2023...

[Moneybox]

The bottom of the burner enters 45mm above the base angled slightly down.



I'm nearly out of refractory cement because I started with one bag and wasted a bit. I could mix a bit of ordinary cement with perlite to add to the base.



Otherwise it's pretty much finished.

 

[Moneybox]

This is why we really don't need a furnace....



I'll just leave my gold out in the warm Cue sunshine

 

[grubstake]

I'll just leave my gold out in the warm Cue sunshine

Don't be surprised if it evaporates when your back's turned!

 

[Moneybox]

I laid 25mm of ceramic wool in the bottom. I might cover it with a layer of cement but if I leave it like this it'll be easy to clean.



The burner fires up instantly.

View attachment Furnace.mp4

It'll get a few gentle warm-ups to start with.

 

[Stingray]

Hi Phil, looks great, just interested to know what your are using as your burner? I've been using a much smaller furnace I carved out of a fire brick and a couple of small MAPP torches as the heat source. I would like to make a bigger/more sturdy/hotter unit similar to yours hence the question.

Cheers

 

[Moneybox]

Hi Phil, looks great, just interested to know what your are using as your burner? I've been using a much smaller furnace I carved out of a fire brick and a couple of small MAPP torches as the heat source. I would like to make a bigger/more sturdy/hotter unit similar to yours hence the question.

Cheers

I made the burner from bits and pieces of steel. I'll try to give you something more accurate. I can measure it all properly but some of the bits were already shaped and cut from something like a diff flange but I'll try to identify them. I don't know any temperatures yet but on first light up the flame was unstable in the wind so I trimmed a tiny bit off the housing and changed the gas from a small oxy welding tip to a mig welding tip. Again I'll check the size, it's screw in so can be changed but I think it's a 0.6mm.

I'll do some work on that and come back to you because now it flashes to life the moment its lit and is certainly a stable flame.



Perhaps I'll be looking for a nice inside job later today

 

[Jaros]

Maybe do as little as possible to reduce body heat and drink water.

 

[Moneybox]

Hi Phil, looks great, just interested to know what your are using as your burner? I've been using a much smaller furnace I carved out of a fire brick and a couple of small MAPP torches as the heat source. I would like to make a bigger/more sturdy/hotter unit similar to yours hence the question.

Cheers

Hi Stingray,

Will this help?



I don't know if you can read that. I might have to change the colours?

 

[Moneybox]

Perhaps this is clearer.

 

[Moneybox]

https://cdn.imagearchive.com/prospe...o/7/7439-2bbf5db4eff61e039821f6721f0d0e27.mp4

Previously shown video.

 

[Stingray]

Thanks Phil, that's a very neat setup and I can read the dimensions etc OK n the diagram. Unfortunately I don't have the gear or skill to make one myself so I'll probably have to look for something off the shelf.

Thanks for taking the time to provide the info, much appreciated.

By the way, something totally un-related that might be useful, I am rebuilding a small constant air dry blower and came across a level app on my iPhone. Its part of a measurement app that came with the phone and a handy way to set and check levels and riffle tray slopes etc. Do you recall the angle you have your trays set at?

Its looking a bit warm up your way today, keep cool and good luck with the gold this season.

Cheers

 

[Aries]

Thanks Phil, that's a very neat setup and I can read the dimensions etc OK n the diagram. Unfortunately I don't have the gear or skill to make one myself so I'll probably have to look for something off the shelf.

Thanks for taking the time to provide the info, much appreciated.

By the way, something totally un-related that might be useful, I am rebuilding a small constant air dry blower and came across a level app on my iPhone. Its part of a measurement app that came with the phone and a handy way to set and check levels and riffle tray slopes etc. Do you recall the angle you have your trays set at?

Its looking a bit warm up your way today, keep cool and good luck with the gold this season.

Cheers

Off the shelf you can get (I have one and works fine).
https://reedsprospecting.com.au/products/gpk-propane-furnaceOr you can get smaller models that run on Benzo torches for less than $350

 

[Moneybox]

Looks like 25°

 

[Moneybox]

This morning I got a late start so by the time I'd put about 20 tonnes through Goldilocks the temperature was already getting uncomfortable. It was 8:30 when I got home and Mrs M was up and about. I had intended to help her around the garden but she was due in at heritage centre at 12:00 so we never got started.



When midday came around I stepped outside and decided it was going to be a scorcher but I still wanted to get something done. I ended up taking China up to the minesite for a trial run. It's all good but not as good as Tonka so I parked it up and spent another couple of hours sitting in air-conditioned comfort tumbling rocks off Grizzly and I put a few more tonnes through Goldilocks.



The temperature hit 43°C but that didn't stop me, it was the dust. This is a photo of Tonka's step when I got out to clean the air-cleaner. I parked Tonka and walked home because I wanted to leave China out there and I still have to go back for my gold

 

[Mackka]

You walked home in 43C heat? Are you on a death wish mate? Stay Safe the gold will still be there for another day, trust me it doesn't grow legs. Mackka

 

[Moneybox]

After I got up from my afternoon snooze that somehow stretched from 2:30pm to 5:30pm I spent a bit of time browsing the internet waiting for the sun to go down a bit.



At 6:45pm I headed out, the sun was still up but had lost its bite. I took this photo at 6:48pm and somehow the sun looked bigger than usual.

I was all clean after my shower and snooze so I did my best to avoid dusting my clean clothes while I emptied the trays.

View attachment Floating.mp4

Perhaps the dust had more fine gold because I don't usually see so much floating. I was a bit surprised to get it because I don't run anything in the water of the sluice to breakdown the surface tension. The frogs live in my IBC where the sluice pump is so it's just clean water and it probably flushes the floating gold away.

 

[Moneybox]

You walked home in 43C heat? Are you on a death wish mate? Stay Safe the gold will still be there for another day, trust me it doesn't grow legs. Mackka

500m walk Mackka.

 

[Mackka]

OK that makes sense, I thought you were half hour or more away. Cheers

 

[Moneybox]

OK that makes sense, I thought you were half hour or more away. Cheers

Can be if Mrs M comes along picking her way through the scattered relics.



If I can leave at a time where I avoid peak hour it's not too bad

 

[Nightjar]

Can be if Mrs M comes along picking her way through the scattered relics.

View attachment 7783

If I can leave at a time where I avoid peak hour it's not too bad

A mob of camels on the road Phil, them buggers have no road sense?