My 3rd sluice turned out schweet!

[Jack Hamilton]

After learning the mechanics of a sluice while making my first out of plywood and wood slats, I bought a set of sheet metal pliers and rudely formed my 2nd sluice from sheet aluminum, sqaure aluminum tubing etc. Here are closeup shots of my latest and greatest creation I couldn't have done it without my home made sheet metal brake.

 

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[Jack Hamilton]

The riffle tray sides were made with a preformed staineless steel I found at the local metal supply/recycle yard. My riffles are aluminum bent on my brake, riveted to the sides with 3/16" aluminum rivets. Here are a 4 more pics

 

[Jack Hamilton]

Here are my last 4 pics. I trimmed the riffle sides where they bolt to the box to a rounded curve so the riffles would hinge upward. I first had it cut 45% and it would only lift so far. The carpet is cut just the width of the riffles so the side L-metal will sit down nice on the rubber v-mat. The v-mat is the shallow version. My old sluice has the same stuff in it, and it seems to hold gold in place real well, especially if you are classifying your material first to 3/8" or less.

I hope these pics can help anyone who is building a sluice, or maybe their first time building a sluice. I tried to take the best closeups I could. Any questions?

 

[Astrobouncer]

Nice man it looks good. My next sluice will most likely be out of aluminum/sheet metal as well as I have done five wooden ones now and it would be nice to have a lighter one.

I do have some questions though about the matting and the carpet. Is the rubber matting the low profile like they sell at goldfeverprospecting @ http://www.goldfeverprospecting.com/sluicecarpet.html

And where did you get the carpet?

 

[AV8R]

That rocks!

I'd like to hear/see more about your homemade sheet metal brake!

 

[TerryC]

Very nice Jack,
I was thinking of building my own but thought I would have to buy an arc-welder to do the riffles in steel. Your design is an inspiration! Hey Josh (Alpha105). You need look no further for a design! TTC

 

[Jack Hamilton]

The carpet has a rubber backing, and originally was about 30" x 18" I wanna say I paid like $2.27 for it at home depot in the section where they sell door mats. I'll take some pics of my home made sheet metal brake which is made out of angle iron, a piano hinge and a crap load of steel rivets.

 

[Jack Hamilton]

Astro, the rubber matting I used is from Ace hardware. I had experimented with a vinyl version Lowes carries but because it is vinyl and not rubber it has too much memory and wants to curl back to its shape on the roll. Price per 36" lineal foot was around 4-5 bucks. I bought 3 feet and have most of it left over for my next sluice, if I make one for a friend or myself. I figured 3 feet would be enough to accomodate the width of the top funnel section for a couple boxes. I would like to get some deep v-groove for one section and also some miners moss for the very last section. Been tryin to find a cheap version at the box stores but haven't had any luck yet. Also, been reading some books printed in the '70's. Indoor outdoor carpet was used in rag-plants, which are commercial fine gold recovery operations. I think that material would work just as well on fines. It was preferred at the time over burlap because it wasn't fiberous and didn't break down as fast.

 

[Astrobouncer]

Thanks man. I guess tomorrow I hit up some hardware stores. Hope to see some pics or video of this thing in action soon.

 

[Jack Hamilton]

Here is a link to my humble brake. http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php?topic=317017.msg2284748 I dont do much video, but I may be able to do a minute or so with my digi camera. Show me the gold!

 

[strickman]

looks good jack!that should work just fine. good job!

 

[Jack Hamilton]

My first sluice never found me gold. Then again I was as new as it was. My second sluice has nabbed me fines. This sluice will be taken to gold bearing rivers, and with my studies and field experience...In know for a fact it will catch gold. I decided to run about 2 coffee cup fulls of cons through it today with a hose...hehe. I emptied my cons into a pan and found 6-7 specs. Cant wait to take a trip to east fork san gabriel river or to a friend of mines private property up in Holcomb. Most of my local spots are washes with seasonal water. Drywasher zones.

 

[maui]

jack, looks like you did a great job, and best of luck using it.
also, let us know how it worked for you.
take care and be carefull out there. ron

 

[desertfox]

Get it in the water and let us know how she does! Looking good, I think you have a winner there!!!!!!! HH

 

[TerryC]

My first sluice never found me gold. Then again I was as new as it was. My second sluice has nabbed me fines. This sluice will be taken to gold bearing rivers, and with my studies and field experience...In know for a fact it will catch gold. I decided to run about 2 coffee cup fulls of cons through it today with a hose...hehe. I emptied my cons into a pan and found 6-7 specs. Cant wait to take a trip to east fork san gabriel river or to a friend of mines private property up in Holcomb. Most of my local spots are washes with seasonal water. Drywasher zones.

Jack,
Would that be the San Gabriel, as in Heaton Flat, Swan Rock, and Allison Gulch?? WOW! That was my first panning adventure in 1982. Up Allison Gulch. If you go up the Gulch far enough, there should be a spectacular seasonal waterfall at the Allison mine. If you go further up the SG, past The Narrows, you may find some Nelson Big Horn Sheep. At least I did in '82. I found some color in the Allison Gulch but not much. I was a bewbie to prospecting and only panned out a few pans. My son came along. He was 7 then. Memories! He recently passed away. He was a member of the band The Angry from San Pedro. Cool! TTC

 

[Jack Hamilton]

I'm real sorry to hear about your son Terry. Yes, we plan on hiking up the canyon past the parking lot up there on east fork. Its a beautiful place. Its a shame when people leave their trash behind. Thats the only small drawback. Other than that the gold that comes out of there is pretty. A couple of my friends and I really want to go up the river further and do some exlporatory prospecting, up around the Allison mine area.

 

[Astrobouncer]

None of the ace hardware's here in Greenville South Carolina had that rubber matting, but one of the guys working there told me about a rubber company called Dixie Rubber here where they got there floor mats from. Sure enough that company had something just like the rubber mat in your picture there. I got a 1 foot by 4 foot section for like 13 dollars.