drywasher for the right job - Gold Prospectors Association of

Last Post 14 Jan 2016 04:01 PM by MICHAEL JUDD

drywasher for the right job

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Travis Nix

Greenhorn
Posts:

08 Jan 2016 11:10 AM
hello, prospector needs help. I am just few months short of getting a drywasher.. however I am hung up on the one to get that would suit my needs.. I have read great reviews on the keene 140s as well as the 191/161.. but I am more focused on the 140s and 161 for the light weight..or the compact fold up of the 140s.. I truly believe both designs have their uniqueness and upper and lower hand functions. I have asked the question to others and was told to" buy the machine, that was manufactured for, for the purpose you are going to use it", for the best recovery. so in the back of my mind the 140s was perfect for the job hands down, however I live in the high desert and winds can get nasty around here, so the almost dustless thought of the 161 attracted my attention.. and a added plus of running damp material with the new hot air induction blower.. I also know the 161 has the ability to run wet dirt with the add on high banker kit but I do have a small 6" recirculating power sluice, a river sluice and 3" suction dredge that i will one day venture off to use as well. I know you have had experience with both units, and I'm sure you get asked a lot of questions like this... but if you had the chance to take one of the machines to the desert for an outing,in your opinion, what one would you take? thanks for your time and next time you are in northern Nevada, get ahold of me

Travis Nix

Greenhorn
Posts:

08 Jan 2016 12:39 PM
If any other viewers would like to chime in with h their thought or experience it will gladly be accepted..

MICHAEL JUDD

Greenhorn
Posts:

09 Jan 2016 11:49 AM
I too am looking at dry washers, like you I was looking at the keene 191, really like the hot air to allow running of "damp" material and also the "dustless" feature. However the weight is a concern (although it is on wheels). Really hope someone else chimes in on this as most of my prospecting has been with water but living in West Texas I have to drive 2 days just to get anywhere to prospect with water (re-circulating water is too much of a hassle due to the water becoming to dirty even with filters)

Travis Nix

Greenhorn
Posts:

10 Jan 2016 09:08 AM
yeah thats why i am considering the 191 smaller brother the 161.. though i do like the hot air induction i think i would really like the almost dustless factor,, winds can get nasty here and any thing will help

KEVIN HOAGLAND

Basic Member
Posts:363

11 Jan 2016 08:00 AM
All, I have used a great deal of Drywahers over the years and for the most part they are all pretty much the same. Years ago Keene introduced hot air induction which became the norm for and the standard for many companies to follow. Now they have introduced the Keene Dustless series which in my eyes is an innovation. There are a great deal of folks drywashing that do not have the greatest recovery and it is generally on them and not the machine. Drywashers must run dry material even the slightest moister content can be the difference between recovery and a wasted day. If you have the time and the patience to assure that your materiel is perfectly dry or you are willing to rerun your materiel for the best recovery there are a lot of great choices out there. BUT if you are limited on time and really do not savor the thought of running material more than once as a norm then I would suggest taking a hard look at the dustless series. I will say though that the Dustless series is not the be all end all answer but it is pretty darn close. I like the 161 for its size and overall ability for my prospecting and yes there have been a couple of runs where I did have to make a second pass but given the recovery, I'm ok with that. Hope that helps. Kevin

Travis Nix

Greenhorn
Posts:

13 Jan 2016 11:36 AM
yes that was a great insight and experianced prospective. thanks kevin

Jim Locke

Basic Member
Posts:131

13 Jan 2016 02:50 PM
Michael and Travis, I went through alot of the same questions in my head before making my purchase. The wife and I ended up buying the Keene 191 with all of the wet kit (192). Yes...it is a little cumbersome to transport but the wheels make it manageable for the two of us to use in the areas we expect to work. You aint going to be packing it in much of anywhere for sure! We are extremely impressed by it..... ultra fine capture and it DOES run through DAMP material. I actually made the decision partly on Kevin's comments in a reply to a message I sent him. I do not regret it in the least. Just keep in mind the areas you intend to work and go from there. Take Care Jim

Travis Nix

Greenhorn
Posts:

13 Jan 2016 03:55 PM
thanks jim. I think i am going for the 161 to start out.. I end up in some pretty remote places so i think the smaller one will do the job.. I do like the 191/192 but not a lot of water here in the high desert just a lot of gold..

Jim Locke

Basic Member
Posts:131

13 Jan 2016 03:58 PM
Rather have the GOLD any day! We bought the wet kit "just in case". Most areas we go have little to no water also. But we have it if needed. You will be happy with any of the Keene pieces you mention....I would bet. Jim

MICHAEL JUDD

Greenhorn
Posts:

14 Jan 2016 04:01 PM
Thanks Jim and Kevin for the input. Like Travis I too am leaning toward the 161. For wet recovery I use Gold Hog. I have the stacker unit, the Viper and the multi-sluice. They work great but its a 2 day drive from here to get to a "wet" location. So desert prospecting seems to be the logical choice for a "week-end" fix. Again thanks to both of yall and to Travis for starting the thread.

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