Advice, building my first dredge Options

[jimmyrig]

Hello all,

Need a little input. I'm building my first dredge. I have a 10hp 3" trash pump, A52 sluice, 2 inflatable pontoons from a large one man fishing pontoon, I'm building a frame, I have a suction nozzle and hoses. help I need: What do I use or where do I get the flare, dampener flap, and do I need a jet nozzle on the flare since I have a suction nozzle already? What else am I missing...

[jimmyrig]

After doing a bit more research (great guide http://www.detectorprospector.com/gold-pro...on-dredges.htm) I realize that I will use the suction nozzle for shallow water and down the road get the jet for deeper water. Since I will be starting out in clear creek the suction nozzle will do for now I think. I have a traffic cone out back that I am going to use for the flare for now. I'm going to go purchase the foot valve from gold n detectors. Still working on the dampener... I will plan for room for a compressor and Hookah but that will be a down the road addon. Even though I'm talking to myself I'm sure this info will be helpful to others down the road :)

[CP]

Hey Jimmyrig,

I'd stick with the suction nozzle you've already got for now.....and maybe even stick with a stand (highbanker) set up instead of floats for now too. A floating set up using a flare must only float and the flare must be at water level to work....where as the suction nozzle can be used from the stand and then move the nozzle around the work zone under water. Draw back is you have the extra hose (feed) on the working nozzle end. With the float set up all you have underwater is the suction nozzle and feed goes right to flare.

Highbanker is more versatile for around here I think....Just my opinion on that though.

For dampener flap....that's normally just a piece of rubber flap/belting that knocks down the water in feed with material when using the flare nozzle and floats....with highbankers that is usually done with a header and grizzly box set up. Then water/material feeds to sluice.

Good luck with the build project too, love to see some pics along the way and in testing phases for field trips too. Hopefully it all works out well for ya'! BTW....that link didn't work for me.

[CP]

found the link snafu and fixed it....now it works

[jimmyrig]

I was reading that the flap setup provided a little better recovery than the grizzly box/header setup. I'm guessing the only difference is the water flow and classifier difference. Would you find this to be true or not so much since our gold is finer around here?

[EMac]

Keep going; good discussion. Trommels have been on my mind lately after working Chris' claim's clay if you want to discuss the merits thereof as well.

[jimmyrig]

Keep going; good discussion. Trommels have been on my mind lately after working Chris' claim's clay if you want to discuss the merits thereof as well.

I have been working on a trommel setup for a long time. Personally, the efficiency and ease of use of a trommel far outweighs a crash box type high banker setup. That being said, a floating dredge in the right setting is the ultimate in personal material movement. It would be cool if nothing else to have a floating trommel :)

Since my A52 already has a stand I am going to start this setup as a high banker to make sure this pump can move material properly. Also another question came up in my research. Keen says the A52 with dredge riffles can handle up to a 2.5" dredge. I have a 2" nozzle but my pump is a 3". Needless to say none of my scrapped up pieces match. Should I just go with a full 2" setup and scale down the pump outlets, or should I get 3" hoses and a new nozzle and use the A52 for now? I can't financially get a bigger sluice and buy a new nozzle and hoses. My 2" nozzle I purchased from gold n detectors and have never used it so maybe he will let me trade up.

[johnnybravo300]

A floating trommel sounds totally awesome but a crash box would still be a good addition.
I would think that choking a three inch pump down into a smaller hose would just increase the pressure but the pump may not have to work as hard to feed the water that's needed, and that's a good thing IMO.
Also any modifications to the nozzle or anything else that can help things run smoothly are always good. If you have perfectly smooth round rocks traveling through the hose that's one thing, but suck up some banana or pizza pie shaped rocks and you'll be having issues in no time. I'm not sure where you dredge but something to think about. A clog with sharp edged rocks can take alot of time out of the day and adds alot of frustration.

[jimmyrig]

A floating trommel sounds totally awesome but a crash box would still be a good addition.
I would think that choking a three inch pump down into a smaller hose would just increase the pressure but the pump may not have to work as hard to feed the water that's needed, and that's a good thing IMO.
Also any modifications to the nozzle or anything else that can help things run smoothly are always good. If you have perfectly smooth round rocks traveling through the hose that's one thing, but suck up some banana or pizza pie shaped rocks and you'll be having issues in no time. I'm not sure where you dredge but something to think about. A clog with sharp edged rocks can take alot of time out of the day and adds alot of frustration.

I plan on using a classifier nozzle guard so hopefully the clogs will be non existent or at a minimum. I rounded up all my materials today for the frame and everything but the pump. I had some old ladders out back that I don't trust to stand on anymore but they will make great frame fodder. Going to cut them and weld them and also had some extra window well ladders with some great ribbon steel. Had a couple traffic cones out back so grabbed the nicest one. Picking up the new pump tomorrow morning then will be building the dredge this week. I'm also adding on a jet holder that can be steered so I can drive myself up river when needed. My idea is that I can take the exit hose off the nozzle or jet and hook it here and use it for propulsion like a jet ski.

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[jimmyrig]

Pump

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[jimmyrig]

I've decided I'm gonna try to exchange my nozzle and go with a full 3" pump setup. I'm going to weld on some extra sections to extend the sluice.

[CP]

Not sure on the cone/flare idea part if I'm understanding the idea right as described in my head.....you'll find out if it works well or not but I'm afraid the gravels may be a bit too abrasive over a short time and you may wear a hole in the flare cone ...hope not though.

On our 3" highbanker the pump outlet or feed to the unit was a 1.5" layflat hose even though the pumps intake was 3". I would think that would work for the 2" as well just may not need to run as high on the throttle to feed it. I think you'd much rather have a 3" suction nozzle though so hope it works out well, I'd even bet the sluice won't need extending but you can always add on a short section later too! Looking good so far and nice work on recycling the ladders for the build....love it! Keep the pics coming.

[swizz]

I also love it and have been staying tuned! Keep the pics coming please.

[jimmyrig]

Got the ladders cut and welded last night. Doing braces and frame today. On a side note, I got a sun burn from welding all night with just goggles on.

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[jimmyrig]

My buddy gave me these pontoons and frame for a bday present and some gold I had.

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