Planning New FB Gold Trap....

[ALewis]

Looking for any suggestions...Going to build a lil bit large BGT style sluice....
"Borrowed" heavily from design on the below link. ( GG)

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/sluicing/263238-my-diy-fluid-bed-gold-trap-sluice.html

I Love this sluice ! But, now I want something a little bigger !!!


I'm thinking of increasing the length to 48", "think" I can leave the height 6" / 6.5"....
It looks like I can go w/ a width of 15", tapering down to 9"....(which I'm leaning towards, since will still fit in bucket)
OR....Go Real Big, 21" width, tapering down to 14" or so....Seems like this option would run more ? but would require larger cleanout bucket ? Hmmmmm....

Also, wonder about the exit of the Fluid trap....Should the sluice top be just a straight shot {1}, and have the fluid trap exit around the same level as the grizzly intake ? or, should it be more like {2} and exit 1/2" - 1" above where the material enters ? Hope my poor attempt at graphic gives an idea ?

Thinking of using bbq grill as grizzley, any help or suggestions ? My "Goal" is something that can run more material than I can feed

{1} {2}

 

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[Goodyguy]

Looking for any suggestions...Going to build a lil bit large BGT style sluice....
"Borrowed" heavily from design on the below link. ( GG)

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/sluicing/263238-my-diy-fluid-bed-gold-trap-sluice.html

I Love this sluice ! But, now I want something a little bigger !!!


I'm thinking of increasing the length to 48", "think" I can leave the height 6" / 6.5"....
It looks like I can go w/ a width of 15", tapering down to 9"....(which I'm leaning towards, since will still fit in bucket)
OR....Go Real Big, 21" width, tapering down to 14" or so....Seems like this option would run more ? but would require larger cleanout bucket ? Hmmmmm....

Also, wonder about the exit of the Fluid trap....Should the sluice top be just a straight shot {1}, and have the fluid trap exit around the same level as the grizzly intake ? or, should it be more like {2} and exit 1/2" - 1" above where the material enters ? Hope my poor attempt at graphic gives an idea ?

Thinking of using bbq grill as grizzley, any help or suggestions ? My "Goal" is something that can run more material than I can feed

{1} View attachment 924264 {2} View attachment 924265

Figure {1} is the way to go. Just don't forget the baffle (red arrow points to it) Acts as a gate trap to insure that the gold gets "dunked" and cant just float straight across the trap and out the overflow port.

It's ok to make a larger sluice just keep in mind that if you make the trap any larger you must be prepared to add another fluid tube or larger diameter tubes or both, due to the difficulty of keeping a larger trap in a fluid state with the increase of material inside of it.

You can Pm me of the size trap you are considering and I'll do the math for you.

Fig. {2} will require an elevated grizzly which will cause a log jamb of cobbles that have to constantly be cleared. The reason for the down ramp at the end of the slick plate in fig.{1} was to allow for a flat grizzly thus eliminating the log jamb issue.

If you want to do an elevated grizzly as in fig.{2} you should keep the exit port at the same level as the slick plate and NOT make a down ramp at the end of it. I would still recommend the baffle either way. Just be sure the baffle extends at least 1/4" lower than the bottom lip of the overflow port.

GG~

 

[ALewis]

Thanks for the help and the PM GG......That was some great info on the Gold Trap !!! I am going to make some mod's & will post my revised dimension's. Really made sense () to keep total mass in trap smaller than larger...I, of course, assumed larger gold trap = more gold ! I welcome any and all suggestions....Better now than after I start cuttin & bendin !

 

[ALewis]

Wondering if anyone has any thought's or comments on building out of plastic vs aluminum ? Thought I saw a comment somewhere about the plastic being cheaper ? Have priced a 4x8 ft sheet of aluminum at $75 ish ? Not sure how the plastic compares in cost, weight, durability ?

 

[fuseboxxx]

Wondering if anyone has any thought's or comments on building out of plastic vs aluminum ? Thought I saw a comment somewhere about the plastic being cheaper ? Have priced a 4x8 ft sheet of aluminum at $75 ish ? Not sure how the plastic compares in cost, weight, durability ?

Abs plastic is very durable. Need a heat gun to form. Not bad once you start bending. Got my sheets at grainger. com.

 

[KevinInColorado]

Mercury will eat up aluminum over time and there's a lot of natural and introduced merc east of you so I'd go with black or dark green ABS plastic. Use stainless steel or brass for things like grizzlies of course.

 

[ALewis]

Thanks for the info....I like the heat gun idea, can borrow one. Now, I am trying to figure out / make a jig on my work table that will allow me to heat & bend & set....Have never done w/ plastic, but I have some ideas...

Trying to decide on the grizzly...I have some 1/8 & 1/4 ' mesh, but I am thinking of re-purposing a BBQ grill..Think I saw that here on another thread & thought was a good idea. Keep getting sidetracked on this project.

Need to get back to it, tho. Was out Sun w my current set-up trying out a new spot. Not sure if was me, or just low flow but I never got it set-up & running very well ? was the first time i've had so many issue's with it. Seemed like my fluid tubes were too low pressure, cleaned em out (tubes in trap) 2x, but gold trap still just seemed to fill up, not stay fluid ?






Here is current set-up at the better spot... run's good here...But, I've put some time into the dam....

 

[KevinInColorado]

Couple thoughts:
1. Fluid bed pressure...I think your scoop screen setup is blocking too much flow. I would change that out.
2. BBQ grill for a grizzly is a great idea. You can always zip tie a finer mesh on top of that when/if needed.

 

[ALewis]

Ya, I have thought about that front screen being an issue. Got 1/4 inch mesh to re-do, and also thinking of attaching w/ wing nut or something that would make it easier to remove, or put on if conditions required.

Also, should say I "think" I am losing some pressure by going from (2) funnels to (3) fluid tube's. I found some funnels that were just a little smaller than the big black ones currently using. "think" I could stuff (3) funnels under it, so each fluid tube had it's own direct inlet....

I continue to learn & come up w/ new ideas, etc. Have a better idea of how to space the holes in the fluid tube's, too...Big Thanks to GG, Again,

I think I can modify & correct some issue's on this guy, but I Know I can build a bigger better one....Need to get to it !

 

[Goodyguy]

I don't use the funnels anymore. The scoop works fine without them especially since I have made the sluice longer and wider than the original.
Also made the scoop adjustable by adding a hinge to it. That was before I added the extension which made the adj. scoop unnecessary in all but extreme low flow conditions.

Here are photos of the adjustable scoop..........


Normal position............................................................All the way open



The way it is now with the extension added.....




GG~

 

[KevinInColorado]

I don't use the funnels anymore. The scoop works fine without them especially since I made it longer and wider than the original. Also made the scoop adjustable by adding a hinge to it. I'll look for the photo.....

i agree, ditch the funnels and pipe tees...instead just enclose the rest of the bottom. That's how the pro's at Bazooka Goldtrap do it and their gear works great. The fluid engineering on these things does invole either some science or a bunch of experimentation. Experimentation is a great way to learn but a sucky way to get gold ;-)

 

[ALewis]

Thanks as always for the suggestion's.... As I am always happy to tinker, I will try removing the funnels and enclose the bottom. "Think" I have an idea on how to get an adjustable scoop going....

Really, I just need to start over & use what I've learned on this one to build a better v.2.0.

 

[Goodyguy]

Thanks as always for the suggestion's.... As I am always happy to tinker, I will try removing the funnels and enclose the bottom. "Think" I have an idea on how to get an adjustable scoop going....

Really, I just need to start over & use what I've learned on this one to build a better v.2.0.

That's how my FBGT (Fluid Bed Gold Trap) designs have evolved into state of the art perfection over the years.

* I just went back and edited the original post from Oct 2011 to reflect my updated mods. Hopefully that will eliminate any unnecessary future duplication of my early "experiments" by anyone viewing that thread.

Like you ALewis I like to tinker and have thus been able to make many improvements over the available existing conventional production FB designs through trial and error as well as by extensive testing in the field under varying conditions.

I would say that the flat grizzly design along with the diverter baffle are among my best contributions over existing designs other than the formula I've created for improved fluidization of a trap once it's full of material with a high specific gravity.

Discovered the formula by accident while inventing a way of separating diamonds from material with widely varying specific gravities by the use of fluid bed technology.




GG~

 

[tweeta_bear]

I don't use the funnels anymore. The scoop works fine without them especially since I have since made it longer and wider than the original.
Also made the scoop adjustable by adding a hinge to it. That was before I added the extension which made the adj. scoop unnecessary.

Here are photos of the adjustable scoop..........

Normal position............................................................All the way open
<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=940624"/> <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=940626"/>

The way it is now with the extension added.....
<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=940637"/>
Plenty of pressure to the tubes now make the adjustable scoop all but unnecessary except for really low flow conditions.

GG~

now thats a good idea... the adjustable bottom... i like it.

 

[Goodyguy]

Couple thoughts:
1. Fluid bed pressure...I think your scoop screen setup is blocking too much flow. I would change that out.
2. BBQ grill for a grizzly is a great idea. You can always zip tie a finer mesh on top of that when/if needed.

Improved version Self clearing leaf screen for BGT sluices..........

Use 1/2" heavy duty hardware cloth at a 30 degree angle.



GG~

 

[ALewis]

Impressed, as always GG... like havin the screen removable w/ wing nuts, . "think" I have an idea to use the bottom wing nut to set the adjustable scoop position... I have dumped a shovel load half on & half off the enite thing...oops. So, was not sure I wanted to ditch the screen entirely

Think i'm going to add to the flair as well now, lengthen it up another 12 inch's or so, then make the changes to the funnels & fluid tube's, box the underside, etc.

This is certainly helping me understand the idea & theory behind not only sluicin but gold & recovery. Right now that's helping me more than going and buying equipment. Just my opinion, and there are a couple of sluices that I do want (angus mackirk, le trap, Real BGT). Just need to find more gold first....

 

[Goodyguy]

Impressed, as always GG... like havin the screen removable w/ wing nuts, . "think" I have an idea to use the bottom wing nut to set the adjustable scoop position... I have dumped a shovel load half on & half off the enite thing...oops. So, was not sure I wanted to ditch the screen entirely

Think i'm going to add to the flair as well now, lengthen it up another 12 inch's or so, then make the changes to the funnels & fluid tube's, box the underside, etc.

This is certainly helping me understand the idea & theory behind not only sluicin but gold & recovery. Right now that's helping me more than going and buying equipment. Just my opinion, and there are a couple of sluices that I do want (angus mackirk, le trap, Real BGT). Just need to find more gold first....

Next I'm going to fab a simple hopper that will attach to the top of the front end of the FBGT that will totaly eliminate the half-on half-off problem.
I've seen lots of folks miss the front of the slick plate a little while shovel feeding. (me included)


GG~

 

[ALewis]

Great idea GG....I've had to tone it down a little, I've really beat up my skid plate in a short time, dropped some baseball to softball size rocks from a standing pos, there are some serious dents going, 1 or 2 just about cracked through....I'd use a hopper for that reason alone....
Would love a simple hopper that just had some grizzly's running at an angle to filter down to golfball ish size...dumping tailings to the side or somethin so I don't fill up in front of my sluice & block it off....
Would something like that work without a spray bar ?

 

[Goodyguy]

Great idea GG....I've had to tone it down a little, I've really beat up my skid plate in a short time, dropped some baseball to softball size rocks from a standing pos, there are some serious dents going, 1 or 2 just about cracked through....I'd use a hopper for that reason alone....
Would love a simple hopper that just had some grizzly's running at an angle to filter down to golfball ish size...dumping tailings to the side or somethin so I don't fill up in front of my sluice & block it off....
Would something like that work without a spray bar ?

Nope, Got to wash the rocks.
You can always add a thicker new slick plate on top of the old one. Just stop it 1/2" before the start of the grizzly and you not only fixed the dent problem but also have created a handy nugget trap.

GG~

 

[mike(swWash)]

For the slick plate try looking into putting a layer of 1/16- 1/8" uhmw plastic riveted onto the top deck. Super tough and very slick.

First time I launched my drift boat after putting it on the bottom, It shot off the trailer and slid down the ramp dragging my brother behind it. Scariest and funniest thing I've ever seen......brother didn't think it was so funny till a few years passed. Absolutely no damage....not even a scratch on the boat bottom....not so on my brothers bottom

I also use it on my Gold Cube highbanker attachment I made. really helps cut down on the buildup.