Classifying question

[wkristoff]

What do you think would be the cheapest way to classify pay dirt? I'm having trouble with my sluice clogging up with pea gravel. Any ideas?

 

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[enamel7]

Not trying to sound like a smart Alec, but how about a classifier.

 

[wkristoff]

Well yeah but how to make one sorry

 

[enamel7]

There are several ways. Some folks use wire melted into a bucket with the bottom cut out. Another is to drill holes into a bucket bottom and cut it off halfway down.

 

[wkristoff]

Okay thanks

 

[G.I.B.]

I just went on youtube and watched a couple of different ways to make them, really cheap.

 

[Goodyguy]

Click here: Make a-bucket-classifier.html#post1905510

 

[63bkpkr]

I do not know the dimensions of your sluice or buckets but you might want to check out the prospecting section at a Bed Bath & Beyond store. They call it storage containers/drawer dividers/shelf racks but they are all expanded metal and come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

I'm assuming you will classify on land and then take the small stuff out to your sluice in the river. If so then some hardware cloth well stapled to a couple of boards will likely do the trick as classifying does not need to be fancy to work. Of course that is dry classifying. If you want to really add some work to classifying, and its is a lot of work in itself, you can purchase a tapered wire mesh waste basket they usually have a solid sheetmetal bottom that will need some 1" holes in it and then some 1/4" hardware cloth mounted over the holes. The mesh wastebasket I modified for this purpose just slides into the typical 5 gallon bucket. Do NOT fill the wastebasket more than 3/8 full or else you will really have a sore back after the first day of use. Using sturdy gloves pick the wastebasket up and slush it up and down in the water and give it a couple of back and forth twists and the stuff still in the basket will be fairly clean. Now dump the cleaned material onto the ground and detect it for nuggets as most pickers and larger pieces will be in the dump pile IF there's any there in the first place.

Happy Hunting...........63bkpkr

 

[wkristoff]

Thank you for your help

 

[bigjoek]

Dollar store spagetti noodle strainer

 

[KevinInColorado]

...or maybe even cheaper at the Goodwill store (or any thrift store)

 

[goldog]

Dollar store, Goodwill, friend with a lot of junk etc... are your best bet.

Use your imagination. Think strong and light. Brittle plastic is bad but flexible is ok. Metal is good as long as it is not too heavy.

Be sure you have good water flow too.

 

[bigjoek]

I used screen on an old window but the damn bedrock pieces ripped it up quick

 

[enamel7]

I used screen on an old window but the damn bedrock pieces ripped it up quick

I would think that would be waaay too fine for classifying at the stream.

 

[bigjoek]

Worked great for me. But I'm digging mud and tiny gravel. I caught all my tiny flake no priblem. . Now I use crab bait holders 1/4 inch metal in a cylinder with a lid. Works awesome