Rotary Screening Bucket

Screening Buckets For Excavator

Separate rocks and debris from loose soil—right on your jobsite.

TOOSAN screening buckets help excavators sort mixed materials during excavation, site cleanup and backfilling. The open-bar design allows smaller material to pass through while retaining larger stones and debris.

Also known as skeleton buckets or riddle buckets, these attachments offer a straightforward way to separate reusable material without a powered screening mechanism.

Send us your excavator model, material photos and required screening size. We’ll help you choose a suitable bucket and mounting setup.

Screening Bucket Features & Performance

Separate Material During Excavation

Screen loose soil, stones and mixed excavation material as part of the digging and handling process. Smaller particles pass through the gaps while larger pieces remain in the bucket.

Recover Suitable Material for Reuse

Separate usable material for landscaping or backfilling where project specifications allow. This can reduce the amount of mixed material sent away and the need to bring in replacement fill.

Simple Operation

A fixed screening bucket uses the excavator’s bucket movement to separate material. The screening mechanism requires no hydraulic motor or additional hydraulic circuit.

Bar Spacing Matched to Your Material

The gap between the bars determines the approximate separation size. Wider spacing releases larger material; narrower spacing retains more material but may slow screening.

Accessible for Inspection and Cleaning

The open structure makes it easier to inspect the bars and remove trapped material. Regular checks should cover the teeth, cutting edge, bars, welds and mounting points.

Screening Bucket Applications

  • Separating stones from loose soil.

  • Sorting suitable excavation material for reuse.

  • Removing larger debris during site cleanup.

  • Preparing material for landscaping.

  • Separating coarse material before further processing.

Performance depends on moisture, particle shape and material composition. Wet clay, roots and tangled debris can block the gaps and require additional cleaning.

Screening Buckets for CAT, Komatsu, Hitachi, Volvo, JCB and Other Excavators

Choosing a screening bucket involves more than matching excavator tonnage. Bucket weight, capacity, bar spacing and mounting dimensions all affect suitability.

TOOSAN helps you check the pin diameter, pin centres and dipper width—or your quick coupler specifications—before confirming the attachment.

Excavator brand names are used for compatibility reference only. TOOSAN is an independent attachment supplier and is not affiliated with these manufacturers.

Screening Buckets Size Guide

Excavator weight Typical work Key selection points
1–3 tonnes Gardens, landscaping and small cleanup jobs Keep bucket weight and capacity suitable for a small machine.
4–8 tonnes Residential excavation and utility work Balance screening width, capacity and handling ability.
10–15 tonnes General earthworks and material sorting Match bar spacing to the material you want to recover.
18–25 tonnes Larger excavation and site cleanup Check loaded bucket weight, material density and mounting dimensions.
30 tonnes and above Larger-scale material handling Confirm machine limits, structural requirements and working conditions.

Screening Bucket FAQ

What is a screening bucket used for?

A screening bucket separates smaller material from larger stones and debris. Fixed-bar buckets are commonly used for coarse separation during excavation, landscaping and site cleanup.

A skeleton bucket separates material through fixed gaps using the excavator’s movement. A rotary screening bucket uses a powered rotating drum. The suitable choice depends on the material, required separation size and working conditions.

The fixed screening mechanism does not need an additional hydraulic circuit. A hydraulic quick coupler, if fitted, has its own operating requirements.

Wet, sticky material can bridge across the gaps and reduce separation. Share photos or a video of your material so we can discuss whether a fixed-bar bucket suits the job.

Start with the size of material you want to retain or release. Particle shape also matters: long or flat pieces may pass through differently from rounded stones.

Fit must be checked against your excavator or coupler dimensions. Send the machine brand and model, pin diameter, pin centres and dipper width. Machine tonnage alone does not confirm compatibility.