Should the pan be "scratched" with sandpaper before use?

[mts]

I'm new to panning and just bought the standard Garrett gold panning kit ($30, two pans, classifier, snuffer bottle, etc.). I've watched many videos on youtube and some of them talk about "prepping" the pan with 60 grit sandpaper so that it holds fine gold better. It makes sense to me. But then again, being a complete newbie I'd believe just about anything. So I thought I'd ask the real experts about whether this is a necessity or just an old wive's tale. Eventually, my pan will get scratched anyway due to all of the rocks acting like sandpaper. But I wanted to check first before I take my brand new pan and rough it up a bit.

Being able to catch really fine gold is going to be important since I'm in Ohio. Thanks!

[goldenlady]

With a new pan ( plastic) we make sure to wash it with a degreasing soap. As oil can be left on it after it's manufactured. If we're out in the field with a new pan we use river or stream bottom gravel to rough up the bottom. Haven't ever tried the sandpaper but I imagine it would work too.


Goldenlady

[mts]

Thanks goldenlady. Any particular brand of soap you recommend? Are you talking about using something like go-Jo hand degreaser?

[Marchas45]

Hi! MTS are you out to get rich on that there gold? Best of luck to you on your new adventure.

[goldenlady]

Thanks goldenlady. Any particular brand of soap you recommend? Are you talking about using something like go-Jo hand degreaser?

Not really, I just use the Ajax liquid dishwashing soap that I hand wash dishes with. Still do that sometimes.

[mts]

Hi! MTS are you out to get rich on that there gold? Best of luck to you on your new adventure.

not looking to get rich. Just hoping to take the kids out panning this summer. We plan on hitting a gpaa meeting and I'd like to be able to pan without looking like too much of a greenhorn.

I'll stick with playing the precious metals markets for getting rich (or going bust).

[mts]

Thanks goldenlady. Any particular brand of soap you recommend? Are you talking about using something like go-Jo hand degreaser?

Not really, I just use the Ajax liquid dishwashing soap that I hand wash dishes with. Still do that sometimes.

I see. Thanks for all of the help!

[russau]

Thanks goldenlady. Any particular brand of soap you recommend? Are you talking about using something like go-Jo hand degreaser?

NO! dont use go-jo hand degreaser!!! it has lanolin in it and will float fine gold out. and i wouldnt use any sandpaper either.hot soapy water with a dish detergetn thats not perfumed!

[mts]

Thanks goldenlady. Any particular brand of soap you recommend? Are you talking about using something like go-Jo hand degreaser?

NO! dont use go-jo hand degreaser!!! it has lanolin in it and will float fine gold out. and i wouldnt use any sandpaper either.hot soapy water with a dish detergetn thats not perfumed!

Thanks. I ended up using regular dish detergent to clean the pan last night. I also already used some 120 grit sandpaper to lightly scratch the pan. Nothing too serious. Any reason why you don't recommend scratching the pan a little?

[spartacus53]

I wouldn't scratch the pan, because then it wouldn't be good for cooking

[Marchas45]

I wouldn't scratch the pan, because then it wouldn't be good for cooking

Good One.

[marinedad]

i use dishsoap and a rough scotchbrite pad, or use stream sand,gravel to rough it up some.

[KevinInColorado]

For your fine gold I would definitely recommend sandpapering you new pans. You'll be happy you did.

[russau]

if you sand your new pan before removeing all of the mold release agent you will embed the mold release agent into the scratchs of the plastic and youll almost never get it out. use a scouring pad or Brillo pad at the most with soap and hot water.once those small scratchs are there, getting your small fines out of the will be a pain! i used river material,and yes itll also scratch the pan but in a different kind of scratch. but its yours so use what ever you want! this is just my opinion and everyone has one!

[mts]

if you sand your new pan before removeing all of the mold release agent you will embed the mold release agent into the scratchs of the plastic and youll almost never get it out. use a scouring pad or Brillo pad at the most with soap and hot water.once those small scratchs are there, getting your small fines out of the will be a pain! i used river material,and yes itll also scratch the pan but in a different kind of scratch. but its yours so use what ever you want! this is just my opinion and everyone has one!

I appreciate the opinion. That's why I asked. I didn't see overwhelming support for scratching the pan. Just the occasional mention. So I didn't know if it was just common knowledge or if it was a controversial subject. I appreciate all of the feedback. I've already scratched the pan. But I used fairly fine sandpaper. You can see the scratches. But there are no big gouges. I cleaned the pan before and after sanding it.

I'll just keep using it. If I find out that it doesn't work well I'll just spend the $10 to get a new one. No big deal. In fact, it may be better to have one scratched and one not just so that I can use whatever seems to work best in the given situation.

Thanks again!

[TheHarleyMan2]

I washed mine with Dawn detergent and I used 1000 grit wet and dry sand paper, (wet of course), just enough to get the shine off and give it a VERY MILD scuff look. I do it in a little circular motions so my scuffing can be overlapping in all directions. I did all my pans that way and I never had any issues. I too am a little newbe, (about a year), at prospecting and panning.

I am sure everyone has different methods of scuffing a pan. I did do one with sand by the river and of course I had too much pressure with my hand and I have a few little gouges from the different size sands I put in 1 pan but nothing major to prevent gold from being found in it! After that, I decided I like my wet and dry sand paper!

[russau]

MTS dont get rid of that pan! after using it for sometime with the gravels/sand, it will smooth them scratchs out. even just using the rivergravelsand sand it will create small scratchs in the bottoms to an extent. youll be fine. but id use this pan a lot on just gravel/sand before id try to use it to save fine gold. then it should be just fine! good luck!