sand sifting machines for beach and turf
What is a Sand Sifting Machine?
A sand sifting machine uses a vibrating screen to lift sand, separate out debris like shells, stones, glass, cigarette butts, and trash, and return clean sand to the ground. A smaller sand-sifting unit excels on contained areas where precision and maneuverability matter more than raw speed — golf course bunkers, playgrounds, horse arenas, sports fields, and private or lake-front beaches–and where a larger tractor-towed unit would be impractical.
Three Sand Sifting machines for specific uses
Barber manufactures three sand sifters, each engineered for a different scale and terrain: All three sift the same range of materials — the right choice depends on area size, access, and whether you have a tractor.
The SAND MAN 850 is barber’s most popular sand sifting machine. As a self-propelled walk-behind unit, it is a powerful tool for small beaches, sporting grounds, and turf applications. Learn more about its applications, how it works, and its technical specifications.
For a compact, tractor-towed option, the Sand Man TT provides many of the benefits of the Sand Man 850 but with the simplicity of mounting to a three-point hitch on a tractor. It works well on flat, contained sandy areas, like horse arenas.
Barber Sand Sifting Machine Quick Comparison
| Specification | Sand Man 850 | Radius | Sand Man TT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Walk-behind, self-propelled | Walk-behind, self-propelled | Tractor-towed (3-point hitch) |
| Best for | Small beaches, volleyball courts, sand bunkers, playgrounds | Golf bunkers, horse arenas, playgrounds, private beaches | Small to mid-sized beaches, horse arenas, soil screening |
| Cleaning width | 33 in / 85 cm | 30 in / 76 cm | 45 in / 115 cm |
| Cleaning depth | 0–4 in / 0–10 cm | Up to 4 in / 10 cm | Adjustable 0–4.5 in / 0–12 cm |
| Performance | 15,000–35,000 sq ft/hr (1,400–3,200 sq m/hr) | Up to 30,000 sq ft/hr (2,800 sq m/hr) | 1.5 acres/hr (6,000 sq m/hr) |
| Hopper capacity | 14 gal / 54 L total debris (5.3 gal collector) | 6.6 gal / 25 L | 33 gal / 125 L, hydraulic clam-shell dump |
| Screen options | 3/16 in, 3/8 in, 1/2 in (5 mm, 8 mm, 12 mm) | 3/16 in and 3/8 in (interchangeable) | 3/8 in and 3/4 in (8 mm and 20 mm); others available |
| Engine | Honda 5.5 HP gasoline, 4-stroke | Honda 5.5 HP gasoline | Powered by tractor PTO |
| Weight | 617 lbs / 280 kg | 475 lbs / 215 kg | 310 lbs / 140 kg |
| Dimensions (L × W × H) | 102 × 34 × 42 in (258 × 86 × 107 cm) | 78 × 30 × 38 in (198 × 76 × 96 cm) | 49 × 46 × 32 in (125 × 116 × 82 cm) |
| Tractor required | No | No | Yes — minimum 20–30 HP, 3-point hitch, rear PTO, 1 remote hydraulic valve |
| Debris removed | Broken glass, plastic, cigarette butts, pop-tops, straws, shells, stones, small wood | Glass, cigarette butts, pop-tops, trash, animal waste, shells, stones, wood | Shells, stones, cigarette butts, twigs, bottle caps, small litter |