Drywashers!!!

[blazen70]

Is there really a big difference between the different brands of drywashers? I was thinking of saving up for a Keene 151 vibrostatic ($1000+), because it seems to be the top-of-the-line of all the drywashers. But, for as much as I would use it, I would probably be better off with one that was less than $500. I don't plan on doing any backpacking so I would prefer a bigger one that could process alot of material. What are you all using? -Robert-

[Fred]

Go with the lesser one Robert and use it for sniping. That what I did with a high banker that I built as well as making it a converable 2" dredge.. As a highbanker it will do about 60 pans per hour. Fred

[Dave (Pa)]

"as much as I will go" I for one, couldn't afford to put out 1000.00 on that knowing I'm going to pick up less then what it cost me to go for a week end. Try buying used... Finding gold is about getting into a good area first and then about how much material you can process. So a dry washer is a good investment if you want to shovel. It's really the only way to go if you?re in the desert but if there?s water around a small dredge is the way to go. A highbanker will give you the ability to get up out of the stream bed and still run in the gravel banks where Mother Nature has collected it for you but I find that the stream bottom is the place to be. I dig pools for a living and have back problems so shoveling is not enjoyable to me at all. I picked up a small 2" floating dredge used for 300.00 and stay in the cool water sucking up the cracks in the bedrock. Save the extra money and get a good gold coil for you detector! HH

[blazen70]

Most of the gold-bearing areas i prospect don't have any water. Believe me I would much rather buy a dredge than a drywasher but, i would get more use out of the drywasher. Drywashers all seem to work about the same, and i've even considered buying plans to build my own. Anyone else do much drywashing?

[Fred]

Seems to me that there are a lot more places without water than with. I know of several places that I would like to try out that are somewhat dry. Fred

[Dave (Pa)]

That's cuz we don't live in the water! That's the problem......

[Fred]

LOL with Dave! Fred

[Jim McCulloch]

Robert, I see you are in the "Inland Empire," perhaps Riverside or the surrounding area? I live north of Palm Springs, an do all my gold hunting in the desert, and Big Bear areas. Most of the serious drywashers I know have built their own version of the Dowie Drywasher, Nick's Nugget, etc. They all look about the same: smaller, made of wood, hand crank that can be augmented with a 12 volt motor system. The key to success in finding SMALL gold with a drywasher is NOT try to process too much material at a time. One ton of dirt, run through a Nick's Nugget, will likely produce more AU than 5 tons "blown through" one of the big monsters. And, you will be a lot less tired at day's end shovelling one ton than 5! BUT.... most drywashers I know have moved up to nugget hunting with a metal detector; more gold, better gold, less work. Check out my website: WWW.GOLDHUNTER.COM HH Jim

[Phil(NM)]

What's a Nick's nugget drywasher? That's one I've never heard of, and I've been drywashing for more than 20 years..... is it on a website anywhere?
Thanks!

[Dave (Pa)]

Check this out if you catch it in time. If not e-mail the guy or check his other items, he may relist it.

DESERT GOLD DRYWASHING
Item # 3032656245

[blazen70]

I've been away for a few days, just now getting back to the posts. 8)

Very nice site Jim!! I actually live in Beaumont. If you're not too busy with your own site, maybe you could post some of your finds . -Robert-

[coinshooter]

I've done my share of drywashing and found that it is definetly worth your $ to buy a good drywasher like a keene. You don't necessarily need the big old honker like their biggest one, just buy the one that is their smallest one. Go to a lawn mower shop and buy a good 2 stroke blower. This hooks to the dry washer and it will run it all day. I would not recommend building one yourself unless you are the handy type. You may get some satisfaction from it, but I can guarantee you that the picture that the guy shows you in that ebay add is a much much heavier machine than the aluminum or black plastic keene with a small two stroke engine. One good thing about a keene is that you will always have a buyer when you go to resell it and it can really take a beating, which I am not sure you homemade wood one will hold up as well. Good luck and happy finding (as my friend says)!

[blazen70]

Thanks for the advice guys!