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]

Keith,
Sounds real good. Saw your pictures and your trommel is looking great. I haven't updated because I was out this weekend prospecting a possible claim. I'm almost done drilling the pilot holes, well barely over halfway now lol. I'll post an update as soon as I have one. Oh and the claim didn't pan out. Bummer but I'd rather do something like a failed weekend than $3000 lost on dirt... some guys just buy the claims sight unseen. Not this cat. I'll even go claim jumping for a weekend if a guy is selling and he won't let me test the ground. You would have to be mad to just purchase without testing.

 

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[SLNugget]

I was out this past weekend looking at some ground near the present claim. There is different claim posted on part of that ground. The claim posted is supposed to be in an entirely different quarter of our section as shown on the claimants filing map with the county recorder. Too big a bag of snakes for me to get involved with getting it corrected. You can never trust what's on paper without verifing it on the ground. Due diligence is very critical when filing or buying (risky IMO) a claim.

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

Ok. All of the pilot holes are drilled... ugh. Only 1300, 1/2" holes left to go.....

 

[SLNugget]

Ok. All of the pilot holes are drilled... ugh. Only 1300, 1/2" holes left to go.....

You and Keith are having all the fun!
Very nice work from you both and thanks so much for sharing the process.

 

[AzViper]

Ok. All of the pilot holes are drilled... ugh. Only 1300, 1/2" holes left to go.....

Remember it’s unlike any other trommel cylinder and when it’s done you will appreciate the sweat and tears having drilled 2600 holes and 1300 ear piercing center punch blows yet be bit*ching at me. As I near the completion of 1434 finished holes I am thrilled of the outcome and know it will last a long time.

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

Remember it’s unlike any other trommel cylinder and when it’s done you will appreciate the sweat and tears having drilled 2600 holes and 1300 ear piercing center punch blows yet be bit*ching at me. As I near the completion of 1434 finished holes I am thrilled of the outcome and know it will last a long time.

I wish I had thought of your sleeping bag trick. My Solution was to Put in earplugs, Crank up the radio, and open the garage door so that ALL of my neighbors within 5 blocks thought I was ringing in the Chinese new year LOL. 1300 BONG, BONG, BONG, BONG'S were enough to have my girlfriend come yell at me three times, three sets of neighbors from up to 2 blocks blocks away stop in to see what was going on, and my kids beg me twice to stop HAHAHAHA. I finished the center punching in one day for a reason. Everyone would have been really ticked if I had started that up for a second day in a row. I did sit on it while pounding away and that at least cut down some of the noise....

 

[KevinInColorado]

Ha ha
Q: whaddya use for a sound damper?
A: my butt
Ha!

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

Got more holes drilled tonight. Up to 182... something came in the mail on Monday and I've been saving it but I couldn't wait any longer to open the packaging!

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

I've been hunting since the week before thanksgiving and now I'm back and with coolers full of delicious elk murder.mmmm. one more cooler to cut up tonight then back to work on the trommel. Tons more holes to drill still and my girl bought me new batteries for my Dewalt. That should increase the amount of holes I can drill at one time to just over 300. That will be nice. In the meantime here is a little video of the ride into the area we hunt. It's an hour and a half ride but I clipped it down to ten min.

 

[AzViper]

Dang the video ran out. Was hoping to see where it ended with the downed Elk... What elevation are you at Layn?

 

[GarretDiggingAz]

I've been hunting since the week before thanksgiving and now I'm back and with coolers full of delicious elk murder.mmmm. one more cooler to cut up tonight then back to work on the trommel. Tons more holes to drill still and my girl bought me new batteries for my Dewalt. That should increase the amount of holes I can drill at one time to just over 300. That will be nice. In the meantime here is a little video of the ride into the area we hunt. It's an hour and a half ride but I clipped it down to ten min.

Dang man. I was getting dizzy watching that video. What a great ride and hunt though. I always wanted to archery hunt that way. Figured they'd be less likely to be spooked if we did it that way. But never did get my horse.

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

So I was at 182. I'm up to 323 after one night of drilling. These new batteries rock. Cruising right along now. In about 20 min I'll switch the batteries and be right back to drilling.

 

[KevinInColorado]

More power!!

 

[kazcoro]

Here's my shot for the day for your name. Gold Magnet. You could start a whole line of equipment based on that. Gold magnet pans, gold magnet sluices, hell, gold magnet magnets!

 

[AzViper]

This is why I went to HF and bought this very cheap drill. Surprisingly this drill has unreal torque and I have used it a few times for hours on end breaking up clay balls with a paint mixer chucked up. Drilled all 1434 holes without any issues. It has as much power as my Milwaukie 1/2 Drill. I bought as I was afraid I would burn up the Milwaukie drilling the 1400 holes. I hate to support China but for $29.00 I bought the drill as a throw away drill and now it has found a home. Harbor Freight Drill

 

[russau]

years back when i made my small stainless steel rock crusher useing S.S.balls the noise was really load! to dampen that noise i wraped the container in bicycle inner tubes. and it was beariable then!

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

78 more holes added in tonight! At this rate I can be done in two weeks.lol maybe a drill is a good idea.

 

[Justbent]

After you center punch each center and while drilling the 1/8" hole you want to watch the bit in relation to the center cross. You can adjust as your going through the metal to get the bit can on center. The Unibit will stay centered. I own a plasma cutter and cannot imagine blowing these holes out using the plasma with this precision, CNC then yes. One of my favorite CNC cutting videos. YouTube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbBez-Ad5jg What you got to look forward to ------->>>> <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=890742"/>

I used to run one these machines. 5 axis LASER cutter/welder.
Mine was a Laserdyne 780 BeamDirector.
Nice machine

 

[calisdad]

I keep thinking 'Where have I seen this before?'. Duh- how about a diesel trucks exhaust heat shield? Turns out they can be bought reasonably (sometime cheaply!) in 180, 270 and 360 degree forms up to 8" or 10". Just got me wondering if 3- 180 degree units could be welded like a cloverleaf (to provide more agitation that a tube).

On drilling holes- kind of late but a $70 HF drill press and a step drill bit would speed up the process especially if the last step was just 'touched' to deburr the hole. Deburring the insides of the holes would go quick with an air drill and large countersink (if necessary).

Carry on- can't wait to see the finished product.

 

[KevinInColorado]

Might be smart to leave the burrs on the inside as they would act on the material as it flows by to help break things up and bounce the material around a little.