I decided not to make this thing but to get a bazooka trap instead. I am still making a better classifier though as I hate the bucket classifiers. I tried making a bucket with a mesh on the bottom but it got so heavy when you put more than two scoops in that it wasn't worth it. Now I am using a plastic pepsi tray (which already has 1/2 inch holes) used for carrying 24 cans, putting in a 1/4 inch wire cloth mesh, tying it down with cable ties. Then I got a 5 dollar mortar mixing tub to shake it into. the bigger surface area on the tray (and handles) should allow for a more vigorous and faster washing. Spinning a bucket classifier never seemed to do enough as a lot of rocks just sat in the middle as I spun it. Now, washing is more intense and the larger area means more material washed more quickly. Plus handles are great and you wont have to keep adding water while classifying.
Just a quick reply to Spurs comment about dredging, this can be expensive, you have to have a lot of tackle & you really need a buddy so not so good if go alone as I do, so my alternative is sniping this works for a bad back & where you get a nice wide but low river just use an inflatable for support this is my favourite way to hunt.
This may be a bit off track but it truly works. A Le Trap sluice complete with its end on, I believe they call this the river bank robber, your not going to use the flow of the river, set in the river at the correct angle, you need a hand suction pump, pulling your material straight from the river then pumping it straight into the top of the sluice, the water you pulled into your pump with your material will now wash that material down the sluice, no need to classify at all, when your ready clean up in usual way then reset sluice just to the side of your previous spot, rake off the over burden that you created then clean that spot also, but this time drop a pan at the bottom of the sluice, i can almost guarantee you wont find any in there when you've finished & if you find more than 1 or 2 bits in the sluice then it was already there before you dropped on it in the first place. this has been well tried & tested, most of the gold I get is flour, micro dots, & flake. Good luck with your classifier Erik if you get it to work there will be a lot of interest , please keep me posted .
Maybe I should alternate the openings so the first one is on right and second on left? @Gail...I din't have any sluice on this. The idea was to run this in a place with higher current and water flow to try and minimize blockages. Then collect the -4 which comes off the end. My first thought was to take a 5gal bucket, cut a half circle out of the bottom, dig a little hole for it to sit down in and hook it to some screw on the classifier board. Then the water/material could rush into it and through it out the top half of the bottom of bucket. The material would stay in the bucket....kind of like a fluid bed trap with no actual fluid bed. Then I would take the material and feed it into my Angus Mack sluice.
I can see what your trying to achieve but without wanting to put a damper on it I honestly believe you may be making a rod for that very painful back of your's. Using any size mesh will cause blockages, exactly the same as when your classifying, unless your able to remove them often to bang out the small rocks that will get stuck. I'd be interested to hear more about the sluice ie:- is it drop riffle? does it have matting? etc, I may have another very different suggestion for you , I also have one of those backs.
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I decided not to make this thing but to get a bazooka trap instead. I am still making a better classifier though as I hate the bucket classifiers. I tried making a bucket with a mesh on the bottom but it got so heavy when you put more than two scoops in that it wasn't worth it. Now I am using a plastic pepsi tray (which already has 1/2 inch holes) used for carrying 24 cans, putting in a 1/4 inch wire cloth mesh, tying it down with cable ties. Then I got a 5 dollar mortar mixing tub to shake it into. the bigger surface area on the tray (and handles) should allow for a more vigorous and faster washing. Spinning a bucket classifier never seemed to do enough as a lot of rocks just sat in the middle as I spun it. Now, washing is more intense and the larger area means more material washed more quickly. Plus handles are great and you wont have to keep adding water while classifying.
Just a quick reply to Spurs comment about dredging, this can be expensive, you have to have a lot of tackle & you really need a buddy so not so good if go alone as I do, so my alternative is sniping this works for a bad back & where you get a nice wide but low river just use an inflatable for support this is my favourite way to hunt.
Hi Erik,
This may be a bit off track but it truly works. A Le Trap sluice complete with its end on, I believe they call this the river bank robber, your not going to use the flow of the river, set in the river at the correct angle, you need a hand suction pump, pulling your material straight from the river then pumping it straight into the top of the sluice, the water you pulled into your pump with your material will now wash that material down the sluice, no need to classify at all, when your ready clean up in usual way then reset sluice just to the side of your previous spot, rake off the over burden that you created then clean that spot also, but this time drop a pan at the bottom of the sluice, i can almost guarantee you wont find any in there when you've finished & if you find more than 1 or 2 bits in the sluice then it was already there before you dropped on it in the first place. this has been well tried & tested, most of the gold I get is flour, micro dots, & flake. Good luck with your classifier Erik if you get it to work there will be a lot of interest , please keep me posted .
Sorry Erik
Had company all evening i'll give you a shout tomorrow , wanna chat for sure .
@Gail...I am always interested in any suggestions.....Thanks.
Maybe I should alternate the openings so the first one is on right and second on left? @Gail...I din't have any sluice on this. The idea was to run this in a place with higher current and water flow to try and minimize blockages. Then collect the -4 which comes off the end. My first thought was to take a 5gal bucket, cut a half circle out of the bottom, dig a little hole for it to sit down in and hook it to some screw on the classifier board. Then the water/material could rush into it and through it out the top half of the bottom of bucket. The material would stay in the bucket....kind of like a fluid bed trap with no actual fluid bed. Then I would take the material and feed it into my Angus Mack sluice.
Hi Erik
I can see what your trying to achieve but without wanting to put a damper on it I honestly believe you may be making a rod for that very painful back of your's. Using any size mesh will cause blockages, exactly the same as when your classifying, unless your able to remove them often to bang out the small rocks that will get stuck. I'd be interested to hear more about the sluice ie:- is it drop riffle? does it have matting? etc, I may have another very different suggestion for you , I also have one of those backs.
looks like a great idea let us know if it works out ok