Vortex vs vmat

blichney

Jr. Member
May 12, 2014
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Well i was looking around the industrial supply store near me and was pleasanly suprised they had a whole bunch of vortex mat (rough top conveyor belt) cheap so i couldnt resist. So currently my 4" dredge has an over under design with riffles over moss over deep v mat on top section and 3/4 expanded metal over deep v on bottom. I was thinking of either replacing the bottom vmat with the vortex entirely in the bottom or put a small high grade section in the upper section near the flair. The vortex mat works fantastic in my gold cube, but thats with substantially less water flow. Anyone use this setup or made a comparison between the two for use in dredges?
 

arizau

Bronze Member
May 2, 2014
2,485
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AZ
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Water flows slower on the bottom than on the surface. Vortex, especially in a cube, is for fine particle gold from minus 1/8" feed. Feed from a dredge will be larger so using it under expanded metal may make the expanded metal dependent for larger gold capture since there is very little depth in vortex. Bout all I know or can speculate.

Good luck.
 

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blichney

Jr. Member
May 12, 2014
43
33
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I think for now in going to use both. Just a short section underneith my 1/4 screen to the lower. And mount it on an alum sheet as a high grade cleanup. Time to do some experiments ha!
 

jsurddy

Jr. Member
Feb 12, 2016
76
54
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I had some small ribbed mat in the beginning of my dredge sluice as an indicator mat. When i came across some vortex mat i used it in place of my ribbed mat. It seems like it catches more gold but i cant see the gold that it catches, so it doesnt make a good indicator mat.
 

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blichney

Jr. Member
May 12, 2014
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33
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Ya here in ohio i cant see it either till its in the gold pan.
 

russau

Gold Member
May 29, 2005
7,266
6,724
St. Louis, missouri
I also have the Vortex mat , the Veranda mat , and the Gold Hog mats cut for my (currently) 2 inch dredge BUT haven't had the opportunity to get it out to try a comparison test. I'm going to try dredging again this Summer after a 4 year hiatus because I'm a old F.O.G. and in need of constant repair !:tongue3::occasion14:
 

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blichney

Jr. Member
May 12, 2014
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Ive been keeping an eye out for the unbacked veranda. Know where i can pick a piece up?
 

N-Lionberger

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Dec 1, 2013
1,363
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Arcata, California
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+1 on the veranda carpet the stuff really grips the gold in a unique way, I have seen it sold at Lowes and at Costco. It's sold as an outdoor carpet for outside campers and is cheap.
 

russau

Gold Member
May 29, 2005
7,266
6,724
St. Louis, missouri
OR just go to a carpet store and ask them if they can order you some that is unbacked. I got my first chunk of it from Mr. Hoser his self! And I bought some more from a guy in Colorado. NICE STUFF!
 

Goldwasher

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May 26, 2009
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Sailor Flat, Ca.
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no reason to put vortex under anything....if you do it isn't vortexing.

I would try it under riffles or expanded it likes fast water
 

SunshineMiner

Full Member
Jun 2, 2014
230
252
Someplace Sunny, California
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A gentlemen in our local club now uses Vortex under his Keene riffles on his A52. He says it works VERY well and since it doesnt hold onto unwanted material, hes left with mostly lots of black sands and super fine gold that just gets burried. I put MY riffles back into my A52 with some Vortex under it, and I'm not sure if he did something else, because even with the riffles clamped down there is still the TINIEST of gaps where the vortex matting is cut. I'm sure it wont effect the scouring as the gaps are so small.. I'll have to play with it after this Atmospheric River Event passes over CA ;)
 

Aquatek

Jr. Member
Nov 20, 2012
53
115
Stockholm, Sweden.
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Gold bug
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My fine gold setup.... ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1523362194.896713.jpg ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1523362227.366830.jpg ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1523362271.564635.jpg
 

QNCrazy

Hero Member
Sep 30, 2013
537
961
Motherlode, CA
Detector(s) used
Gold Bug Pro
A gentlemen in our local club now uses Vortex under his Keene riffles on his A52. He says it works VERY well and since it doesnt hold onto unwanted material, hes left with mostly lots of black sands and super fine gold that just gets burried. I put MY riffles back into my A52 with some Vortex under it, and I'm not sure if he did something else, because even with the riffles clamped down there is still the TINIEST of gaps where the vortex matting is cut. I'm sure it wont effect the scouring as the gaps are so small.. I'll have to play with it after this Atmospheric River Event passes over CA ;)

Did you cut it the right way? LOL! I stand by my statement. FYI, tree removal this weekend @ Moore. Get your butt up there and help. The moore help we get the quicker we can get to mining.
 

enamel7

Gold Member
Apr 16, 2005
6,384
2,546
North Carolina
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I've used the vortex in my 2 1/2 Keene for several years, nothing else. I get more gold than ever and the smallest gold catches in it like crazy! Who needs moss and carpet.
 

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