Placer Claim Mined Out?

[desertgolddigger]

I belong to a local club that owns a claim. This club has had this claim for many years, and acquired it after the old timers had mined it previously, and others after they commercial outfits closed up.
I walked quite a bit of the 160 acre claim, and noted that just about every wash had been worked. Most of the surface nuggets has also been detected by those with gold detectors. In other words, this place has been picked over and over and over.
But I m a stubborn type of person, and I figured, just watching how people ram their puffer and blower drywashers, that some gold was just being blown through them. maybe not much, but some small stuff that never got a chance to settle behind the riffles.
I know many of you would never go to the effort of digging for three to four hours through the tailings in these washes. Again, I'm a bit stubborn, and anyway, I just wanted to have some fun locally, instead of driving 300 miles roundtrip to something that gives a little more for less effort.
I've spent the last three weeks, digging a few times a week along about 30 yards of wash, and have recovered just about a gram of gold. That might not seem like much, but I have only dug up 5 grams, not counting this one gram in almost 20 years out here drywashing in the desert of southern California.
As you would know, things always seem to go wrong. My gas powered blower motor decided it was time for the repair shop, and haven't heard from the shop in two weeks. So I purchased a WORX WG521 corded electric leaf blower to use with my Royal Large drywasher. I'm using a portable generator to provide the power. And it actually is working better than with my old gas powered blower. I have to run the blower on the lowest speed, or I just blow everything through the riffles. Results are very good, as I am getting gold specks so small that I will have to use the Blue bowl in order to recover them.
I'm not only getting a little gold, I'm having some fun, and I am getting a good workout. I've lost 10 pounds since I started. So things are going well.
I'm still digging test holes around the old time hard rock mines in the hope I will find where the gold has drifted downhill below these mines. So far just a couple specks here and there. I figure I just have to move laterally one way or the other before I get something better Of course, I' don't really know if the old timers stripped the hillsides. Even if they have, they apparently aren't as thorough as I am. I hope that I may be lucky and find a larger piece of gold that the old timers, previous placer miners, and detectorists have missed.
Hope everyone is having as much fun as I have been having.

 

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[Jim in Idaho]

I looked up a company that sells their products, and that guy said they, and other dealers they know, can't buy their products anymore. So, I assume they've gone under.
Jim

 

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[Assembler]

I looked up a company that sells their products, and that guy said they, and other dealers they know, can't buy their products anymore. So, I assume they've gone under.
Jim

Even if you buy equipment like this and you need parts............good luck much of the time.

 

[Jim in Idaho]

Even if you buy equipment like this and you need parts............good luck much of the time.

Trust me, I wasn't suggesting anybody buy one.
Jim

 

[Assembler]

Trust me, I wasn't suggesting anybody buy one.
Jim

Just saying the parts can be hard to come by. The results are excellent however.

 

[Jim in Idaho]

Just saying the parts can be hard to come by. The results are excellent however.

LOL...they should be at the price it sells for.
Jim

 

[desertgolddigger]

Add addressing my shaker table base here, it'll be made with 4x4 legs, with 2/4 connector rails, inside and out, and sheathed with OSB. It'll be glued, sealed, and painted to shed water, since it'll be outside.

I doubt it'll move on the dirt ground, as it'll be very heavy, but if it dies, I can pound rebar into the ground, and attach the base unit to that rebar

Since my table will oscillate only bout one centimeter at somewhere between 200-300 times per minute, per what I read online, the force shouldn't be that great, as the shaker tabletop assembly will be riding on linear rails and bearings..

The bottom line is, if this doesn't work, it doesn't work. This is supposed to be a simple, fun project. I think the abbreviation for a saying, is KISS.

My only problem is finding a strong enough geared motor with ample motor control unit, and finding a flanged motor shaft bearing made of strong steel that'll fit my chosen motor's shaft. Once I find that, I can modify the bearing to have an offset hole I can attach an arm to it, and to the table to motivate that table.

 

[Jim in Idaho]

Caley, it's really hard to find a geared motor at 300, or so. I hope you can, but I'll be surprised...especially at a reasonable cost. A DC motor is your best bet, because they can be speed-controlled to help get your oscillations where you want them. Single phase AC motors can't be speed controlled. The only way to control the speed on them is with pulleys. In one of my videos, I show that being done. I have a 9 amp 12v Dc salt-spreader motor on my large dry sluice. I knocked it down to about 400 CPS with a belt drive. Mainly because I don't like going below about 30% with a PWM speed controller, though it can be done. That motor's no load speed is 1,000 RPM. Myself, I'd opt for about a 24" x 16" table, and use a smaller DC motor. I have one, on my small dry sluice, from a surplus place that carries them. A small table will work fine. The only thing you lose is feed rate. But that hardly matters unless you're running a sizeable operation.
Jim

 

[Assembler]

Caley, it's really hard to find a geared motor at 300, or so. I hope you can, but I'll be surprised...especially at a reasonable cost. A DC motor is your best bet, because they can be speed-controlled to help get your oscillations where you want them. Single phase AC motors can't be speed controlled. The only way to control the speed on them is with pulleys. In one of my videos, I show that being done. I have a 9 amp 12v Dc salt-spreader motor on my large dry sluice. I knocked it down to about 400 CPS with a belt drive. Mainly because I don't like going below about 30% with a PWM speed controller, though it can be done. That motor's no load speed is 1,000 RPM. Myself, I'd opt for about a 24" x 16" table, and use a smaller DC motor. I have one, on my small dry sluice, from a surplus place that carries them. A small table will work fine. The only thing you lose is feed rate. But that hardly matters unless you're running a sizeable operation.
Jim

Try Lincoln Surplus for a DC motor however the prices have gone up.
Try putting out a wanted add in Craigs listing etc. for a geared DC motor.
Try second hand stores for a used geared DC motor.
Maybe even try the local recycle yard for a motor?

 

[desertgolddigger]

Caley, it's really hard to find a geared motor at 300, or so. I hope you can, but I'll be surprised...especially at a reasonable cost. A DC motor is your best bet, because they can be speed-controlled to help get your oscillations where you want them. Single phase AC motors can't be speed controlled. The only way to control the speed on them is with pulleys. In one of my videos, I show that being done. I have a 9 amp 12v Dc salt-spreader motor on my large dry sluice. I knocked it down to about 400 CPS with a belt drive. Mainly because I don't like going below about 30% with a PWM speed controller, though it can be done. That motor's no load speed is 1,000 RPM. Myself, I'd opt for about a 24" x 16" table, and use a smaller DC motor. I have one, on my small dry sluice, from a surplus place that carries them. A small table will work fine. The only thing you lose is feed rate. But that hardly matters unless you're running a sizeable operation.
Jim

​

Jim, I can't seem to post the link to these two items. They're both on Amazon. The motor is 2950rpm, so I've not a clue how to slow it down without losing the power it has at a full 12 volts.​

Maybe someone can help me, as I think I haven't got a clue about these things. I don't need a used motor, nor is there anywhere in my area that sells these things. I live in the boonies. So Amazon is my only source for just about anything except wood, and food. If you could locate a motor and speed control, with some kind of mechanism to drive the table It probably will save me money. I've already wasted over $500 on things that won't work.

DC Motor Speed Controller, 12V-48V 40A PWM Speed Controller, Electric Motor Speed Control Regulator​

Keenso 12V 250W Durable Good Metal Geared Motor Pure Copper Belt Pulley Geared Motor Accessory Electric Bicycle Modification Accessories​

Sorry for the various fonts, but for some reason my computer won't let me post things like I have been doing.

 

[Assembler]

They're both on Amazon. The motor is 2950rpm, so I've not a clue how to slow it down without losing the power it has at a full 12 volts.​

Maybe someone can help me, as I think I haven't got a clue about these things. I don't need a used motor, nor is there anywhere in my area that sells these things. I live in the boonies. So Amazon is my only source for just about anything except wood, and food. If you could locate a motor and speed control, with some kind of mechanism to drive the table It probably will save me money.

What you need is a very geared motor with a low out put speed as you can get. Next if not low enough speed use a jack shaft or two the get the speed down and the torque up to handle the load of the table.

The table and frame is likely going to be harder to build. Two cents here.
Good luck.

 

[Assembler]

What you need is a very geared motor with a low out put speed as you can get. Next if not low enough speed use a jack shaft or two the get the speed down and the torque up to handle the load of the table.

The table and frame is likely going to be harder to build. Two cents here.
Good luck.

Something like this:

59 RPM 29 VDC 3/4 HP TECH SYSTEMS CORP 122501-02 Gearmotor

https://www.surpluscenter.com/Elect...H-SYSTEMS-CORP-122501-02-Gearmotor-5-1764.axd

PRICE: $89.95
This will handle a larger table.

 

[desertgolddigger]

Something like this:

59 RPM 29 VDC 3/4 HP TECH SYSTEMS CORP 122501-02 Gearmotor

https://www.surpluscenter.com/Elect...H-SYSTEMS-CORP-122501-02-Gearmotor-5-1764.axd

PRICE: $89.95
This will handle a larger table.

As I said, I do business with Amazon. Thanks, but I won't buy used stuff. I've done so in the past, and gotten junk.

 

[Jim in Idaho]

Something like this:

59 RPM 29 VDC 3/4 HP TECH SYSTEMS CORP 122501-02 Gearmotor

https://www.surpluscenter.com/Elect...H-SYSTEMS-CORP-122501-02-Gearmotor-5-1764.axd

PRICE: $89.95
This will handle a larger table.

IMHO, that's exactly the wrong advice. There is no reason to get a geared-down motor and then have to gear it up to the speed required..
Jim

 

[desertgolddigger]

What you need is a very geared motor with a low out put speed as you can get. Next if not low enough speed use a jack shaft or two the get the speed down and the torque up to handle the load of the table.

The table and frame is likely going to be harder to build. Two cents here.
Good luck.

I looked up Jack Shaft, and saw a half dozen pictures, each showing something different. So I'm as confused as before. And I cannot weld anything, as one picture said it had to be welded, and I won't spend money for a welder I will use just once.

 

[Assembler]

IMHO, that's exactly the wrong advice. There is no reason to get a geared-down motor and then have to gear it up to the speed required..
Jim

Just a example out of many. Get the speed you want such as 120RPM's or a little faster if you like as shown in the video. The frame size is what is being pointed out. The motor with gearbox will likely be the easier part of the build.

 

[Assembler]

As I said, I do business with Amazon. Thanks, but I won't buy used stuff. I've done so in the past, and gotten junk.

Take a closer look you can find some new motors with gearbox units. However expect to pay a lot more for such a motor unit.
Likely less cost by the time jack shafts and pullies are added.

 

[Jim in Idaho]

Here are two links to decent 12v motors....One large (9 amps), and one small (< 1 amp). Small first:
https://www.surpluscenter.com/Brand...rowhead-SAB0189-Arrowhead-SAB0189-10-3107.axd
Large here:https://www.surpluscenter.com/Elect...rowhead-SAB0191-Arrowhead-SAB0191-10-3108.axd.
The big one is capable of running a 40" table, depending on how heavily the tables is built. I'm running that on my 42" x 10" dry sluice, and it has way more power than needed for that. The small motor runs at 925 rpm unloaded, and the large one at 1,000 rpm. Both are 12v, though I'm currently running the small one at 24v with a PWM speed controller. I designed my pulley's wrong and don't have time to make new ones before we head out. So to get the speed I need on the backpack dry sluice I went with 24v and the speed control.
Jim

 

[Jim in Idaho]

​

Jim, I can't seem to post the link to these two items. They're both on Amazon. The motor is 2950rpm, so I've not a clue how to slow it down without losing the power it has at a full 12 volts.​

Maybe someone can help me, as I think I haven't got a clue about these things. I don't need a used motor, nor is there anywhere in my area that sells these things. I live in the boonies. So Amazon is my only source for just about anything except wood, and food. If you could locate a motor and speed control, with some kind of mechanism to drive the table It probably will save me money. I've already wasted over $500 on things that won't work.

DC Motor Speed Controller, 12V-48V 40A PWM Speed Controller, Electric Motor Speed Control Regulator​

Keenso 12V 250W Durable Good Metal Geared Motor Pure Copper Belt Pulley Geared Motor Accessory Electric Bicycle Modification Accessories​

Sorry for the various fonts, but for some reason my computer won't let me post things like I have been doing.

Caley, there's no reason to get motors with that high RPM. Check the links I posted later. I'll find an appropriate speed controller and post a link.
Jim

 

[Assembler]

Here are two links to decent 12v motors....One large (9 amps), and one small (< 1 amp). Small first:
https://www.surpluscenter.com/Brand...rowhead-SAB0189-Arrowhead-SAB0189-10-3107.axd
Large here:https://www.surpluscenter.com/Elect...rowhead-SAB0191-Arrowhead-SAB0191-10-3108.axd.
The big one is capable of running a 40" table, depending on how heavily the tables is built. I'm running that on my 42" x 10" dry sluice, and it has way more power than needed for that. The small motor runs at 925 rpm unloaded, and the large one at 1,000 rpm. Both are 12v, though I'm currently running the small one at 24v with a PWM speed controller. I designed my pulley's wrong and don't have time to make new ones before we head out. So to get the speed I need on the backpack dry sluice I went with 24v and the speed control.
Jim

There you go. Easy to shop for in general.

 

[Jim in Idaho]

Here's a link on Amazon for TWO for $20. They'll work fine. You can swap the motor output leads to change the motor direction. The only care you have to take is keeping it out of the weather, and don't get the polarity wrong on the input terminals: It's not letting me link to Amazon, either. So you'll have to copy and past.
Well, heck.
Let's try this: Go to Amazon and put this in the search window:RioRand-7-70V-Motor-Controller-Switch/dp/B00MFJK7WK/ref=sr_1_10?crid=SDL31PHPLQ0Q&keywords=PWM+speed+control%2C+with+cabinet&qid=1706138674&sprefix=pwm+spee%2Caps%2C2068&sr=8-10