Hi all, we are going to build our own sluice box for this season. We haven't settled on exact dimensions yet but we will likely make it foldable to make for easy hiking. For length we are thinking in the area of 40"-50" assembled. We would like build in a drop with a plunge plate but don't know how high the drop should be, 3"-6"? This will be used in creeks and small rivers, we are not planning on using electronic pumps n such this early in the game. Our area is not known for having much gold (what we have is generally flour gold), we are trying to hone our geology skills before going to an area with more promise. Honestly, if we find any gold in this area, it really just lets us know that we are on the right track for when we get to better areas. Any tips for building our sluice box would really help. Thanks everyone!
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Based on my own experience, you should make the drop adjustable. Not all gravel, sand etc runs the same.
mine is a drop riffle sluice 4 ft long, catches extremely fine flour gold and I seem to run drops from about 2 inches to 4 inches. I also have 4 inch long nails sticking out the bottom of the legs to hold it in place against the current when running in a river or stream.
good luck
Thanks, the overall drop (from front to back) will be adjustable (I'm not positive, but I think this is what you meant), but we were thinking the sluice would be two levels with a plunge plate. We'd like to simulate waterfall action. We've seen some boxes like this in videos but the drop from level one to level two looks different in each one, and the plunge plates are always installed at different heights. We thought maybe there was some sort of standard (like the drop to the plunge plate should be x inches/ xgal water per hr) and we aren't sure how far above the second level the plunge plate should be located (1" or 2" above level 2 etc). The nails sticking out the bottom is just such a good idea, sure beats having to weigh it down with rocks!
there are alot of members here that build equipment so I am sure someone can get you in the right direction ...keep us posted on the build thank you
Thanks Tim :) It's amazing how much info is available on prospecting, but how little is available on making your own equipment. We just felt that the little 30" walmart special isn't getting the fine stuff we know is there. Rather than having a cpl different boxes, we just want to build one that will work more effectively.