How to Make Silicone Sluice Mats with Plastic Molds

[@utahavalanch]

Great tutorial Alan. Looks like you have it all covered. Glad to see the molds are taking off. I think that the folks who try these will really like them. I know I do. Keep up the great work. Looking forward to spring.🌷

[@alanrobertson2510]

It sure feels like spring here but I know we have a few months to go. I had to come up with a faster way to make the molds I think this will do the trick.

[@adventureislife7793]

i just been watching alot of gold prospecting vids and i came across your how to vids im loving the how to ones

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thanks I do have a bunch of them

[@DamonFeyOutdoors]

I love that you took the times to go back and compile all that information into one video. Very instructive.

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thanks Damon I have done it a bunch of times I just keep learning more things to make the mat making easier.

[@gtaovlogs9061]

I love those mats and the silicone technique Alan! Great stuff and thanks for sharing your experience! Cheers and HH, Aaron

[@alanrobertson2510]

Hi Aaron and thank you for the comment. We need to talk soon.

[@johnr.8723]

Popular Science Magazine’s Man of the Year goes to.....Alan “Silicone” Robertson! Who knew silicone could be an art form? Another great video, Alan!

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thanks for the award. Well I sure had no idea it would turn into this. Thanks John.

[@ferdburphel2076]

Way to go! It's all in motion now!

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thanks Ferd . It sure is taking off.

[@RabelFibal1]

This will change fine gold recovery, God bless you Alan! Great ideas!

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thanks Rafael I think silicone will be the next best thing in gold prospecting. Thank you for your comments.

[@chuckthuemler6077]

Great video Alan , the best one yet on making mats . Looking forward to seeing what you have in mind for the new sluice .

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thanks Chuck for the awesome sluice I will diffidently put it to work.

[@gordondeitz7838]

I've been working on a gold magnet since 1983. Still no luck. Guess I'll just keep doing it the hard way. Good video for us d.i.y. guys. tks😉

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thanks good luck with the magnet.

[@paulcoover9197]

nice work Allan. i really want to thank you.. Good Job. Purdy work.

[@alanrobertson2510]

Glad you like it! Thank you

[@randyjones4870]

Alan-appreciate all the info in one video. picked up a couple tips that will help. Thx for your time and effort put in. Have a Golden Day-Randy

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thanks Randy. Glad it helped out.

[@shanhaieli5390]

Hi Alan. Good video. Thank you

[@miningmonkey760]

Alan simply FANTASTIC job! way to stick it to the man by making your own molds.

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thanks I'ts been a fun project.

[@wilfor03]

Good job there fellow miner guy (Alan)......now my light bulb finally went on with several things.....how to properly use the black silicone caulking, how to join 2 mats together, and how to snug the mats to your sluice box size (accurately). Seems I can't cut a straight line anymore.....I always measure once and cut twice (lol)...anyways, thank you Alan....really enjoy your videos....keep em comin.... Bill

[@alanrobertson2510]

Hello . I sure can't cut a straight line either. I am so glad this helped you out.

[@adamlong54]

Love your videos i used to live in Kalispell MT. I know its cold and snow and all but i miss the most you running dirt sir. With the new matts sluice that mother lol. I know if its in the dirt you'll find more of it with the matts.

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thank Adam It sure has been a mild winter here in Montana so far this yer I sure hope it will last. I do believe these mats are catching more gold than I ever did before. Thank you for the comment.

[@frederickbierweiler8020]

complete and easily understood. love your content/style thanks for sharing

[@alanrobertson2510]

I appreciate that!

[@troymcconnell5832]

Thank you for sharing!

[@alanrobertson2510]

You are welcome

[@teamsignal17]

Great information Alan! You answered a lot for me. Working on some ideas for some molds to use. But ready to start experimenting. I'm in northwest Ohio so I'll be focusing in on the really tiny stuff very very fine. Thanks for sharing buddy!

[@alanrobertson2510]

Good luck with your molds once you start thinking the possibilities are endless. Have fun and thanks for watching.

[@KODArunner]

VERY, VERY, VERY GOOD TUTORIAL Alan!!! Thanks for the Silicone link, it really can't hurt.

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thank you Richard. I sure was surprised to find those mats the bear took of with.

[@KODArunner]

@@alanrobertson2510 Your mats Smell good but taste like crap . . . to the bear...lol Did you get my email on "The Alan Golf Cube"?

[@alanrobertson2510]

@@KODArunner I did I need to look at it some more. Just been busy.

[@rickfranklin1933]

Hay Alan, nice job. I've been watching and learning from you about all you do. OMG I've been freed up now and the creative juices are running rampant, thanks. Here in Oregon my wife and I just went to Cape Disappointment and picked up just 2 buckets of un-processed sand so I can fine tune my sluice, Oh my goodness only 3/4 full and they weighted in at 75 lbs each. And the black sand was 18" thick, Let me tell you that packing them made my heart race. LOL. When watching this video, you have to be kidding me, someone complains about the quality of the mats produced from the 3 d printer, I tell you what I have not seen a perfect stream bed yet. In-fact the little anomaly's Ive seen in my mats collect more gold than the perfect ones. Rooting you on, let me know if you head back to Oregon, maybe we could meet up some where.

[@alanrobertson2510]

Hi Rick Thanks for the update on the Cape it sounds like it is getting good with 18 inches of black sand on top. Actually no one has complained about the mats I just want everyone to understand that they do not come out perfect. We are planning a trip over there sometime in March if you would like to try and meet up send me a email and I can let you know when we will be over. moldsandmats@gmail

[@jimerwin9702]

Alan, will you be at Cape Diss. on 3/23

[@alanrobertson2510]

@@jimerwin9702 I don't think so.

[@jimerwin9702]

@@alanrobertson2510 Mike Pung is having a demo on the gold cube. don't know which section but probably section A

[@alanrobertson2510]

@@jimerwin9702 I heard about that it should be a fun day I am just not a cube guy.

[@alejandrogallego7338]

Great job Alan... Greattings from Colombia

[@alanrobertson2510]

Many thanks!

[@FlourgoldWizards]

You should probably make a new video like this once every few months !!!!! Real nice 👍🏻 ✅🍺🍀😎👍🏻

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thanks Wizard I sure hope I am done with this video for awhile. Onto bigger and better things.

[@goldprounlimited1750]

You again?..Haha..people are gonna think I'm stalking you lol 🍻😎👍

[@FlourgoldWizards]

Gold Pro Unlimited Your not??? 😂😂😂

[@scootericu1]

wow Alan, ask and you shall receive !!!! Again awesome video, content, channel. Thanks

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thank you Rick. It is a lot of information I just had to get it in one video.

[@scootericu1]

@@alanrobertson2510 you done an awesome job, you left no question unanswered !!!

[@wilstarkey4418]

Thanks very informative answers a couple questions I had

[@alanrobertson2510]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MrJamespcastle]

For people who want perfect mats- Using a vacuum pump, similar to laying up fiberglass will remove all air and make a perfectly molded professional mat. It is pretty easy to make from an old refrigerator compressor. If you have a large pressure cooker pot which is large enough to lay on it's side then it can hold the mat width and length, you can use the pot as a vacuum chamber. Take 60 seconds of sitting in the vacuum chamber before removing it and then letting it dry and.... ta-da. Perfect.

[@alanrobertson2510]

Good idea for those that need perfect. For me I just need it to work but good idea. Thanks for watching.

[@goldprounlimited1750]

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing!!

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thank you and you are welcome.

[@montanatreasurehunter9600]

Very interesting process thanks for sharing!

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thank you. the mats just keep getting better.

[@jeffbybee5207]

Wonderful lot of great ideas. Think this is you best vidio ever! Well done sir!

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thank you Jeff. A lot of info I thought I needed to get it all in one place.

[@bjthecrow]

Awesome I'm still working out how I'm gonna make minty mold for my dredges

[@alanrobertson2510]

some different sizes and shapes of wooden dowels glued into a frame might just work for a mold.

[@bjthecrow]

Ima try that bro cause i need 15in wide

[@williamgipson6558]

Alan, have you thought about maybe mixing your other silicone in with your black? That's if you don't like the black. It's a way to work your way through all those cases of black you have. Thanks for the video, it is always nice to watch your videos.

[@alanrobertson2510]

Hi William. Never thought of mixing the silicone together. Thanks for the idea it might just help I have a bunch of new mats to make for the new sluice.

[@justsluiceit]

You are an inspiration my friend great things coming soon!!!!

[@alanrobertson2510]

Well thank you I need to get over and check out your channel.

[@justsluiceit]

Alan Robertson if you ever come to Indiana my spots are yours

[@mlathan1794]

VERY Timely Alan - thanks for the update! (I'm doing my homebrew mat tomorrow - gonna change to your frame). Going to the Cape soon - I am assuming that silicone is 'treated' just like rubber? I would appreciate if you can catch us up on you old video projects - bucket header, trommel ...etc. Thank you Sir. Doug

[@alanrobertson2510]

Good luck with your mat and have fun at the cape I hope to be out there soon as well. I probable will not run the trommel until spring I am saving the dirt I have for a new shaker deck wash plant I want to build.

[@pnwprospecting]

Great video is always buddy!

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thank you.

[@allansgoldmining]

Hey Alan, thank you so much for this comprehensive video for silicone mats ! Saves a lot of time rummaging through the videos. I'm looking to make a few in the future for a 15" sluice design for a new wash plant I'm working on. Question: How do you cut the riffle figures in the plastic molds ? Are you using a router and special bits ? Thanks again for doing this. Cheers !!! 🤠⚒⛏👍👍👍

[@alanrobertson2510]

Cool I can't wait to see your new wash plant. There has been a lot of changes just thought it would help to have it all on one video. The plastic molds are copies of my 3D printed molds I made with liquid plastic. If you want email me before you buy the molds. Maybe do some bartering if you are interested.

[@allansgoldmining]

@@alanrobertson2510 Definitely interested in your nugget trap molds. As for trapping fines, I have a different pattern. Amazing how we are always tinkering to improve our ideas. I will email you. Thanks !

[@highlandminingltd1084]

Cool stuff Alan 👍

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thank you.

[@bobcansee]

Very good info Alan I gota try this again. Thanks a lot Alan!!

[@alanrobertson2510]

Hi Bob. Good luck with the mats.

[@reidogarimpo1691]

God bless you Alan!

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thank you.

[@stephenmay8926]

Say I'm from ilwaco and was wondering if you can make me mats for my gold cube. Thanks let me know

[@Accumulator1]

My favorite part is how you made that silicone pile into a workable blob. I know what a sticky mess that stuff can be. I want to try making the silicone blob by wetting the inside a plastic bag with the soapy water, adding the teaspoon of soapy water then tube in the silicone. Work and mix it by mashing around the bag from the outside. Add more soapy water while rolling that ball around in the bag until its ready. Air doesn't get to it until you take it out of the bag and put in mold.

[@bobcow363]

Hey any chance to be able to buy the stl file so we could print our own molds ..

[@srip63]

Gret video keep up the good work.

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thank you I will try.

[@pnwprospecting]

Sorry I didn't get to the video sooner I think we're going to have to talk about getting one of your mats on my channel in one of my videos

[@alanrobertson2510]

We can do that for sure.

[@goleafsgo5961]

Wondering if ice cube trays would work as a mold

[@alanrobertson2510]

They could if you turned them upside down to make little pockets.

[@darrylrowley7547]

Alan, mate Im in all sorts of strife. The mat seems to be stuck in the mould. What have I done wrong? I literally cant get it out. Every solitary inch is stuff to the base board I used (a mellamine board)

[@alanrobertson2510]

Hi Darryl I have never used mellamine before but I would try and brush some dish soap on the mold before you put the silicone into the mold and see if that works if it is still sticking try some pan spray on the mold if it still sticks you might want to try a different dish soap. Good luck let me know how it goes.

[@darrylrowley7547]

@@alanrobertson2510 thanks mate. Atm I can see myself destroying the mat Ive made just to get it out. She'll be right. Ill just have to take it easy.👍

[@kaningraja2145]

Love you so much❤❤❤

[@StevenHanover]

How do you make it with the $25 blue bowl vortex square on ebay?

[@alanrobertson2510]

The square frame and the cone are two pieces I just put the cone on top of the frame for the picture. Use the frame to make the silicone mat.

[@rikiray3370]

Awesome

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thank you.

[@stesqueda]

Alan, great work. I have a Cal Sluice2. My question is will they work on my sluice.

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thank you. Yes the mats will fit any style sluice.

[@joshmihalz7338]

Can it be any other type of dish soap? Or is Dawn preferred?

[@alanrobertson2510]

I have only tried dawn not sure about other soaps.

[@joshmihalz7338]

@@alanrobertson2510 well thanx for answering me back !👍

[@Xtinnoker]

Great Idea Alan, Which mold do you recommend for Washington beach gold, Thanks.

[@alanrobertson2510]

Hi Larry The Hi Low v mats works the best on the beach gold. I will be running the hi low v mat with the u mat as a inspection mat it the top of my sluice when I get over that way.

[@johnrambo167]

They make a silicon they use as a 0 perm for the out side walls of a house. Zip.. bored has fluid apply sealer its silicone but when it drys it has a chalk bored finish so you right on it I think you might like it and it's already the right color

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thanks I will have to check it out.

[@johnrambo167]

@@alanrobertson2510 its actually really awesome stuff

[@johnrambo167]

Expensive tho

[@robertmackey5608]

Alan, Question: Have you tried silicone spray lubricant spraying it on the molds to keep the silicone from sticking to the mold when making them?

[@alanrobertson2510]

I didn't try the silicone spay. I have gone back to the 3D printed molds and the silicone does not stick to them.

[@dwaynelowery5808]

When did you remove the clear plastic wrap?

[@alanrobertson2510]

Yes the plastic comes right off after the silicone drys.

[@udifjjchcjg3878]

Thanks 👍🏿

[@alanrobertson2510]

You are welcome . Thank you for watching.

[@roberttburrows5827]

So how much of a tube is 1 cup?

[@alanrobertson2510]

I am not sure what you are asking? It takes a tube of silicone for each 6x6 mold to make the mats and you put in one cup of dish soap to three quartz of water for the soap mixture.

[@ifitflipsitships5102]

i think the rtv wont last as long as the regular kind. rtv is made to prep gaskets and i think its oil resistant. thats why it so sticky.

[@alanrobertson2510]

I tested the mats this summer at a friends mine, they ran over 300 hours on them and they showed no wear at all and set out in the sun all summer and are still in the sluice box and will see what they look like in the spring. This is not the gasket prep silicone more the window chalking type.

[@CandSMINING]

Thanks Alan for another awesom video. Are the plastic molds the same price? Like the alum frame for the molds.Great class on the silicon mats, I really like the splice in the sluice box.😎👌👌👍👍⛏⛏

[@alanrobertson2510]

Hi Chuck. Yes the molds are the same price. The alum frame makes all the difference in the world in making the mats even.

[@jansteve-007]

Where to buy molds

[@alanrobertson2510]

The molds are at printingprospectors.com

[@stanleymudge3029]

Alan, do u sell these molds,and how much if u do?

[@alanrobertson2510]

Yes I sell the molds on eBay. Here is the link www.ebay.com/usr/fishingbigsky_0

[@coptechgold]

Great work again. How are you making the plastic molds?

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thank you the plastic molds are copies of my 3D printed molds with liquid plastic.

[@stephenfuller8345]

“Bear tested, Bear approved”! Lol

[@alanrobertson2510]

Ha Ha

[@HoodBillyLife]

Have you tried the other colors of silicone? … obviously hadn’t watched the video when I asked this lol

[@alanrobertson2510]

Yep I like the black silicone from silicone depot.

[@ibocan1122]

🖤🖤

[@bobcow363]

Hey at least you admitted your backwards lol

[@downunderfulla6001]

Awesome cobber 🍺🍺

[@alanrobertson2510]

Thanks Bradley.

[@ufodominicano8506]

Hello teacher

[@alanrobertson2510]

Hello

[@richardstout267]

Yeah this Richard Stout Kokomo Indiana I would like to have some of your patterns but I don't know how much they cost and he didn't say nothing about the cost and I will wondering if you could send me something in my email which should be on by when I get this done and I'll be there so I appreciate it if you could do that are you have a telephone number I could call you you can send that to me on the email or something please I'm really interested because I'm trying to make one up out of snow shout board cell I heard anything like it before so thank you anyway have a nice day and a Happy New Year

[@michaeldonovan6076]

I wouldn't use anything other than 100℅ sylicon matt's for gold capture,,home made are the best,,but made the right way you need to spend quality time getting your designs bang on the button ,,everything black for me i love to see the shiney,, People need to wake up smell the coffee, Would you pay $300 for a dream Matt or $150 for a VDR Matt,sorry im looking for a living not to keep those gobeens in profit,,. The hell with there dream matts VDR matt's,, When i make matt's i make money the world ok over its important to size the sluice,, make the matts I n one length cuts out sticking them together all that messing around😂Makes sence, 100℅ sylicon your better buying bulk which reduces the cost, Sylicon just loves grabbing gold the reason of its magic its soft malabal its a car crash for gold i shoild know i make my own matts and make a better profit than stock markets way to go and placer gold just loves sylicon all you nebies out there get in the real world there's a gold rush on its called living😂😂 Was looking at these dream matters vdr matt's rubish id rather use,a shagpile carpet😊😅😂😂

[@حكيمالظرافي]

God bless you Alan!

[@حكيمالظرافي]

God bless you Alan!