New here....first post...sluice question

[MrGneissGuy]

Hey guys, I only recently discovered the magic that is gold prospecting and sluicing. I live in Los Angeles and was just introduced to the East Fork of the San Gabriel River a while ago. I never really got serious about anything until about 2 weeks ago when I picked up a piece of quartz on my jobsite, smashed it, and thought I found gold. For the last 2 weeks I have done literally nothing but research the history of the area, study geology, prospect, and gather equipment for my next adventure. This leads me to my first question and reason for this post...my trusty sluice box. A couple years back I picked up one of those mini sluices on amazon for like 50 bucks, it's a 12" x 24" box. Well...let's just say it won't work for my needs. Based on my research, and specifically since I will be using this sluice locally in the San Gabriel river, I saw one guy have success with what they called a Cal Sluice? I tried looking it up and I think it's this #2b sluice (I don't know if I can post links since I'm new). Anyways, it sounds like it's good but maybe heavy? I'd like to hike in pretty far if I can, since they say the gold is better. Then there's a matter of carpet, moss, rubber riffles or what? This person on reddit said I should use dream mats. Anyways, if anyone has advice I would really appreciate it. I have read posts from the past on here, but I'm making this in case anything has been updated.

 

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[utah mason]

If your going to be hiking a good distance I would consider a drop riffle sluice maybe something from the Angus Mckirk line. If your going to stick with traditional sluice I would consider gold hog mats. Or expanded metal with hog moss underneath. And cut out the middle riffles to smooth the flow to allow the fine gold to drop out. But leave the top and bottom for a nugget trap.

 

[rodoconnor]

Your best odds of getting good gold on the EFSG are going to require walking upstream towards the bridge. So weight will be an issue. Like Utah says, Angus MacKirk , LeTrap or other plastic sluices should be considered. Good luck and stay safe out there.

 

[bcfromfl]

If it were me, I would buy a Jobe folding sluice with the leg kit, and replace the expanded metal and riffles with two or three different Gold Hog mats. I just checked, and WalMart sells the basic Jobe sluice for $118.60 with free shipping. Sluice length is your friend (i.e., the longer the better), and the folding Jobe design will allow you to carry it on your back or sling it over your shoulder, while still having a good 50" to wash and settle out your fines.

The leg kit opens up many more options for placement in order to get optimum water flow, and you don't have to waste time messing around with building big dams out of rocks...although you still may need a few.

Be sure and tell us about your adventures!

 

[N-Lionberger]

Sluice stands really do make a world of difference, opens up areas otherwise unsuitable for running a stream sluice such as in deep water. If you are going to go with miners moss get the actual 3m nomad mat it is night and day better than the dense chinese moss they hawk at the gold shows. I have pretty much given up on moss, just some carpet or ribbed rubber to seal the riffles too the bottom.

 

[Vagadero]

MrGneissGuy, as you're a beginner get a cheap second hand factory made sluice. There are literally tons of barely used staff out there because the owner won't go back to the bush. Don't bother too much about gold loss and etc. Just do it and get experience! You can always sell & upgrade your gear later to fit your needs. However,keep in mind, many prospectors make less than third ounce gold per year. Assuming even a 20% difference in the fine gold recovery capability between various equipment doesn't justify the additional cost.

 

[goldog]

I don't disagree with your point on used equipment Vagadero, but there at the end you lost me.

Gold Hog doesn't make a fluid bed product. Grizzly while a popular topic hasn't
yet shipped.