Building a sluice

[madmantrapper]

What gauge metal do you use? I figuring aluminum maybe 11 gauge. Does that sound right or is that too heavy?

 

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[X4FRNT]

I used the smallest gauge aluminum I could find at Lowe’s when I built mine, it’s 6”x24” and I used the aluminum 1.5” L brackets for the sides. Drilled and riveted it all together, then superglued and waterproofed the seams.

Using the micro vortex mat in the first section, dropping down to the mini vortex mat. Works great!

 

[Mine Shaft]

Use .062 5052 H32 aluminum. its a little bit more money but a lot easier to bend and it wont crack like 6061 T6. Good luck. Thats what i made mine out of.

 

[Mine Shaft]

Also if you know of a sheet metal shop close to you they can bend the main body of your sluice. They will hold the inside dimension you tell them.

 

[madmantrapper]

.062 seams very thin. I have a break, so bending is not a problem. Amazon has this for $100 shipped, what do you think of it?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B4MH4RV/?tag=treasurenet01-20


edit: further research shows the amazon product is about what you recommended for thickness.

 

[russau]

.062 seams very thin. I have a break, so bending is not a problem. Amazon has this for $100 shipped, what do you think of it?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B4MH4RV/?tag=treasurenet01-20


Well you've got the dimensions on that site...……..Make it yourself if you can !I made many of these over the years from alum to ABS plastic , But maybe you don't have the tools or skill to do this then just go buy it like you mentioned. Good luck !

 

[Mine Shaft]

.062 seams very thin. I have a break, so bending is not a problem. Amazon has this for $100 shipped, what do you think of it?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B4MH4RV/?tag=treasurenet01-20


edit: further research shows the amazon product is about what you recommended for thickness.

Hi MMT, I would not say thin .032 is thin lol, any way most sluices are made of .063 aluminium but after you get the sides bent up it is stiff as a board. You could go the next gauge up .093 but your sluice will have some weight to it and not much fun to carry around if you got to go very far. Second question, no fun in buying one if you can make your own lol.

 

[Mine Shaft]

Hi MMT, I would not say thin .032 is thin lol, any way most sluices are made of .063 aluminium but after you get the sides bent up it is stiff as a board. You could go the next gauge up .093 but your sluice will have some weight to it and not much fun to carry around if you got to go very far. Second question, no fun in buying one if you can make your own lol.

Here are 2 i made my self they are very strong and take a beating.

 

[madmantrapper]

They look great to me. I guess I will go with the .063. Thanks for the picture. The one on the left appears to be about 12 inch wide by 3 feet or so, is this correct?

 

[Mine Shaft]

Its 13" wide with 48" of matting. Good luck. I made that for my buddy he's using Gold Hog matting now and i switched to Dream Mat.

 

[Goodyguy]

Here is a six foot long folding one that I made...................



Pretty easy to do when you have a brake.


GG~

 

[Mine Shaft]

That's the key word Goodyguy You got a power or leaf ? Iam running a vintage Chicago 4 footer hydraulic.

 

[Goodyguy]

That's the key word Goodyguy You got a power or leaf ? Iam running a vintage Chicago 4 footer hydraulic.

That is awesome!

All I had was a 30" bending brake from Harbor Freight.
Now that I live in an RV full time I dont even have that.

 

[Goodyguy]

I'm beginning to love Bulldog Recycling.

You just never know what you will find in the dumpsters. Couple days ago I found some 3 x 1-1/2" 3/16"angle iron, a couple pieces of 1" square alum tubing, and a 24"x 2-1/2" x 1/4" flat to build a 24" bending brake without any welding.
Total cost $16 Already had the hinges and bolts.

Today I completed the build............

GG~

 

[Mine Shaft]

That is way nice, congrats.