16" TROMMEL BUILD INSPIRED BY AZVIPER

[Doitlaynstyle]

So I have started gathering supplies to begin my trommel build. I'll post a link to AZ's thread which is my inspiration for this build but I'm also planning a different style. I'll be using easily obtainable parts so that rebuilding in the event of failure is possible without fabricating new parts. I'm thinking that at eight foot long I'm going to just turn this thing into a small trailer or build it on a small trailer so that I can also haul the extra gear and make the weekend trips a little more do-able. I will be using one of the two roto-tillers for the gear reduction and I am contemplating using a tubed rubber tire as a drive wheel instead of running a full gear ring on the beast. I will probably still use roller blade wheels for the cylinder rotation but I am probably going to use four on bottom and four on top to lock the cylinder into place so the tire doesn't knock the cylinder up off the bearing wheels.

I'm also hoping that I can get my hands on a claim soon and I'll also be using my father's back-hoe to stockpile dirt, move tailing piles, and create a reclamation pond. Anyway this is the start of a long slow winter because money is tight. We just bought a new house and I'm scrimping more than usual. I'm hoping to build a new 12" sluice box but I might just have to extend my current 10" box. Like AZ I'm hoping to use gold hog mating but that's only if I can afford it. Most likely I'll run my rifles and miners moss first followed by another 3' of box with the gold hog mat I currently have. So enough of this for now. I'll add photos here and link AZ's thread.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/gold-prospecting/364420-12-inch-trommel-build.html

 

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[Doitlaynstyle]

The trommel is done! Finally! All that is left is to mount the sluice when it comes from the shop and take her out mining. I dub her.... BLACK BETTY.

 

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[Jimmydolittle]

Looks like she has an awesome appetite, feed her well!

 

[Justbent]

The trommel is done! Finally! All that is left is to mount the sluice when it comes from the shop and take her out mining. I dub her.... BLACK BETTY. Video Link: http://youtu.be/JZKiDwUAN_w

great name. If I would have seen it black, that's what I would have suggested.
No fair.

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

In the next couple days I'm going to go through the thread and write down all the names people came up with and I'll list them here and we will have an open vote on which one is the most popular and that person will receive one bag of dirt when I get back from our first outing. The voting will take place until I get back from that outing. Hopefully I will be able to set up one of those voting threads if not you all will just have to reply with the number.

 

[jcazgoldchaser]

WHo cares about the name?!! WE want to see that sucker buried to the axles in mud. GET IT OUT THERE!!

 

[AzViper]

Layn loooooooooooking good. Let's see the boat loads of dirt turn to golden pans on Sunday. Kinda like the military look of the matte finish, is that powder coated?

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

Finally running! Found a couple little things to make adjustments on. We caught gold that floats and some chunky stuff. All flake. Wait till the end to see.

https://youtu.be/XEMrwDmYQe8

 

[KevinInColorado]

Looks great Bro, nice vid and great first run in the field! Looks like you could feed it even faster but sure nice to just dump those buckets eh!?

 

[AzViper]

Layn, what are the changes you need to make? We're you getting much water out of the discharge end getting by the classifier?

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

I'm not worried about the water that makes it out of the discharge end. ALL the gold drops out before the second set of holes. The changes I need to make are real minor. Add a splash guard to the water basin under the classifier, turn the spray bar a little, notch out the wood on the trailer deck a little, and cut a little wider gap in the paddles I put between the ring gaps so I don't have to run it so steep. Simple stuff. But the main thing is that I'm not losing any gold as it is right now so these are all just preferential changes.

Keith, I just used spray paint in flat black. I like the look too.

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

One thing I would like to note is that some of that gold was floating in the pan. If it catches that fine of gold I'm not even close to worrying about the gold hog matting. That stuff is light years ahead of anything Keene engineering is doing, well than anyone is doing for that matter. Amazing stuff.

 

[kazcoro]

Looks like you built the cheap part of the system. Now, time to invest in a small back hoe to feed it.....

 

[kazcoro]

Seriously, I can't imagine being able to keep that big black bit&* fed. My back hurts thinking about it.

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

Seriously, I can't imagine being able to keep that big black bit&* fed. My back hurts thinking about it.

I'm thinking five guys working it ought to do the trick. Stock pile the material for an hour then fire up BLACK BETTY and one guy dumping buckets until he catches up with the other four. Do a cleanup and repeat. My dad has a backhoe that I can use if I can find ground that allows equipment use.

 

[kazcoro]

You have a back hoe in the family. Interesting. I say find good ground you can use equipment on and go nuts!

 

[elkie13]

Love the idea of the trommel! How about Frankentrommel?

Good luck, I'll look forward to seeing your results.

 

[kazcoro]

Given anymore thought to naming your winner?

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

Hi guys! I've compiled a list of all the names you guys came up with. Let's get a vote of which one is your favorite. Please only choose one and the winner will get one precious bag of dirt from our next dig location, which will be tomorrow. Look forward to a video of BLACK BETTY in action. I am looking forward to who is the winner. GOOD LUCK MAY THE BEST PROSPECTOR WIN!


PS I will tally in one week from tomorrow.

1) SEXTINA

2) ROTOTROMMEL

3) TROMZILLA

4) DIRTHOG

5) PLAN B

6) LIL' DIRTY

7) THE TROM-A-TRON

8) TROMMELOID

9) TROMMELATOR

10) TROMSTER

11) TROMOTILLER

12) TROMMIFIER

13) TROMMELIFIC

14) HIPNOTIC

15) THE CLAYEATER

16) THE SCALPER

17) THE STRIPPER

18) TOMERON

19) TILLERTROM

20) ROTOTROM

21) TROM-ROMDER

22) TROM-ROMEL

23) GRINROMMEL

24) 401 (AU) AKA THE RETIREMENT ACCOUNT

25) 16 INCHES OF AWESOME

26) GRIND N GOLD

27) MONEY TREE

28) PICK'R GIT'R

29) NUGGET ROCKET

30) FRANKENTROMMEL

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

7) is my pick, I'm a big fan of the movie "Tron"

 

[KevinInColorado]

I'm going with tromzilla