Which pans are better to use

[gravelMaster]

I realize that America just loves its' plastics, while a considerable portion of the world uses steel. Since we all know what plastic pans look like, I've foregone the use of a plastic image of a pan. Instead, I've included a video of a miner using a steel pan.

Below is an image of a steel pan -

https://cdnimg.webstaurantstore.com/images/products/large/46156/844674.jpg

What would be your choice to use in the field?

 

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[DizzyDigger]

What would be your choice to use in the field?

There is, indeed, a myriad of choices...for me, I'll take my Garrett pans.

IMO, more important than the pan is your skill at using it.

 

[N-Lionberger]

My favorite pan is the 16” ribbed steel estwing pan, second favorite is my Garrett super sluice.

 

[Quinc]

I grew up with a metal pan and love it. But now that I am panning a lot more and older I wanted something lighter. I am not a fan of the Garret pan at all. I think the Proline pan is much better, faster and easier to pan down to only gold. I just picked up a Keene pan but haven't had a chance to try it yet.

 

[ticndig]

Garrett super sluice is my favorite

 

[russau]

IMO the best pan is one that you know how to use . I've tried a LOT of pans over the years and I got rid of most of them and kept my original GPAA pan the Ole George pushed on us over the years ! I like it and used to use it often!

 

[N-Lionberger]

I first learned on a steel pan so it’s the most comfortable for me, issues are you have to take care of them or they rust away to nothing. They also make a lot of noise swinging from your pack as you scramble through the woods. I prefer a plastic pan when the water is really cold.
GPAA pans like russau mentioned are a good all around plastic pan, I know a lot of folks that use them, I have one it’s just not a daily driver as it’s too small for my tastes. The Proline plastic pans are way too flexible, the 17” pan was such a disappointment as when I got a pan full of gravel in there it would sag into a taco shape and started cracking almost immediately at the grossly undersized lanyard hole, also the plastic has poor UV resistance. Garret pans are the most durable plastic pans I’ve dealt with. If you see a Jobe brand Archer pan just go ahead and run away screaming. It’s interesting to note that the Jobe version of the LeTrap square pan is made of a much higher quality plastic than the Archer pans. Those black Chinese stansport pans are actually very durable but are a shameless knockoff of the Keene black plastic pans. Any pan that has a hokey trap in the bottom is an absolute no go, the roaring camp pan I love the shape and color but the trap in there kills the deal, if they made it bigger with no trap it would be a good pan but alas they also use a brittle plastic. Apart from the Falcon finishing pan I can’t think of a plastic pan without a gimmick of some kind. My favorite pan of all time is this super heavy duty pan that was made by a long defunct south San Francisco company that mostly made commercial cook pots. It’s 17” wide and has a wide base. I don’t take it to the field as I worry if anything happens to it I can’t get another. Keene used to sell a very sturdy steel pan but I didn’t like the dimensions, they had a narrow drop bottom base. The Estwing steel pans are lighter weight steel but the ribs on the rim help make the pan more rigid.

 

[Red_desert]

The original Garrett plastic pans were super rigid tough. Don't have any recent pans of Garrett to compare.

 

[Bodfish Mike]

Color of pan for me is important - Green to see black sand and black to see gold.
Garrett super sluice green pan is great but it's a two hand for me I use it
to process down to black sand then put cons in a black pan to see the gold and suck it up.

Finish pan at home with a small black pan.

Cheers Mike

 

[russau]

I agree with N-Lionberger on his assessment on pans !I think I had them all at one point !

 

[Hamfist]

Garrett Super Sluice is the only pan I will take into the field if I'm taking one at all. It's rigid and the two big riffles work well with lightly classified material. I wish they made them in blue. Super inexpensive for what it is and what it can do. Heavy, durable, and big.

The Proline pans have a great profile. I like the number of riffles ad depth of the walls but hate how flimsy it is. Because they are so flimsy, I only use them during final cleanup of cons since they will taco under any real load, as mentioned. The fact that they are so light makes them a good final cleanup pan for your super-cons. I wish the base was an inch or two wider. Never goes on my adventures... always stays with the cleanup rig at home. That's it's punishment for being weak.

I like the biggest Minelab pan but it tries to do too much. It has two sizes of riffles in the same pan but wish it they would just have versions with one or the other. It has a nice wide flat base like the Garrett SS and it's blue, which is my preferred color.

I've yet to find a pan that works for sampling in the field and final separation of black sand and micro gold at home. Garrett SS is be my choice for the field.