Arthur,

Its a fine line on angle of slope for the box. Not enough, box loads, to much. loose color. Something to play with.
Rule of thumb, 1" drop for every foot of box.
However, hog mats, and style of dredge box ie; crash box or flare all figure into the equation (water flow).
Two things to consider,
1- keep the lift to a minimum, how high the box sits above the water line, less lift = more suction (to a point).
2- keeping the end of box above the water line. If the end of the box is below the water line, the material will stall and load the box, unless you have enough flow to push on through.

It all very simple LOL
Good luck and have fun doing it.


Bill

I kind of thought maybe inch per foot on riffles, just not any idea on hog mat.  Still got the black crash box on her, and going to stay that way for the forseeable future.  Thanks for the tips, and will gladly take any others that comeup.Already planning on some coach/trailer levels on the side of the box when tuned. 

Going to keep things as simple and light as I can, heart only works at about 20-25 % ejection factor (2/3rds of left ventrical is gone), so I don't have the stamina or wind to deal with a 4 inch, and planning on doing a 24 inch bike wheel removable carrier for it to get down banks where/when it will fit.

 

Most of what we have is flour and fine with ocassional flakes up to 1/16th inch and some wire.  Occassional picker, but that would not do the old heart any good-LOL

     Arthur, I have a keene 2 1/2" dredge that is all of 30 years old.  The out the door price back then was right at $ 650.  The frame has 3 settings for pitch and I have mine set on the high setting.

 

     The float system is a 18 wheeler truck tire inner tube and bungee cords are used to hold the frame to it.  Never had the dredge roll over, but it will rock back and forth when running the nozzle in deeper water and yes, pontoon floats would be better.

 

     Had to tie a one ounce weight to the foot value to keep it from floating and sucking air.  Also watch out for hand bite, if you get your hand to close to the nozzle you might get a painful surprise.

 

     There is a hole on the front of the crash box that is for using a ram rod to unplug the hose from clogs where it connects to the back of the crash box.

 

     You might try putting a large piece of plastic on the ground and with the sluice box upside down gently tap, shake and tilt it.  The first time I did this I was amazed at how much gold gets hung up inside the crash box.

 

     I wish you the best of luck finding Au with your new to you toy.        Ron

I'll have to do a "clean out/up" on her, just in case. 

Went up and got her this past Saturday.  Had been cleaned out VERY well, no "freebies".  Everything was just as pictured.  Started work on design of frame and plumbing but will have to get floats first to firm up the frame design.  Going to use a removable (one pin on each side, and a slip fit tube) for a wheel set-up using a couple of 24" wide bike wheels/tires and a full frame width bar on the other end (wheels at the motor/pump end at a balance point)

 

At least if I can get a permit (limited # being issued) the $150 surcharge is gone.

I spent about a half hour on the phone with Mark Keene awhile back and he suggested some mods for the old girl.  Replacing the carpet and adding some miners moss, and replacing the first 4 riffles with Miricle Mat. 

Should get most of the frame welded up this w/e and then all that is left is to get the box mounts done and on, paint her up and new hoses and be ready for the season opener in mid-May in one area an June 1 in the other.  Ended up with 26 " bike wheels and forks to set up as removable for transport.  It will be on my trailer for the parade in the chapter's entry in mid June, and the display at our panning demo booth.

Come on Arthur
Gotta have some pics to share ?
Hopefully in operation


Bill

No pics of it in progress, but will get some of her when together and then some later in water.  Going stealth mode with it with camo'ed floats, earth colored frame, and as quiet a muffler as I can get.

Got the new stuff a couple of days ago, along with a pair of seal kits for the pump.  The guy I got it from (second hand store) said it runs great and has a new plug, so I figure he fired it up, but doubt he had water in the pump, so going to replace seals before I even get started, and still have a spare set.

Might I add, carry anything short of a new motor that will kill a trip
Such as, a spare belt, spare breathing regulator (if you have air), micellanious nuts and bolts, parts and pieces, spark plug, pump seal, hose clamps ect ect

Nothin worse than having to pull off the water because this or that broke
I speak from experience



Bill

O yeah, been 4 wheeling for 40+ years, and carry almost enough parts and tools to build another rig on the trail, or at least to limp her home. Already have full clamp set and all spare hardware, along with spare plugs (all fits in a MTM plastic .50 cal. ammo can).  Am replacing all hoses and the "good" ones (pump suction and pressure) will find a hole in the rig.  The 2 1/2" will be brand new-the old one was in 3 pieces.  No air-not THAT much of a water person, will be all long arm.

 

But is a good reminder for all types of mechanical equipment, Thanks.

Arthur,

Very good.
Fellow I used to work with was a 4wheeler, hand built machine, winches in front and back, carried as you said 'enough to build one on the trail'
When your out in the middle of nowhere, AAA aint comin to get ya even if you could call them

With all the clubs, committees, associations you are active in, when do you find time to dredge ?

Your a busy man

If you had a 4", I was gonna send ya a T handle hose clamp layin on my work bench, to big for a 2 1/2"


Bill

The RAC is 3-4 days, 3-4 times a year, the chapter is on a Sunday afternoon, on mining club is on a Thurs. evening, the MD club is the nioght before that one on Wed night.  The other mining club is now a Sat. evening, but does not meet May-Aug.  With my heart issues (15-25 % ejection factor) can't deal with a 4 inch, may not be able to deal with a 2 1/2 that well, the reason for the wheels on it like a big game cart.

Had to find something to do or go nuts after the wifemate passed on a year and a half ago. Only get 4 - 4 1/2 hours of sleep a day since she passed, so alot of time on my hands.  Oh yeah...also got back into plastic modeling to help pass the evenings in front of the idiot box..  Those will go to the Vet's home here in town.

Yes sir, keep yourself active as long as possible
Sorry to hear of your loss, I can only imagine being married 37yrs
I'd have to find another mining partner or be a little more friendlier with the ones I have
Take things easy out there, hoping you have a mining partner to help ya

Keep them hands busy, stay young, maybe only in mind


Bill

A note to the gold hog mats.
I have used them for years now and will put them up against anything. The thing to remember with these mats is that they are designed to be very active. Running with more velocity is better than less. If you cant get enough water over them then increase the angle. I run 6000 to 7000 GPH actually going over them (caught the water coming off the end and measured time and volume). Running at about 8 degree pitch (1 5/8 to 1 3/4 inch per foot) and still catch 99%. They will exchange black sands and hold the gold. Can you make them lose gold? of coarse. You can make any product lose gold. Where these mats excell at is that in the same amount of time you can process 2 or 3 times the material while maintaining capture rates. You will also have a lot less cons to process. I run just about every mat they have. Some like very fast water, some work well at slower velocity. Mixing the mats up gives the gold various places to get caught. I run them in a small hi-banker, a large hi-banker/ 2 1/2 dredge (top 4 ft is 12 in wide, bottom 4 ft flares to 18 in wide) and in a 3 inch floating dredge.

Arthur,
I thought I saw some pics of your dredge somewhere
Where did you hide them ?
Or were they some one else's

Bill

I have a couple of pics of the frame and wheels on my profile, photos page, but have not put any up anywhere yet.  Will add more when I get it all set up. In one you can see the box, engine/pump and floats in the background.  Got to finish welding up the pull handle and 4 more chain links for tie offs and will be ready for paint and assembly.  Got the box modified as per Mark @ Keene.  Only have to get new suction and pressure hose and will be ready to go after it is in a parade as a chapter entry on the 18th of June.  The chater has a booth and panning demo at the Pioneer Picnic in Brownsville, OR.  (Where part of "Stand by Me" was filmed.)

Well, got her done except for adding on the new hoses (in on the 15th) and doing something with that yellow pump.  Went stealth option on her, for colors,and put a Honda WX15 pump muffler on the old 3hp Briggs.  Hopefully that will quiet her down to a whisper, and help with the stealth.  Wheels and rear handle are removable as can be seen in the series of photos.   **edit** got the pump and all fittings that are on it (prime top off and a hose bib for cracks) painted the same hammered brown as the frame.  The copper on the engine I can live with for now.   My permit number plates (required) will be the frame color with grey print.  The grey from the floats that is.

 

Pics are in my profile photo section under 2 1/2 Dredge album.   Haven't figured out how to get them up here yet.

Got her in the water today for a tank of gas.  Got to replace the intake hose for the pump, have a small leak in the gasket between the pump halves to fix.  No choke on the carb, but no real biggie, my hand does just fine when the air cleaner is off-lol.  Have to get a little more of the tube to stick out of the crash box so the suction hose has a better conection.  The 3/4 x .095 tube on the wheels twisted going over the rocks, will have to go either .120 or solid bar stock on that.  Otherwise worked great, and the Honda muffer is perfect, runs way quieter that a normal Briggs.  The chain links I put on the frame work out great for anchor ropes with carabiners for quick hookups.

Still have to process the cons this coming week to see what she found and hung onto.  Got between 2 and 2 1/2 hours out of the tank of fuel, but have to run at full throttle with about 13 feet of suction hose.

Met up with another chapter member and his daughter up there today and between us we got it in and out.  Altogether we spent about  5 hours on one of the Quartzville Group claims that I have had some sucess on it the past.  Claim report submitted.