12″ x 55″ Wood Sluice

In an effort to not only create my own sluice but also learn SketchUp I have created another Sluice drawing. This sluice is primarily constructed from wood and could be further modified to include other features  possibly. The idea here is to allow for classification at the time of feeding the sluice using a feed / shaker box combination. I also spent a lot of attention to the riffles after some research I found that the shape of this riffle should perform very well when compared to many other shapes (this is only an observation based on my independent research on riffle design, not a fact). Although I am not sure on the angles of the riffles only time will tell I suppose.

 

Download the SkethUp File

Gold Sluice Ideas Cont’d

Still doing a lot of research on sluices and the technologies associated with them. I am still trying to design and develop the perfect sluice for me and have been collecting a lot of good plans for some sluices. I have been drawing on these to help me come up with my sluice.

• http://www.yourepeat.com/g/sluicebox
• http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/sluicing/321882-i-built-my-own-gold-sand-separating-underflow-sluice-box.html
• http://www.goldgold.com/the-size-of-riffles-2.html
• http://www.goldhog.com/sluice_mats.htm
• http://www.goldhog.com/riffle_shape_angles.htm
• http://projects.geothunder.com/build-a-boil-box-sluice-box/
• http://www.gpex.ca/pdfs/Sluice%20Combo.pdf

Portable Gold Sluice?

Just a little look into the world of sluices one realizes that this is an evolving technology. There are tons of great ideas and products being created for the purpose of bringing gold mining to the common public. I was inspired to mock up some of my own ideas on a re-configurable and portable sluice that can be used for a multitude of uses, the transformer of portable sluices so to speak.

I mocked this design up in SketchUp download the skp file below.
Sluice on a Shelf

Gold Sluice Ideas

Wow, I’m not sure if anyone realizes how much room there is for growth in the technology for gold mining. I sat and watched numbers of YouTube videos featuring other peoples ideas, inventions, and modifications of mining equipment and I realized there many really good ideas out there however they were also limited to the specific application they were designed for. There was no real Swiss army knife of sluices you just get a different type or style of sluice for each job.

So this idea popped into my head
Creating a small (for portability) sluice that is completely configurable with “modules”

I think using say 4″ square pvc fencing with square couplers can be used to create the main body for the components

Components so far
Flanged Input for river / stream sluicing
A sprayer input for at home with a pump
a standard sluice with ridges (24″ and 36″)
a underflow sluice attachment (24″)
a underneath magnet sluice (collects the black and creates raised bumps)
a classifier attachment (probably a couple different sizes) (24″)
a finishing component (24″)

will commit to starting a couple of the components during the next couple of months

TO DO
Get some pay dirt for testing functionality
Research some of the components to use for construction
Mock ups some drawings and design STL files for parts
Do some testing

Vinyl Fence Post may be what the doctor ordered, may need to develop the coupler required to bind these things together.
Found at Lowes

Metal Detecting Finds

I have not yet found many cool items in my adventures of metal detecting. I have not been detecting for long now, only a couple of months, and have yet to make that big score. While I knew going into this I will never find that secret cache, but it is hard to remember that during the thrill of the hunt. It is said that one mans trash is another’s treasure, but in the case of metal detecting another mans trash is usually exactly what it is, trash!

Not all my efforts have been fruitless, I believe I have collected up to a dollar in change, found an incredible looking fishing lure, and have done my part to help clean up the city parks here in Colorado Springs.