I have seen a lot of these and am incredibly unimpressed. The only one I have seen that I thought looked like it would work well was a two person model. One person stands on the bank and works the pump while the other is in the river going through the cracks and crevices.

It would be nice to see one in action.

Do you have a favorite brand/type you prefer and have seen work well? So many areas ban motorized equipment and it seems to me that some sort of vacuum is really necessary to clear material from crevices?

There are several versions on youtube

In my opinion, none are worth the time or energy or $$$ they are asking
Although I will say I have not tried any of them personally
I build my own, not hard to do
Few dollars of materials from a "good" hardware store, couple hours labor

Mine are straight suck it up, into an awaiting bucket
No 'Y' fittings, no check valves, no flapper valves, no hoses, no hoses into a bucket, nothing
The only fitting I use is a reducer from 2" down to 1", that's only for crack/crevis clean out
Suck it up spit it out repeat
I can generate more material than my sluice can process and that's a good thing
The 3" will work my a$$ off, processing material through the sluice gives me a break
The 2" is just right for the wife to operate
Thinking of a 4" next, not sure I want to work that hard, we are out here for the fun of it ?

So far, hand dredging is not banned in California
Back when the dredging ban got started, one of the head California bozo's (Stoffer ?) said specifically hand dredges are OK

Bill

I cannot find the one I like online, they may have gone out of business. What made it nice was that you had constant suction as long as your partner was working the Bicycle style pump and it had a clear trap bucket so you could see the materials flowing in and waste going out.

The one you posted looks like some form of male enhancement tool, I wouldn't even bother.

I actually found one at my local Lowes store in the pump and plumbing section, they were 29 dollars, had the y fitting with the flap valve, Didn't buy one but it looked as though it would work. They advertised them as a bilge pump.

Posted By WILLIAM HALL on 05 Jul 2016 03:33 PM

There are several versions on youtube



In my opinion, none are worth the time or energy or $$$ they are asking

Although I will say I have not tried any of them personally

I build my own, not hard to do

Few dollars of materials from a "good" hardware store, couple hours labor



Mine are straight suck it up, into an awaiting bucket

No 'Y' fittings, no check valves, no flapper valves, no hoses, no hoses into a bucket, nothing

The only fitting I use is a reducer from 2" down to 1", that's only for crack/crevis clean out

Suck it up spit it out repeat

I can generate more material than my sluice can process and that's a good thing

The 3" will work my a$$ off, processing material through the sluice gives me a break

The 2" is just right for the wife to operate

Thinking of a 4" next, not sure I want to work that hard, we are out here for the fun of it ?



So far, hand dredging is not banned in California

Back when the dredging ban got started, one of the head California bozo's (Stoffer ?) said specifically hand dredges are OK



Bill 

 

Thanks Bill. I am not adverse to building one, or asking my brother in law to since he is at my house in Texas with all the tools, but I'm not sure how to go about it. I'll have to google for DIY hand pumps then go from there.

Posted By Benjamin Crain on 05 Jul 2016 04:02 PM

I cannot find the one I like online, they may have gone out of business. What made it nice was that you had constant suction as long as your partner was working the Bicycle style pump and it had a clear trap bucket so you could see the materials flowing in and waste going out.



The one you posted looks like some form of male enhancement tool, I wouldn't even bother.

Thanks for the laugh Ben!  It did sorta look like an erection pump! Lol!

Posted By KENNETH SWINEFORD on 05 Jul 2016 07:07 PM

I actually found one at my local Lowes store in the pump and plumbing section, they were 29 dollars, had the y fitting with the flap valve, Didn't buy one but it looked as though it would work. They advertised them as a bilge pump.

HI Ken.

I see I need to look around a bit more and see what alternatives are out there. I am used to adapting tools for alternate uses.

I bought a simple hand dredge at the Phoenix Gold and Treasure Shiw for $12 and it works great. I like to use it around big rocks and then pull the rocks up and sluice the stuff right underneath.

Posted By TIM LEIBEL on 08 Jul 2016 01:38 PM

I bought a simple hand dredge at the Phoenix Gold and Treasure Shiw for $12 and it works great. I like to use it around big rocks and then pull the rocks up and sluice the stuff right underneath.

Hm. No real rush I guess. Finally landed my next job. Enterprise Oregon. Wallowa county. Gold country for sure. Wondering where the closest GPAA claim to there will be. Brother in Law still has not mailed my membership stuff to me, but his car is broken down. I will be moving next Monday, July 19. There used to be some dedicated public places to pan there but more recent information shows that that is no longer true?

Hoping there will be a gold show close enough to there over the next three months. I'd like to visit one to see what other kind of equipment is popular and why. It'd be nice to see some stuff close up. Pictures and videos are ok, but don't cut it like the real thing!

Nice country around Enterprise.  Elk hunted it once about 25 years ago.  No public areas anymore (keep hearing about one between Baker and Sumpter, but cann't verify with USFS).  GPA A has 4 claims on Burnt River, 2 of them adjoining.  One is down river from the LDMA property and the two adjoining are about 3 miles upriver.  the other is across the river from Dark Canyon.  Parking areas by those upriver from the LDMA camp.  There is a nice camp spot near the 2 adjoining claims.  Looks like maybe an old homesite with old fruit trees.  River is controlled and is wadeable at this time of year.  Gets hot in the canyon in summer.  Had a fire go through last summer, so somer restoration and salvage logging going on right now.

About 20 mile east of Baker to out around Huntington and then about 20 some odd miles up to the LDMA property,  Have never been to the claim downriver from LDMA, was added after the last time was over there.  Did some sampling on the two adjoining, but came up empty, they had access issues with the one across the river then so did not get to it.  Keep an eye and ear ot for rattlers.

Gold all the way around the Eagle Caps (granitic intrusion dome formation).  If you get to Baker during banking hours go to the US Bank next door to Geiser Grand Hotel, and look at the gold display there (87oz nugget found about 30 miles sw of Sumpter as the crow flaps).  If you have time, take a run down to Sumpter and see the bucket line dredge in the state park there.  The same type the Tony is running on Gold Rush.   PM if I can help more.

 

Art

Art,
Thank you so much for the info! I'll be checking that out for sure. Gives me a list of things to do when I am up there and places to check out with my famly.
Cheers!
Mary

Just got a bit more creative with my searches based on hints I got here. Thanks!

Appears that "Transfer/siphon pumps" will fit the bill and most are under $15.00.

Likely less than I could build one for, especially considering all tools I'd need are

in Texas so I'd either have to have them shipped or purchase more. Thanks again

for all the input!