sluice boxes

[ctjonb]

hello I was wondering is there really a difference between sluice boxes ?? isnt a sluice a sluice or no
Im tryna figure which one I want to buy and they all seem quit similar, so what sets them apart from one another
Thanks John

 

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[DesertNuggets]

Yes, there are many differences.

Size, shape, matting, riffles or no riffles, riffle design, etc.

 

[B H Prospector]

Hi ct,
As stated above however alot of the differance is sales gimmick. Some designs have a specific reason such as weight for packing, ease of cleaning, or one style may work better for slow water another for fast. Basically you are right a sluice is a sluice. I use a Keene A52 which handles anything I put into it and since I don't have to pack it far it's extra weight isn't a concern. It can also be converted to a dredge or highbanker. I also have a 10" x 18" box I use when I don't know what water speed I will get into. It handles fast and medium water and to a lesser degree slow water. I also have a 2 ft EZ sluice that works well in slow to medium water. They basically all work on the same principal, creating a low pressure point for the gold to drop into. So buy what will fit your need weather weight is a concern, or water flow, or cleanup. Others here will have their own ideas and reasons. One of them may fit your need.

Good Luck!

BH Prospector

 

[ctjonb]

thank you for the reply B.H , most of the areas i prospect have flour to small gold, is the A1 the better choice ? ive been looking and wasnt sure what makes one better from the other there is just so many to choose, i prefere med to slow water
i have one i made and I didnt care for the fast water I never found any color untill i started running it slower then I started to find color
how ever I'd like to buy one that is faster and easier to clean up my con's the ine I made has about 3 dozen nuts n bolts holding it togather hahaha it does seem to work but takes an hour to take apart and put back togather
thanks for any and all help everyone

 

[lowctoy]

I have the big proline sluice from Black Cat mining and a R.C.M., g-sluice drop riffle with water flair both work very well g- sluice is light and easy to clean out . I run both on 1/2 inch and smaller meterial both will love 1/8 minus even better on fine flower gold. RCM sluice is under 100. bucks and proline 120-130 proline will move alot of dirt but both work very well on small gold. Hope this helped. Chris

 

[ctjonb]

thanks for the info chris Ill check those out
appreciate it
John

 

[B H Prospector]

Well ct you don't always have a choice in how fast a creek is flowing. When I go to a new area I sometimes take all three of my sluices. I always take my A52 because I have adjustable legs I can put on it so water depth and speed usually isn't a concern. The A51 is smaller but works well. Like I said I like the option the A52 gives me. I haven't used any of the sluices lowctoy has used or seen them used so I can't speak to their abilaties good or bad. It's really just determaning what it is you want it to do and to research it. Asking questions in the forum is a good way to find out. Just don't let it overwelm you.

Good Luck!

BH prospector

 

[ctjonb]

I really appriciate it a lot, I am new to this venture, so im learning by trial and error and asking a lot of questions, my kids and I got hooked on it 2yrs ago watching gold fever and said hey we can do that looks like fun, plus we all get to hang out together at the river so its a great thing we discovered now I just need to find gold to keep there interest hahaha, we do find color from time to time but I have been experimenting with building sluice verses buying one so I think I am going to buy one and am leaning n the keen box

 

[B H Prospector]

Thats the real treasure, spending time with the family. My kids are all grown and we didn't get to mine much when they were growing. We do now and now I get the pleasure of going with my 5 grandkids. Keep making the memories, it is something they will tell their grandkids how they use to mine with their great granddad. Have fun and good luck!

 

[dchoff35]

Hey ct,

Just as another sluice I think is worth looking at is some of the Angus Mackirks. I have had some good luck with them finding anything from fine gold up to a real small nugget. Its nice because its light and works in almost any water flow, although it does work better in faster flow, I still have found gold in the sluice in slow water I just have to feed the material in slower. Biggest down fall is once you run some cons you cant leave and dig for more, you have to clean the sluice and start over otherwise the water will eventually jet out the ramp riffles. Mine cost $105 but they have cheaper and more expensive ones to choose from.

Dan

 

[KevinInColorado]

Hey ct,

Just as another sluice I think is worth looking at is some of the Angus Mackirks. I have had some good luck with them finding anything from fine gold up to a real small nugget. Its nice because its light and works in almost any water flow, although it does work better in faster flow, I still have found gold in the sluice in slow water I just have to feed the material in slower. Biggest down fall is once you run some cons you cant leave and dig for more, you have to clean the sluice and start over otherwise the water will eventually jet out the ramp riffles. Mine cost $105 but they have cheaper and more expensive ones to choose from.

Dan

I have a Mackirk Expedition and definitely agree their products are a smart choice.

Dan, if you are having problems losing heavies out of your AM between buckets, try running the sluice flatter...what you are describing doesn't happen to me. I typically run several buckets between clean outs. Of course clean out is so quick (especially compared to the Keene A52 and similar) that you can easily clean out after each bucket. I use my AM to sample various spots in an area sometimes and will run a bunch of one bucket samples with a clean out after each one then.

 

[GrizzlyGremlin]

Dont forget to match your sluice to the gold in your area. Flat flakes like to blow out! Here in the east its all flat. My keene a51 is all i need. I run 12" black mat behind it. Not particularly flat just held down with rocks. I DO blow out gold but everyone does, but its always tiny tiny powder stuff tho. If your out west the gold is coarser and the bazooka catches it very very well. You can also run much more material. For small samples i choose the keene.

 

[bswanney]

Ct great debate.
I have both the McKirk Recon and SuperMini Bazooka. The only thing I'm going after is the small flour gold. The river flow determines which sluice I use. A good flow and it is always the bazooka. Probably 75% of the time. The McKirk works well for low flow because of the flare and ability to build up a large flare with rocks in front of the McKirk. This will increase the flow into the sluice. The only disadvantage to the McKirk is the classification required down less than 1/2" or less is better. The bazooka no classification is reqd. Good luck with your choice. Both sluices where around 125 each to my door. In the long run cheaper than building one.

 

[dchoff35]

Kevin, Ill have to try that this weekend when I go out. Thought about it before just never implemented it. Also bswanney is right, for the area im working in there is alot of shale and so I go down to .25" otherwise the majority of the riffles get packed with long rocks, but i have a classifier that is inline with my sluice in the stream so it goes a bit faster than shaking the material down. So gotta know the rocks/pebbles in the area is my big thing in this message.

 

[KevinInColorado]

Kevin, Ill have to try that this weekend when I go out. Thought about it before just never implemented it. Also bswanney is right, for the area im working in there is alot of shale and so I go down to .25" otherwise the majority of the riffles get packed with long rocks, but i have a classifier that is inline with my sluice in the stream so it goes a bit faster than shaking the material down. So gotta know the rocks/pebbles in the area is my big thing in this message.

Good luck this weekend!

 

[KevinInColorado]

Ct great debate.
I have both the McKirk Recon and SuperMini Bazooka. The only thing I'm going after is the small flour gold. The river flow determines which sluice I use. A good flow and it is always the bazooka. Probably 75% of the time. The McKirk works well for low flow because of the flare and ability to build up a large flare with rocks in front of the McKirk. This will increase the flow into the sluice. The only disadvantage to the McKirk is the classification required down less than 1/2" or less is better. The bazooka no classification is reqd. Good luck with your choice. Both sluices where around 125 each to my door. In the long run cheaper than building one.

Agreed, great debate...but I am right with you. I think going with old school riffles is sloppy thinking unless you already have years of experience with that sort of sluice. I too have a Mckirk (Expedition) for slow/low water and a bazooka (prospector) for mo betta watta.

 

[ctjonb]

That's a lot of great feedback
thanks everyone