12v bucket classifier, and a showing of the new Dry Sluice (patent pending)

Jim in Idaho · Mar 15, 2026

After all the discussion about a classifier for the new Keene drywasher, I got to thinking maybe it's time to build one. I wanted one that would run continuously, rather than a batch at a time. It also needed to be fairly small, and lightweight. That small size meant it had to be top-fed, which ruled out a rotary, which was what I really wanted. When designing small, portable stuff, there are always compromises. So, this sloped, rocking design is what I ended up with. Big mistake making it for a round bucket...added a s--t ton of extra work. It's mounted on the top of a 5 gallon bucket, and slides into the collection bucket. It weighs right at 6lbs, so with the Dry Sluice, the all-up weight is 20lbs. Video here: Classifier

Jim in Idaho · Mar 18, 2026

So, today I did some testing with the Dry Sluice to see if I could get the heavies to come out from the pile. And, I finally was able to. For me, that's the holy grail. I wanted to see what I was recovering, without water. It wasn't a complete success. I was using 60-100 mesh granular tungsten. It showed up, in the open at the upper edge of the pile, but not all of it....maybe 50%. But, I'll take that. in both tests, I used crushed quart and tellurides from Jason's mine at MBMM. All of it is 30 mesh, or smaller. The first batch was material I'd screened the -70 mesh out of to get rid of the silt. The second pic was just the raw, unscreened material. No gravel in either, which makes it more difficult. The gravel helps keep the material "loose", which allows the heavies to move thru it easier. Friday, I'll try some flake gold, and maybe a second test using some of the gold I bought from Steve H., which is more granular.

Bodfish Mike · Mar 21, 2026

Jim in Idaho said:
After all the discussion about a classifier for the new Keene drywasher, I got to thinking maybe it's time to build one. I wanted one that would run continuously, rather than a batch at a time. It also needed to be fairly small, and lightweight. That small size meant it had to be top-fed, which ruled out a rotary, which was what I really wanted. When designing small, portable stuff, there are always compromises. So, this sloped, rocking design is what I ended up with. Big mistake making it for a round bucket...added a s--t ton of extra work. It's mounted on the top of a 5 gallon bucket, and slides into the collection bucket. It weighs right at 6lbs, so with the Dry Sluice, the all-up weight is 20lbs. Video here: Classifier

Looks good
I was thinking of making one also - I'm thinking of using a Sawzall with a bracket
that attaches to the bucket on some kind of mount with a roller on the bottom so the bucket sits
on the fulcrum point. That way I can use the classifier I already have

Cheers Mike

Jim in Idaho · Mar 21, 2026

Bodfish Mike said:
Looks good
I was thinking of making one also - I'm thinking of using a Sawzall with a bracket
that attaches to the bucket on some kind of mount with a roller on the bottom so the bucket sits
on the fulcrum point. That way I can use the classifier I already have

Cheers Mike

That should work, Mike. A variable-speed sawzall might be useful, though...LOL