When Hill & Sons was founded in 1946, they were one of hundreds of firms producing beechwood and wire mesh sieves and riddles for mines, agriculture, fishing and even on the railways, where they sifted ballast between the tracks.
Sieves and riddles range from six to 24 inches in diameter, with meshes from a few microns to a full inch.
Strips of fresh-cut wood are cut to the desired width using a circular saw. The ends are chamfered, and the strips then steamed for three hours in a steaming chest. Once softened, the strips are rolled round cylinders, and once bent, dry out over two or three days.
Oak, elm and beech are traditional timbers used. One Victorian book also refers to the use of Cedar. Steve Overthrow now uses ash, which is in plentiful supply.
Sourcing pre woven mesh in galvanized is now the issue as weavers are reluctant to break down their machines from the more lucrative stainless.
The chamfered ends of the rim are tacked together and holes drilled for the mesh. Wires of galvanised steel are stretched and woven inside the rim to form the mesh.
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Mike Turnock, trading as Hill and Sons (NW) Ltd, was previously the last sieve and riddle maker in the UK, steam bending wooden rims and weaving wire mesh riddles and sieves for gardeners, shellfish fishermen, cooks and potters. Mike retired in 2010 rendering the craft extinct until 2018.
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