16" TROMMEL BUILD INSPIRED BY AZVIPER

[Doitlaynstyle]

So I have started gathering supplies to begin my trommel build. I'll post a link to AZ's thread which is my inspiration for this build but I'm also planning a different style. I'll be using easily obtainable parts so that rebuilding in the event of failure is possible without fabricating new parts. I'm thinking that at eight foot long I'm going to just turn this thing into a small trailer or build it on a small trailer so that I can also haul the extra gear and make the weekend trips a little more do-able. I will be using one of the two roto-tillers for the gear reduction and I am contemplating using a tubed rubber tire as a drive wheel instead of running a full gear ring on the beast. I will probably still use roller blade wheels for the cylinder rotation but I am probably going to use four on bottom and four on top to lock the cylinder into place so the tire doesn't knock the cylinder up off the bearing wheels.

I'm also hoping that I can get my hands on a claim soon and I'll also be using my father's back-hoe to stockpile dirt, move tailing piles, and create a reclamation pond. Anyway this is the start of a long slow winter because money is tight. We just bought a new house and I'm scrimping more than usual. I'm hoping to build a new 12" sluice box but I might just have to extend my current 10" box. Like AZ I'm hoping to use gold hog mating but that's only if I can afford it. Most likely I'll run my rifles and miners moss first followed by another 3' of box with the gold hog mat I currently have. So enough of this for now. I'll add photos here and link AZ's thread.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/gold-prospecting/364420-12-inch-trommel-build.html

 

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[Doitlaynstyle]

The contest portion of this thread has concluded. AZVIPER WON

 

[Aufisher]

Sextina

 

[calisdad]

I like the concept. First thought was Rototrommel but I think Tromzilla fits it better.

 

[AzViper]

Because its going to be a dirt eating machine feeding a sluice full of Gold Hog Mats what else can you call it but the DirtHog...

 

[AzViper]

Here are a few photos of my friends trommel whom I play poker with. He built it and has sold it recently. Maybe it will give you some more ideas for your build.

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[Doitlaynstyle]

Here are a few photos of my friends trommel whom I play poker with. He built it and has sold it recently. Maybe it will give you some more ideas for your build.

Holy cow. That's a serious build there. I wont be going so big LOL. But I see some areas that I might mimick. What is that thing like 24 " trommel?

 

[AzViper]

Holy cow. That's a serious build there. I wont be going so big LOL. But I see some areas that I might mimick. What is that thing like 24 " trommel?

Its a 30" trommel.

 

[Hoser John]

Nice little unit,slightly bigger than a gold claimer and built a bit tougher too. NO mat bs in that. John

 

[russau]

to name your trommel, id call it "Plan B"

 

[AzViper]

Nice little unit,slightly bigger than a gold claimer and built a bit tougher too. NO mat bs in that. John

John no comparison to a Gold Claimer. This trommel is a beast compared to the Gold Claimer. He is building a new trommel that's going to be completely run by hydraulics from a single diesel engine to replace the trommel he sold.

We all understand your not a fan of Gold Hog Mats but there are plenty of user who are and more and more miners are turning to the mats due the simplicity of the cleanouts. I can't say much beyond that as I have no experience with the mats. These forums are full of threads of miners using Gold Hog Mats with outstanding results, carpet, miner moss, raised expanded metal, riffles are a PITA.

 

[AzViper]

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[Doitlaynstyle]

View attachment 890504 View attachment 890506

This is very similar to how I picture mine being. I found this trailer to mount it on ( 4' x 8' Utility Trailer - 1720 Lb. Capacity ) and I will be reversing where the motor will be. Yes I am putting it on top. I want the Feed hopper as low to the ground as possible for manual feeding. I was also noticing how the tillers use the engine weight to get the pressure to dig into the earth. I will be using the engine weight on a fulcrum to place pressure on the tire. This will also allow me to use only 4 wheels with bearings underneath the cylinder. I can fab a low profile catch hopper under the cylinder and allow just enough height for the sluice box to come out and dump onto the ground. This Idea is growing as I investigate.... Im starting to like the name Tromzilla, But I am waiting to see if someone comes up with something better. My sons nickname is "Buckets" so it would be fun to say " Hey Buckets, Go fire up _______" LOL

 

[AzViper]

A 16" cylinder has a circumference of 50.2655 inches, you will have about 126 rows of holes. With a 15" classification area you will have about 2400 holes need to be drilled, cut, etc. with the pattern I sent you. This would be 19 holes per row multiplied by 126 rows.

 

[AzViper]

If your hand feeding the trommel from buckets or shovels you will want your top of the hopper to be no higher than 40 inches max. Lower would be better but you have to figure your sluice, sluice angle, the trough the sluice is dumping into if its going to be recir. system.

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

A 16" cylinder has a circumference of 50.2655 inches, you will have about 126 rows of holes. With a 15" classification area you will have about 2400 holes need to be drilled, cut, etc. with the pattern I sent you. This would be 19 holes per row multiplied by 126 rows.

Ummmmm Thanks? LOL I wanna puke just thinking about it LOL. You are getting such good results that I am going to do it your way. Unibit and lots of elbow grease.

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

If your hand feeding the trommel from buckets or shovels you will want your top of the hopper to be no higher than 40 inches max. Lower would be better but you have to figure your sluice, sluice angle, the trough the sluice is dumping into if its going to be recir. system.

If I cant get it low enough I may be doing my own version of a bucket elevator to feed the hopper ...

 

[davidb]

Just call it lil dirty lol

 

[AzViper]

Ummmmm Thanks? LOL I wanna puke just thinking about it LOL. You are getting such good results that I am going to do it your way. Unibit and lots of elbow grease.

After you center punch each center and while drilling the 1/8" hole you want to watch the bit in relation to the center cross. You can adjust as your going through the metal to get the bit can on center. The Unibit will stay centered. I own a plasma cutter and cannot imagine blowing these holes out using the plasma with this precision, CNC then yes. One of my favorite CNC cutting videos.

What you got to look forward to ------->>>>

 

[IdahoJake]

Nice!! I hope you get lots of the yellow metal using: "The Trom-a-tron"