Trommel - mini wash plant

[1968falconxt]

The hopper and the other bits I still needed (just didn't get the drive gears in time) ....

And I threw it together just to make sure everything fitted. It all fitted together well. Hopper is already putting a lot of weight onto the mount as HeadsUp expected. I'll have to address that...

 

[HeadsUp]

Looking from the hopper end all those rocks are going to see is the eyes nose and mouth and then its all over . They are gonna be washed .



What grade of steel sheet is the hopper ?

If you end up making more there is products called zincanneal or zincalume which are zinc plated for rust resistance but powder coat for this one wont hurt it.

Did you use countersunk , flush or raised lip rivnuts ?

 

[Jaros]

Looks great.

 

[1968falconxt]

It is standard 1.6mm mild steel. Ran out of aluminium and had no time left to make the hopper otherwise. The rivnuts are flush ones with a spline shaft. Not sure how durable rivnuts are but they seem to have bitten in well.

I will use a zinc shield primer on the hopper before powder coat. The trommel barrel I'll get done in black zinc

 

[Jaros]

You won't want to get it dirty----

 

[1968falconxt]

You won't want to get it dirty----

I know! Same thing when I made my bright red dry blower. Now it's all scratched and dusty

 

[HeadsUp]

I love rivnuts , beautiful useful product .

The splined shaft are great if installed with the correct tool , the countersunk ones sometimes give me trouble as they are more sensitive to hole tolerance.

I would like to use the hexagonal ones but I dont have a punch set or turret , they key in better and wont spin in the material if the bolt siezes up.

One rule to remember with them is dont use aluminium rivnuts in stainless sheet due to galvanic corrosion .

It looks sexy enough mate , the gold should jump straight in the hopper by itself just for the fun of the ride.

 

[1968falconxt]

I used zinc plated steel rivnuts as they are much stronger than aluminium. My work is trialling the hex ones. They look good from the tests so far.

I can't wait to throw the first shovel load in the hopper...

 

[Simmo]

Yeah, from the hopper end, how does all the material get into the trommel?
I must be missing something here?

 

[1968falconxt]

The hopper has a chute that sits inside the barrel. The barrel will also have an inner lip to stop material back flowing

 

[Mackka]

Oh baby, you is lookin good!
Mackka

 

[Simmo]

Ahh gotchya!!!!! Good stuff mate, cant wait to see this in action!!!

 

[HeadsUp]

Ahh gotchya!!!!! Good stuff mate, cant wait to see this in action!!!

Just had a mental picture of Homer Simpson lying on his back under the sluice exit with his mouth open saying Hmmmm ! GOLD !

 

[Simmo]

Hey bud,
Whilst its in pieces, have you thought about putting 'baffles' in, like a cement mixer??
It will greatly assist in stratification, and breaking up of material....
Sort of like this????

 

[1968falconxt]

I'm running 3 to start with and see what happens. It was suggested that I needed more holes on the barrel too to make sure all the material can get washed out. So I'll probably also end up making a new barrel

 

[Simmo]

I'm running 3 to start with and see what happens. It was suggested that I needed more holes on the barrel too to make sure all the material can get washed out. So I'll probably also end up making a new barrel

Nah I dont think so, that barrel looks fine!
There are so many adjustments that can be made when that is running, the easiest is angle, so change the angle of the plant to move the dirt at a differant rate...
And water flow, more water, dirt is further liquified and gold will drop out quicker..
I think, a grizzly, and let her rip!!!

 

[Flowerpot]

Looking forward to seeing it running 1968, works in progress are always so interesting AND inspiring. :Y: :Y:

 

[HippyProspecting]

The man has talent. Nice work

 

[1968falconxt]

I made up the legs, adjustable support for the trommel and properly mounted the hopper. The hopper definitely needs a reinforcement bracket of some sort.

The rollers for the barrel clash with rivnuts inside so I will need to replace the rivnuts with low profile bolts. Such a shame that I couldn't get the gears made in time too

 

[Jaros]

I reckon that this baby should be floating around in space with the Tesla car. Great looking machine mate. erfect: