CKG Floating Sifter Review

The CKG Floating Sifter is a smart choice for beachcombers, mudlarks, fossil hunters, and privy diggers. Made from durable plastic with a rust-proof stainless steel perforated plate sieve, this sifter ensures longevity and reliability. Its design features a comfortable grip handle and a buoyant frame, making it easy to transport and use in water. The stainless steel perforated plate sieve efficiently separates treasures from sand and water, streamlining the search process. Versatile and suitable for various environments, water to land, it can be used to find a wide range of treasures, including rocks, seashells, glass objects, shark teeth, megalodon teeth, other kinds of fossils, and other items. To ensure that it will not float away in water environments, it comes with a strong rope leash that can be attached to an arm or equipment.

Why Perforated Metal Plate Sieves Floating Sifter vs. Wire Mesh Floating Sifter

Perforated metal plate sieves are constructed from solid metal plates with evenly spaced holes or perforations, offering a design distinct from woven wire mesh sieves. They provide durability and resistance to wear, making them ideal for heavy-duty applications. Unlike woven wire mesh sieves, which are more flexible but may wear out faster, perforated metal plate sieves offer superior strength and durability, making them suitable for abrasive materials such as course pebbles or sand formed by abrassive sharp sea shells, coral and bones, known as biogenic sand. Additionally, their perforated design minimizes the risk of clogging, ensuring efficient sieving even with materials prone to sticking, such as coarse sand or muddy sludge.

CKG Floating Sifter Measurements

Floating Sifter Length (Handle Side)	18.5 Inches / 45.72 Centimeters
Floating Sifter Width	22 Inches / 55.88 Centimeters
Floating Sifter Height	3.5 Inches / 8.89 Centimeters
Perforated Metal Plate Sieve Circular Hole Circumference	10.4 Millimeters
Strap Length	51 Inches / 130 Centimeters

The CKG Floating Sifter for Metal Detecting in the Water

Perforated metal plate sieves may not be the best choice for metal detectorists. While the CKG Floating Sifter has been highly praised, there are areas where it could be improved. One key issue for metal detectorists is that the stainless perforated metal plate makes it difficult to use a pinpointer effectively, forcing users to rely solely on visual identification of the item rather than quickly pinpointing it.

It would be great if CKG introduced a floating sifter model with an interchangeable screen made from ABS, poly, fiberglass, or kevlar mesh, offering an alternative to the metal plate for water detectors.

Another solution could be to DIY the CKG Floating Sifter by removing the perforated metal plate and creating your own non-metal sieve or mesh, attaching it to the buoyant orange frame. While this would void CKG’s three-year warranty, it could be a viable option for metal detectorists who want to retain the buoyant design without any metal components.

Consider Using the CKG Floating Sifter for Archaeological Excavations or 

With its metal plate sieve, the CKG Floating Sifter may not be the best choice for most metal detectorists. However, it is an excellent option for sifting through various soils and sands, having proven highly effective in archaeological excavations across deserts, swamps, and creeks, especially for those archeology excavations where one is looking for non-metal objects and not using a pinpointer. Its lightweight design, weighing 4.59 pounds (2.08 kilograms), makes it ideal for archaeologists who need to hike into remote locations where weight and size restrictions are a concern. The CKG Floating Sifter is more durable and larger than a traditional gold pan sifter while being lighter than sifters made with wooden frames, offering a practical, lighter, and versatile solution for remote fieldwork.

One user states, “The sifter’s durability is complemented by its functional design. The size is just right—I can load 2-3 shovels of sand into it, and it remains buoyant. A few shakes to sift out the sand and the target is revealed.”

Where to Purchase the CKG Floating Sifter

The CKG Floating Sifter can be purchased through the official CKG website.

Conclusion

Whether you’re a professional treasure hunter, archaeologist, mudlarker, or beachcomber, the CKG Floating Treasure Hunting Sifter is a valuable addition to any seeker’s toolkit, thanks to its high-quality construction and user-friendly design. While the perforated metal plate sieve may pose a challenge for metal detectorists, the CKG Floating Sifter shines in applications where seekers are targeting non-metal objects. Its overall performance and reliability make it an excellent choice for those working in diverse environments, offering durability and ease of use for a wide range of treasure hunting and excavation activities.