Cradling For Gold: 1870s Pattern Rocker Box.

[@Auriferousoz]

Good video mate and a nice little unit you have made. A little suggestion would be to remove the wire in the hopper and replace with metal plate with holes in it, this will allow the water to move slower down and give more time for the water to wash the dirt from the rocks better.

[@trishbk15]

Thank you for sharing. We just watched your video as we are studying Gold in Year 5. We now know how to put our miniature cradle together.

[@fishmut]

Warren I built a rocker box similar to yours after watching your video, I added a bit of bread crate cut to fit in the bottom as well. it holds back some material like this but gets some smaller gem stones as well. Keep the videos coming . Cheers .

[@vener6]

Nice little rocker box ! Another inspiring video to watch while it's -30 C / -23 F up here. Can't wait for spring ! Thanks for sharing and HH !

[@MetalDetectingSCAdventure]

Nice build an neat little design !! I like it , good luck with the gold mate !!!

[@farenheit1100]

Wonderful video Warren. I have seen the pictures of the old cradle boxes but this is the first time that I have seen anyone using one. I panned for gold at Sutter's mill in Sacremento Californina in 1960 and found fine gold even 111 years after the intial discocery of gold at that site in 1849. GL and HH and prospecting.

[@NewportStudio]

Really nice Warren, cool project build you did there. Looks like a nice place to dig! Have a good summer

[@CrampoR]

grate box cob. never seen one being used thanks. that part of the palmer looks grate for crevicing . thanks for the mention. hope the md20 is helping, get it into those crevices. good to see you got some colour cob. cheers crampo enjoy your adventures & good prospecting

[@88schwyptrlcar]

Very interesting video. I have always loved videos like this one. Very cool info about the shaker box. I could see where that could be addictive shaking for gold.

[@NQExplorers]

@GrizzlyGroundswell Chad, thanks for watching mate, yes it would be worth putting the detector on that rock bar with a really small coil and the ground balance wound way up. That creek is laden with gold for miles in both directions, and the black sand isn't too bad. Will be going back so stay tuned! HH mate.

[@downyourtube]

I enjoyed watching your video, thank you for taking the time to make it. Good luck in your adventures Sir.

[@bunnyboo0709]

Cool this helped i have an school assignment on gold/Cradling thanks for putting it up helped a bunch!

[@SouthernCrossGO]

I use that riffle carpet in the top half of my river sluice . Works great catches all the fine gold

[@NQExplorers]

@Ringo853 Thanks for watching Ringo, there is a great deal of fine gold there. Just depends how much work you want to put into it. And you can hit some real 'hot spots' and get quite a lot of fine gold from just a few buckets of wash. Well be going back, probably after the next wet (so there wil be even more gold deposited there). HH mate.

[@ozziepete55]

Hi Mate, that was fan-bloody-tastic. I really enjoyed that and the cadle was a great little job of construction. At the moment in NSW with the rellies so no detecting till I get back to Townsville. You and I will have to get out together one day/week and go detecting. Great video and a big very well done, Pete

[@journeyandadventure8589]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I enjoyed this, keep them coming.

[@PeaceHavens]

Great video ... really enjoyable and entertaining ... in the Greek Oddessy - Jason and the Argonauts the "Golden Fleece" was a sheepskin suspended in a stream bed used to catch the fine flecks of gold ... and you're not short of sheep in OZ for experimentation ... it may be worth while staking down, securely, a skin in the creek bed before the next flood ... and picking it up again in the dry season ... hopefully shining bright ... LOL

[@robsue]

NQ, another informative video. I've done some panning and I particularly go "crevicing" where gold falls into the gaps, using a bent screwdriver. Last time out, I raked out a grey sticky muddy goop and somone nearby said it wouldn't be any good - but - as I said "sticky" and sure enough, I got good flakes from it. Also, some blokes were using an aluminum sluice which really is everything the cradle is, except that the stream does the work. Well done and HH.

[@randythomas3478]

Nice job! Great to see the craftsmanship!

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for watching Auriferous, and that is a great suggestion, actually the little plywood hoppers wear out after a while, an aluminium hopper with holes drilled as you suggest would be a good move, and still light enough to carry up the creeks. All the best mate and Happy Prospecting! Warren.

[@NQExplorers]

@crampoable Thanks for watching Crampo, I agree you could spent a long time in that creek and find a lot of gold, plenty of wash to get through but that's part of the challenge LOL. The Falcon is fantastic, really helps in the clean up process. Happy Prospecting mate.

[@WildWarriorBill]

Amazing well done mate, you got more gold there than what those guys on Alaska Gold Rush got! By the way, I was in the Army in Townsville in the mid 90's and I met a beautiful dutch backpacker at the Palmer River Hotel, I ended up being with her for 7 years, great memories from the Palmer River area mate! Cheers for sharing Warren

[@MichaelSwan66]

love the rocker box you built :) and great video congrats on he gold nuggets :)

[@tonysfossickingadventure.8124]

i have built one too, but i made the 4 foot version and i have extra riffles have yet to use it, after watching this i think i might take the extra riffles out. thanks for the upload

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for watching Jimmy - hope you get the time to knock up the rocker box and get a little bit of colour for your efforts! Happy Prospecting!

[@Goldwaschen-mit-Tom]

Thank you for showing me this old method of panning gold Great the rocker box Greetings Tom

[@NQExplorers]

@GreywolfMiner Thanks for commenting on our Rocker Box Grey Wolf. Yep you've got not shortage of water there, we have only 3 or 4 months with the creeks running and then its only dryblowing and metal detectors. Great channel there mate, best of luck and Happy Prospecting.

[@garbageguru1]

Excellent detailed video.I'm guessing some of those bags they sell on the internet people buy to pan out come from one of these.They get it down enough to dry and bag,and don't have to sort the gold.Make more money selling it on ebay! That snake wire is called hardware cloth here.Like how you keep adding improvements to your set up.If you automated it,you would no longer be able to carry it very far.That MD-20 is a sweet item to have!

[@jackbeltane]

MD20 looks perfect for Tasmania, never thought of it till i saw your video Warren, thanks for sharing

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks Jack, yes the MD20 is a real ripper, great for crevicing in the creek and also isolating fine gold in the pan. Happy Fossicking mate! Warren.

[@BigbunnySSS]

Hello from Florida USA. Great vlog.

[@manVSgoldNorthToAlaska]

Love that box!Great job and great video!

[@oldgold1100]

Nice one Warren!!!, that's amazing your finding gold.

[@NQExplorers]

@magpie307 Thanks for watching Magpie, not just the patience, what about the aching back and the blisters LOL. No but now and then you hit a really 'hot spot' of wash and can come home with quite a bit of gold for your efforts. Happy hunting mate.

[@NQExplorers]

Glad it was helpful to you and thanks for commenting. Hope you get top marks for your assignment.

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment on our video. Best of luck and Happy Prospecting!

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for watching our video skimenneske, yes this rocker was built as a portable prospecting unit, to be easily carried into remote creeks where the gravel could be assessed for gold content. It has found quite a bit of gold as you can often strike fairly 'rich' runs of fine gold in some of the creeks and rivers over here. Happy Prospecting!

[@Kyuto00009]

Those black pieces of heavies in with the gold with the submettalic luster look like Cassiterite. The falcon will sound off on those as well.

[@NQExplorers]

@88schwyptrlcar Thanks for watching, actually we built the little rocker box just for fun, then you start getting a bit of colour and it is really addictive. A great day out at any rate. Appreciate your commenting. Happy Prospecting!

[@1963Willo]

Great stuff Warren really enjoyed that - did a bit of prospecting my self at Hill End trying to get my videos up but having a few technical difficulties not sure what the issue is. All the best for your next outing!

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for watching and commenting mate, yes you could make up a spray bar system to hold the hose or water supply. Usually we use this in the bush next to a creek with a bucket or dipper, but you could run a pump and spray bar to continuously wash the gravel as you rocked it. Happy prospecting!

[@thegoldrushguy]

NQE, Nice work on the mini cradle mate and good to see the Palmer still producing. Might be worth having a look at some of the local creeks here after the big floods last year.

[@vener6]

Making it a kit you can use on location without the use of a generator as long as you bring your water reserve. Water could be filtered simply by pouring it back into another pail trough some old cloth or something. Good modding and HH !

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for watching - yes, actual find gold, the old goldfields still have plenty left if you are prepared to work for it! GL and Happy Prospecting mate!

[@NQExplorers]

@NewportStudio Thanks for watching and commenting, yes that creek has plenty of fine gold to offer the energetic prospector LOL. Best of luck on your next trip out and Happy prospecting!

[@GarnettM]

@NQExplorers HI if you took the windshield wiper arm ball and socket off a wrecked car just the ends you can make a smooth push & pull shaker arm then the movement be so precise you can sit stand kneel high low just a thought won`t cost anything and have a smooth operation movement.

[@NQExplorers]

G'day Joel, thanks for watching the video mate. I made that rocker box in my shed from patterns I found on the internet. If you just Google "19th Century Rocker Box" or "make your own gold cradle", you will find plenty of plans to do it yourself! I just made it out of plywood and scrap aluminium and some outdoor carpet for catching the fine gold. All the best mate, hope to see your own rocker box in action in Brazil! Happy Prospecting. Warren.

[@NQExplorers]

G'day mate, the rocker is made with marine ply, and has held together with marine ply for quite a few years and a lot of gravel through it now. I don't see why you couldn't make it from Craftwood. Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment. Happy prospecting!

[@NQExplorers]

@farenheit1100 Thanks for watching our Rocker Box video Hugh, we find the same thing here. All the creeks the Old Timers worked are still producing gold. The thing about the Palmer "The River of Gold", is that there has never been any "Mother Lode" found. It is a geological oddity where they believe the Mother Lode was folded and buried by volcanic activity, just leaving the river full of alluvial gold and no obvious source. Then again, no harm in looking for it - LOL. HH mate.

[@donhubele8325]

Awesome information brother man.. great job.

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for watching and commenting - I have some modifications planned for the little rocker box, in particular to the feed hopper, and will make an updated video when that is complete. All the best and Happy Prospecting! Warren.

[@NQExplorers]

@fluoridekid Thanks for watching Fluouridekid, we are lucky to have three large goldfields not far from home, two of them only 3 hours driving, and the third, 5 hours. So there are literally hundreds of square miles of auriferous country to prospect - and so little time LOL. Glad you enjoyed the video, GL and HH.

[@NQExplorers]

@hydrolife04 Thanks for your kind comments Hydrolife, yes we are lucky to be able to get to plenty of remote spots not far from home. HH mate and thanks for watching.

[@GreywolfMiner]

I always wondered how those babies worked, thanks for the look see, though I believe I'll stick to my highbankers, got lots of water here in the Cariboo...

[@NQExplorers]

@robsue Thanks for the comment Robsue, have found the same as you, we took the Cradle to a creek where there was a 'false bottom' of grey, sticky clay, the bedrock was another foot down, but no gold on the bedrock - all in the sticky clay, put it through (squashed and washed) the rocker and we got over 40 lovely pieces, including several 'rice grain' sized ones, from about 10 buckets of gravel/clay. Great day out and always a lot of fun. Happy prospecting mate.

[@NQExplorers]

@OLDGOLD1100 Appreciate you watching and commenting John, always a lot of fun out prospecting, and sometimes you bring home a little gold for your efforts. GL and HH mate.

[@MaSteezynes]

SICCCKKK ROCKER BOX BRO I WISH I HAD ONE!!!

[@NQExplorers]

@BigbunnySSS Thanks for watching BigBunny, best of luck and Happy Hunting in Florida.

[@mikeashford9240]

I have a Falcon MD20 also and I use it extensively and I find it will do a much better job then my Garret ATX, I live and work my gold claim here in Death Valley California and most of our gold is micro gold so for the Falcon MD20 to work there needs to be a bit of the gold in a condensed area . The mining on my claim started in the 1890's so there are a lot of holes on my 20 acres and the deepest shaft is 500 ft down with 4 levels and no there is very little supports for the walls or ceilings and I have driven dune very little driving of new tunnels but I am still filling up my settling tanks .. Thanks for the rocker I really enjoyed that mate .

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for your great comment Mike, great to hear you are getting gold from your claim. You wouldn't believe it we were in Death Valley last month on holidays - beautiful spot - wandered around the old town of Rhyolite too and had a look. Didn't to any prospecting but I know there was a lot done around there by the Old Timers. All the best mate and Happy Fossicking! Warren.

[@delljohnson172]

Most of the old rockers ive seen in Alaska had a canvas pocket?under a hand made punch plate our screen doesnt leave water sloshing around long enough+- to really separate the material..rockers dont use hoses . they had can scoops on handles...but its working. but in the bush you better get a can on a stick. 😀

[@dannyfubar3099]

Excellent post, thank you for sharing.

[@NQExplorers]

@MichaelSwan66 Thanks for your comments Michael, appreciate you watching our video. HH mate.

[@oldandfound1]

Enjoy many of your travels afield. Thank you for the insights. Recently had a few hours with IROC2. Mentioned you in one of his. Finding the oldest coin Australia ever had. Yea! Was not until 1804 Explorers Lewis and Clark and party got to U.S. West coast 200 miles South from Seattle, Wa. Pacific marine air almost erased their overwinter fortification presence. Gold however, ageless, is wherever you find it. Still finding big samples in Au. fields. Fabulous island you have. Dennis

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for watching Dennis, appreciate the comment mate. The first Australian gold rushes were in 1854, and they continued until the 1890s as new fields were discovered in ever remote locations. Consequently, there were a lot of Americans among the 'diggers' who were veterans of the California rushes. Also large numbers of Chinese like in the US goldfields. That is how the gold cradle got to Australia in the 1870s or so. All the best mate and Happy Prospecting! Warren.

[@robinj.9329]

Thanks for that great demonstration!

[@NQExplorers]

@ArgenioAndrew Love to see you DIY rocker on video mate, they are a great prospecting tool, especially when you can make them in the shed! And they have a real connection to the "old timers". Look forward to seeing your masterpiece! Happy Prospecting.

[@NQExplorers]

@TreasurDiggrNY Thanks for watching TD NY, that creek and all the tributaries for approximately 50 miles down the river are gold bearing. You could spend your whole life finding gold LOL. But next time I'm passing by, I will take a heavy pick and really dig up that slate bar, there would be some nice larger pieces down deeper for sure. GL and HH mate.

[@pippaknuckle]

The rippled outdoor carpet is a great idea. They would have loved that in Ballarat in the 1840's.

[@vener6]

I could picture enlarging the side of the feed hopper side and the addition of a water spray bar of some sort and a water return at the bottom of the rocker box . Running from a small flexible regular water hose to a small 12 VDC pump inside a 5 gallon pail. It would be running from a solar panel.

[@NQExplorers]

No worries - thanks for taking the time to watch and comment mate! Happy Prospecting! Warren.

[@NQExplorers]

@ArgenioAndrew Thanks for watching Andrew, that carpet is just "outdoor carpet" we purchases from the local hardware shop, the type used on boat decks etc. It is grey and black with raised 'riffles' across it, so it is fantastic at catching fine gold. Best of luck on your March prospecting trip mate, Happy Prospecting!

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for commenting Kevin - each State of Australia varies - but yes in Queensland you need a Government-issued fossicker's licence (quite inexpensive) plus the landholders permission - usually not a big issue, as there is plenty of creeks and land available. Public Town Commons and State Forests are OK also and no permission required as it is Public land. Appreciate your watching our videos! HH mate! Warren.

[@NQExplorers]

@GemQ1 Thanks for watching GemQ. I agree, after that last wet season, all the creeks in the gold bearing areas are worth looking at again (and again LOL). HH mate.

[@obionekinobi6512]

i am from N.Z that is so cool mate and i loved the video

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for watching Graeme - appreciate the comment mate - Happy Fossicking in NZ! Warren.

[@NQExplorers]

@MaSteezynes Thanks for watching mate, easy to knock a rocker box up, lots of plans on the internet and we just built ours out of scrap timber! Happy Prospecting!

[@CameronSmithProspecting]

So much bedrock! I struggle to find bedrock out there. Might have to go for a week next time and spend a few days exploring

[@NQExplorers]

@720sully Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment on our videos 720Sully. GL and HH mate.

[@MrGoldRetriever]

Very nice build :)

[@NQExplorers]

@PeaceHavens Ged, this is one of the best prospecting ideas I have ever seen posted on KZbin LOL. A fabulous idea - the "Golden Fleece", although I seem to recall it was guarded by the seven-headed Hydra which may make the final panning/wash up a little difficult. And you have to get past that bronze giant Talos to get there, although he had some nice gold coins in his stash as I remember it LOL. HH mate.

[@NQExplorers]

@1smokingunz Thanks for watching and commenting Gunz, much appreciated mate. GL and HH.

[@lordvillain3399]

Nice rocker mate,cheers👍

[@UPGardenr]

This must pick up the fine gold realy good.

[@Belguy81]

nice rockerbox, looked like a nice return in gold for your amount of dirt. no goldrivers in Belgium I think.. otherwise I'd build one myself great video!

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for your great comment mate, all the best and Happy Prospecting!

[@NQExplorers]

@garbageguru1 Appreciate your comments GG1, as I mentioned the rocker box is a 'work in progress'. Stuff gets broken and modified, and every time you go out, I always think of some way of making the process easier. Still have to dig all those rocks though LOL. HH mate.

[@NQExplorers]

@1963Willo Thanks for you comments Willo, relieved to see that you have got a video up. I have been checking you channel regularly, wondering where you had gone LOL. HH mate.

[@NQExplorers]

@MoonjimunjiVevo LOL, Palmer River - yep still a crazy, wild place, you have to watch out for the existing leases and make sure you are not 'claim jumping', but there are a few areas which are accessible to the public. Thanks for watching and Happy Prospecting!

[@NQExplorers]

@coinrelicdownunder Thanks for watching mate and Happy Hunting!

[@robertclark4110]

I like the wooden rocker box on video looks well made and the fact that the rocker arms underneath stay in place on another bottom from I think great my questions would be how heavy total. And is the wood treated from water proofing the entire unit.then the cost to buy one.please answer back at you earlyest time available.thanks robert clark

[@mdcchanelewako6883]

good job brother

[@AppalachianProspect]

Nice looking rocker box mate.

[@Aussiedog69]

Hey there Warren, long time sub and i appreciate all your videos and the effort you and Colleen put into them, i live in cq and use an at pro, still learning but love detecting. Curious on the intro music, it brang so many memories back to me, must be at least 40 years old and off an old album called "popcorn" maybe? Put me out of my misery please lol. Keep up the great work.

[@NQExplorers]

Spot on there - it is off the album 'Popcorn' from the 70s. The song is 'Mouldy Old Dough' by Lieutenant Pigeon, search for it on KZbin there is an old clip of the band there, with their Mum on the piano. Nice bit of detective work LOL. All the best mate and Happy Fossicking! Warren.

[@NQExplorers]

@MrMrtiki Thanks for watching our rocker box video MrMrtiki. HH mate.

[@NQExplorers]

@ozziepete55 Thanks for watching Pete, love to go out detecting with you mate, on your next 'bush' trip, or ours LOL. Maybe a bit of fossicking for gold or gemstones, anything involving camping/going bush suits us LOL. HH mate, look forward to your next vid. Warren.

[@carlosdanielgarciasuarez3938]

muy bueno el video y sirve para un muy buen aprendisaje me siento muy agradesido por su entrega

[@NQExplorers]

@SuperJammygit LOL we have shopping trolleys in our creeks around the cities too. No gold in those creeks. Thanks for watching and HH.

[@UniSol1974]

Hey NQE..... Very new to prospecting for gold. I like you're rocker box you made but I might have an idea for ya that might interest you. Have you thought about making a foot rocker so that you can have both hands free? In you vid I noticed you had to stop rocking to grab the pail or hose and thought that some kind of foot mod would help with that........ Just a thought. Good luck in the future!

[@NQExplorers]

@IROCON1 Thanks for your kind comments Irocon1, didnt realise you were interested in gold/treasure hunting and/or metal detecting LOL. And the biceps, never good enough for Mrs NQ, so a bit of exercise won't hurt LOL. HH and GL mate.

[@jesscoad4965]

Very informative! Cheers.

[@ArgenioAndrew]

Thanks bro. I will be getting the carpet tomorrow. No need to order special I guess. Do you want a video reply when its done?

[@ryansoutdoorschannel3428]

I'd get a decent sized can for scooping water , one dump over 8-12 quick rocks , dump and repeat is how the old timers did it , find some gravel with less sand in it too

[@NQExplorers]

Todd, sorry for the very late response - only just found your comment - the outdoor carpet with the riffles I purchased at a local hardware store - outdoor or marine carpet it is called, hope this helps. Happy prospecting mate! Warren.