Starting the new year! Options

[Caveman]

If the weather holds, I will be out running a 2" suction dredge on Friday. I have had problems with clogs just past the bend of the nozzle every time I have tried it, and I am asking for advice to try and reduce the incidense of this, and to reduce the time it takes to clear the problem. Thin, flatter rocks (great skippers!) are the ones that get me most, and get jammed in there pretty good. I usually have to remove the hose to get them cleared. The area I'm working has tons of sandy materal, and the largest rocks are about half the size of cinder blocks, so there are lots 2" and smaller rocks to deal with, but it's a great place to learn how to run things with good, clean fines. I was there scouting on Monday and found what looks to be a decent pocket. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Caveman

[Denise]

Sounds like all the tweaking and testing is paying off Caveman! Bet that was some cold water for dredging! We woke up to some fresh snow this morning but it's well needed moisture.

[Caveman]

Sounds like all the tweaking and testing is paying off Caveman! Bet that was some cold water for dredging! We woke up to some fresh snow this morning but it's well needed moisture.

It is.... just got a little more to do before the real fun happens (6am to 6pm outings!). I still have to find the best working flow w/o blowing gold through the sluice, at least until I build the bigger one. Almost there...... going to use the 12ft hose next... I should be able to use a slower throttle setting but have better suction at the nozzle. The crash box won't be set as high next time out either, and that should help things too, and I believe just under a 1.5" to 1' drop will work out the best, as the speed of the flow will be right with the Gold Hog matting.

The water wasn't too bad, thank to it being low and shallow for the previous 20 or so miles in sun. It was at least in the high 50's.... just a little cooler than the air temps. It will be much cooler when the water levels get higher with greater flow. The moss is already starting to grow, so it's going to smell really swampy down there in the next few weeks.

Got snow down here yesterday afternoon and evening, but it didn't stick. Grass turned green overnight! Yay Spring!

Looking foward to working upper Clear Creek soon!