Astrobouncer
Hero Member
- Jun 21, 2009
- 823
- 344
I had to stay home this past weekend instead of prospecting like I usually do, so I figured I would put the time to good use and make a couple new sluices and an easy classifier for my buckets.
Keep in mind I am a full time college student on a real limited budget, so I am trying to do everything as cost effective as possible. That means no miners moss, aluminum, etc (I have no equipment to work with metal). I can work with wood because my cousin is a woodworker and I can use his shop when hes not busy (which is about once a month if I am lucky).
I am obviously no woodworker, but I am getting better at making stuff each time I do it.
My first sluice I made months back is the big long one, the one that is longer then the shovel. It is inspired by the sluice here: http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,176317.0.html and uses a similar design except mine has some 1/4" riffles in the long inspection mat and uses a black expanded metal throughout, along with some screening down under the end riffles. It weighs 22 lbs complete with flare. It isnt too bad to cleanup, you have to take 2 screws out and then the riffles + carpet comes out. I had to use silicon to seal the joints of the wood, because this one was done by handsaws and it wasnt completely straight, heh. It is 9 inchs in width and 54 inchs long before the flare. I used a couple coats of varnish to waterproof the whole thing. The carpeting/matting under the riffles is some kinda old outdoor rug I cut up.
The first sluice I made is ok, but as you can see the riffle design could use some improvement. Plus its not very efficient for all of its length. It fills up with black sand fast in the riffles and I have to empty it alot because if I dont the heavies will wash through. The long inspection mat is great for seeing if theres gold in an area or not though.
I made the medium sized darker sluice this weekend, everything cut to length using machinery and it fits great. It has black expanded metal throughout, and hungarian type riffles as well. Its the same size throughout, at 9 inchs in width and four feet long without the flare. When I made the flare I saved the pieces I cut out and used those to make the classifier for it, which fits over the top of the flare. I made one mistake on the width of my riffles when I was cutting the wood for the riffles, but the mistake actually worked out great because the shim board I use to lock the riffles in place, makes for a super fast cleanup. No screws or anything just pull up the shim board which is wedged tightly in place and the riffles, expanded metal, and carpet come out for easy cleanup. This one weighs 14 pounds complete. It uses deck stain and varnish for extra water sealing. The riffles are 3/4" long but because they are at a 45 degree angle they end up about 1/2" in height. The cloth under the riffles is some black stuff I got at hobby lobby that has a deep groove in it.
I wanted a small backpacker sluice I could take anywhere, and not have to worry about lugging some 4 foot thing into tight spaces so I made the small sluice too this weekend. It also was machine cut and everything fits well on it. I am going to put straps on it so I can carry it over the shoulders with my pack. It is 24 inchs in length, 6 inchs in width (3.75 inches high) and uses hungarian type riffles, expanded metal, and some black grooved cloth I found at hobby lobby. I havent made a flare for it yet either. It weighs right at 2 lbs right now, if I make a flare I will keep that light also but it will probably add another pound at least. I havent decided on a flare or not yet. It cleans up super easy just like the medium sluice, just remove the riffles with a screwdriver and its ready for cleanup.
I also made the easy slip on bucket classifier this weekend. It uses 1/2" metal screening and one end of the wood is cut so you can slip the lip of it over bucket. It fits great and is super tight and doesnt move at all when you are shoveling gravel on it.
If you guys have ideas for more things I could make out of wood that would be helpful let me know. I have read all of the old sluice posts on this forum which is what inspired me to make this one. The post where the guy has a adjustable height sluice with a water gate is really neat and I might try something like that next too.
I havent had time to try the medium sized one, or the small one yet but hoepfully will get to soon, and post up some pictures. I start back college this monday so not alot of free time to work with =/.
Heres some pictures of all of this, shovel is to give you an idea of the scale:
Keep in mind I am a full time college student on a real limited budget, so I am trying to do everything as cost effective as possible. That means no miners moss, aluminum, etc (I have no equipment to work with metal). I can work with wood because my cousin is a woodworker and I can use his shop when hes not busy (which is about once a month if I am lucky).
I am obviously no woodworker, but I am getting better at making stuff each time I do it.
My first sluice I made months back is the big long one, the one that is longer then the shovel. It is inspired by the sluice here: http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,176317.0.html and uses a similar design except mine has some 1/4" riffles in the long inspection mat and uses a black expanded metal throughout, along with some screening down under the end riffles. It weighs 22 lbs complete with flare. It isnt too bad to cleanup, you have to take 2 screws out and then the riffles + carpet comes out. I had to use silicon to seal the joints of the wood, because this one was done by handsaws and it wasnt completely straight, heh. It is 9 inchs in width and 54 inchs long before the flare. I used a couple coats of varnish to waterproof the whole thing. The carpeting/matting under the riffles is some kinda old outdoor rug I cut up.
The first sluice I made is ok, but as you can see the riffle design could use some improvement. Plus its not very efficient for all of its length. It fills up with black sand fast in the riffles and I have to empty it alot because if I dont the heavies will wash through. The long inspection mat is great for seeing if theres gold in an area or not though.
I made the medium sized darker sluice this weekend, everything cut to length using machinery and it fits great. It has black expanded metal throughout, and hungarian type riffles as well. Its the same size throughout, at 9 inchs in width and four feet long without the flare. When I made the flare I saved the pieces I cut out and used those to make the classifier for it, which fits over the top of the flare. I made one mistake on the width of my riffles when I was cutting the wood for the riffles, but the mistake actually worked out great because the shim board I use to lock the riffles in place, makes for a super fast cleanup. No screws or anything just pull up the shim board which is wedged tightly in place and the riffles, expanded metal, and carpet come out for easy cleanup. This one weighs 14 pounds complete. It uses deck stain and varnish for extra water sealing. The riffles are 3/4" long but because they are at a 45 degree angle they end up about 1/2" in height. The cloth under the riffles is some black stuff I got at hobby lobby that has a deep groove in it.
I wanted a small backpacker sluice I could take anywhere, and not have to worry about lugging some 4 foot thing into tight spaces so I made the small sluice too this weekend. It also was machine cut and everything fits well on it. I am going to put straps on it so I can carry it over the shoulders with my pack. It is 24 inchs in length, 6 inchs in width (3.75 inches high) and uses hungarian type riffles, expanded metal, and some black grooved cloth I found at hobby lobby. I havent made a flare for it yet either. It weighs right at 2 lbs right now, if I make a flare I will keep that light also but it will probably add another pound at least. I havent decided on a flare or not yet. It cleans up super easy just like the medium sluice, just remove the riffles with a screwdriver and its ready for cleanup.
I also made the easy slip on bucket classifier this weekend. It uses 1/2" metal screening and one end of the wood is cut so you can slip the lip of it over bucket. It fits great and is super tight and doesnt move at all when you are shoveling gravel on it.
If you guys have ideas for more things I could make out of wood that would be helpful let me know. I have read all of the old sluice posts on this forum which is what inspired me to make this one. The post where the guy has a adjustable height sluice with a water gate is really neat and I might try something like that next too.
I havent had time to try the medium sized one, or the small one yet but hoepfully will get to soon, and post up some pictures. I start back college this monday so not alot of free time to work with =/.
Heres some pictures of all of this, shovel is to give you an idea of the scale:
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