How do you set up a sluice?

[Sandbagger]

It was suggested to me to run a bit of fine grooved matting up front so the mat i had in the back of the ute now has a section missing! I didnt think of it at the time but a comment I received was it was tread off the side boards off an old VW beetle!

https://www.prospectingaustralia.co...9944_89344675-fa4d-428a-aff3-37a4de0c47ad.jpg

I will eventually make an extension with the likes of miners moss and maybe riffles. I have some alum that would be ideal as an extension, otherwise i might just make another sluice altogether.

I have a couple of square feet of it that I peeled off the top of my welder. You often see it on the top of tool boxes too. Not sure if Bunnings has it. I'll have a look next time I'm in there.

Baz.

 

[Aussiedigs]

Baz, Bunnings is where i got mine from!

https://www.bunnings.com.au/ideal-1m-black-fine-rib-rubber-matting-sheet_p6611081

Miners moss type mat. https://www.bunnings.com.au/matpro-40-x-60cm-cms-cushion-mat_p4490461

 

[Sandbagger]

Tried it in the river today. Frustratingly difficult. Water has a flow, but just too flat and wide. I can't dam the whole river. I'll have to find a spot much further up wher there might be a drop.

 

[mudgee hunter]

I suggest getting a bolt on extension flare made up. Mine is 600mm wide at the top with a 50mm lip facing down to scoop even more water.
1.6mm alloy is plenty.

 

[mudgee hunter]

Example

 

[Mackka]

Nice Mudgee.
Mackka :Y:

 

[limpalot]

This is how I set my sluice up, room to shovel material in, I have set up my sieve to classify the material as it drops to the sluice floor then the V mat.

 

[Sandbagger]

That looks interesting mate. Do you have any photos from the side?

Baz.

 

[mudgee hunter]

Regarding dream mat.... flow is more crucial than angle. With conventional riffles you need the low pressure point behind them spot on.
The vortex swirling motion in the cells isn't caused by angle, it's FLOW/ VOLUME. Totally Different concept!
yes angle helped by gravity and flow aids in the evacuation lighter material, but there is no immediate low pressure point as with conventional riffles.
Even stalling (out of fuel) or stopping a high banker with a pump and conventional riffles can blow out material + gold due to a sudden loss of low pressure!!!
Fact/opinion/debatable!
To me.... a fact
Im up for a debate!!!!
:lol:

 

[G0lddigg@]

Does anybody have any issue or solution for tailings building up at the base of a river sluice. I get a build up at the end and keep pushing it away with my hand. If I dont do anything, it messes with the last couple of cells of the dream mat

Mate thats an indication that the lower end of your sluice is too deep in the water. Kimd of like a car smashing into a sound barrier everything gets chewed up and drops out of suspension. If you slowly lift the bottom end till material clears freely and jam a rock up under your sluice to hold that position youll be sweet mate

 

[G0lddigg@]

Regarding dream mat.... flow is more crucial than angle. With conventional riffles you need the low pressure point behind them spot on.
The vortex swirling motion in the cells isn't caused by angle, it's FLOW/ VOLUME. Totally Different concept!
yes angle helped by gravity and flow aids in the evacuation lighter material, but there is no immediate low pressure point as with conventional riffles.
Even stalling (out of fuel) or stopping a high banker with a pump and conventional riffles can blow out material + gold due to a sudden loss of low pressure!!!
Fact/opinion/debatable!
To me.... a fact
Im up for a debate!!!!
:lol:

You are 100% correct mate the angle actually dictates the cleaning/clearing function . Mire angle more aggressive clearing means you can feed faster and clear faster but ideally you amgke to suit yiur feed rates. Velocity drives the cells so theres no hard and fast perfect amgle it will change day to day river to river.

 

[mudgee hunter]

Cheers, and feed ratio is important too. Once you become familiar with your sluice, in time.... you will understand and you will know how to make the required adjustments to the environment you are dealing with. Flow, angle and even the type of material you are feeding can vary things. Eg, the shoalhaven is very sandy say....
This can can vary your feed rate compared to a stickier material found else where. Even the angle and flow needed may change from place to place.

 

[mudgee hunter]

This is how I set my sluice up, room to shovel material in, I have set up my sieve to classify the material as it drops to the sluice floor then the V mat.

https://www.prospectingaustralia.co...3/1559805122_2016-03-16_001_001-optimized.jpg

My thoughts exactly with a decent sized flare. Easier to cut a flow back than try to make your own.

 

[nuganics]

mudgee hunter: Your welding is nicer than mine

 

[Webbie_003]

Hey Sandbagger,

I also recently got Gold Rat and saw they have leg kits that with a few drilled holes fits all of their sluice's. The legs will allow you to situate the sluice in a river in about 80cm depth

@Aussiedigs thanks for the Bunnings link saved me a bit of Googling.