What is the Size of a Drum Sieve?
The size of drum sieves differs depending on their purpose. 
Some, like the Joshua Roth Limited sieves, are 12 inches in diameter. The Pearl Life drum sieves are 7.25 inches in diameter. On the average, the drum sieve dimensions range from 6 to 16 inches or 15 to 41 cm. Its shape is similar to a snare drum. The drum sieve is also known as a tamis. In India it is called the chalni.
Shape
The drum sieve is a kitchen utility utilized as a strainer. It can also be used as food mill or grater. They usually have a cylindrical edge constructed of wood or metal. This is used to support the disc made of horsehair, nylon or metal mesh. The size of the drum sieves does not determine the mesh type; it is dependent on the manufacturer.
Usage and Application
To use the drum sieve, you put it over a pot or bowl. The material to be strained is set in the middle of the mesh. The food will then be pushed through via a pestle or scraper. One of the advantages of using a tamis is its flat mesh.
This means downward pressure can be put by scraping in a horizontal manner. In contrast, the chinoise requires you to push through its tip. When using the drum sieve, it must be with the inside hoop uppermost. This allows the bowl under to rest on the hoop instead of the mesh.
Second, it can hold much more. The tamis is able to grate and sift materials finer compared with other strainers. This is true regardless of the size of the drum sieves.
Apart from fruit puree, the tamis can also be used in other ways. For instance, flour or sugar that is coursed through the tamis can be absorbed in sauces and gravies better.
Mesh Types
Compared with wire, nylon mesh is more popular. The reason is its durability. The nylon mesh is more suited for fruit purees. Wire mesh is stronger, but it will discolor the fruit. Another problem with the wire mesh is it will rust if it isn’t dried properly. The horsehair used to be very popular but is now becoming scarce.
Other Uses
While the tamis is primarily a kitchen tool, it can also be used for gardening. For example, the sieve can be filled with soil. By giving it a quick shake, the large stones will be removed. Only fine dirt will remain. In fact there are now sieves made especially for gardening.
If you take it to the beach, you can use it to sift across the sand and find fossilized shark teeth and other items. The stainless steel mesh will be needed so it stays in good shape.
While stainless steel is popular in the West, the wood sieves are still used in some Asian countries. There are also sieves made of aluminum.
The size of drum sieves will determine how easy it will be to use. if you will be using the tamis in the kitchen, make sure that it is of the right size.
