2022...

[Moneybox]

The window is now fixed into the frame. This is a spectators view...

The window from a fish's point of view The rubber glazing strip has the glass overlapping the frame so that it impossible to push out even with Diginit's calculations It's actually designed to prevent the window pushing into the dryer but I've reversed it after my first failed attempt. I've coated it with the waterproof polymer pool paint because the window surround is made of steel.

 

[Jaros]

I'm sort of concerned re the life of that 1/2 " plywood... Not trying to denigrate your project.

 

[Newprospect]

Happy Wife , Happy Life :Y: :Y:

 

[Moneybox]

I'm sort of concerned re the life of that 1/2 " plywood... Not trying to denigrate your project.

This is exterior ply, not as good as marine ply but waterproof. If I can keep it out of the direct weather it should last some time. I've coated it with lanolin which usually helps seal out the water.

I'm not sure how I'm going to cover it. The original idea was to have the plywood hidden behind a neatly stacked rock wall so I headed up to an old gold lease we once owned and collected a heap of black slate type rock.

The main problem is that I'm no stone mason and the new plan has the bottom of the IBC well above ground height.

I collected rocks that are mostly flat on the top and bottom.

Now I'm looking at my stack of black rocks and I think I'll need a lot more and I don't know if I've got what it takes to make a rock wall :|

 

[Nightjar]

You've got more than the average MB, me, I'm sitting inside under the aircon too bloody hot to venture outside, and we live on the coast.
Following this project with interest.

 

[Mackka]

I like the look of that shale, very nice.
Mackka

 

[Newprospect]

. Try this stuff..

 

[Manpa]

Agree with Nightjar, if there is a bloke who can do whatever he turns his hand to, its gotta be you MB.

 

[Moneybox]

You've got more than the average MB, me, I'm sitting inside under the aircon too bloody hot to venture outside, and we live on the coast.
Following this project with interest.

You're welcome to visit Peter and stay for a few days. I've tried to catch up down your way but you know what it's like, always in a rush to get somewhere. Take a look at Trove, the Golden Leaf mine. It's on one of my leases 3km north of here.

I just returned from there 10min ago.

This is not actually the Golden Leaf but another mine about 10m away on the same quartz reef. The Golden Leaf is just a small rectangular hole going down, down, down to water. Yes water, a rare commodity in these parts so if I get the chance to start ripping into these reefs I'll have access to water too

I've never looked at these mines before because these two little connected leases are peppered with mines and when I pegged it it was dark and there was no time for looking around. Since then I've found reference to the Golden Leaf in Trove showing 38g per Ton. Lots of potential and never enough time

 

[Moneybox]

I like the look of that shale, very nice.
Mackka

This is all on the first lease I ever pegged but later sold. It's 60km north and so far to go when I have perfectly good ground right here. Its since gone pending so I'm free to duck in and take some rock.

 

[Moneybox]

https://www.prospectingaustralia.co...4636_b8a020c5-cb25-47b3-8303-9fcfe16cc90d.jpg. Try this stuff..

This stuff is not too much different to the blue product you see there on the window frame. It would undoubtedly seal the wood but I'd like to have just the glass showing with the IBC behind a rock face.

 

[PabloP]

I once helped a mate build his house using Granite rock and after doing a test wall (feature wall) it turned out to be easier than we expected. We just used a slightly firmer mortar than used for brickwork, and the rocks were chunkier, but I have no idea what to use for slate. The thing was that none of the local brickies would touch the job until after a while when we showed one how we did it and then he was keen to get involved.
I would suggest a rigid backing mesh may be required, due to the thin nature of the slate.

Rob P.

 

[Moneybox]

All the best wishes for Mrs M Phil, does she want some more puzzles? Have a few, plus a beauty, Ken Duncan Panorama of the Barrier reef, heaps of sky and sea, recon that'll keep her out of mischief for a while.

Finally I have 'made time' to tackle this puzzle kindly sent to me by Dihusky. Wouldn't it be great if we could just 'find time' or 'make time' whenever we needed it?

This puzzle was a real challenge - which I love. To start with I finished the border, not too hard. It was all the blue of the ocean with not much variation in colour that proved most difficult. It was fun getting it all done but very frustrating at times. Phil managed to find a few pieces as well so that was good. Towards the end when the top line of sky just would not go where I reckoned it should I found that 12 of the border pieces were exactly the same and completely interchangeable . It took ages rearranging them with so many possibilities but eventually I got it sorted.

It took four days to complete in between watching tennis and cricket. Now we have a small TV in the study so that I can do the puzzles and the TV sporting exercises at the same time .

Thank you Dihusky for the great puzzle. I really enjoyed doing it and really appreciate your kind thoughts when I was unwell resent: . I hope you like it now that it's finished. And now, onto the next one.

 

[Jaros]

That would have been a tough one for sure with such a huge amount of similar colour and tone--well done.

 

[Tathradj]

I think the next major project will to be build a crushing plant
to backup the dry washer. :fire:

That to me looks that good, I would be shaking in my boots. ickshovel:

You've got more than the average MB, me, I'm sitting inside under the aircon too bloody hot to venture outside, and we live on the coast.
Following this project with interest.

You're welcome to visit Peter and stay for a few days. I've tried to catch up down your way but you know what it's like, always in a rush to get somewhere. Take a look at Trove, the Golden Leaf mine. It's on one of my leases 3km north of here.

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/3960/1642589023_gl1.jpg

I just returned from there 10min ago.

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/3960/1642589077_gl2.jpg

This is not actually the Golden Leaf but another mine about 10m away on the same quartz reef. The Golden Leaf is just a small rectangular hole going down, down, down to water. Yes water, a rare commodity in these parts so if I get the chance to start ripping into these reefs I'll have access to water too

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/3960/1642589151_gl3.jpg

I've never looked at these mines before because these two little connected leases are peppered with mines and when I pegged it it was dark and there was no time for looking around. Since then I've found reference to the Golden Leaf in Trove showing 38g per Ton. Lots of potential and never enough time

 

[Moneybox]

The next step is to get the rocks laid.

Mrs M got to choose the rocks and just like the gold ones she reckons the bigger the better

It's a bit difficult to make a level area using big rocks but we had plenty to choose from.

After the rocks we laid a sheet of shade cloth to protect the rubber to follow.

We've never used a rubber liner before so I don't know how much it takes to damage it.

This is the most expensive part of the project but it should keep all the water in the right place.

The idea is to have all the edges of the rubber raised above the water level except for the spillway into the pond. I did my best to secure the edge using an aluminium angle screwed to the end of the verandah faux wood decking.

Then there's the risk of puncturing the rubber membrane from the IBC and rocks that are to go on top. Mrs M came up with this sheet of cotton waste that we used when moving here just on 4 years ago. It seems like nothing ever gets thrown out :lol:

 

[Moneybox]

The problem with crawling out early in the morning is that I can't work about the house without disturbing somebody so I just have to head out to the lease and run the dryblower for a bit.

As soon as the late risers are up and about I got to move the IBC into place.

Then we had to stack rocks to create the waterfall, pond and rapids.

With Mrs M working the crane we did our best to match rocks to the spaces to form the basic shape.

This side faces the NW so will have a shade cloth wall protecting the area from the harsh afternoon sun and hot summer winds.

I decided to make more use of plywood to get a basic shape and fill the gap between big rocks. I could then bond smaller stones to the ply to get a more natural look.

First test of the window was a failure. The window was designed to prevent it being pushed in and I was applying pressure onto the wrong side.

It was a simple enough fix but I had to reverse the frame so that the glass was pressing against it with the force of the water.

After running the water test then the next job is to try to make it look the part but that will have to wait until after morning tea tomorrow .

 

[PabloP]

That was a good early morning call MB. More of those to come soon!

Rob P.

 

[silver]

I'm hoping you'll be having a rockbar in the rapids where the water slows enough on the surface for a clear window, with 5 or six mornings worth visible in a crevice(just as a surprise to see). After all a creek without gold will just be a creek yeah, and you have the resource to be like Midas himself.
Just thought I'd mention it while your still in the thick of it.

 

[Moneybox]

I'm hoping you'll be having a rockbar in the rapids where the water slows enough on the surface for a clear window, with 5 or six mornings worth visible in a crevice(just as a surprise to see). After all a creek without gold will just be a creek yeah, and you have the resource to be like Midas himself.
Just thought I'd mention it while your still in the thick of it.

You've just ruined my morning Silver. To start the morning I climbed up on the roof and changed the bearings in the evaporative air-conditioner. Of course no job is that simple, when I got the filters off I see the belt is shredded although it's still hanging on but it has to hold for a few more weeks until I get a new one by express post.

Next I spread the fine gravel, that I've sieved after the sluice and before panning, over a piece of silicone cloth and picked the nuggets out. Now I'll have to carry out some rework :lol:

I intend to brush on liquid rubber and then cover it with the fine gravel.