Subsurface dredge sluice setup

[Quinc]

just about done with the box. Just need to make a screen for her. Screen is going to be 6.25" wide by 10" long. Thinking about one of the below. Something with 1/4" - 3/8" holes/slots in it.

Leaning toward this one with the slots. Any opinions?

Thinking this style might have issues with shell getting stuck. (bbq grill)

 

[russau]

Slots will let in larger pieces and I don't think you want that ! I used 14 inch Stainless steel punch plate on mine and let the riffles stop the bigger pieces up in your sluice area.

 

[Quinc]

Everything is still loose so I can adjust the spraying as needed. Here is a pick of it standing upright so you can see the spray. Second pick is of it sitting level:

Looks like its agitating enough while sitting level?

Mock up mostly put together: Punch plate is .37" holes. They look a bit big but its what I have for now. angle on the corners to make her stronger and the corners/gaps filled in with silicon.

 

[N-Lionberger]

Does the screen ramp up or is it angle of the picture?

 

[Quinc]

Does the screen ramp up or is it angle of the picture

It ramps up. I have multiple holes drilled so I can change the angle while testing.

 

[Quinc]

Ran her today for an hour. Lots of rocks would build up on the screen. I think raising the first part of the screen to be level with the main sluice will help. Maybe drop or remove the angle as well? After an hour There was maybe an 8th of a pan worth of material. Not even up to the pvc pipe. Not sure if that is good or if I have too many holes spraying? Not a great day when it comes to gold I didn't find much with or without the fluid bed. But I did find more then I would have liked in the fluid bed! Video of it in action. Picture of the gold at the end is only from the fluid bed. Probably 3x that amount in the main sluice.

 

[N-Lionberger]

I was wondering if that angle of of the screen would hang up rocks. You seem to have a lot of nice shallow bedrock there it might be more worth it for you to get like a small surface dredge to clean that bedrock. I’m looking at my 6” subbie as my spot the gold bearing hard pack is under around 4 feet of loose cobbles.

 

[Quinc]

I was wondering if that angle of of the screen would hang up rocks. You seem to have a lot of nice shallow bedrock there it might be more worth it for you to get like a small surface dredge to clean that bedrock. I’m looking at my 6” subbie as my spot the gold bearing hard pack is under around 4 feet of loose cobbles.

I started shallow and worked my way down. As it gets deeper it turns into a red/gray cement of gravel and clay. Have to use a high pressure hose to break it apart. Now that it is getting warm I will be switching over to my Proline surface 4" with air.

 

[N-Lionberger]

I started shallow and worked my way down. As it gets deeper it turns into a red/gray cement of gravel and clay. Have to use a high pressure hose to break it apart. Now that it is getting warm I will be switching over to my Proline surface 4" with air.

Yup similar material here cemented red stuff. Gotta have that blaster hose you ain’t really dredging without one! I’d be using my 5” Keene this year but the winter did a number on it so it’s back to my 4” frankendredge and the 6” subbie. I’ve got a 2.5”X2” DK Nugget dredge pump on a 6.5hp Honda with a Gast compressor and water heater with a dual fuel carb for gas or propane with a 4” Vortxrex jet

 

[russau]

In your video it appears you have the water pressure (as is ) running way to fast . To me , you need more capture area with the water pressure that high BUT If you lowered the water pressure at the pump you would kill the suction that you need ! If it were mine, I'd add wider and a longer capture area and leave the water pressure alone.

 

[Quinc]

Screen is now going to butt up against the main sluice in the dredge. and the angle is significantly reduced. Next on the list is to fill it up with black sands hook it up to the garden hose and adjust to see the best pressure for the jets.