Prospecting on a budget

[Muk]

Nothing wrong with trying to do things on the cheap try making your own gear car springs/plough discs make excellent picks.Drill holes in a bucket and you have a classifier have a look through the DIY section of the forum heaps of ideas there cheers Muk.

 

[goody2shoes]

Screwdrivers are great to use as well

Goody

 

[aussiefarmer]

Starting out its good to go cheap as half the stuff buy wont get used anyway , as you learn what type of fossicking is in your area and what type you enjoy your tools change to suit.
Making your own is by far the most satisfying when it gets you gold..

 

[AussieChris]

If you have the means, I heated up one of those little picks and oil quenched then tempered it again :Y:

 

[user 5263]

Nothing wrong with staring out on a budget. We all learn as we go and make better decisions as we accumulate knowledge. I still use my 2 Bunnings sieves for classifying when panning (the bottom one is lined with aluminium mesh and the set up works well) and I have put a lot stuff through them. I also use them in the garden. As an older person I had access to my father's and grandfather's tools, so when out digging etc I have old tough well made tools of quality material from a different time. Picked up some good old tools in country 2nd hand shops also.

 

[Goldpin Prospecting]

Hi alienslayer

The only problem that i have found with the little saxon picks from bunnings is that the one my mates young feller uses, is the tips roll and flare, as there has not been much hardening of the pick,they leave the metal quite soft

When the pick point starts to flare, that is when you will leave bits in the ground and maybe in the eye,those cheap picks can be hardened ,but you will have to take it to someone that knows what they are doing or you will end up with a cheap piece of scrap :Y:

I noticed this too! I have a workbench grinder and I end up re shaping the point every few months which keeps it good.