Custom Sluice Box ~ Anybody Know Someone Who Will Build

AzViper

AzViper

Bronze Member
Sep 30, 2012
2,038
2,251
Arizona - Is there any other state worth visiting
Detector(s) used
Fisher Gold Bug Pro, Nokta FORS Gold, Garrett ATX, Sun Ray Gold Pro Headphones, Royal Pick, Etc.
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
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fowledup said:
Buy the full sheet have two made and sell the second to pay for the first.
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That would be 4 from that 4x8' sheet.

When I had the metal bent for the panel saw I was building I just found a fabrication guy in the phone book. He asked if I was supplying the material or if he needed to. Maybe if you rounded up a 2x4' drop, they would bend it?

I know industrial metal supply has a crapload of aluminum sheet drops, but I don't know if they have a brake (nor the needed material specifications, thickness or aluminum/steel/stainless).
 

Give an hvac contractor or two a call, would bet most would be happy to help for a twelve pack of their favorite after work refreshment. Sorry about earlier post I guess that would be a bit too much metal.
 

My youngest son is a journeyman HVAC tech, specializing in duct forming, and general sheet metal forming. While I would trust him to form the sluice body, I sincerely doubt that he would be able to fabricate a riffle segment. HVAC techs don't normally work with aluminum, and seldom weld other than brazing copper pipe together. Yes, he could do the bending, but the joinery would be outside his skill set. Even then, once you got all the parts together the end result would cost nearly as much as a manufactured sluice, and would likely be of inferior quality. I would also find it difficult to believe that a novice could design a sluice any better than existing designs. Sometimes you're just better off buying an existing product.
 

Thanks everyone for your input. If you know me I would build it myself but lost my contact who owned and lost his sheet metal shop in a nasty divorce. So I have no access to a shear or brake any longer. I have received a reasonable quote from Chris at Fabrication Specialists and waiting on another quote of a slightly larger sluice of 60" x 14" x 4" from Heckler Fabrications

The trommel is beginning to take shape and soon I hope to be processing dirt with the hope of finding more gold.

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Got the Sluice box made and have Gold Hog Mats the entire length. Its made .080 aluminum and measures 60"x12"x4". Today I started building the stand. I used 7/8" square tubing for the legs, 1" square tubing for the slide mount for each leg, and 3/4" square tubing for the frame. I weld the slide mounts at an 8 degree angle so that the legs are straight up and down so that the weight bares straight down so not to bend the legs. The legs are completely adjustable with the knob on each corner.

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Hey there Viper, Do you have a McMaster-Carr in or near tuscon. They have decent prices on sheet aluminum, offer all grades and thicknesses, and sizes that start at 12"x12". They have will call also. Paul
 

Nodnor the Wise said:
Hey there Viper, Do you have a McMaster-Carr in or near tuscon. They have decent prices on sheet aluminum, offer all grades and thicknesses, and sizes that start at 12"x12". They have will call also. Paul
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The sluice is already built. Our company deals with MMC and for the most part I feel their prices are at the top. Great reference catalog though for my personal use. As for the company we buy from them all the time.
 

Sorry, I misunderstood what was going on in the thread, now feel like I was just busting in on the middle of a conversation, sorry about that. Paul
 

Nodnor the Wise said:
Sorry, I misunderstood what was going on in the thread, now feel like I was just busting in on the middle of a conversation, sorry about that. Paul
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No problem Paul... Welcome to T Net and enjoy your stay. Lots of good people who have lots of great info. to share. Never be afraid to ask as most have been there, done that, or can get you the answer. Keith
 

Installed a header block to the top of the sluice and water dispenser in the event I need more flow to run the Gold Hog Mat properly.

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Wow AZViper, just WOW! Great job
 

KevinInColorado said:
Wow AZViper, just WOW! Great job
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Thanks Kevin... Its been a long process to get to this point with the entire system but I and the system should be ready sometime in Feb. or Mar. I hope. My shoulder replacement takes place on Dec. 18th so I am in a rush to get as much done as I can in the next few weeks, but everything really hinges on my brothers recovery as well. Will be heading up to Scottsdale again on Saturday and next week for Thanksgiving as he's at the Mayo Clinic until a week from Sunday if everything goes to plan.

I hooked up the pump directly to the sluice box to run a test of water flow, I really like what I saw. Now its a question whether I will need to add additional water to the sluice or will the trommel supply enough water for the Gold Hog Mats to perform correctly. Either way I have it covered and can make complete adjustments with the water manifold.

Hope your staying out of the cold as CO is having some cold weather this week...
 

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AzViper said:
Thanks Kevin... Its been a long process to get to this point with the entire system but I and the system should be reading sometime in Feb. or Mar. I hope. My shoulder replacement takes place on Dec. 18th so I am in a rush to get as much done as I can in the next few weeks, but everything really hinges on my brothers recovery as well. Will be heading up to Scottsdale again on Saturday and next week for Thanksgiving as he's at the Mayo click until a week from Sunday if everything goes to plan. I hooked up the pump directly to the sluice box to run a test of water flow, I really like what I saw. Now its a question whether I will need to add additional water to the sluice or will the trommel supply enough water for the Gold Hog Mats to perform correctly. Either way I have it covered and can make complete adjustments with the water manifold. Hope your staying out of the cold as CO is having some cold weather this week...
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I'm staying warm but will spend the later afternoon in a friends chilly garage doing some assay experiments...fun but brrrr.

I did get out briefly on Monday and Tuesday before it got cold to do some digging too :-)
 

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