Sluice to Power sluice

MtnManJack · Jan 30, 2018

I recently purchased the Angus Mackirk Eureka sluice and have used it a handful of times in the field. I've had some great success with it. I have been doing a lot of research and as much as I'd like to purchase a more advanced setup funds are a bit tight at the moment. With that said I'd like to build a power (recirculating) sluice out of it to use for processing material at home. Some locations that I like to prospect in don't have enough of a water flow to use the sluice properly so I'd like the option of being able to use it with a pump and/or to focus on collecting more material from the field and then processing it at home.

1. Is it possible/practical to do so?
2. What size (GPH) pump would be ideal?
3. How do I determine the correct pitch of the sluice for this specific application?

Any additional comments, suggestions, advice, etc...would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

wtetro · Jan 31, 2018

yup, can be done pretty easily. PVC is cheap and light weight, so I'd use that for the stand. for a pump, IMO, you can never have too much power, you never know when you might need it, so go with (2)ea 2000GPH Johnson bilge pumps and use those. Its what I use on my highbanker and it's plenty of flow for my 72"x10" set up. Makesure you have a way to spread the water out evenly, maybe using a rubber flap to flatten and spread out the water, so it flows over the entire sluice evenly and doesnt blow out one side or the other. You can find a ton of ideas on you-tube or even on here of others that have built PVC stands for their sluices.

N-Lionberger · Feb 1, 2018

I try to run my power sluice as flat as possible, I angle up as necessary to keep material flowing along. My go to for low water spots is a rocker box.

MtnManJack · Feb 1, 2018

wtetro said:
yup, can be done pretty easily. PVC is cheap and light weight, so I'd use that for the stand. for a pump, IMO, you can never have too much power, you never know when you might need it, so go with (2)ea 2000GPH Johnson bilge pumps and use those. Its what I use on my highbanker and it's plenty of flow for my 72"x10" set up. Makesure you have a way to spread the water out evenly, maybe using a rubber flap to flatten and spread out the water, so it flows over the entire sluice evenly and doesnt blow out one side or the other. You can find a ton of ideas on you-tube or even on here of others that have built PVC stands for their sluices.

Ok, thanks for the information. I appreciate it.

MtnManJack · Feb 1, 2018

N-Lionberger said:
I try to run my power sluice as flat as possible, I angle up as necessary to keep material flowing along. My go to for low water spots is a rocker box.

It sounds like the best way to go about it as far as the pitch is by trial and error. I'll work with it. Thanks for the reply.

nh.nugget · Feb 1, 2018

For your pitch get a cheap angle finder. set up your sluice in the water set the angle finder across your riffles see what it says run your power sluice the same. I used emt for my stand little welding involved one end is adjustable for the angle. I can post some pics of it if you like.

MtnManJack · Feb 1, 2018

nh.nugget said:
For your pitch get a cheap angle finder. set up your sluice in the water set the angle finder across your riffles see what it says run your power sluice the same. I used emt for my stand little welding involved one end is adjustable for the angle. I can post some pics of it if you like.

For sure, would love to see some pics. I've been looking around at a bunch of DIY stuff on YouTube and such. A lot of great ideas out there. The more the better.

nh.nugget · Feb 2, 2018

I'll get some posted today

Sluicedog · Feb 15, 2018

I really liked this build from Brute Gold Miner or Bust by D'arcy,

I like this build. It looks like you can add these parts to most sluices and break up the clay balls and especially power sluice away from stream beds with necessary hose and pump combos. More of my equipment is using large 100 A/Hr batteries to run the 12 volt pumps. My GoldSnare SGS-1 sub dredge runs most of the day( on 12v) until I can't take anymore backache and i drag the 5 gallon pail up the bank with the heavies and move to camp.