Kevins own thread - a journal (but feel free to post random thoughts)

LOL! I sold my Super Mini and am aiming big this time. ;-) I'm going to Vegas next week and hope I win enough to get either the Prospector or the Miner. I'll be heading up with s group of friends to the American River for Turkey Day and would love to finally experience the full awesomeness of the production Bazookas!

So, referring to the SoCal area, how low or slow of a flow will either of those work in?
 

I would suggest you stick with the prospector...the miner is big and heavy and really not needed unless a couple people are shoveling at once. So unless you convert your husband (!!), I think a 36" prospector will be quite enough :)
 

RSMSherry said:
LOL! I sold my Super Mini and am aiming big this time. ;-) I'm going to Vegas next week and hope I win enough to get either the Prospector or the Miner. I'll be heading up with s group of friends to the American River for Turkey Day and would love to finally experience the full awesomeness of the production Bazookas!

So, referring to the SoCal area, how low or slow of a flow will either of those work in?
Click to expand...
Annnd a 48 incher will support two shoveler if yer have really good flow. :)
Good luck in Vegas!

"Sounds like big trouble. You're going to need plenty of Legal advice before this thing is over. As your attorney, I advise you to rent a very fast car with no top. And you'll need the cocaine. Tape recorder for special music. Acapulco shirts. Get the hell out of L.A. for at least 48 hours. Blows my whole weekend." ~ Dr. Gonzo
 

RSMSherry said:
LOL! I sold my Super Mini and am aiming big this time. ;-) I'm going to Vegas next week and hope I win enough to get either the Prospector or the Miner. I'll be heading up with s group of friends to the American River for Turkey Day and would love to finally experience the full awesomeness of the production Bazookas!

So, referring to the SoCal area, how low or slow of a flow will either of those work in?
Click to expand...

I have been running mine on what I'd call minimum flow. About twice what's needed for a Keene since it is double deck. Optimal would be more. One thing I know you'd like, I was seeing almost all the gold before it went in the box. "Inspection Speed" Sample speed would be a bit faster, production speed even more. I think there is also a lot more black sand/ gravel here than up north so its a good idea to clean out fairly often (10 buckets)
 

RSMSherry said:
LOL! I sold my Super Mini and am aiming big this time. ;-) I'm going to Vegas next week and hope I win enough to get either the Prospector or the Miner. I'll be heading up with s group of friends to the American River for Turkey Day and would love to finally experience the full awesomeness of the production Bazookas!

So, referring to the SoCal area, how low or slow of a flow will either of those work in?
Click to expand...

Sherry too bad you didn't keep the supermini. All the color I have been posting lately is with a supermini. Don't need much more. But you do need a Bazooka. Thanks to Todd and Chris.
 

goldenmojo said:
You two are close enough that you can just fling a shovel load in the direction of your sluice.
Click to expand...
yes that was exactly the approach we took. No buckets needed except for clean outs!



image-57447319.jpg

(Here's my gold take from Friday btw, just finished panning it out)
 

RSMSherry said:
Dave, do you have the miner?
Click to expand...
Yes, the 48" one. The only problem is the weight and it will not fit into a 5-gal bucket for clean up. So, I use a square plastic container, put it under the discharge end and lift the other end up. Kevin did it once, so he knows the problem first hand. :)

But I have got to get wheels under it for carrying it from the creek. At the end of the day, when I am tried, it is a bear to lug. Todd at Bazooka mentioned a Broll garden "tool" that has wheels and a spot for a 5-gal bucket; and I could stack the Miner on top of that. They are no longer produced but are on Amazon for about $120. Wow! I am looking at alternatives. :)
 

KevinInColorado said:
I would suggest you stick with the prospector...the miner is big and heavy and really not needed unless a couple people are shoveling at once. So unless you convert your husband (!!), I think a 36" prospector will be quite enough :)
Click to expand...

I agree. For me, the 48" Miner is over-kill. I might have to downsize. I am at that age that we already downsized in housing. :) Two people could run this baby all day shoveling in. Then it would be nice to have two people to do clean up. Kevin helped when we were on the Platte. I was really grateful for that.

There is also a 36" Miner you could look at that and compare to the 36" Prospector.
 

KevinInColorado said:
yes that was exactly the approach we took. No buckets needed except for clean outs!

View attachment 1071759

(Here's my gold take from Friday btw, just finished panning it out)
Click to expand...

Yep, Kevin was a great teacher. We just dug right in front of the sluices and put the material directly onto the Bazookas.

Kevin, that looks very nice. Did you measure the +50 and -50 fraction?
 

Last edited:
GoldpannerDave said:
Yes, the 48" one. The only problem is the weight and it will not fit into a 5-gal bucket for clean up. So, I use a square plastic container, put it under the discharge end and lift the other end up. Kevin did it once, so he knows the problem first hand. :)

But I have got to get wheels under it for carrying it from the creek. At the end of the day, when I am tried, it is a bear to lug. Todd at Bazooka mentioned a Broll garden "tool" that has wheels and a spot for a 5-gal bucket; and I could stack the Miner on top of that. They are no longer produced but are on Amazon for about $120. Wow! I am looking at alternatives. :)
Click to expand...

Aha! For the 48 prospector I put the 5 gallon buckets shovel pans waders cooler and the BGT into a big trash can with wheels on it. Much better for carrying. Also it's watertight. So that one time I forgot my bucket I just dumped the sluice in the can and rinsed it into the bucket at home.. hahah oops! I should post a pic of my sanford and son sluice hauler for y'all. I cut the top off so I didn't kick it around while I was pulling it.

Edit: You guys ever think about "stand by me"'ing over that railroad bridge to get to the big inside bend on the southeast shore? :D
 

Last edited:
Prospector70 said:
Aha! For the 48 prospector I put the 5 gallon buckets shovel pans waders cooler and the BGT into a big trash can with wheels on it. Much better for carrying. Also it's watertight. So that one time I forgot my bucket I just dumped the sluice in the can and rinsed it into the bucket at home.. hahah oops! I should post a pic of my sanford and son sluice hauler for y'all. I cut the top off so I didn't kick it around while I was pulling it.

Edit: You guys ever think about "stand by me"'ing over that railroad bridge to get to the big inside bend on the southeast shore? :D
Click to expand...

Good ideas! Got to run to class, but on the last one--yes!
 

GoldpannerDave said:
Yep, Kevin was a great teacher. We just dug right in front of the sluices and put the material direction onto the Bazookas. Kevin, that looks very nice. Did you measure the +50 and -50 fraction?
Click to expand...
Not by weight but visually it was close to 50/50, maybe a bit more +50 by weight. Total weight 0.07 grams. Wish I had kept the two clean outs separate to quantify where the best paying layer is in the river bed.
 

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