DIY header box

[N-Lionberger]

So I have an opportunity to legally dredge this summer so I was thinking about making some upgrades to my old 4". I want to replace my crashbox header with a flare, I feel there will be less churning of the slurry and will be able to operate better in shallow water not having my jet stick down at such a steep angle, I can also see it being less prone to plug ups. Last season I worked this dredge I converted the box to an over under style box, while it seemed to work for the most part retained a greater portion of fines I didn't like not being able to inspect the undercurrent. I was thinking about making a header box with a flare that would work like the old Keene triple but would only have a single side box, I swear I have seen a custom header like this before. Does anyone here have any experience with such a thing? Any suggestions on size of punch plate? I used 3/16" on my over under, I was thinking I would use that again. I'm going to use some ABS sheet and pipe I have laying around.

 

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[mendoAu]

Any suggestions on size of punch plate? I used 3/16" on my over under,

I'd build it temporary until you fine tune it. Probably won't really know the flow of the side box until it's up and running. And that might dictate what size you want to classify into it. I should have followed my own advice before converting an old 3" keene crashbox into a fine gold catching power sluice. Back and forth to either cut off a weld or drill a bigger hole. And I changed the punch plate size, location, angle and added a couple extras many, many times. Think I have it finally tuned in and the top catches everything now except (like todays cleanout) maybe a dozen fly specks found in the second section. Post some pictures of your build, pls.

 

[Hoser John]

Hope this helps a bit

 

[Hoser John]

You can see quite a bit this way. that header is a semi flare-crash or adjust and header is flared =keene 4"-John

 

[N-Lionberger]

I built my over under based on your pictures Hoser John, its fully functional, I am just a fine gold fanatic and a nerd for equipment always looking to make it crazier.

 

[russau]

Going out dredging with Mr. Hoser is a real learning experience and one heck of a good time!

 

[N-Lionberger]

The flare is coming along.

 

[N-Lionberger]

I need to go down south to grab the unistrut to build the frame, I am using the yellow pontoons that came with my 4" and some 15 gallon barrels for floatation. Once I have that together I can sort out how best to attach the flare to the header box. I need to run around some other scrap yards the local one has a dismal supply of expanded metal and punchplate. I have some 3/16 punchplate similar to what I used on my over under setup but I am leaning towards 1/4" woven wire mesh or raised expanded as I think it might scrub the slurry a little better than smooth punchplate. I am going to keep the main box set up as an over under to catch stray fines that make it past the side box screen. I figure I will put a couple sizes of expanded metal in the side box. I am thinking about putting sumps on the ends of both boxes with 1/8" screen to pump into another side box with fine expanded and rubber mats.

 

[jsurddy]

I’ve been wondering how this type of setup would work myself. I have a triple sluice dredge and it’s so bulky. Nice design, just big.