Made a 2 bucket classifier.

[Astrobouncer]

I noticed when I was working at the river, that the time it takes me to shovel and classify one bucket of material, I could just as easily be shoveling two buckets if I had a bigger classifier then my single bucket ones. Also a bigger classifier would make removing bigger stones easier. Before, when shoveling into a single bucket classifier, I had to stop after one or two shovel fulls and move the big stones because they blocked the mesh. But with a bigger classifier this would not be the case. So I used some scrap lumber I had in the back shed, to make this classifier. It will fit either a large plastic tub like they sell at home depot/lowes or 2 buckets. For the bottom, I used a piece of plywood and traced an outline around two buckets, then cut out that outline with a jig saw. I did buy some 1/4 inch hardware cloth for the 4 mesh screen to use, which was the only thing I spent money on. The hardware cloth was 15 dollars, so that's what I got invested in this project. The 2 mesh classifier that I used here is from an old sluice classifier I had built but never used much because it didn't fit a bucket. Now I am glad it didn't.

This thing is heavy enough (thanks to the 2x4 base) and the buckets sit well enough in it, that it will hold the buckets in the river against the current. This thing is designed to sit in the water, underwater, so you can shovel the pay dirt in it and the heavy stuff sinks down into the buckets. When the rocks start to pile up, the top 2 classifiers come off and I can throw the rocks to the side, or keep the 4 mesh stuff to check for gems or nuggets.

Here's the base of it, on a plastic tub.



Hers the base with the 4 mesh classifier sitting on top of 2 buckets.



Here's the base on 2 buckets. This part feeds the classified material into the buckets/plastic tub. I have since added some gasket sealer for the wood seams so it seals tighter.



4 mesh over the plastic tub.



Here it is complete with both screens, 2 and 4 mesh. I haven't stained the other wood yet but it has all been treated with Thompson's water seal for waterproofing.



Its kind of heavy so its definitely not something to lug in to a hard to reach area by hand, while carrying a sluice, but it should be fine for most areas I go to with fairly good access.

I know its ugly, but it works, and that's all that counts.

 

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[strickman]

ab,thats's twice the gold !bad side is twice the back ache.

 

[kiwi jw]

JW

 

[Astrobouncer]

Kiwi I like your bucket classifier, but the reason I made this one for two buckets was because a single bucket classifier just felt too slow to me. The main holdup for filling a single bucket seemed to me the classifying, and with a bigger classifier I can fill two buckets in the same amount of time I could classify a single bucket, just using a bucket classifier. This way is faster because I can pretty much shovel nonstop, and I dont have to stop and take out the big rocks after every shovelful. After about 5-6 shovelfuls I do have to remove the big rocks but other then that its smooth sailing.

I made some changes to this based on last week at the river. I added a locking bar underneath to help hold the buckets firmly in place, as well as some more slant to help the gravel classify itself. The locking bar slides in and out kinda like how people used to bar their doors in the old days.


Back of the locking bar.


Front of the locking bar.


Classifier from the front without 4 and 2 mesh screens. Can see the locking bar underneath, its a tight fit so it holds the bucket firmly in place.


With the screens.


Right now its all drying out as I re-coated it with Thompson's water seal this morning, so hopefully it will be ready for another day of mining come Saturday. I will try and get some wood stain on it once its dry too, just so it doesn't look so haphazardly thrown together.