How tough would it be to make a sluice that recirculated its own water?

[Lasivian]

How tough would it be to make a sluice that recirculated it's own water?

IE. Use a pump to bring the used water to the top again.

Here in AZ we don't have an abundance of water, but drywashing gives you a nice lungfull of dust.
I'm figuring if you used something like half a 55-gallon drum at the bottom you would have a decent water catch, pump the water into another one when it's full of sediment and empty it. Or some type of filter on the pump line so it dropped the sediment there.

I bet someone has tried this already, heh.

Any info is appreciated, thanks

 

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[KevGA]

Re: How tough would it be to make a sluice that recirculated it's own water?

Couldn't you just use one of the pumps used for a backyard fountain? They recirc and filter, so I would think it could work under that application.

Good idea.

Kevin

 

[Lasivian]

Re: How tough would it be to make a sluice that recirculated it's own water?

Yeah, the pump and power source wouldn;t be hard, i'm wondering how to deal with the excess material that runs off. It will eventually fill and overflow the bottom water catch barrel.

 

[jtaylor]

Re: How tough would it be to make a sluice that recirculated it's own water?

It is fairly easy to do. Get yourself a boat pump at Walmart ,which is 12 volt. run your sluice into an old wash pan and then fill pan w/ water until boat pump is covered w/ water. then start pump and run water down sluice w/ as large a hose as you can connect to top of sluice . I used this set up all winter one time to clean all my concentrates. Pumps use to cost about $15 . Just remember to keep your pump as high in the old wash pan as possible as you will build up sentiment and damage pump. An old nylon will keep most of it out of pump.

 

[Lasivian]

Re: How tough would it be to make a sluice that recirculated it's own water?

How much in GPM do I need for a sluice anyway?

 

[Hoser John]

Re: How tough would it be to make a sluice that recirculated it's own water?

Boat pumps work tiny setups fed with a teaspoon or tiny garden trowel and concentrators.Caliche is your worst enemy in the desert.Cement clay.Thats why drywashers and detectors are the answer to the desert mining gig.5 gallon buckets lined with paint strainer sack filters are the only answer.Feed one into another with connector pvc to another to another and pump in the 3rd or 4th.Then periodically pull and dump the strainers.LOTZA work and you'll have to disassemble your bilge pump everytime or buildup in the impeller will kill it.Tons a au 2 u 2-John

 

[cptbil]

Re: How tough would it be to make a sluice that recirculated it's own water?

I have a portable (one man can actually carry all of the individual parts! And! There are many of them! But! It is portable!) core drill!
Being a portable drill rig, and using it in very remote areas, I sure don't want to waste the water!
It DOES RECYCLE the drill water!
But!
It requires a set of settling drums (plastic, 55 gal barrels, cut lenght wise)!
It uses one pump, to both feed the drill and recycle the water!
The idea could be adapted!
But! A good dustless dry washer, And! There is such a beast![/u]
Would be your best idea, if you are working in the desert!
? ?? BUT! Remember, ? ?
A sluice uses water, that is flowing, in the creek, to suck up and carry the material back to and thru the riffle board!
That means, you'd have to construct a dam to hold the water.
That dam would have to be leak proof, or you'd lose the water you are feeding back into the creek!
I would suggest? ?? that you consider a "High Banker" !
But!? ?
Then, you are going to lose the ability to slurp up the fine gold? ?:P? that is in the crevices!
? :P? ?Is there no end to the problems!!!? ?
cptbil

 

[nebraskadad]

Re: How tough would it be to make a sluice that recirculated it's own water?

Here's a recycling dity on ebay..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6160356818

 

[bakergeol]

Re: How tough would it be to make a sluice that recirculated it's own water?

Yes Hoser John is correct
Clay is your worst enemy. All my attempts at recycling water ended up a muddy mess. I imagine your problem will depend on the amount of clay you are dealing with.

One attempt I made at recycling water was to use a classifying hydrocyclone. They are designed to remove clay from water(also small rocks). My original idea was to use a reverse spiral trommel with a revolving sand screw in the catch barrel behind it to remove the coarse rock and sand grains. The hydrocyclone in this barrel would then be used to clean up the muddy water. I ran muddy water thru a 4"hydrocyclone(bought it used for $10) and sure enough all the clay with a little water came out the apex. However, I was unsuccessful as far too much water was coming out the apex with the clay. So another idea went belly up and I did not continue the project. I am still on the lookout for a tiny hydrocyclone(just an enclosed funnel with holes in it) that is water efficient. But as Cptbil has already stated? a lot of problems here for a sluice operation with the volume of water and material required.? Better stick to your drywasher.

So if you can find a method to? remove clay from water without a lot of hassle- Be sure to post it here.

George

 

[cptbil]

Re: How tough would it be to make a sluice that recirculated it's own water?

Did Everyone miss my earlier "post"? ?:P? about the "dustless", practically dustless, anyway, Drywasher?
It is available, you know!
AND! ? ?
Nothing else like it, on the market!
Anyone know this "Drywasher's" Name?
Actual working, &? practically dustless,? drywasher..
Not a game!
It's real!?
Cost you about 1600 Bucks!
Completely portable, & separates the black sand during the process of recovery!

 

[bakergeol]

Re: How tough would it be to make a sluice that recirculated it's own water?

Sorry Cptbil- I don't know the brand of the "dustless" drywasher you are referring to. I do remember one advertised in the classifieds in the back of the ICMJ. I believe it was marketed as an "electrostatic" model but I doubt it was the same one. The main issue on drywashers of course is that they are not very effective for fine gold.

Additional information on this anyone?

George

 

[cptbil]

Re: How tough would it be to make a sluice that recirculated it's own water?

bakergeol:
Nope!? :P? That's not the one!
This one has nothing to do with "Static Electricity"!?
But! It is pretty darn effective about recovering Fine gold!
AND! Please remember,? ? we're still talking about being "Dustless" (as possible)!

 

[rainmaker3555]

Re: How tough would it be to make a sluice that recirculated it's own water?

I've seen the one on e-bay set up and working at several gold shows. Just set it up in a tub or horse watering trough or some othe container with a large bottom surfaace, put a 5 gal bucket under the open end of the sluce to catch the unwanted materal and empty the bucket when full.

 

[cptbil]

Re: How tough would it be to make a sluice that recirculated it's own water?

rainmaker3555:

I am afraid that I have to say, NOPE!
That is not the one !
This drywasher is completely self contained !
No buckets to set up !
Even the 2 cycle engine, as you know they are very lite wt., is built into the unit!
Actually!
It comes in TWO Separate Parts...
One part is the main unit and the other part
Is the tripod, that the main unit attach and sits up on!
Nothing else is needed or used !
AND!
You don't have to shovel :P dirt into this drywasher!

 

[AzSports]

Re: How tough would it be to make a sluice that recirculated it's own water?

A highbanker rigged with a settling bucket and Hoser Johns filtering sounds alright, but dry washing and hauling out concentrates is tough but more practical. Hauling rock or water is what it comes down to. Work like hell after a couple test pans, a few gallons and a basin is the price you pay to find a decent spot. When you get home you can do a much better job of collecting your gold.

Cptbil:
No shoveling, little dust, separates the black sand (from the gold, I suppose). A gasoline dustbuster -dry- dredge with a magnet in the spinning cone collector basin? I give up!

 

[aurumaster]

Re: How tough would it be to make a sluice that recirculated it's own water?

Hi!
I designed the "Goldpype" to utilize 100% recycling of the water - used to operate it...since it's just a trickle compared to a lossy / thirsty sluice. My email address is [ goldpype at yahoo dot com ] ...see the spam-proof URL? The "Goldpype" collects 100% of anything heavier than the sand it hides in...because it uses the sand as a capturing media! Don't wash the sands away, use them to capture the gold. Clays are no problem, vision is not required...just filter / recycle the water. My boat bilge pump / 12 volt battery runs my Goldpype for hours with only 2 1/2 to 3 gallons of portaged in water. I'm thinking about trying a pair of smaller 6 volt (motorcycle) batteries, in series ...they are lighter! LOL! Less capacity, though....

 

[whitevette]

Re: How tough would it be to make a sluice that recirculated it's own water?

Hi!
I designed the "Goldpype" to utilize 100% recycling of the water - used to operate it...since it's just a trickle compared to a lossy / thirsty sluice. My email address is [ goldpype at yahoo dot com ] ...see the spam-proof URL? The "Goldpype" collects 100% of anything heavier than the sand it hides in...because it uses the sand as a capturing media! Don't wash the sands away, use them to capture the gold. Clays are no problem, vision is not required...just filter / recycle the water. My boat bilge pump / 12 volt battery runs my Goldpype for hours with only 2 1/2 to 3 gallons of portaged in water. I'm thinking about trying a pair of smaller 6 volt (motorcycle) batteries, in series ...they are lighter! LOL! Less capacity, though....Recycling this "trickle" of water can easily be done with a small bucket ( if the clays are a problem). I have run mine many times with water as thick as 10W30 motor oil...and as brown as creamed coffee! The gold doesn't know the difference!
How much water? 2 to 2 1/2 gallons will run the "Goldpype"
For references, see GPAA site (Google), then click on "forum" in the L H margin; click on "For sale or trade...". Look for my post here under "Buying a sluice? Build a Goldpype!". My special thanks go to "shellyrat" for her unbiased comparison to a sluice (about page 14 or so...) in her travels.

 

[Peerless67]

Re: How tough would it be to make a sluice that recirculated it's own water?

it could be possible using a cold water storage tank and a bit of enginuity


copyright peerless67 2007

 

[Peerless67]

Re: How tough would it be to make a sluice that recirculated it's own water?

it looks complicated but the parts are availiable off the shelf as for size its as big as a cold water storage tank, anyone who keeps koi will tell you these filters work well and are quick and easy to clean

 

[Peerless67]

Re: How tough would it be to make a sluice that recirculated it's own water?

Oh, I'm definitely not putting down your creation - just too complicated for me, that's all. Those koy pond pumps work good - I have used them.

What's the weight of the tank?

B

the pumps would not be koi pumps, you would need 12 volt high capacity pumps, the tank could be moved by my granma (empty) full of water would be heavy but you would carry water in butts which you could empty into the desert before leaving.
I would guesstimate the total weight excluding water at about 20-25 pounds