Better than a vial for field storage of flakes/colors

[Snarkie]

I realize this was probaly not the best title, but I hope it made you look.

When panning, we all tend to get a little impurities in our vial, as we touch the color to drop it into the water. At the end of the day, one then has to pick through everything to put it into a "clean" vial. What happens when you try and pour the gold out to separate it? Well, you get water all over the place. I found a simple solution for this:

In the accessory packet of military MREs, you will sometimes find a tiny bottle of Tabasco sauce. Now, it's not in every one, but if you know someone who uses MREs for camping, have them save one for you. These tiny bottles are "shaker" bottles- that is, you cannot pour the sauce out; you must shake it out. This is accomplished with a very small hole in the bottle neck.

While in the field, I put all of my colors into one of these mini Tabasco bottles. At the end of the day, I put out some paper towels, and turn the bottle upside down. Because it is a shaker bottle, the water stays inside, while the gold and other particles fall out. I then use a pair of tweezers and a jewelers loup to pick out the gold and put it into my saving vial.

With this method, you will not have to worry about all the water pouring out and making a mess.

Snark

[DanB]

I think sucker bottles work quite well......makes for a fast clean up.......no wasting time trying to pick up itty bitty tiny pieces...just suck them up....if you cant buy a sucker bottle....any 12 oz water bottle and a good plastic straw will do in a pinch....

JFY......( I know some states DO NOT ALLOW head shops).....but they do have little 1 gram and 3 gram clear vials for penny's.......compared to mining store prices.....


good luck and HH

db

[Hoser John]

#1 rule a physics=GLASS BREAKS and your out amongst what Rocks-John

[Snarkie]

These bottles are made for military/battle use. They're as thick as a catsup bottle, but the size of a chili pepper.

Also, I didn't say to store your gold in them; only to capture a day's collection. Turn it over and the water stays inside, while the solids drop out.

Hey, it works for me. I was only trying to share the love...

[DeSey56]

These bottles are made for military/battle use. They're as thick as a catsup bottle, but the size of a chili pepper.

Also, I didn't say to store your gold in them; only to capture a day's collection. Turn it over and the water stays inside, while the solids drop out.

Hey, it works for me. I was only trying to share the love...

Hey,
I have a son in the Army and I like that Idea.
I will get him to save me a couple of these bottles and use them. Some of us thank more of their precious gold than to treat it rough enough to break the vials, but, I know that accidents do happen and if it dose you can just reprocess the glass and gold and reclaim the clean gold!
Thanks for the Great idea! Have a cup on me.
DeSey56

[Doug Watson]

Reprocessing the glass and gold doesn't always work so good depending on where you break it. Doug.

[Gravelwasher]

Yes it happens,

I was at the am pm and went for my wallet and my glass vial with a full days work hung up on the wallet and fell on to the tile floor. I used napkins and a plastic bag to recover the loss but never did find the plastic bag in my car , must have gotten thrown out. Also left a glass vial in the car and it froze and popped apart. I now buy plastic vials. Good luck all!!! Gravelwasher

[Sackett]

These bottles are made for military/battle use. They're as thick as a catsup bottle, but the size of a chili pepper.

Also, I didn't say to store your gold in them; only to capture a day's collection. Turn it over and the water stays inside, while the solids drop out.

Hey, it works for me. I was only trying to share the love...

I have one of the MRE tasco bottles that I have used....Not exactly like you said, but I like the idea!! and will in the future...Since reading this forum I tested my bottle and a good throw to the floor won't break it!! As you said our guys are fighting combat in the ROCKY MTS in Afghanistan, carrying these little "glass" bottles!!

[qt4me]

( I know some states DO NOT ALLOW head shops)..

What does that mean for those that dont live in the states thanks

[TheHarleyMan2]

I generally take my gold and put it in a vile and put it in a zip lock bag and stick it in a pouch on my ruck sack I use for prospecting. When I get home I take the cork off the vile and tilt the bottle and tap it to get the gold on one side, then I take a modelers bulb sucker, (used to take paint of of bottles for mixing little amounts of paint), and suck out as much water as I can then place the vile in a nice place in my closet that NO ONE has access to and NOTHING will happen to it and let the water evaporate over night.

The next morning all my gold is dry. Then I just dump the gold in my other vile that is a little bit bigger.

I have a bunch of MRE's, I will have to try the tobassco bottle idea.

[Hoshnasi]

I use sniffer bottles when out on the field. They are cheap and the material is pretty trust worthy in regards to breaks.

[mulefour]

You can get plastic vials at Wal mart, box of 100 for about $10.00.
Look in the wedding supplys dept. they are filled with soapy water for blowing bubbles, just empty and cut the loop off of the stopper.

[elijahhenry10]

If anyone has a coin shop near them, they usually sell plastic containers the same size as a roll of pennies, dimes, nickel, etc. that seem to work great for storing gold. Usually $0.50 or less.

[James/Ouida]

I like the little bottle idea. That being said, anyone know a decent site for bulk MREs? I've noticed prices are goin up as we get closer to 2012.