recycle queen, I like it!

[Joseph Fireborn]

I don't sieve my small batches either. I just stick blend them for a good amount of time then let them sit 48 hours and stick blend them again. I do sieve the larger stuff though.

[MatthewV]

On the 5-gallon side, this sieve works much better than the annoying crank handle with three pads. With the cutout lid to hold the sieve-holder, the full bucket of can be rested on the top edge to make pouring easier. The entire setup is very very easy to clean.

 

So simple a dog could do it!