My $100 Gold Vac

[Jagdpanther]

Well, it's not pretty but it works. I put this together in about an hour. I got the plans off the internet. I paid $70.00 for the blower which I found on EBay. The hose with attachments I found at my local Home Cheapo store for $18.00 and another $12.00 in misc. parts including the bucket with lid. So for $100.00 I got a GOLD vac. The intake and guard on the Echo 1000 blower didn't match up real well with the lid so I shot in a little foam insulation to make an air tight seal. I made the intake connector from electrical conduit parts. I included an internal deflector pipe to direct the material to the bottom of the bucket as it enters. Since we are still having winter weather along the Wasatch I got some small gravel out of the garden path and gave it a test. Pea size gravel mixed with some sand and dirt- no problem. Now I just have to wait for the snow to melt.

 

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[Functional]

It's hard to see the difference between these homemade Vacs and my Shop Vac wet/dry vacuum.

You'll take away from the mystique of it all saying that.
Heres an explanation of the Gold Vac idea:
http://www.goldfeverprospecting.com/dryladrgova.html

On that note, I found a wet version of the Gold Vac that uses a venturi type nozzle, like I had mentioned in an earlier post on this webpage:
http://www.dalynenterprises.com/fastsite/fasttreasureeight.html
And a cheap 12 volt rechargeable and gas one on this page:
http://www.goldfeverprospecting.com/govacjooresu.html


F.

 

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[russau]

boogeyman your screen looks good. mine is a smaller mesh and stainless steel. a person cant prevent all abrasive material from going into the fan blade to prevet cracking but your will do a lot of good!

 

[Jagdpanther]

Ain't pretty! But they get the job done!

That's the important thing! Heck, if I was judged on my looks versus my job performance I'd be in a world of hurt.

So about how long will your gas model run on a tank of gas?

Thx
grndfisher

 

[boogeyman]

It's hard to see the difference between these homemade Vacs and my Shop Vac wet/dry vacuum.

Ok smart aleck! Now ya gotta tell me how many extension cords I'm gonna need to get to the bradshaws That'll teach ya!

 

[russau]

It's hard to see the difference between these homemade Vacs and my Shop Vac wet/dry vacuum.

Ok smart aleck! Now ya gotta tell me how many extension cords I'm gonna need to get to the bradshaws That'll teach ya!

boogyman i think he was paying you a compliment to a nice unit that you built!

 

[boogeyman]

It's hard to see the difference between these homemade Vacs and my Shop Vac wet/dry vacuum.

Ok smart aleck! Now ya gotta tell me how many extension cords I'm gonna need to get to the bradshaws That'll teach ya!

boogyman i think he was paying you a compliment to a nice unit that you built!

Whoah! That WAS taken as a compliment to ALL of us. The last comment was meant as a joke. My buddy keeps making remarks like "got enough cord?" when I use the electric. I use a 100' extension to the generator and have a large (1") hammerdrill to pry up bedrock & open cracks.

Treasuretrails,
The only drawback to using a shopvac is the filter. It's amazing how much powdery dust you suck up. I tried a shop vac a few years back when my gas vac took a dump. I got so fed up with beating the filter when it loaded up, I almost threw the whole thing down the hill! Another thing to think about is the fan in most shop vacs are tin. The abrasion would probably tear it up in short order not to mention getting a pebble caudht in the fan (done that). If you do it, I'd try getting one from a yard sale and not use one I would want for around the shop. Let us all know how you do! I'd be interested in knowing what brand & how it does in the field!!

 

[boogeyman]

Perhaps I should first explain that I'm a woman. And that my building anything is out of the question because I don't know much more than the difference between a hammer and a screwdriver. So that's why I was trying to think of a vac that wouldn't have to be built and that wouldn't cost a fortune to purchase. I probably won't be trying my Shop Vac for several months because I'll be waiting for the water levels in the creeks and rivers to go down - out here that's usually in September and October. I hope I haven't thrown this interesting and educational thread off course. I'll now back away and leave you guys to your home made projects - projects that are truly awesome in my view.

Whoah Treasure Tales!!!!!!! Don't sell yourself short like that!!! You got most everything you need! If you can't fix it with the screwdriver, beat the snot out of it with the hammer. Problem solved Now you need to graduate to the deluxe elite kit like I have. Includes baling wire duct tape and WD-40. If it moves and it shouldn't apply baling wire or duct tape. If it doesn't move and should apply WD-40 liberally. Problem solved, lifes good! See? You had more talent than you gave yourself credit for. Oh yeah, you gotta have a sense of humor & you got that one aced

 

[goldmadness14]

I have a couple question about this one. Does it fill up pretty fast? I would think theyred be alot of room in the bucket and it would be mostly water. Would it possible to have a cork at the bottom of bucket so that once its filled with water you could undue the cork thus losing water but still keeping the vacuum?

 

[Jagdpanther]

I have a couple question about this one. Does it fill up pretty fast? I would think theyred be alot of room in the bucket and it would be mostly water. Would it possible to have a cork at the bottom of bucket so that once its filled with water you could undue the cork thus losing water but still keeping the vacuum?

I think most folks use this to clean dry material from between rocks and from cracks in exposed bedrock. It's not designed to be used in or under water. It will suck up water and I have used it in wet conditions but not in the way I believe you are thinking.

 

[boogeyman]

Most Vac Pacs are used for dry areas where you'd be praying for enough water to run the haghbanker. As far as filling it up quickly, most of us shovel the material then sweep up what gets missed shoveling, then vacume out the cracks and crevices. That is unless you're in lazy mode, then shovel, suck and go.

Have tried mine in water a few times, but it was too much hassle. You can process more material with a highbanker or sluice and a squeeze sucker. More material = more purdy stuff!

If you build one might wanna try drilling 4 holes in your hose tip and install some 12 ga. wire across the tip in an X pattern. Saves a ton of time, just pick the rocks off the end. The big plus is you don't have people wondering if you've been out in the sun too long when you're beating the hose on the ground trying to loosen up a plug up. (Wait a minute) never mind it if you're in a crowded area might make people wanna stay away from the nut waving the hose and beating invisible snakes!

 

[goldmadness14]

What is a squeeze sucker? So you couldnt use this vac like a poor man's dredge? Where I'm at all the gold is underwater so I dont have use of it getting between rocks above water. Does anybody know of a poor man's dredge? Cause I'm definately poor. lol

 

[boogeyman]

Perhaps I should first explain that I'm a woman. And that my building anything is out of the question because I don't know much more than the difference between a hammer and a screwdriver. So that's why I was trying to think of a vac that wouldn't have to be built and that wouldn't cost a fortune to purchase. I probably won't be trying my Shop Vac for several months because I'll be waiting for the water levels in the creeks and rivers to go down - out here that's usually in September and October. I hope I haven't thrown this interesting and educational thread off course. I'll now back away and leave you guys to your home made projects - projects that are truly awesome in my view.

Whoah Treasure Tales!!!!!!! Don't sell yourself short like that!!! You got most everything you need! If you can't fix it with the screwdriver, beat the snot out of it with the hammer. Problem solved Now you need to graduate to the deluxe elite kit like I have. Includes baling wire duct tape and WD-40. If it moves and it shouldn't apply baling wire or duct tape. If it doesn't move and should apply WD-40 liberally. Problem solved, lifes good! See? You had more talent than you gave yourself credit for. Oh yeah, you gotta have a sense of humor & you got that one aced

Yep, I know a little something about duct tape. ROFL Thanks for the laughs!

You know Duct tape is like Star Wars. Yep it has a dark side, a light side & it holds the universe together.

 

[boogeyman]

What is a squeeze sucker? So you couldnt use this vac like a poor man's dredge? Where I'm at all the gold is underwater so I dont have use of it getting between rocks above water. Does anybody know of a poor man's dredge? Cause I'm definately poor. lol

Using a vac pac would work, but not very effective in the water you're gonna be sucking up a bunch of water along with the material, and you'd be dumping the bucket constantly. If you've got some running water & a limited budget your best bet would be a sluice, shovel and a suck stick. You can buy both pretty cheap or if you enjoy tinkering, plans for both are all over the web. This would allow you to process more material. More material = more pretty stuff! Hope that helps explain it better for you.

 

[Jagdpanther]

You might be able to make use of a gravity dredge.
http://goldfever.com/g_dredge.htm
http://www.geocities.com/r0n314/

 

[boogeyman]

Hey Grndfisher

Have you had any experience with these? I've seen the plans etc. But have never run into anyone that has used one. Be interesting to try.

 

[Jagdpanther]

No. The places I go are hard to get into with just a sluice and buckets. I don't want to think about hauling 30-40 feet of hose as well. I have seen several you-tube videos and they seem to work pretty good.

 

[boogeyman]

Hmmmm......... I hear ya about hauling stuff in & out! Any more I'm lucky just to haul my old carcass back out again

I'll have to see if I can find the videos Thanks!!