Sometimes wire sieves are too fine for screening still chunky compost. To move things along, without losing your sanity, try screening with a wider mesh. An easy alternative is to use and old plastic milk crate.

Although most companies no longer use mild crates, you can still find them at tag sales and probably in your garage. The holes are about a 1/2 inch wide, making them large enough for the soil to flow through but small enough to block twigs and larger clumps.

The handles and tall sides make them very manageable.

If you can't find an old, discarded crate, their are inexpensive new versions in many container departments.