16" TROMMEL BUILD INSPIRED BY AZVIPER

[Doitlaynstyle]

So I have started gathering supplies to begin my trommel build. I'll post a link to AZ's thread which is my inspiration for this build but I'm also planning a different style. I'll be using easily obtainable parts so that rebuilding in the event of failure is possible without fabricating new parts. I'm thinking that at eight foot long I'm going to just turn this thing into a small trailer or build it on a small trailer so that I can also haul the extra gear and make the weekend trips a little more do-able. I will be using one of the two roto-tillers for the gear reduction and I am contemplating using a tubed rubber tire as a drive wheel instead of running a full gear ring on the beast. I will probably still use roller blade wheels for the cylinder rotation but I am probably going to use four on bottom and four on top to lock the cylinder into place so the tire doesn't knock the cylinder up off the bearing wheels.

I'm also hoping that I can get my hands on a claim soon and I'll also be using my father's back-hoe to stockpile dirt, move tailing piles, and create a reclamation pond. Anyway this is the start of a long slow winter because money is tight. We just bought a new house and I'm scrimping more than usual. I'm hoping to build a new 12" sluice box but I might just have to extend my current 10" box. Like AZ I'm hoping to use gold hog mating but that's only if I can afford it. Most likely I'll run my rifles and miners moss first followed by another 3' of box with the gold hog mat I currently have. So enough of this for now. I'll add photos here and link AZ's thread.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/gold-prospecting/364420-12-inch-trommel-build.html

 

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[roadrunner]

Here are a few more for you to chew on.
Trommeloid
Trommelater
Tromster
Tromotiller
Trommifier

I just like the challenge.

 

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[jcazgoldchaser]

He has 2400 holes to cut. He would spend more time setting up the jig per hole than it would take to drill 5 holes. This method would be great to make the backflow ring or 1/3 rings for the inside that he has planned but not to cut 2400 holes to the curved outside cylinder.

You don't make a template with 1 hole, you make a template with 1 row of holes.

Line it up on the edge, clamp and cut 15-30 holes in 5 minutes.

Flip it around or over where you have the offset depth so you can do the alternating row.

That's only if you don't do the offset row on the same template. Which I would do.

[edit]and you use a circle cutter or make one for cutting the large rings.

How to make a nice circle cut with a plasma cutter, Cool technic - YouTube

 

[jcazgoldchaser]

Here are a few more for you to chew on.
Trommeloid
Trommelater
Tromster
Tromotiller
Trommifier

I just like the challenge.

Trommelific

 

[AzViper]

Layn,

Just had a brain fart (after looking at Gold Claimers design) on rotating your cylinder without a chain drive and having the cylinder completely removable if needed.

1. This is the cylinder
2. These are the rollers (4) mounted on shafts the extend from end to end and using (4) pillow block bearings. The shafts would extend through the bearings on one end and have pulleys mounted to them.
3. This is just and idler pulley so for the belt to run on.
4. This would be the pulley on the end of the engine.

Granted calculations would need to be worked out on the size of pulleys to keep the RPM down.

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

100 rows of 13 holes all center punched tonight. How cool is it that it worked out to exactly 1300 holes? Now for the hard part..... drilling. Saving that for tomorrow. Probably take me until the weekend...

 

[davidb]

Whole lot of dam drilling lol

 

[AzViper]

Wow you have a bigger tube 16" to my 12" and yet less holes than what I am drilling. I have 15 holes per row and will end up 1434 holes. What's the center distance between holes? Looks like your boxes are taller than the width of the box so your spacing is greater.

 

[jog]

Found this and thought you might like to take a look. Sounds like what your wanting to build.

http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/for/4167110753.html

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

Those boxes are exactly 1/2" square. The spacing is greater but leaves me with the option of placing another row of holes between each row. I calculated my flow and I still shouldn't have any problems but if I do I have a backup plan.

 

[AzViper]

Layn, that craigslist trommel is the one we saw a few weeks ago and could not understand the second photo why he has the flow ring on the discharge end of the cylinder.

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

Ya I didn't either. Seems like you would never get all of the material out. I also noticed that it had flatbar running the upper portion but not the lower so you wouldn't even get it all to flip out.

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

So I kinda mocked up what the trommel is going to look like. Mind that this is not to the actual dimensions that the rotto-tiller has but it is similar. I will have to fab my mount as I go. The weight of the engine and gear set will provide pressure to the tires (one on each side of the gearbox in place of the tines) from the pivot point which will drive the trommel drum. By unpinning the pivot point I will be able to remove the engine and the drum with ease. The reason I went with the reverse design is so that I can place the trommel low onto the trailer frame and have the sluice hang just under the trailer frame. This whole concept leaves the hopper at a height that makes for easy feeding by bucket.

 

[calisdad]

Wouldn't you have a more positive drive system if you wrapped the tire and drum with a belt? I just see the 'contact patch' of the tire not being big enough with a drum full of material.
I applaud your creativity.

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

Wouldn't you have a more positive drive system if you wrapped the tire and drum with a belt? I just see the 'contact patch' of the tire not being big enough with a drum full of material.
I applaud your creativity.

Thank you for the compliment. Since the drive isn't going to be one but two wheels I am sure it is going to be fine. If not I will add some weight to the engine frame to increase the tractive effort.

 

[SLNugget]

Thank you for the compliment. Since the drive isn't going to be one but two wheels I am sure it is going to be fine. If not I will add some weight to the engine frame to increase the tractive effort.

You could knurl the circumference of the barrel where the tires ride.

 

[AzViper]

Thank you for the compliment. Since the drive isn't going to be one but two wheels I am sure it is going to be fine. If not I will add some weight to the engine frame to increase the tractive effort.

Get yourself and inner tube that you can cut a section of inner tube out and stretch it over the cylinder where the tire makes contact. You could also do this to the tire. Now you have a grippe rubber surface that most likely will not slip.

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

Get yourself and inner tube that you can cut a section of inner tube out and stretch it over the cylinder where the tire makes contact. You could also do this to the tire. Now you have a grippe rubber surface that most likely will not slip.

That will be perfect. I'll remember that one in case I need it.

So tonight I drilled 312 pilot holes and four 1/2" holes. Oh I'm not enjoying this at all... but that's why I chose to do it first. When you put this much work in you are a lot less likely to give up lol.

 

[davidb]

You go my friend that's the spirit

 

[AzViper]

That will be perfect. I'll remember that one in case I need it.

So tonight I drilled 312 pilot holes and four 1/2" holes. Oh I'm not enjoying this at all... but that's why I chose to do it first. When you put this much work in you are a lot less likely to give up lol.

Remember Layn you are drilling holes for what reason? Hmmm... Your trommel will be like no other trommel, built to last, built to handle any boulder you can shove down the cylinder, and I convince you it was a good idea... LOL

 

[AzViper]

Layn,

Where are the updated photos of your hard work in drilling holes. Now I remember why I said you had 2400 holes to drill using my pattern. I thought at one time you had your classification area 15" wide instead of 12.5". The math comes out 2400... I have been a drilling fool today and I am over 3/4 of the way to having my cylinder completed. Been working on my distribution manifold and a few other items as well today. This is the fun part, I get tired of doing one project and then move to the next piece of the mining puzzle. My buddy at work gave me a 100 gallon Rubbermaid trough. This will be part of my 3 tank recir. system.

One thing I learned quickly was to stuff the cylinder with a sleeping bag to deaden the sound of punch/hammer when marking with the center punch.