Sluicing..

[chris rizin]

Decided to take the sluice out for a couple hours.. Found the perfect spot for good, clean and fast water flow.. Dug a hole... Found a couple fine flakes and decided to not waste the short amount of time I had and just go for it.. Panning the cons.. A couple small flakes so far but not much.. Whatever though it was a beautiful spot and a gorgeous day out!

 

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[Rdg Sluicer]

That is a great pic! Welcome

 

[Fullpan]

Welcome to tnet! - love the avatar pic!

 

[chris rizin]

Thanks for the kind welcome! I've been reading this forum for a little while so I decided its time to participate. Maybe share some knowledge, experiences, learn new things and converse with those that have similar interests! I will post a pic of the results soon.. Talk with you all later!

 

[chris rizin]

Headed out with the sluice again after the poor clean out from a couple days before the previous photos were taken.. I'm still new at this.. Been a dozen or so timed with the sluice.. This time I was on some pretty decent gold. I was using my bottle and sucking gold at the top of the box to verify what was going through .. I saw lots of potential yellow loveliness being washed into the box. After seeing what I sucked out and cleaning the cons I am positive I ran the water too fast and flushed out good gold! rookie mistake.. But I'm learning. Here's a pic of my box and the results.











Any tips on Water flow, angles etc? I'm classifying to quarter inch I believe.. And just trying to find a spot to set up close to where I'm digging. Just had back surgery 6 months ago so I only go out for about 2-3 hours at a time.. Back problems make this very uncomfortable and difficult to deal with due to the amount of pain but I love it! Lol.. Some call me stupid but I love nature and the hunt for all things rock and minerals!

 

[KevinInColorado]

Tips:

Keep your cons after u finish panning them...to go back thru in a year when you're better at finding the really fine gold in your cons. You'll be surprised how much there is I bet!

Run less depth of water so the fines have less distance to fall, try running less steep too...you will have to experiment a bit to get your sluice operation dialed in due to that old school sluice you have ;-) or give up and modernize.

 

[NorCalPilot]

Chris, welcome! Is that Shirttail creek at Yankee Jims?

 

[chris rizin]

Tips:

Keep your cons after u finish panning them...to go back thru in a year when you're better at finding the really fine gold in your cons. You'll be surprised how much there is I bet!

Run less depth of water so the fines have less distance to fall, try running less steep too...you will have to experiment a bit to get your sluice operation dialed in due to that old school sluice you have ;-) or give up and modernize.

Hey thanks for the tips! I'm going to try and keep all that in mind when I head out again this week! Also speaking of "modernize", what would you suggest for a guy with serious back problems?

 

[chris rizin]

Chris, welcome! Is that Shirttail creek at Yankee Jims?

Thanks NorCal! I have been sticking to the lotus area recently. David Moore recreation area and greenwood river access.. Haven't been to shirttail in about a month or so. I've been trying to stay a little closer to home when out by myself..

 

[KevinInColorado]

Hey thanks for the tips! I'm going to try and keep all that in mind when I head out again this week! Also speaking of "modernize", what would you suggest for a guy with serious back problems?

I would suggest something lightweight such as a medium sized Angus MaKirk which has drop riffles to catch more fine gold...or if you want to avoid classifying, a Bazooka Goldtrap. Size of BGT would depend on available water flow and how hard you want to work...either supermini or prospector.

 

[63bkpkr]

Sluicing Saving ones Back and Having fun

Hello chris rizin and welcome to Tnet. Kevin has already been giving you some excellent inputs on technique as well as options like the Angus McKirk and the Bazooka series of sluices. I like you, I think, have a Keene a 52. I've backpacked it in several times in 2010 and do not feel I want to keep doing that as it is too heavy and too long even with the flare removed. Also, the A 52 does not fit all the way to the bottom of a standard 5 gallon bucket, it wedges against the bucket walls and if a person applies a little too much force the bucket walls crack. A bucket is available and the A 52 easily drops all the way to the bottom of that bucket. It is a blue recycle bucket that is actually a waste can for paper, it is just a little over a 5 gallon capacity, does not have handles but it works like a true dream for washing down the A 52 in.

My right shoulder rotary cuff was operated on 8 weeks ago today so I'm trying to loose weight and add muscle to be able to go backpacking/prospecting in late August of this year. I am also looking at lightning my pack so the entire body, along with my back, does not suffer that much. In anticipation of reaching my goal of losing 30 lbs of fat I've purchased a Super Mini Bazooka Gold Trap, I've not used it yet and do not expect to till late August. It weighs 3.5 lbs, is 24" long and slides right into a 6 quart bucket, soooo convenient, lighter than the A 52, cleans up faster, minimum classifying if any (I will just because I want to Know what I'm doing) and and the SM w/6 qt. buckets will be so much easier to carry. I backpack in several miles dropping roughly 3000 vertical feet and then hike another 1-2 miles along the river before making camp and the trail in the bottom of the canyon is in bad shape so having a lighter, less bulky pack and recovering from shoulder surgery will be a must!

View attachment 795153 My A 52 in the easy to fit into Blue recycle bin. I added a cross bar at the flare so with the lower and upper bars I have much better control removing the box from the water while standing on slippery rocks, back saver.

View attachment 795154 Raw Super Mini with my Gerber Gorge shovel (my Gorge is a "Good Tool") and is what I take with me for digging, beating jobs. Other folks have had them break Not mine!

View attachment 795155 Super Mini in a 6 qt. bucket with my Batpan with its classifier next to the SM. The Gorge shovel, SM and Batpan w/classifier are what I will take with me this year.

As far as setting up the A 52 the water should just break over the tops of the riffles. When the box is setup level left to right then you should have a repeating 'X' pattern forming in the water, starting at the flare area a 'V' will form then it will go to an 'X' all the way down the sluice. So the correct angle for the amount of water to make the A 52 work and with the water just breaking over the riffles is the "Ideal" situation but not always obtainable out in amongst a bunch of rocks with water up to your arm pits and by the way you are cold.

Your back, I do not know your condition just that your back is not enjoying itself. I injured my back a long time ago and if I want to be happy I must do exercises to maintain strong muscles in the abdomen and lower back. Crunches for the Abs and a reverse Crunch for the lower back. With the crunch one is laying on their back. With reverse Crunch one is laying on their stomach and has the choice of raising only the legs, or only the chest or both once some strength has been gained. After the floor exercises I use a Good tennis ball for back massages. The TB is placed between a persons back and a heavily textured wall, then roll the TB around. Getting the ball to move and stay between the wall and ones back is a "learned" technique but it can be done! This is the gentlest form of this massage. The more severe form is by laying on the floor with the persons back against the floor and inserting the TB between the floor and the back. Rolling around takes some doing but it can be done and it Will be a Deep Penetrating massage which is Not the best thing if one is not in shape for it.

Okay, stay well, get strong and have some golden fun.......................63bkpkr

 

[sidvail]

Thanks NorCal! I have been sticking to the lotus area recently. David Moore recreation area and greenwood river access.. Haven't been to shirttail in about a month or so. I've been trying to stay a little closer to home when out by myself..

I just took a look at BLM's page on Dave Moore rec area - that looks awesome. I have a friend who is not able to visit most river sites because of her legs, so this may be just what we're looking for. And it's okay to pan there? Sweet. Thanks for posting about it.

 

[chris rizin]

63bkpkr and Kevin - thanks for all the tips and information! Lot's to research and tips to try out.. Really appreciate it!

63bkpkr - Im pretty sure I'm using the keene mini A51.. it's a bit wider and the flare doesn't remove. Also has the problem with fitting in a 5gal bucket...super annoying but I am getting used to it.

 

[chris rizin]

I just took a look at BLM's page on Dave Moore rec area - that looks awesome. I have a friend who is not able to visit most river sites because of her legs, so this may be just what we're looking for. And it's okay to pan there? Sweet. Thanks for posting about it.

Glad you can use this spot! It's a great place for all things nature! I'm assuming your friend is wheelchair bound? If so when parked and looking for the best path down to the river stay to the right of the bathroom and follow that path. It's the easiest to use, there's also park tables and all kinds of little things nature wise to check out. I went to the BLM office and verified with them that you can pan, sluice and dig there. Please just backfill your holes as well as pack it in and pack it out! Maybe I will see you out there some day! Have fun!

 

[sidvail]

Thanks Chris. She is not wheelchair bound, but has bad knees and NO agility whatsoever. Just walking through sand I have to hold her hand or she'll fall. She will love this. You have just made her day!

 

[chris rizin]

Thanks Chris. She is not wheelchair bound, but has bad knees and NO agility whatsoever. Just walking through sand I have to hold her hand or she'll fall. She will love this. You have just made her day!

just a suggestion... maybe check out the spot first it's not a long and difficult walk to the river but it's not short either.. so if david moore seems a little too much for the knees check out the greenwood spot as it's not as long of a distance to the river and really easy going as well..

Greenwood Creek Area - American River Conservancy