Sluice design Options

[Davem]

I want to build a sluice box from wood materials. I read one book that used 1 1/2 high riffles (1x2) set 1 1/2" apart. BUT I see all these designs on the internet or commercially made styles where the riffles are set maybe 6" apart. If the wider riffle spacing because expanded metal and carpet is used? I'm not sure what size riffles to use and how far aprt to set them? Thanks for any help.

[Caveman]

You can also use 1" flat slats, and set them at an angle (typically 45 degrees) to create eddy pockets that will trap fine gold behind and under the riffle. Set this type 3 - 4 inches apart, so they can exchange material (allows the heavies to settle in, and the lighter material gets "pushed" out). This type also requires a faster flow rate to really work well. Put in a 12" aluminum slick plate in front of the riffles, and glue in deep V matting between the riffles, and it will work better, too.

One of the problems with making you own box, is that it gets expensive quickly, and tends to be very heavy. Pretty soon, you end up at (and usually exceeding) the cost of a ready made sluice. Look at a sluice like a Royal or Keene, or a lesser known (less expensive) brand and make your 1/2" and 1/4" classifiers to save money. Two 5 gallon buckets, and a small roll of 1/2" mesh and 1/4" mesh will cost less than the $50+ for the ones you can buy (especially if you hit a sale, and find some old buckets). You will also need 2 pans - a 12" or 10" one for the main panning your concentrate, and a smaller one for clean-up.

I started with a Royal folding box, a 16" pan, a 12" pan, and an 8" pan. I added 2 classifiers fairly quickly after that (1/2" and 1/4"), and a small "mud" mixing bin from Home Depot to clean my sluice box into. I do not pan material with the 16" pan - I use it as a reservoir and catch basin for my smaller pans when I pan out my concentrate at home.

You have to decide what you need at the stream. You should need (at a minimum) a 12" to 14" pan, a sluice, a 1/2" classifier, a small shovel (camp shovel type), and a bucket, and you should be able to carry this all in one trip. You can clean most stream sluices into a 5 gallon bucket, using your pan to wash it.

Please don't ask what I bring - I ALWAYS take WAY too much! At LEAST three trips worth, and take me an hour just to get ready to set up. ARRGH.

Have fun out there!

[Davem]

It's beginning to look like I ought to think about buying a sluice and saving money elsewhere. And...
The classifiers were my next question. I look at videos on you tube and it seeems 1/2" and 1/4" mesh is about it and yet some books are talking much finer. I can see the fine mesh working in dry terrain but for streamside some of that fine stuff looks like it would just get clogged up. Off hand 1/8" mesh would seem about as fine as you could go stream side.
I've saved up a half dozen 5 gallon pails.
Gettting back to the sluice, if you classify the dirt into a fine grade- it seems to me less water force might be required to move the lighter stuff (suspends more in the water) through the sluice while the gold filters out.

[traddoerr]

It's beginning to look like I ought to think about buying a sluice and saving money elsewhere. And...
The classifiers were my next question. I look at videos on you tube and it seeems 1/2" and 1/4" mesh is about it and yet some books are talking much finer. I can see the fine mesh working in dry terrain but for streamside some of that fine stuff looks like it would just get clogged up. Off hand 1/8" mesh would seem about as fine as you could go stream side.
I've saved up a half dozen 5 gallon pails.
Gettting back to the sluice, if you classify the dirt into a fine grade- it seems to me less water force might be required to move the lighter stuff (suspends more in the water) through the sluice while the gold filters out.

You can build the wood sluice that I mentioned for about $30.00, and will last about 1-2 seasons, You could seal the wood with a good water sealer that might give it a little longer life. If you try to build it out of metal your better off buying one already made. 1/4 & 1/2 cassifiers is all you'll need for most of the places around Colorado. You are correct about the amount of water, depending on the size of the gold your trying to catch (& type of sluice used) will determin the velocity you'll need running across your sluice, also the angle pitch is just as important, about 1" for every foot in length. Best of luck in your new adventure

[Davem]

traddoerr: the wood type you are describing, it sounds like the slat riffles are permanently put in place, no carpet, and when it is about half full you just flip it over and empty out the concentrates? Is that correct?

[traddoerr]

traddoerr: the wood type you are describing, it sounds like the slat riffles are permanently put in place, no carpet, and when it is about half full you just flip it over and empty out the concentrates? Is that correct?

Yes, that is correct. Its kind of the same design as the La Trap, McKirk sluices(sp). to empty it you would pick it up and put the bottom end into a bucket holding it upright and with water wash the cons down it into the bucket.