Rebirth of a dredge

[Aquatek]

Hi, I am refitting a nice (big) aluminium dredge & posted a youtube video of my progress so far, feel free to like it or subscribe if you want notifications as as the build progresses 👍👍
Thanks,
John.

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[russau]

Nice setup ! And great seat for the dredge tender to have ! I see in the future a top over the dredge for them HOT Summer days so that you can extend your dredging time ! I'm jealous of your setup BECAUSE I can't get out and dredge anymore !

 

[N-Lionberger]

That’s a beast. I thought you had aluminum pontoons now I see it has barrels. I like barrel floats but it just seems like a lot of unnecessary diamond plate.

 

[Reed Lukens]

Nice job John

 

[Ohiogoldfever]

Looks great! Hope she’s hanging low in the water holding a half ton of gold.

What’s up with the too much diamond plate comment? It’s like some people just have to find something they don’t like about nearly everything.

 

[Bonaro]

Looks great! Hope she’s hanging low in the water holding a half ton of gold.

What’s up with the too much diamond plate comment? It’s like some people just have to find something they don’t like about nearly everything.

It's a great looking dredge, without doubt. I think the diamond plate comments come from the perspective that a lot of this dredge is aesthetic and adds weight with no purpose.
I have built several dredges from scratch and my goal was always durability and functionality. I am utilitarian so "pretty" always comes after function...and only if it doesn't impair function.
I can easily see where 200 pounds or more could be lessened on this dredge...but that opinion come from someone who has packed a heavy dredge down a steep canyon many times...your results may vary
This is a beautiful dredge but the OP will curse it the first time he packs it in.

 

[Reed Lukens]

If you're going to be living on it, then being able to walk on it is a must. It started out under powered unfortunately, so it was moth balled and basically abandoned.
Then John bought it last year and has been rebuilding it ever since. It's going to have great suction now with the new Mercedes Diesel. Yup, it will be heavy with the diamond plate but it sure looks better then having a plywood deck on it. Then having the new oversized Proline flare coupled to it puts this at a cut above many of the dredges that I've ran in the past.
It's a production dredge that will be set up and used every day on his claim. Definitely not designed for the weekend warriors.
I think this was the video from before it was abandoned -

 

[russau]

Looks nice and I expect it will get you lots of gold ! The only problem I see that could be a possible problem is where the riffles are over the expanded sheet ! This would allow fine gold to migrate under the riffles and out of the box. On my 4 inch dredge I have the expanded metal cut separately into sections that are welded to the riffle's so everything is flat across the bottom of the sluice eliminating any material migration . That is one nice dredge you built ! Good Luck on your adventure !!

 

[southfork]

That's what dreams are made of to be young again. And have that dredge down on the yuba above slate creek. And spend the summer.

 

[Aquatek]

Looks nice and I expect it will get you lots of gold ! The only problem I see that could be a possible problem is where the riffles are over the expanded sheet ! This would allow fine gold to migrate under the riffles and out of the box. On my 4 inch dredge I have the expanded metal cut separately into sections that are welded to the riffle's so everything is flat across the bottom of the sluice eliminating any material migration . That is one nice dredge you built ! Good Luck on your adventure !!

Thanks, the sluicebox will be a totally new design from what you see in the video, this was how I bought it… 👍👍👍

 

[Aquatek]

If you're going to be living on it, then being able to walk on it is a must. It started out under powered unfortunately, so it was moth balled and basically abandoned.
Then John bought it last year and has been rebuilding it ever since. It's going to have great suction now with the new Mercedes Diesel. Yup, it will be heavy with the diamond plate but it sure looks better then having a plywood deck on it. Then having the new oversized Proline flare coupled to it puts this at a cut above many of the dredges that I've ran in the past.
It's a production dredge that will be set up and used every day on his claim. Definitely not designed for the weekend warriors.
I think this was the video from before it was abandoned -

Reed’s right, that was the original video of it, unfortunately the political climate in Mali didn’t allow it to go to Africa with the original owner/builder so it was trailered up and slowly the components were rotting away when I bought it.
The good thing about the mercedes engine is that it can run on used (filtered) cooking oil which will be a plus when presenting it to the authorities prior to permits etc.
I’m in no rush to just throw it together. As I buy/fabricate and fit quality pieces of equipment to the dredge I will bring it back to life.. A friend just made my splitter for me…
John.

 

[Aquatek]

It's a great looking dredge, without doubt. I think the diamond plate comments come from the perspective that a lot of this dredge is aesthetic and adds weight with no purpose.
I have built several dredges from scratch and my goal was always durability and functionality. I am utilitarian so "pretty" always comes after function...and only if it doesn't impair function.
I can easily see where 200 pounds or more could be lessened on this dredge...but that opinion come from someone who has packed a heavy dredge down a steep canyon many times...your results may vary
This is a beautiful dredge but the OP will curse it the first time he packs it in.

With the ground I am looking at, packing it in will consist of backing it into the water on the trailer 😝👍

 

[Aquatek]

Nice job John

Thanks a lot for the chats and ideas 👍

 

[Aquatek]

That's what dreams are made of to be young again. And have that dredge down on the yuba above slate creek. And spend the summer.

I’m only a young 61 😝😝

 

[Aquatek]

Just got the new Proline flare and powerjet home. A massive saving of weight as the old homemade stuff was thick stainless 👍👍

 

[southfork]

Just got the new Proline flare and powerjet home. A massive saving of weight as the old homemade stuff was thick stainless 👍👍

Nice looks like less restriction along with weight reduction.

 

[russau]

Back when I had my 4 inch dredge I went on a weight reduction plan for it. Everything that could be lightened up I did ! BUT you have to keep in mind that some of that weight is needed for stability of the dredge , other wise the dredge will bobble like a cork in faster water and that will / could upset the fine gold in your sluice , and cause it to move down in your sluice and potentially back OUT to the stream !