Newbie is as newbie does. Classifier question(s)

[cwwj123]

Hey guys,
I'm relatively new to the hobby of Gold panning. I've been out quite a bit this summer and even found some color. However, as you know panning isn't easy. What I would like to know is what do you use for classifying material? Did you make your own classifier(s) or buy them? Since i'm in MN and the gold is fine my 1/2 inch Garrett that came with my 14' pan is useless. I've been looking at DIY and for sale classifiers and have been wanting to make my own, however, I just want something sturdy and reliable. Whats your experience? Or advice? Thanks guys!

 

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[KevinInColorado]

One key question if you do DIY is what material you use. Lots of guys use 1/4 inch hardware cloth but this stuff just isn't durable so your pics of your new classifier look great but a few outings later you learn that your hard work is coming apart. Brass or stainless steel mesh is the way to go. This will most likely lead you to buying commercial classifiers. For a custom classifier I built, I used aluminum punch plate from Home Depot. Is the "Union Jack" pattern and it works well. However Aluminum is soft enough to stretch and then break unless reinforced so I had to add a strap across the center of the classifier.

For MN you probably want an 8-12 mesh (you could use a kitchen strainer for this as they are stainless steel and cheap) to use in the field, and a 50 mesh to separate the materials you bring home. Panning the stuff that goes thru the 50 mesh separately will help you get the really fine gold.

 

[DizzyDigger]

Easiest way I found to make a smaller meshed classifier was to buy some
1/8" hardware cloth (screen) at the local hardware store. Cut out a piece
that fits inside your 1/2" classifier, then simply use some small bits of wire
and secure it to the existing plastic screen. You can also get 1/4" screen
and do the same.

Found an old black plastic classifier a long time ago, and the 1/2 sq. webbing
inside was broken in several places. It has since served as a #4, #8 and now
a #20 mesh (rough size of window screen).

Takes a bit of time to "sew" the top screen on over the existing one, but it's a
great way to rejuvenate a piece of gear that would be otherwise useless.

 

[cwwj123]

Awesome! Thanks for your response! I was thinking about the materials, thanks for pointing out the possible mesh problems. I'll shop around, there's a great metal detecting store 4 blocks from my house. It's an older gentlemen that is retired and just loves prospecting/metal detecting. I'm sure he'll have what I need! I'll support local business. And i've actually used kitchen strainers at home for some paydirt I bought from alaska. Worked great until the plastic handle snapped clean off after going through about 2lbs of material

 

[goldenIrishman]

As was mentioned before you can use some hardware cloth in different sizes. Also get some small cable ties (zip strips) to attach the screen to your 1/2 inch classifier. BE SURE you attach it in AT LEAST eight places around the edge as well as one or two in the center. Hardware cloth bends easy and if it does so while your running stuff through it with your hands, it can rip ya up pretty bad even if you're wearing gloves.

For kitchen type strainers, I've found some of the best ones are the ones you can find in your typical dollar store. These have a wire handle instead of plastic and won't break from the weight. With a little searching you can also find them in different size meshes.

 

[mxer47]

I use a 3 gallon bucket inside of a 5 gallon bucket. The 3 gallon bucket is drilled with a 11/2" hole saw threw the bottom leaving enough material for backing. I then screw hardware screen to the bottom. Cut the screen about 1/4" bigger than the bottom and bend it in. I fill the 5 gallon bucket about 1/2 full of water then put in the 3 gallon bucket, a couple of shovels full of material at most too much won't work too well. Then lift and twist the handle. The water flowing out the bottom of the bucket along with the fluidization of the material works good.

 

[cwwj123]

Such great advice! Thanks guys! Also, thanks for the heads up on how hands are no match for the wire. This is pretty much the only thing I do that gives me calluses. When I was copper hunting a rock slit my finger open in Michigan. No one tells you the fun garbage you find, too. Broken glass, rusty metal.. Great fun =D

 

[Goodyguy]

I cut the top 6" to 8" section off a 5 gallon bucket and use a propane blow torch to melt a screen onto the bottom of it then trim the screen.
Just don't over do the blow torch part (the bucket melts pretty easy)



GG~

 

[sagoropen]

hello,
Since be declare previous in the direction of you be able to make use of a number of hardware fabric in poles apart dimension. As well acquire a number of minute wire bind (zip strips) in the direction of fasten the monitor in the direction of your 1/2 shuffle classifier.
thanks....

 

[jeepGold]

I cut the top 6" to 8" section off a 5 gallon bucket and use a propane blow torch to melt a screen onto the bottom of it then trim the screen.
Just don't over do the blow torch part (the bucket melts pretty easy)

View attachment 899677

GG~

I spent the day trying to make a 1/4" classifier with a 5 gal bucket w/instructions cutting the bucket in 1/2 then laying the screen on and then overlapping the buckets.. PITA and it wouldn't work for the life of me! I threw everything away pissed. Then I saw your way. Gingerly melting the plastic and then pulling the metal in the plastic.
AWESOME! Worked like a charm.
My advice is to use a pair of pliers, heat up the plastic at a medium heat and medium pace. Tug hard on the screen until it "cheese grades" into the plastic and goes down about a 1/4 of an inch, then hold it there til it hardens and move on to the next segment. Takes about 20 minutes to go full circle but SO worth it. Then file the outside down a little more than usual and add a small bead of sealant so you don't cut yourself on the metal snags.. GREAT IDEA GG~

 

[dvdtharaldson]

I buy stainless steel wire mesh from McMaster-Carr. It comes in about a thousand different types and sizes. I use a scrap 1 by 4 and construct a square. I then staple the wire mesh to the bottom of the wooden square. I usually attach sheet rock screws to the bottom of the square to lift the classifier off the bottom of my container (Large dish pan) that I use to shake the classifier in. It works extremely well and is very light weight. A 12 inch square of stainless steel wire mesh is about 5 bucks. I make the wooden frames about 8 inches square. I have built classifiers from 6x6, 8x8, 14 x14, 20x20, 30x30, and 50x50 mesh size. 14x14 means 14 wires per inch both vertical and horizontal. A 50 x50 is very small.

Best Colors to you

DVDT

 

[arizau]

Hey guys,
I'm relatively new to the hobby of Gold panning. I've been out quite a bit this summer and even found some color. However, as you know panning isn't easy. What I would like to know is what do you use for classifying material? Did you make your own classifier(s) or buy them? Since i'm in MN and the gold is fine my 1/2 inch Garrett that came with my 14' pan is useless. I've been looking at DIY and for sale classifiers and have been wanting to make my own, however, I just want something sturdy and reliable. Whats your experience? Or advice? Thanks guys!

Your 1/2" classifier is still useful if you do the following.* When you pan in the field, first only rough pan down the minus 1/2" to mostly black sand and smaller gravels and then save that material in a bucket or you can add more material to the pan and do several more batches before you dump the pan. You will probably not lose any gold in so doing if you properly pan (rough panning eliminates only the lightest and largest waste material). After this point is where I would concentrate my efforts on smaller mesh screens. At the end of the day or at home is the best time to mess with the smaller meshes, and panning for gold recovery, since you will be dealing with a much smaller total quantity and it is a much higher quality eg. concentrates. When in the field, screening to small mesh reduces the amount of material you can handle in a day. The more paydirt you process, the more overall gold you are likely to find. Good luck.

PS Some good suggestions here for DIY screens.

*First, test pan your area to see if there is any gold then shift to this mode.