Russian suction nozzle design that rocks...

[ncclaymaker]

These are two guys that must have gotten tired of wet shoes, boots, and cold water up to where the sun don't shine. On the other hand, most videos posted from the USA has most (not all) operators sitting or kneeling in the shallow streams.

Credits first -
The author that put this video up onto youtube.com is Andrey Kolov. So all credit goes to him and his associate. Use the link at the bottom or go to youtube and search using his name.

It took me about one hour to "recreate" his design, though not as clean or elegant. I used a 4 inch PVC 90 degree angle joint from a big box, four metal tent pegs, and a wire welder. I'll be trying this out tomorrow... looks like it should beat getting a wet butt.


Driving home to the gold, no brakes or gas pedal necessary.
View attachment 1221435

Unjamming rocks from the suction tip. Note that the tip is pointed, aids in anchoring the suction tip and helps the operator "steer".
View attachment 1221436

Welding of the "steering rod" to the suction tip
View attachment 1221437

Not a wet tusche(buttock) in the crowd.
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Here's the link to these guy and their rig -




Hope that their imagination can help us keep dry.

 

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[Reed Lukens]

If you're worried about jams then put a 3" ring on the tip. The smaller the opening, the less material moved but with their pump and home built sluice it's a nice set up. If you have a 4" Proline or standard US dredge, then you will be able to move a lot more material with a dredge pump. The more pressure that you have, the less plug ups, because the pressure will pull the cobbles quickly through the hose. With a 3" ring and a handle like theirs, you will run clean.

 

[Hoser John]

We,and others, made them for years and NEVER that insipid set of size restrictors as now your running a 1" dredge which can/will be out produced by a shovel and sluicebox. John

 

[russau]

yep , years back I made one of those out of some stainless steel I had in my shop and I was thinking everyone would laugh at me for using it! I still have parts of it after I cut it apart.

 

[ncclaymaker]

Today I used the "steering wheel" component of their design with no restrictor ring. I did however use a pointed grizzly on the nozzle. Who needs to suck up three and four inch rocks... unless the nuggets are that big. Gravel, smaller than four inch rocks, sand and gold what I want to retrieve. I did however create a pit in the stream that you could park a small subcompact car in and barely see the roof. Usually, this whole thing is a lot of work, but I probably moved over 2 yards/hour and didn't raise a sweat.

Check out the image below for my prototype of Kolov's device -

View attachment 1221929

 

[Bonaro]

Today I used the "steering wheel" component of their design with no restrictor ring. I did however use a pointed grizzly on the nozzle. Who needs to suck up three and four inch rocks... unless the nuggets are that big. Gravel, smaller than four inch rocks, sand and gold what I want to retrieve. I did however create a pit in the stream that you could park a small subcompact car in and barely see the roof. Usually, this whole thing is a lot of work, but I probably moved over 2 yards/hour and didn't raise a sweat.

Check out the image below for my prototype of Kolov's device -

View attachment 1221929

I need to suck up 4" rocks!
Everything that won't go up the hose has to be moved by hand and that means getting on your hands and knees and getting wet
If you aren't wet, your not doing it right

 

[ncclaymaker]

yep , years back I made one of those out of some stainless steel I had in my shop and I was thinking everyone would laugh at me for using it! I still have parts of it after I cut it apart.

Perhaps you ought to dust off the old parts and give it a try. The steering wheel part was the easiest, smartest way to work shallow water. Some folks seem to be going off the rails over the "grizzly". I guess it's a matter of preference. I tried it, been there like others, but not going back to wet butt and rock jams. Hell, you can put a folding chair in the middle of the stream or embankment and still do a yard or so an hour without breaking into a sweat. Let the a**holes laugh, smile at them, and let them do it the hard way. Best part of all, I didn't have to get down into the hole to suck sand, rock and gravel.

Have a great day!

 

[russau]

Thanks for the advice , BUT my days of digging are over ! Now its for the younger guys ! and its NO FUN not being able to get out dredgeing anymore! I still want to but my ole bones are talking to me and laughing!

 

[arizau]

At my age I'm into easy or easier if it yields much the same results and this method certainly fits that standard. I don't own or will ever own a dredge but if I did this would certainly be in my arsenal. What I need most now is for someone to come up with an idea for a lightweight mechanical advantage shovel.

 

[Jeff95531]

Well I wish I could use any dredge. I was midnight mining last night on a hole that I thought I was near bottom last time I was there. Instead I broke into another layer of big/small rocks which left me with still no bottom and a wet sleeve and armpit. That would work 100% for me and my purposes. If I could dredge. Shrimp gun is long enough but only moves rocks smaller than 1 inch. If they're in the way, you're gotta get wet!