Bellows Dry Washer Build

[Dave63]

Started building a bellows Dry washer out of 2mm Aluminum sheet
Making it up as I go along

Haven't done anything in Aluminum before. Using basic tools. 690mm long x 340mm wide
Will add photos as I create each part
Build for my trip to Tibooburra

Cheers

 

[dam it]

Looks Good :Y:
But 340mm is wide
What are you going to be feeding it with ?
How big are your bellows going to have to be ?

 

[Dave63]

Very Loosely based of this drywasher.

Which has a set of plans I converted sizes to metric

 

[Dave63]

Changed my mind today. Redesigned a few things so here it is in its current format.

Cut a bit off the front. Added another Riffle. Cut support plate to create another air port for add riffle
1st Three 90 Degree riffles Next three 30 Degree-ish riffles Last one 90 degree

Made the Riffle tray. You can see it in it position inside dry washer. Not fixed together yet.1/2" Riffles

Made Bottom of Bellows

I Reckon i have used Max $40 worth of Aluminum so far

 

[Moneybox]

Looks good Dave but I think I'd be finding some good dry dirt to carry out trials before heading off on a big trip.

 

[Dave63]

Yeah I have got a couple of buckets from Durikai Forest GPA for testing and adjustments (Mods) if required

 

[Dave63]

Completed Aluminum Brazing of Riffle Tray ( 1st Effort at that) Don't Zoom in on photo

Made Hopper. I think I thought I was going to use a front end loader to fill it. Bit Big

Only have Leg materials and Wind Screen motor to buy. I reckon I will get away with whole build for under $300

 

[Nightjar]

Dave63,
May I make a suggestion with your dry blower?
Post #4:
It appears the air slots on top of the bellows hopper are proud of the riffle tray riffles. You are going to get a dead spot there and you may lose some gold sliding up over the mound on the upside of each riffle.
The air slots upper edges should align with upside of each riffle.

 

[Dave63]

Not sure what you are talking about. Photos are upside down, so Upside of Riffle tray at the bottom of picture.

Started putting together my Cloth layers for riffle tray today.

Layer 1 Cloth
Layer 2 Aluminum Fly Screen
Layer 3 Thin sheet of perspex
This will all be pop riveted to Riffles

Had a redesign of Hopper after finished it. Have to pull it apart some to make it easier to transport. New Pictures tomorrow

 

[Nightjar]

That makes the situation even worse. The air should be puffing directly in front of the riffle on the upside.
The riffle box is fitted on top of this, the air blowing up directly in front of riffles. (No dead area.)

 

[Dave63]

Cheers

 

[Dave63]

G'Day All

Changed the Hopper to be collapsible

This how I will transport it to Dry Washing Area

Transformer Music 10min later (Slow Transformer)

This it together with bolts and wing nuts. Remain assemble for duration of Dry washing then disassemble for trip home

Finished Riffle Tray and top half of Bellows Box

One design flaw at top of riffle tray need another brazed in flat piece. Used angle iron as temp fix. Will braze in a proper piece when I change the cloth next.

Bellows next

Cheers

 

[Nightjar]

Not sure what you are talking about. Photos are upside down, so Upside of Riffle tray at the bottom of picture.

Started putting together my Cloth layers for riffle tray today.

Layer 1 Cloth
Layer 2 Aluminum Fly Screen
Layer 3 Thin sheet of perspex

Dave, Am intrigued, where does the perspex fit and why?

 

[Dave63]

Originally the perspex layer is to create dead air zone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oinXbQnoyY&t=927s

4.56 minute mark of video

 

[Nightjar]

Mate you are mixing a constant air dry blower with your bellows type.
Forget about the static electricity with your puffer, forget about electrostatic collection of gold altogether it's a sales gimmick.
BTW a bellows type dry blower you're building beats a constant air one hands down.
Throw away the perspex, have your air puffing directly in line with the "upside" of your riffles.
You won't blow gold away as he suggests, our puffer dry blowers collected flour gold that the electrostatic models lost.

 

[Dave63]

Thanks for that I will modify

 

[Nightjar]

Dave,
The first of the dry blowers in Western Australia changed the way prospectors found their gold.

http://museum.wa.gov.au/explore/wa-goldfields/getting-gold/getting-gold-without-water

 

[Dave63]

Thank s for thank very interesting

 

[Jackpot]

Love your work Nightjar great to see others sharing their knowledge :trophy:

 

[Jackpot]

Project looking good Dave cant wait to see her in action