The Mini & Super Mini

[bazookagoldtrap]

(Hopefully) users will post their comments and questions about the Mini models in this new thread.

 

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[str8flexed]

I've seen some sluices that have an easy to use leveler on the sluice to make sure the angle is correct, does the mini bazooka have this as well? I'd really like to pick one up before my next outing, but am completely new to sluicing.

 

[KevinInColorado]

No leveler on the sluice but it's really not needed. The Bazooka line of sluices is a LOT LESS TOUCHY than most other sluices when it comes to exact angle of operation. These sluices are so much easier to use in every way, you'll just love it!

 

[str8flexed]

Well.. just ordered the Mini.. cant wait to take it out to try on my next outing.

 

[str8flexed]

any tips on a first time user like how to secure the sluice, or any other things I may need to know?

 

[Rdg Sluicer]

Wedge it between some rocks and make sure you have plenty of flow over the top.... it is pretty simple to run and you can clean that mini out into a pan.

 

[str8flexed]

Wedge it between some rocks and make sure you have plenty of flow over the top.... it is pretty simple to run and you can clean that mini out into a pan.

Plans are to run as much dirt through the sluice and empty into as many 5 gallon buckets to pan at home. Approximately how much material (or shovels) will the mini hold before having to empty?

 

[Rdg Sluicer]

Plans are to run as much dirt through the sluice and empty into as many 5 gallon buckets to pan at home. Approximately how much material (or shovels) will the mini hold before having to empty?

It all depends on your material and water flow. Do some trial and error and do what is best for you. I generally clean out a couple times a day. I take my material home as well but I screen it to 3/8 fist cuz I got tired of dealing with all the smallish cobble at home. Check your rocks real close though as that is where any nuggets might be.

 

[Rdg Sluicer]

Plans are to run as much dirt through the sluice and empty into as many 5 gallon buckets to pan at home. Approximately how much material (or shovels) will the mini hold before having to empty?

It all depends on your material and water flow. Do some trial and error and do what is best for you. I generally clean out a couple times a day. I take my material home as well but I screen it to 3/8 fist cuz I got tired of dealing with all the smallish cobble at home. Check your rocks real close though as that is where any nuggets might be.

 

[str8flexed]

used my mini for the first time today. Went to 2 creeks, found no black sand at all, but when setup with a good angle and decent flow of water, it seems to work pretty good. The box seems to fill up after about a spade shovel full (maybe a bit more) of material where I have to empty it out into a pan, but it seems to work very well. Cant wait to get it in a known gold creek next weekend and see what it does.

 

[KevinInColorado]

Per the documentation that came with it, you'll see that the fluid bed is supposed to fill up immediately in the Mini. That's a good thing and you should leave it in the creek and just keep shoveling. Dig for at least 30 min and then do a clean out...you can go for hours in fact!

 

[str8flexed]

Per the documentation that came with it, you'll see that the fluid bed is supposed to fill up immediately in the. Mini. That's a good thing and you should leave it in the creek and just keep shoveling. Dig for at least 30 min and then do a clean out...you can go for hours in fact!

So even though the trap is full of cobble, don't empty it?

 

[425jesse]

Exactly. These sluices are made to keep the water circulating in the collection chamber, or fluid bed, which pushes the light stuff (yes, the cobble is actually lighter in nature that the black sands and gold based upon their specific gravity) cobble, blonde sands and other debris right out. You really can run these boxes hard and fast, and only need to clean out once your fluid bed becomes solid. To check you fluid bed, just put you finger in the collection tray of the sluice while it is running and full of water...if it is hard to press down on the material you need to do a clean out, if the material still moves away from your finger without pushing, the trap is still fluid! I like to clean out every 45 minutes or so, and could absolutely wait for 4 hours if I wanted, but I do a bit of spot jumping, and I clean out and take notes at each spot.

Just wait until you hit the gold, you will see pieces, even super small, dancing down the slick plate and into your poke!



Enjoy!

 

[str8flexed]

So I modified the mini for my outing today, was much easier to secure the sluice than build a dam. I'll have to post pics, but its fully adjustable, and I can stick it in the ground and start sluicing immediately. My question is, I ran material out of a 5 gallon bucket directly into the sluice, after a dozen or so small scoops into it, I notice that some of the pebbles were coming out of the gold box. Is this normal? It didn't appear super full or anything, and I got some good gold out of the box once I panned it, but I was worried that I lost some because of this? Is this normal or am I doing something wrong?

 

[vaquero44]

well I'm not much help I just got mine but I haven't had time to get in the water yet but I read similar threads and I think that is normal I'm sure Kevin will chime in here and or some of the others aufisher so hang on explanations will be told LOL

 

[KevinInColorado]

Yup, normal for quartz and granitic gravel to get spit out. The specific gravity of that stuff is less than 1/5 that of gold so the fluid bed will start kicking it out fairly soon after you start shoveling. The trap in the mini only holds a couple handfuls of gravel so after that much is in the trap, something has to start coming out as you add more material. Rather have the gravel come out than the gold right?!?

 

[str8flexed]

Here is what I setup. I can basically stick the rods into the creek at whatever height I want, place a rock underneath the lower end and go to work, not having to worry about building up any rocks around it to keep it secure. Seems to work alot more efficient for me.

 

[KevinInColorado]

Here is what I setup. I can basically stick the rods into the creek at whatever height I want, place a rock underneath the lower end and go to work, not having to worry about building up any rocks around it to keep it secure. Seems to work alot more efficient for me. <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=997764"/>

Nice!

 

[goldenmojo]

I like that. If you don't have a patent pending I believe I have found my new frame. Is that 1/2" rod?

 

[Meep]

Looks very useful