Introduction:: MickeyTheMagnet from west melbourne

[MickeyTheMagnet]

Howdy to everyone from Australian Prospecting, after reading the "walbanker" thread into the early hours of this morning as a guest I had to sign up. I am surprised at how friendly and helpful everyone was on the thread including wal putting up measurements.
I'm currently from hoppers crossing in the west of Vic, renovating a 3beda with my girlfriend. After three years of hard slogging I've finnally found I could spare a weekend or two each month for a hobby, out of all the things I've been into cars,fish,screenprinting etc jumping in a creek and shoveling dirt is my pick..

My trade is boilermaker/welder so the idea of making my own sluice came into my head and after reading wals thread I'm sure I can get project up n running asap.
I am hoping any questions I'll have PA will be able to answer them for me.

Thanks in advance P.A and members if there is anything I can be apart of locally I'm more then happy to help

 

[the duck]

Welcome aboard im sure you will be able to knock up a walbanker, he should have patented it as they work a treat im told, i too am from the west but closer to the city but detecting is my passion with the odd get in a creek and shovel
All the best in your endeavours i hope you find heaps and hope some of our great members can be of some help

 

[MickeyTheMagnet]

Thanks for the reply Duck, I am gonna start with the shovel and sluice until I can justify a detector with the bank, I'm hoping to have about $500 bucks in the bank for a detector in a month or two so but not sure if I'll get anything worth swinging around for that coin.
Ally at work is overflowing and by the pics on wals thread all I have to pay for is the pump which Im gonna put the pressure on a mate for a good deal as a payback for modifying is camper trailer for him last year.

 

[goldtruck59]

gidday and welcome. I too was encouraged by Wal and Liz to join and get into sluicing from their movies. We just recently bought a small high banker from the states rather than make one. Put our first bucket of Whipstick creek scrappings through it boxing day. I think its back to the drawing board as we were either unlucky or have no idea how to do it properly and or pan the supposed carpet catch!!
Have another bucket from a dry creek bed from Dunolly will try it out again shortly. Look forward to your efforts. 8)

 

[Ag Man]

Welcome to the Forum Mickey.
Hopefully you'll be onto the colour soon. Best of luck out there.

Goldtruck59 - don't judge your prospecting skills after only one bucket of paydirt - you'll find there's a fair bit of hit & miss in this game - more miss than hit

 

[WalnLiz]

Welcome to the forum Mickey.

Prospecting is certainly a great hobby to add to already large list. It also on many occasions goes hand in hand with fishing....and I'm sure you'll find many of us chuck out a line from time to time.

Your trade will be a great benefit if you want to build a Hi Banker, and there's many kinds on the forum to help you tailor one to suit your region. Getting involved with the members will have all your questions answered in no time, so if you need any advice just put it out to the helpful guys on here.

All the very best with the hobby and hope the gold cooperates for you,

Cheers Wal.

 

[MickeyTheMagnet]

Thanks gold, at and wal for your replies, I've already started my walbanker, got all the ally work cut n folded. Just have so scrounge up some rubber backed matt from bunnings or the like.

Hey wal when you say make it to suit your region what do you mean? Only reason I ask is I'm not even sure where my region will be yet haha

Thanks again everyone for the replies

 

[TenOunce Tone]

Welcome Mickey, I never heard of magnetic gold, but I hope your a gold magnet!

Good luck with the walbanker and the hunt for the elusive yellow!

Cheers, Tone

 

[WalnLiz]

Thanks gold, at and wal for your replies, I've already started my walbanker, got all the ally work cut n folded. Just have so scrounge up some rubber backed matt from bunnings or the like.

Hey wal when you say make it to suit your region what do you mean? Only reason I ask is I'm not even sure where my region will be yet haha

Thanks again everyone for the replies

If you're only in a gold region with no Sapphires, run a 45 deg expanded in your top section. If you're after Sapphires as well run a more vertical expanded. If you're in a very high ironstone area run a much longer boiler section at the head of the sluice. If you're in a flour gold region run a bread crate riffle system.....etc. Many variables and that's why i run 3 different bankers.

Can be a bit confusing so if you need any advice just ask the members about their variations, or send me a PM and i can let you know my views on the many different combinations.

Cheers Wal.

 

[MickeyTheMagnet]

Thanks tone, if only there was magnetic gold. Wouldn't be swinging shovels or axes, I'm probably going to be catching a cold but im happy to have a go and who knows I may go home with some color one day.

I have more of an idea on what you mean now wal, after reading through the site a little more.
All this new technology and devices these days and it still comes down to being able to read the ground your working.. it's brilliant

Can anyone suggest good vic related newbie must read sites

 

[silver]

I've pulled tiny bits of gold out of the pan with tweezers, its beautiful and even little bits like that start a fever burning. Good luck with it all.