In response to Reply # 0

Corky,
Hands down for that flour stuff is the Honcoop. Costs more than the others but there is the option of buying his plans. Only one that screens the slurry into 2 different runs. -Z

In response to Reply # 0

When you come back Colorado way let me know. Maybe we can convert you into dredging. We dredge in the same area.
Leonard

In response to Reply # 0

I made my own highbanker for under $200.







I did build it all by hand, so the cost of the .063" aluminum, the 1.5" PVC and the expanded metal was 90% of the price.

Here's the $350 pump setup I use to power it:



I use some deeply ribbed carpet from Lowe's under the expanded, and the catwalk grate catches any heavies that can't fall into the holes in the 1/4" raised expanded section.

The only limitation is portability...with the hoses, B/S Intek Pro/Banjo pump along with the stand and 'banker, even Paul Bunyan would need at least two trips to get it all to the creekbank!

The one I built is five and a half feet long and 14" wide. Retention of fines seems to be almost excessive--I get microscopic flakes that are so thin that no edges can be detected on their margins even at 50X magnification, and I find most of them in the first two feet of carpet.

And even when the black sand builds up the the level of the small expanded, the rocks that hit the grizzly in the headerbox, as well as the pebbles that roll down the sluice vibrate the sluice body, which helps keep the black sands suspended enough for the tiniest flake to disappear into it--where it sits, completely protected from scouring, as it awaits its trip through my blue bowl.

And some of the black sands I reclaim with this little sweetie look like smoke when added to water again. We're talking at least as fine as talc.

It is my opinion that no commercial product works nearly as well--and they all cost at least three times what this unit has set me back. You could always scale back the sluice and header using my design...you'd just have to feed it a little more slowly is all.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do.