Building a motorized mini-trommel w/spray bar

[DizzyDigger]

The trommel I built earlier this year works excellent for classifying
the dry, desert material, but it's too big for me to be packing it up
a creek along with my other gear. What I need is a much smaller
version that can classify material to #8 mesh (1/8"), and it will need
to have a spray bar so all the material gets washed well on the way
through.

Started poking around the shop, and came up with 2 round containers
of the same dimensions. I think they held some kind of protean powder
my wife uses, but no matter... they're mine now....

Looks like the inner diameter will be about 5-3/4", and overall length
about 18". Frame to be fabricated out of thick-walled 3/4" or 1/2" PVC
pipe, using 1/4 all-thread rod to support the barrel. Spray bar either
on top, or at the feed, and the motor will be top-mounted and use a
simple belt to turn the barrel.

Using the standard classifiers that sit over a 5 gal. bucket just wears
me out, and all the shaking and spinning of the bucket gets me
dizzieranhell, not to mention what it does to the back. (walking around on
a rocky riverbank when you're dizzy and prone to falling is a bad, bad idea).
To get two 3 gal. buckets classified down to 1/8" takes far too long, and
I'd much rather spend that time running material through the sluice. (up
here we don't have "dirt with some rocks in it", but rather it's "rocks with some
dirt in it"!)

With this small powered unit I can scoop the rocks/gravel right into it as
I'm digging, and the classified material will drop right into a 3 gal. bucket.

If I'm going to continue to work these creeks I've got no choice
but to make some gear changes to help overcome problems this
damnable disease causes. Ain't going to let the SOB beat me, and
for every trick it comes up with (so far) I've been able to overcome
by adjusting the process.

Here's a shot of the barrel (test fit for the screen):

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

How to Research for Treasure Hunting and Metal Detecting From Lead Generation to Vetting - Grab it through Amazon!

[roadrunner]

DD, take a look at this for some ideas. I like the tool box as a carry aid and mounting process.

 

[AzViper]

​

 

[roadrunner]

This one also. It is small, has different sizes of classification, and, it looks like it could have a handle come from each end, across the top.
Like the old plumbers work boxes, tool boxes. It looks like he has a small 12 volt motor on the end of the straight shaft on the left side.
You could use a cordless drill on the end with a slow speed. Use a solar panel,with a 110 volt inverter to charge the batteries.

 

[mu50stang]

I built this for around $200. Works great and I made it where I can interchange the classifier by being able to pull it off and slide another one on. It runs on a battery and is light.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/gold-prospecting/345651-trommel-build-sluice-question.html.

 

[kazcoro]

This one also. It is small, has different sizes of classification, and, it looks like it could have a handle come from each end, across the top.
Like the old plumbers work boxes, tool boxes. It looks like he has a small 12 volt motor on the end of the straight shaft on the left side.
You could use a cordless drill on the end with a slow speed. Use a solar panel,with a 110 volt inverter to charge the batteries.

I cannot believe hwo big that guys garage is. Does he park 747's in there? And, I want to know how much those buckets cost. They look just like 5 gallon buckets, but they must hold 75,000 gallons of material!! Where is the truck that hauls those badboys?

 

[AzViper]

This one also. It is small, has different sizes of classification, and, it looks like it could have a handle come from each end, across the top.
Like the old plumbers work boxes, tool boxes. It looks like he has a small 12 volt motor on the end of the straight shaft on the left side.
You could use a cordless drill on the end with a slow speed. Use a solar panel,with a 110 volt inverter to charge the batteries.

Boys and their toys. Must be a part of a Railroad layout. I have seen some really huge layouts and this would fit in those layouts...

 

[Jeff95531]

I cannot believe hwo big that guys garage is. Does he park 747's in there? And, I want to know how much those buckets cost. They look just like 5 gallon buckets, but they must hold 75,000 gallons of material!! Where is the truck that hauls those badboys?

We should tell the Hoffman crew about this. Easier to get into the jungle AND it worked for over 3 minutes without breaking down or puking oil!

 

[Prospector70]

We should tell the Hoffman crew about this. Easier to get into the jungle AND it worked for over 3 minutes without breaking down or puking oil!

You know they would find a way to mess that up. I'm envisioning Todd looking for a place to rest his girth *crunch*.

I love the micro washplant!

 

[roadrunner]

Here is a short and better video of the trommel and the way it is built.
Since I install solar systems on people's houses and malls maybe I should become a vender here and sell solar items for all the things we need.
Maybe I will do a poll. For small panels, the inverters, charge controllers, and 12 volt or 24 volt motors.
What do you guys think.

 

[AzViper]

Mike that video I posted of that small 4" pipe trommel moves the classified paydirt very well. Here is the updated version of that first trommel I posted... Should give you some great idea's on a small portable trommel...

I can see a lot of mini trommels being made from this design and affordable at that. You know me instead of using mesh I would be drilling that PVC out. If anyone wants my drilling template pm me your email address.

​

 

[DizzyDigger]

Thank you for the awesome links and video's...that'll surely help! (the beer I'd like to buy ya!)


The ones in the video's are substantially more robust in design than what
I am planning for, but there's some damn good ideas in there too.

My ultimate goal for the trommel is to have it mounted above a Gold Cube,
so material can go directly from being dug to feeding the GC. I'll need to
build a slide for the trommel tailings to slide away from the GC, and the
water feed from the 2000 GPH bilge pump will be split between the GC and
the Trommel.

As is typical for my projects, it'll take some time before it's all together,
but in the end I'm hoping to have small, gold catching plant that won't
miss so much as a flypoop...

 

[AzViper]

Thank you for the awesome links and video's...that'll surely help! (the beer I'd like to buy ya!)


The ones in the video's are substantially more robust in design than what
I am planning for, but there's some damn good ideas in there too.

My ultimate goal for the trommel is to have it mounted above a Gold Cube,
so material can go directly from being dug to feeding the GC. I'll need to
build a slide for the trommel tailings to slide away from the GC, and the
water feed from the 2000 GPH bilge pump will be split between the GC and
the Trommel.

As is typical for my projects, it'll take some time before it's all together,
but in the end I'm hoping to have small, gold catching plant that won't
miss so much as a flypoop...

I would think using a 4" or 6" PVC for your trommel tube would be perfect for the Gold Cube