Electric Powered Arrastra

[desertgolddigger]

I'm curious about if say an Arrastra with two 100 pound grinding stones could be powered with a low rpm high torque geared electric motor.

I saw Gold Tramp's Arrastra, and was very impressed at how it could pulverized gold ore.

Is there an alternative to an Arrastra? I think I saw two stone wheels in a pan that was run with an electric motor. I doubt I could afford such a machine, but am just curious.

I am just trying to explore a more efficient way to grind ore. The chain mill is fine, but not all that efficient.

 

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[JohnWhite]

https://www.google.com/search?q=Chilean+mill&client=safari&hl=en-us&ei=7iJLZPWnEPjOkPIPnemRwA4&oq=Chilean+mill&gs_lcp=ChNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwEAMyBwgAEIoFEEMyCAgAEBYQHhAKMgsIABAWEB4Q8QQQCjIICAAQFhAeEAoyCAgAEBYQHhAKMgsIABAWEB4Q8QQQCjIGCAAQFhAeMgsIABAWEB4Q8QQQCjoKCAAQRxDWBBCwAzoCCCk6BQgAEIAEOgUILhCABDoICAAQgAQQyQM6CAguEIAEELEDOggIABCABBCxAzoLCC4QigUQsQMQgwFKBAhBGABQ2CJY4jhg4z9oBHAAeACAAWyIAcADkgEDNC4xmAEAoAEByAECwAEB&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp

Ed T

 

[EKG]

that could help

Chilean Mill - 911Metallurgist

The Quartz Mill AKA Chilean Mill is one of the more popular types of the original Chilean mill. Still used for certain grinding problems, this mill employs

www.911metallurgist.com

 

[desertgolddigger]

that could help

Chilean Mill - 911Metallurgist

The Quartz Mill AKA Chilean Mill is one of the more popular types of the original Chilean mill. Still used for certain grinding problems, this mill employs

www.911metallurgist.com

Yes, I saw that, but they are huge, and super heavy. Definitely not for the hobbyist type hard rock miner. If there were something much smaller, that still worked, maybe I'd be interested.

From all the looking around the web, it doesn't look like someone like myself can ever hope to have an easy way to grind down gold ore.

 

[bc5391]

A small and portable mill would be a chain mill or a jaw crusher. A jaw crusher will come small enough to pun in your receiver hitch. And a chain mill will come as small that it can be used with a battery powered grinder. From there bot types simply grow. I sold a chain crusher that used a 5hp gas motor, and now made one that uses a grinder. The small versions are for sampling, the larger ones are for production, same with jaw crushers.

 

[Reed Lukens]

You can build them easy enough using old used flywheels from a pick-n pull or any wrecking yard.

 

[desertgolddigger]

You can build them easy enough using old used flywheels from a pick-n pull or any wrecking yard.

Reed, Not really sure what a flywheel is, or what use it is grinding gold ore. Sorry, but I'm not mechanically inclined. That's one reason I lean towards electric. I understand that a tiny bit better.

 

[nagant]

You have some great YT's Reed! couldn't find the flywheel vid but did see the jaw crusher...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Kxj5ltO94I&list=PLcAJzGCJ3Q7zcR1YNH77Y4gZ6WHdjnzpL&index=15

 

[russau]

AQ fly wheel is what is on a manual shift car or truck. It bolts the the crankshaft on your engine and the clutch plate bolts to it!. It also has the stater ring on it and if you get enough of the to replace the stone wheel for grinding , it'll chew up your ore to little bits quickly ! GOOD tip Reed !!

 

[desertgolddigger]

AQ fly wheel is what is on a manual shift car or truck. It bolts the the crankshaft on your engine and the clutch plate bolts to it!. It also has the stater ring on it and if you get enough of the to replace the stone wheel for grinding , it'll chew up your ore to little bits quickly ! GOOD tip Reed !!

russau, All I can say is I haven't a clue as to where all these car parts would work to grind ore. I hate to bother anyone, but I do well when I see a plan and where all the parts would go. I never was one that could read an article with no pictures, and build something from those written plans.

 

[N-Lionberger]

Shoot if you follow her thread you'd know she's already got a chain mill. I want to build a little arrastra myself. I'm not sure why electric would be easier than gas powered.

 

[russau]

Noise pollution ! Hearing the gas engine gets old real quick ! BUT a gas engine would probly be easier and cheaper to rig up !

 

[desertgolddigger]

My problem is that I don't have very much mechanical ability. I have to take my leaf blowers to a place that does that type of work for all problems other than changing the oil and air filters.

I also cannot weld, and nothing is available in the area I live. I did try one guy nearby to do welding on my trailer, and I showed up; he didn't. Local contractors that I've hired did shoddy jobs, and asked lots of money for that substandard work. That's one reason I've tried to learn how to do many things on my property..

But specialized stuff like mechanical, and welding cost a ton to acquire the tools and know how to be able to do.

I probably could do the masonry work on an Arrastra, but setting up the motive part..... That's one reason I was so happy to meet Gold Tramp. But he's very ill, and not even well enough to have visitors. So my local person for learning isn't available for several years, if ever. My mining years are almost gone as it is; maybe five more if I'm lucky.

 

[southfork]

Noise pollution ! Hearing the gas engine gets old real quick ! BUT a gas engine would probly be easier and cheaper to rig up !

An electric mill is far from quiet.

 

[russau]

Southfork ,YEP your right BUT it is far less noisy than the gas powered engine !

 

[desertgolddigger]

I wonder what kind of an electric motor could move two 100 pound grinding stones? Sure would have to be powerful (lots of torque?).

I imagine the motor and pully would need to be mounted above the Arrastra on a framework over it. Or would you use some kind of gear system? But I'm guessing Gold Tramp's system using a gas powered motor must use a gear system. I believe he said the system is out of an early 40's military vehicle.

I don't know if such a powerful motor exists at the low rpm required. Anyone have if such an electric motor exists? My poor internet skills couldn't locate one

 

[southfork]

Look up Gearhead motors real expensive.

 

[desertgolddigger]

Look up Gearhead motors real expensive.

Yeah, some are as much as $1000 for a low rpm and high torque.

The problem is gas motors probably are even more expensive when you factor in the gears and drive shaft, or whatever is needed. And I haven't a clue as to how to couple all the doo-dads to getting an Arrastra turning.

 

[desertgolddigger]

I doubt I'd ever be able to create a motorized Arrastra. I'm too old to do the manual one, which requires you to lean into a lever, and walk around and around.

I guess a chain mill is my only alternative for grinding ore. Anything else cost 10's of thousands of dollars, and I doubt I'll live long enough to pay the equipment off from gold mined.

I'll just be happy running half a bucket a day.

 

[N-Lionberger]

Always wanted to build something like this.