Bazooka Super mini- setup/operation tips

[justinfisch01]

I got a super mini about 3 weeks ago and just got out to the creek to use it yesterday. The water was high due to the snow melting and rain but I found a spot to set up. The flow was good(or so I though). I set up a wing dam to help divert more water into the box. It just seemed to me the the slick plate area and the box were constantly overloading. I stuck my finger in the trap and it seemed packed and not moving like it should be. The top part seemed to hold a lot of material and not clear very well. The build up in the box was built up all the way back to the grizzlies. I figured I have enough slope about 5 degrees or so. I couldn't get anymore water in this thing with it floating away...Any tips to it working better or was it in fact functioning properly?

 

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[dvdtharaldson]

A lot of people claim that if you attach 1/4 hardware cloth to the grizzlies of the super mini that it works better. It restricts the particle size so that the trap stays fluid. Also make sure that the holes in the trap tubes aren't clogged.

 

[Rdg Sluicer]

I found on the super mini it is still best to classify to 1/2 inch. As long as you have good flow you can then pretty much scoop as fast as you want. You do end up with a lot of gravel in your cons but the gold will be there too. I tried the 1/4 inch screen thing and didn't care for it.

 

[Hard Prospector]

This is KEY to keep the tiny fluid bed working efficient on the super mini

A lot of people claim that if you attach 1/4 hardware cloth to the grizzlies of the super mini that it works better. It restricts the particle size so that the trap stays fluid. Also make sure that the holes in the trap tubes aren't clogged.

 

[russau]

if your haveing problems with the sluice floating away on you, try makeing a tether strap to anchor it! them peices of equipment cost to much to lose, esspecially when they have gold in them!

 

[justinfisch01]

After reading the few comments above I am assuming that my trap was overloaded with larger material that would not allow my bed to be fluid. I guess its off to HD for some 1/4 hardware cloth

 

[KevinInColorado]

Justin, I suggest you use the search function to find and read the other Bazooka related threads. There is a lot of constructive info out there for you. Get reading and then get gold!!

PS do feel free to post additional questions here of course or even on the other threads as many of us "subscribe" to those threads to make sure we catch any new comments, etc.

 

[Astrobouncer]

Keep in mind on the bazookas that if the bottom tubes become plugged due to floating leaves and other debris, it will pack up the trap solid. Some people (myself included) made leaf guards to fix this problem. And also you may need to classify smaller then the stock setting depending on your local gravels. I have found a couple places with lots of flat skinny rocks that fit through the stock grizzly, then once inside they turn sideways and act as a false bedrock preventing the gold from sinking into the trap. What that happens the slurry just blows out the top without ever sinking into the trap. This is one reason why I recommend the hardware cloth. The other reason being mentioned above already, which is proper classification is always key to better recovery. No matter where you are mining you should always tune your equipment to the ore you are working. No equipment is one size fits all and works for every situation.

Heres a video where I am using my bazooka with my hardware cloth mod that is being fed 4 mesh material (At about 7:00 minutes). Notice how fast the material is processing. That is about normal flow and what I usually use and it works great.

 

[KevinInColorado]

AB, have you actually had problems with the tubes getting blocked? In almost 100 trips, I have yet to See that happen...I imagined it would be an issue but it just isn't. (In the fall, I do get leaves covering the grizzly which is a real PITA.

 

[Rdg Sluicer]

AB, have you actually had problems with the tubes getting blocked? In almost 100 trips, I have yet to See that happen...I imagined it would be an issue but it just isn't. (In the fall, I do get leaves covering the grizzly which is a real PITA.

I have never had any problems with leaves either but I do think the design makes some weird currents at the top end. I get a real fine thread of material built up right on the lip. That is how I judge if I am on gold because flakes will stick there too. I could see how it would be an issue if it happened I just haven't had a problem with it.

 

[Hard Prospector]

Astro sure has some cool vids

 

[Goodyguy]

Easy way to see if your tubes are working properly is to hold that mini just enough above the water flow so that the flow only enters the bottom section, then watch to see how much water exits the trap overflow port, if it's just a dribble then Houston you have a problem.

Could be as simple as not enough flow in the creek, or some of the holes in the tubes could be plugged or even the tubes themselves could be plugged.
A fine sediment can build up in the tubes and harden if the tubes aren't washed out good after each use. Also it doesn't take but a small leaf or two or a wad of silt or perhaps even a minnow to stop up those small tubes.


GG~

 

[KevinInColorado]

Easy way to see if your tubes are working properly is to hold that mini just enough above the water flow so that the flow only enters the bottom section, then watch to see how much water exits the trap overflow port, if it's just a dribble then Houston you have a problem. Could be as simple as not enough flow in the creek, or some of the holes in the tubes could be plugged or even the tubes themselves could be plugged. A fine sediment can build up in the tubes and harden if the tubes aren't washed out good after each use. Also it doesn't take but a small leaf or two or a wad of silt or even a minnow to stop up those small tubes. GG~

A minnow...imagine that from the minnow's pov! Seriously I have yet to get anything stuck in my tubes. I do a 10 second back flush after each use to avoid silt build up though. After cleaning my cons out of the trap, I push the totally empty sluice down into a full bucket of water. This causes the water in the bucket to fill the trap and then flow backward thru the tubes up into the lower funnel where you can see it flowing up. Quick and works great.

 

[Meep]

Hope nobody minds if I piggy back on this thread with a related question. Anyone out there have any experience with larger gold and the bazooka traps? Working with a tight budget, all I got is the super mini and I've been pointed to a decent spot that shows the occasional larger nuggets, penny sized. Not sure if its worth digging at the spot if it's going to go right out the hopper or over the grizzlies without a bounce.

Anyone with more experience think these will go over the trap fast and unnoticed? Would gold that size be heavy enough to stick in moderate water speed? Would something like that settle in a hopper that is full of like size rocks?

Seems kinda like a dumb question but I'd feel even more dumb wasting my time digging gold just to throw back in a river because I don't have a normal sluice.

 

[KevinInColorado]

if something as dense as a penny sized piece of gold gets thru the grizzly you can be totally sure it will settle DEEP in the fluidbed! My concern would be the more likely risk of it getting pushed over the grizzly with the bigger rocks. It would definitely want to sit right at the base of the grizzly and not go over due to its density. in this situation, I would go to classifying off the bigger rocks before putting everything onto the Bazooka so there were no big rocks to push that awesome nugget over.

 

[Meep]

if something as dense as a penny sized piece of gold gets thru the grizzly you can be totally sure it will settle DEEP in the fluidbed! My concern would be the more likely risk of it getting pushed over the grizzly with the bigger rocks. It would definitely want to sit right at the base of the grizzly and not go over due to its density. in this situation, I would go to classifying off the bigger rocks before putting everything onto the Bazooka so there were no big rocks to push that awesome nugget over.

Kinda what I was figuring but wasn't sure. Thanks! I don't have too much experience, nice to hear from someone that does. I think i'll give it a go with the bazooka and more classifying. Hopefully something that size will be noticeable
.

 

[KevinInColorado]

My pleasure although I have zip/zero/nada experience with nuggets that big ;-) I would think classifying down to 1 or even 2 inch would be plenty by the way....probably want to do 2 inch so you aren't classifying out the nugget! I find the supermini works better with that sort of classifying anyway.Anyway, classifying to that size will be really quick which helps.

Sure hope to see a pic of your nugget soon....it's out there waiting for you!

 

[Meep]

My pleasure although I have zip/zero/nada experience with nuggets that big ;-) I would think classifying down to 1 or even 2 inch would be plenty by the way....probably want to do 2 inch so you aren't classifying out the nugget! I find the supermini works better with that sort of classifying anyway.Anyway, classifying to that size will be really quick which helps.

Sure hope to see a pic of your nugget soon....it's out there waiting for you!

Taking a mini camping trip up there in a few days! I wont hold my breath for the biggy but I'd be happy for some little stuff to show. The guys were nice enough to show me what they were pulling out of the ground and the holes where they found them. With the amount of dirt they were moving, finding a nugget solo would surprise me! I guess that is half the fun.

 

[KevinInColorado]

Most excellent! Looking forward to seeing some pics

 

[preshrunkmilk]

I use a 1/4 inch grizzly that I added to my bazooka. This summer I caught some coin silver somone melted down. It stuck right on the grizzly. So I wouldnt be worried about any gold loss unless you scrap rocks off with your hand from time to time. Also check the grizzly for gold because a few 1/4 Iflakes i have found stuck in mine.

As for the super mini not clearing out properly. It took my a few trips before learning how to set it up right. There is a learning curve and degrees very with water flow. Try to just throw a handfull of gravels in and move it around till it clears then lock it in place. I always do this before shovel good material in. I also like to make sure my fluid bed is full and I can visible see material coming out of it before lo king into place. Then I run till im done only one clean out the fluid bed if working will catch everything.