New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

The forum has moved to community.paydirt.co.nz, see you there!

This forum is now an archive to preserve the knowledge and finds posted here.

Keene sluice box - which size?

TroutnGold Stalker		Posted : Tuesday, 4 September 2012 9:46:12 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 7/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 11 Location: Canterbury Thanks: 2 times Was thanked: 1 time(s) in 1 post(s)		I'm torn between A52,51, and a folding one (which isn't a Keene). I'm interested to hear peoples opinions on whether it's necessary to have the extra length of an A52 or not, I guess the wider flare is handy for more flow. From what I've read the gold is mostly in the top section of the sluice, or it should be if you're doing it right. So why do they make them so long, there must be a reason for it? Has anyone bought a folding one? I guess they'd be pretty handy for being a little more discreet! haha. I was also thinking to get a little cheap e-z sluice to take on my fishing missions.... the pack is heavy enough without an 8kg sluice added to it (as well as all the sweeties kiwikeith kindly advised me to carry for the small children I may encounter!).

simon		Posted : Tuesday, 4 September 2012 10:50:06 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 7/01/2011(UTC) Posts: 789 Location: Central Otago Thanks: 33 times Was thanked: 239 time(s) in 150 post(s)		the best all rounder has got to be the 52. the flare is perfect for gathering a bit more water flow. the 51 is a bit of a cop out as it just has the top end of the sluice turned out a bit. a bit lighter and shorter. better for carrying in to places but will process less. the 52 you can still carry a fair way. you will prob not be carrying all your shovels and stuff too far from your wheels most of the time anyway. i've seen the folding sluice. i don't think it would be strong enough to handle much for long. it sure couldn't process as much as the 51 or 52. there isn't too much price between the 51 or 52 either. if you really need a smaller model to pack in somewhere the flare on the 52 does detach.
		WWW

TroutnGold Stalker		Posted : Wednesday, 5 September 2012 5:03:43 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 7/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 11 Location: Canterbury Thanks: 2 times Was thanked: 1 time(s) in 1 post(s)		Originally Posted by: simon the best all rounder has got to be the 52. the flare is perfect for gathering a bit more water flow. the 51 is a bit of a cop out as it just has the top end of the sluice turned out a bit. a bit lighter and shorter. better for carrying in to places but will process less. the 52 you can still carry a fair way. you will prob not be carrying all your shovels and stuff too far from your wheels most of the time anyway. i've seen the folding sluice. i don't think it would be strong enough to handle much for long. it sure couldn't process as much as the 51 or 52. there isn't too much price between the 51 or 52 either. if you really need a smaller model to pack in somewhere the flare on the 52 does detach. Simon, were you meaning the Keene plastic folding one or a metal one? I saw a youtube clip of the Keene plastic one and it looks like a right nuisance to assemble, but I'd think a metal one (I think jobe make one) would be strong enough and the two fold three piece ones pack up to only about 40cmx25cm. I reckon I would be pretty limited to where I can take an A52, plus a big rectangular shape poking out of the top of my pack doesn't leave much to the imagination (not that it would matter as I'd only be in the fossicking area ofcourse.... (lol). Btw do you know what the advantage is of having a longer sluice, still trying to figure that one out. Cheers Tim

simon		Posted : Wednesday, 5 September 2012 8:12:20 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 7/01/2011(UTC) Posts: 789 Location: Central Otago Thanks: 33 times Was thanked: 239 time(s) in 150 post(s)		i wouldn't worry too much about people seeing your sluice. 2 steps off the road and you're out of sight generally in the south island. stuff all people out there really. by the time you have all your gear i think it will be obvious you are not out fishing or hunting or walking the dog. a longer sluice lets you mover more material, so a higher output. the longer length can also be an advantage on a waterway over a shorter sluice as you have more length in the river bed so you can play with a bit more fall. you need a decent amount of fall so the top end is higher than the bottom end so the water flows thru and the tailings process through the sluicebox properly and exit the box rather than clog up. ideally you want the bottom of the sluice above the water height in the river. the more height here the more tailings you can have build up before having to shovel some out of the way. by the time you have the flare on the 52 you have a huge length really. if you wanted to travel light or hide the sluice from view you can remove the flare end. you could operate without the flare and instead build a little rock dam at the head of the sluice instead, just as you would if you had a normal straight unflared sluice box.
		WWW

TroutnGold Stalker		Posted : Wednesday, 5 September 2012 8:53:12 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 7/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 11 Location: Canterbury Thanks: 2 times Was thanked: 1 time(s) in 1 post(s)		"Ideally you want the bottom of the sluice above the water height in the river". You kind of lost me with this bit, wouldn't that then mean the flare and top end of the sluice is well above water?? I guess that's ok if you're running a water pump. I was thinking to use some sort of dodgy DIY classifier to divert the larger material off to the side of the sluice so hopefully tailing won't build up too fast.

mineforgold.co.nz		Posted : Wednesday, 5 September 2012 9:31:58 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 14/11/2011(UTC) Posts: 299 Location: Nelson Thanks: 58 times Was thanked: 38 time(s) in 35 post(s)		If you are using a long sluice and there is good fall in the river/creek - you basically run the sluice level and the drop in the creek means your sluice projects above the water level or there abouts.
		Own: Lobo SuperTraq, Garrett ATPro, Minelab Excalibur
		WWW BLOG