"Daniel Prince" wrote in message
...
I am going to build a compost sifter. It will be a shallow box
three feet long and two feet wide with wooden sides and a hardware
cloth bottom. I bought two five foot long, five inch wide, redwood
fence boards for the sides. I have a circular saw.

Should I miter the ends of the sides, or would a butt joint be
adequate? Should I use steel corner reinforcements? Should I put
the hardware cloth on the outside of the frame or on the inside?

Thank you in advance for all replies.

Butts will be stronger than miters.
Wrap the screen around the bottom, and staple. Then cover the fabric on the
bottom with 1 by strips so when you sit the sifter down, you're not sitting
it down on the cloth. I would put outside corner braces on it. I would
also use through bolts on the braces instead of screws, as screws will work
out faster. You can build one a lot simpler and cheaper, but build a hefty
one, and it will last longer, and you won't have to stop and repair it every
time you want to use it.

I have one made out of a commercial rock separating screen. Heavy, heavy,
heavy, but nothing phases it, and it will last longer than I will.

Steve