Croc Gold Traps - Fluid Bed Sluice Review!

[@AU79Prospecting]

Fluid bed sluices are very nice... you are correct though -- you need a certain amount of water flow and depth to be used properly so not the best unit for all prospectors. Thanks for the shout out! Keep up the great work Chris!

[@VoGusProspecting]

AU79 Prospecting luckily I live in a part of the country where waters pretty common :-) No worries mate, love your channel.

[@billcoley8520]

AU79 Prospecting I don’t think I’d sit there and dig all day to feed that thing

[@petten33]

This video was quite " stratisfying"😉♥️

[@daniellejackson6725]

Where csn u buy it i cant find ot

[@austingilliland3085]

Vo-Gus Prospecting I forgot to mention yesterday that Doc from Gold Hog has several great educational videos about gold stratification and specific gravity of material. Super educational...yes he's selling his mats and products but he has many videos that are just educational. Very care with drawing and diagrams and examples. Some great videos. Just FYI

[@f.k.burnham8491]

Great review. Please post another one in 6 months or so, and let us know how well it holds up. I think I would add aluminum crossbars to the sluice to put weight on, to hold it in place. On my Keene Engineering aluminum sluice, I had the "float away" problem. I solved that 2 ways. 1- I tied a rope to it and anchored that to a tree or rock on the bank. The rope is also long enough and rated for climbing, so I can use it to descend steep banks too. 2. Being a cheap old guy, I thought that weighing it down with a rock on top was a good idea. Sadly, I couldn't always find a big enough rock to span the sluice box.Quite annoying, that. So I decided to add 2 aluminum crossbars across the top of it to put rocks on. A trip to the hardware store and a look in the D.I.Y. aluminum bar stock rack was shocking, pricewise. Way too much money. I then remembered I had seen anodized aluminum yardsticks pretty cheap. I purchased one of them for less than 1/6th of what the bar stock would have cost. Cutting it into pieces long enough to span the sluice and bend tabs to go down the sides was the ideal fix. I used my metal punch to make the holes in the aluminum and the sluice box. (You can easily use a drill too.)) Using stainless carriage bolts and wingnuts to fix it to the sides of the sluice box. Now I can remove it if needed. So far, it hasn't been removed in 4 years. I spaced the 2 crossbars about 3" apart, and can use multiple rocks to hold the sluice in place, if needed. The added benefit is it makes the sluice easy to lift out of the water level, to clean it out, and they make a nice additional carrying handles to attach it to my pack. The yardsticks came in different thicknesses, so I bought the thicker of the different brands, for support and durability. The thicker yardstick was also 3X as thick as the D.I.Y. aluminum stock, (And the sluice walls!). It's heavy enough I can stand on it and the bars won't bend!

[@joey2389]

Great in depth review mate, I'm looking for my first sluice and will be definitely considering one of these. Thanks Chris.

[@VoGusProspecting]

you won't regret it

[@onecentgaming7662]

Love it i built one myself and never leave home without it just wish it was as light at that one lol but they work so well my fav kind of sluice to use.

[@waynetolver-banks6127]

1st congrats on winning the sluice. Thank you for your informative review of the sluice. I would love to see how it holds up to your punishment. Additional reviews on other creeks or at say 1, 3, 6 & 12 months would help show the durability. Thanks for showing this review, as I have been looking for a sluice and have considered this one as well as a couple of other more traditional types, with different may, catchment designs.

[@markmanwaring3823]

My old grandad taught me to dish gold when i was about 17 ,a while back now , so much very handy gear on the market now and plastics have come a long way too ,that is a very neat piece of kit and some lovely colour too ,, IT WORKS , I would put a single steel peg through at front so cannot go elsewhere while in use .

[@stevegill8777]

I use the Bazooka gold trap, here in the US. I try to keep it as flat as possible. Good point about utilizing the flow of your larger rock to set your angle. Another tool I use for a little more flow and to keep it as flat as I can, is to use 2 heavy plastic garbage bags that are cut in two foot widths. I use them to control the flow of the water both in volume and direction. Just set the rocks to block the water as you did and then drape the plastic and move as needed for control. Thanks for doing what you do.

[@VoGusProspecting]

That's a great idea mate

[@aspant4814]

Thanks for sharing. I made a larger one of those Bazookas from a KZbin design. (Just looked up Bazookas). Cost about $40 for the aluminum sheet, angle, silicone and rivets. Works well. The video was from a Polish guy. Explained it well and showed you his testing. Love your work mate.

[@VoGusProspecting]

Asp Ant I've seen a few home made ones. And hey if it works why not!

[@PioneerPauly]

Do they come in white? Nice review broski!

[@davetaylor3241]

Nice review Chris, fluid beds are great... you could have run that all day before cleanout.Main thing to remember is just enough water over the trap ( no air entry thru grizzlies) and keep trap exit clear of tailings.Fast water run her flat - slow water add some slope.The plastic is pretty indestructable - its the same type that they make wheelie bins out of.Any questions pm me.

[@VoGusProspecting]

I've been experimenting with it too, I put it on an obscene angle in fast water and a pan to catch tailings. lost a half dozen micro bits over 50 shovels. I'm happy with that.

[@UnchainedLioness]

Your videos are like therapy to me while I'm stuck inside unable to rockhound like I typically do. The shores I scour are covered in thick ice. Can I ask what kind of water shoe sock thingies are you wearing. They look like something I could use in the wet rocky shores!

[@VoGusProspecting]

Krysey Churchill there just surf shoes but they wear out really quickly

[@daveschoffstall4300]

Nice vid and in depth review - while having fun and collecting gold. Best of all worlds. Thanks Chris

[@SuperNmolnar]

That is a really interesting sluice, and easy to clean out ... Great review on the product..

[@stewdeezie1212]

Really awesome camera shots there. I especially liked when the camera was on the pan

[@davidbaldry5516]

My 30" Croc arrived today! Purchased after watching your video so I reckon you should be getting a kickback. Love your videos, keep up the great work, cheers.

[@VoGusProspecting]

David Baldry enjoy it mate they are great. You need lots of water. You can't have enough

[@williamcline6769]

Here in America, that sluice is called the Bazooka Sluice. They really work well. I personally have not tried it , but I have the Aroura Sluice which works on the same principles. Very reliable.

[@VoGusProspecting]

William Cline I've seen the bazookas on KZbin. I'm very happy that an Aussie company is making them too.

[@EVCourier]

Love this video, great explanation on how that type of sluice works and a well detailed review on that product!

[@janjohannessmith7033]

the croc rocks!... no more endless classifying and sifting just shovel right in how cool is that

[@VoGusProspecting]

Jan Johannes Smith it's definitely my new favourite thing.

[@calebsmith8892]

Great vid with heaps of info, the cgt looks interesting mate, nice bright gold there thanks for sharing Chris 👍🍻

[@Luukrods]

nice one Chris. i'm pretty sure I read somewhere that you can run the fluid bed at a slightly higher angle than a river sluice. Try it, that should then take care of the rocks congregating at the grizzly bars

[@VoGusProspecting]

Louis Kriedemann I will, after fringing around with it I'll be making it run really hard.

[@kurtdiegel7430]

I love the video. I own a fluid bed sluice by Snake River Mining called the Recon. It's only 18 inches long and peferct for one person. Cates fine fold as well as bigger pieces.

[@VoGusProspecting]

Kurt Diegel I have one of the 18" crocs too. They are mad fun

[@jaybales3160]

Thank you very much for the demonstration. Very informative and interesting.

[@VoGusProspecting]

Jay Bales no worries

[@Empath-gh8jq]

I own a 36" Bazooka gold trap and these type of sluice boxes, are meant for much faster water than what you have there. The faster the water the better that thing will work! , and don't worry about your gold it stays right at the bottom. You can push amazing amounts of material through that thing for hrs on end . It will self clean it's grizzly bars better too.

[@VoGusProspecting]

Derek Simerly I've since learnt all this lol

[@leighaitken7116]

Great review chris as always luv ya work mate. Hope ya make it to tassie plenty yellow stuff down this way 👍

[@Dancencamp]

I love my Bazooka Gold trap sluices. A minor point. The Bazooka Gold trap works great because the water coming in the pipes below, creates a fluid bed, allowing a density gradient in the trap. Because gold and platnium are much heavier than other rocks they settle out to the bottom.

[@deadheadprospector]

Nice video. Fluid bed sluices are really nice. I have three bazookas and just was given a Grizzly gold trap by Dennis from ggt. I will say the ggt way out preforms the bgt. The bgt looks similar to yours. They are super efficient down to about 70 mesh, smaller than that and the recovery rate falls greatly. The ggt is much better at capturing the fines even the -200. You can run them pretty steep to get the flow you need, but the closer to level the better the trap functions. Don't worry about it being made of plastic. If it's anything like it's American counter parts it will take a ton of abuse. Looking forward to seeing you run it in the future.

[@2Qwk2C]

Another great vid Chris. You're awesome at passing great informative useful information on, especially to Jack's who know nuffink! I think you got me hooked and I'm gonna get out there and do it. Have more homework and lotsa research to do but hope to be out and about by Christmas. Cheers Bud, keep up the good work, I'ma gonna need it lol

[@rastamanralph6670]

It looks quite good on the clean up and it looks like it's made out of the same material as the gold cube which looks tough as old boots!!

[@VoGusProspecting]

Rastaman Ralph feels bloody tough, I just took into account how hammered my normal sluice looks.

[@MrBundy086]

Yet another great video Chris 👍 gotta be happy with a Christmas present like that..

[@VoGusProspecting]

Watto-86 too right.

[@bingsballyhoo711]

I like that clean-up process for sure! I wonder if it would be quicker to do a quick classify before loading it? Good to know about the granite! I'd be interested to see a field review of the Gold Hog Flow Pan some time.

[@lyndixon-australia9089]

Fascinating information once again. This sluice seems perfect for a beginner like me. Nice Vid.

[@VoGusProspecting]

Lyn Dixon it's pretty fool proof, much easier than a standard sluice. Just have to have a good angle and lots of water flow.

[@johnfint2847]

So chris how long did this sluice last and did it do good recovery for the full life time of the unit

[@steveburton153]

That looks easy. Kind of like the x.vortex, bet I could sell some for you here in the U. S. For the right price. I love all your vido too. Good day mate

[@VoGusProspecting]

Steve Burton hey mate, they are very easy to use. Not my product though, I just use them. Contact Croc Gold Traps if you want to look at distribution, I believe they are looking for some in the USA

[@insolentstickleback3266]

Thanks for the review Chris.

[@VoGusProspecting]

Insolent Stickleback hope you enjoyed.

[@madiotcorentin5388]

Good video Nice Gold ! I want to know what kind of sluice is the better for a creek where you have a lot of chunky black sand ?

[@VoGusProspecting]

Madiot Corentin if you have flow I would go with one of these. If you have little flow I'd go with a vortex mat by dream mat

[@madiotcorentin5388]

Ok thank you

[@austingilliland3085]

I saw someone mentioned the Bazooka gold sluice. Was wondering how the Croc-Gold trap differs from the bazooka? If at all? I have always wanted a fluid bed sluice. I have a small river sluice just like Adventure Gold has. Pretty awesome to see someone using the same gear as your own and see how it runs. Anyway I digress. Just wondering how the Croc Gold trap sizes up to the bazooka and others like it, in your opinion. Any chance of a discount code for your loyal followers and viewers? A VO-GUS code if you will?

[@VoGusProspecting]

Austin Gilliland not sure on the bazookas mate, it's the first time I've ever used a fluid bed sluice.

[@joel383]

Best video of panning concentrates on youtube!

[@mikestrong5262]

Great review. I saw you using it all the time in recent videos and was wondering if you had any info on it. Glad I came across this video. Cheers

[@jacksgems3599]

Nice review! What do you reckon the smallest size of gold you recovered with it. I know gold in north east Victoria is usually small. Do you think it would go well at reedy creek?

[@VoGusProspecting]

Jack's Gems well having it out now several times I can safely say it will catch reedy gold without hesitation.

[@arniebowie2572]

the hat they sent with it is cool, good vid as usual congrats on the win!

[@VoGusProspecting]

Arnie Bowie I like it too.

[@alasquare]

Hey there. In your opinion what is the best sluice design/design that has been most effective for you?

[@josephkolodziej3748]

Wow. Love the idea of no classifying. Do you need to season the sluce the way you do a new gold pan???

[@VoGusProspecting]

joeseph kolodziej nope, the plastic is already ruff so you can actually see good on the sluice bed as it goes down.

[@pulesjet]

Dang things more then on the Pricey Side. You could get a little High Banker for that price. emmmmm Dude you dog is the Bomb ! He sure wants to be part of what ever your so interested in.

[@jimbobsslimpickins9801]

Well done mate! $400 is a really good win even if it was in the lottery, but this is something you can use (if it was cash you and Zoe would probably put it towards bills etc.)🙂 Congratulations mate!!!👍👍

[@victoroliveira3256]

Another great video

[@patrickjobling8676]

Strooth chris pilgrim .. pertnear fell outta bed when ya started movin Cameras aboot .. great review ..😁

[@allencraig8659]

cool video very helpful.

[@davidstocker7583]

You make panning look so easy

[@VoGusProspecting]

Sorry about rhat

[@arthur7220011]

That was a nice pan mate, also the Croc Gold Trap is a good unit.... :)

[@VoGusProspecting]

Golddiggerart & Family not bad for just picking a spot.

[@chunkskifarms3242]

Oh man i bet you weren't expecting that pay. Nice hole shot you lucky devil. Keep safe!

[@VoGusProspecting]

Chunkski Farms pretty hard to miss on that creek.

[@unclemarkyeatonshill5803]

Good job very well done, and Gold.

[@VoGusProspecting]

Unclemarky bridgeman downs and gold indeed

[@tripz2571]

love that pup mate. good work great vids keep em coming

[@VoGusProspecting]

D Walter he's me mate.

[@judymccabe3363]

Ok, so I see how the Crock Gold sluice works...neat.

[@VoGusProspecting]

Pretty simple tech for something so efficient

[@ninefingermining8694]

Good review nice product 👍🏻interesting to see how long it lasts

[@GroundDogDigs]

Great goldtrap 😍

[@mikemcdade5706]

I love leaving a comment for a drawing you had last mouth

[@saltdogg]

thanks for sharing your wisdom

[@VoGusProspecting]

lance butler 'wisdom' is a word that should be used loosely around me lol

[@roflbotfpv9168]

Iv got one of the original 3 foot Bazooka sniper gold trap. I love it. So much easier and hyper effective.

[@THEDRAGONBOOSTER8]

Looks good..

[@lauriemcdonald8829]

Chris, is the company still up and running? I've attempted to get on their webpage with no luck. Are they being sold anywhere else?

[@tasdgoldprospecting2979]

Great video mate and nice looking gold

[@nathanmoore8919]

That looks great Chris, I've been looking at the bazooka sluices and didn't realize ......the crock brand is obviously Aussie made?? Would rather purchase Aussie gear. Great vid mate! 👍

[@VoGusProspecting]

Nathan Moore yep Aussie made in QLD. Good customer service and a bunch of down to earth blokes.

[@nathanmoore8919]

Vo-Gus Prospecting thanks man, and wow! Quick response there mate lol good luck today if your heading out!!

[@VoGusProspecting]

Nathan Moore I'm heading out, new high banker to tun in at the king gold hole.

[@nathanmoore8919]

Vo-Gus Prospecting oh snap! You got one, looking forward to seeing it in action mate, good stuff

[@kevinsingel7213]

The patents on this design expired in 2015 and the Bazooka Goldtrap Company (USA) shutdown in 2016. For those interested in a significantly improved version, look at www.grizzlygoldtrap.com as they are now in production!

[@MRGOLD99.999]

I find I have to run mine a little steeper to clear without using my hands but they catch everything I checked my tailings over and over and have never found a spec

[@kenmaffina8236]

i like i i think ill look into that have looked at a few of these over the years cold be a real goa.thanks

[@VoGusProspecting]

ken maffina it's a mad unit.

[@kevinsingel7213]

Top deck Water depth and pattern DO NOT matter with a fluid bed sluice. Actually, more water on top is usually better! Also for slope of sluice, you can go a bit steeper with a fluid bed...which will help rocks clear easily. You should be able to run it steep enough so golf ball sized rocks clear naturally.

[@VoGusProspecting]

Kevin Singel I figured the angle out today, ran it steep and fast. But I disagree on the pattern. An inconsistent pattern will force more dirt to one side than the other causing potential blockages in the grizzly bars and dirt to run up and out. If you have to much water on the sluice bed once again you run the risk of having dirt travel up and over the walls.

[@kevinsingel7213]

Vo-Gus Prospecting well I certainly agree you don’t want the water pushing the paydirt over to one side. Also, don’t run it too fast/steep or you’ll loose the smaller gold particles. I do hope you keep using it, a fluid bed is my favorite style of sluice. I’m convinced when all is said, you’ll get more gold per hour with a fluid bd like that one than with virtually ANY other design! ...well, except maybe your water bottle sluice lol!!

[@VoGusProspecting]

+Kevin Singel it's seriously my favorite thing to use. you can not beat it for speed and cleanup.

[@jimfausset8122]

Now that you have had that sluice for 6 years I do not see you using that slews nowadays

[@rastamanralph6670]

Areet man! Will you do a review of the mini backpack sluice box like mine to see what your take is on it please.I will send you a picture of it or you can look on eBay.they are £50 and in my eyes well worth it if you don't have much flow especially.

[@VoGusProspecting]

Rastaman Ralph I'd definitely be interested.

[@BevanBadcott]

Give us a link mate.

[@Parky427]

Where do i get one of these Chris? 2 Actually..

[@petermoncrieff2578]

Congrats on your win Chris. So the gold is trapped in the last foot or so?

[@VoGusProspecting]

Peter Moncrieff in the last 6".

[@petermoncrieff2578]

Vo-Gus Prospecting only the last 6" shit. Do you think if they had the catch area just under half way it would be more efficient and be able to put more pay through it?

[@VoGusProspecting]

Peter Moncrieff not a chance man, it works perfectly. If it's not broke don't fix it. Lol

[@petermoncrieff2578]

Vo-Gus Prospecting yeah true that. Thanks man

[@TalRohan]

Well I think you're still using it so thats pretty good.

[@Bishop0178]

The only con this sluice has, is its hunger for water. Other than that its the best sluice for high production. You literally can´t have to much water. The faster it gets, the better it works. With very high flowrates its wise to put pebbles in the trap though the slot. We couldn´t shovel fast enough for the sluice. 90 "four gallon" buckets within 5 hours and it could have done way more than that. I chose this sluice because i didn´t want to move the same dirt 3 times. Twice is more then enough and with a fast flow you only need to once and occasionally for the bigger rocks. It can handle up to 3" gravel easy and even 4" might have to pick it out of the sluice but who cares, at least it is clean. i caught up to 100 mesh. I use the Bazooka Prospector i believe it is called for about six years now. Added matting to the top shoot. Since the larger sluices become more difficult to place in the stream due to the pressure i added removable hooks to keep it in place. That eleminates the need for rocks preventing it from floating away

[@aussiechris9111]

Good vid Chris, I have always been interested in fluid bed sluices, even incorporating a semi-fluid bed into the back of a highbankers sluice run makes a difference in how much gold you end up taking. I doubt you will have any worries with the ABS, it's pretty damn durable. Looks like a good product. Looked like a top day there, a tiny bit cooler huh? no more pies? Looks like Grizzly having the best time of all @17:18 awesome. Back to the King Gold hole with it mate, lets see some real gold!

[@VoGusProspecting]

Aussie Chris I was pretty happy with the results considering no test panning, only around 20 shovels and limited time. Love watching what he gets upto in the background.

[@douglasw804]

You need to have a pan at the back to check if anything is coming out!!

[@sxyangeleyez]

thank you

[@VoGusProspecting]

sxyangeleyez no worries

[@europa24xxx75]

i think it is difficult to control if (or when) the fluid trap lose gold

[@VoGusProspecting]

Europa24xxx all sluices lose gold. It just depends in what you deam exceptable. I have now run test and with stupid high water flow it loses about as much as my normal riffle set up. So I'm pretty happy with that.

[@europa24xxx75]

yes ,all sluices lose gold ,but in classic sluice ,you can see if too many stuff fill the riffles or the mat gold trap is kind of blind process ?

[@VoGusProspecting]

+Europa24xxx ah I see your point. yes, with this model its a semi blind process. I have had a chat to croc about it to, they said they are looking into adding a lid so you can see if its working properly .

[@robertbanks8076]

Europa24xxx ii

[@xscorpio1953x]

AYE NICE WAN ALL THE BEST REGARDS SCORPIO HHNT

[@VoGusProspecting]

xscorpio1953x thanks mate.

[@stevehines5396]

Why can't I buy a GATOR GOLD TRAP here in the US ?? I tried to buy it online and it told me AUD only...not USD DOLLARS I'm assuming . If they don't get back to me soon I'll be getting the GRIZZLY instead.

[@VoGusProspecting]

You should be able too, plenty of people have. Ill send them a message mate

[@stevehines5396]

Vo-Gus Prospecting Thank you mate :)

[@christopherburnham1612]

But how much does it cost

[@andrewpotter2285]

I need/want one of these in my life lol

[@VoGusProspecting]

You do man, you totally do.

[@TheMarhap]

Fluid sluice vs Gold Hog regular stream sluice ? anyone have them both tested ?

[@VoGusProspecting]

TheMarhap done it. Side by side theres little difference. The main points are where you use it and if things go wrong. The hog will work in less water and can still chew through the dirt at those levels. But if a rock stops on the mat it'll blow out some cells. And its considerably heavier and less portable. The Croc can handle a lot of water. Like a stupid amount and still catch fine gold. And its safer in terms of things like rocks or even a shift in position won't blow out the gold. Its also super light etc. But it needs more water to run and its more expensive. Either way they are both great.

[@TheMarhap]

Well im living in Germany and on places where i prospect there is very fine gold 50-200 mesh, nearest spot its Rhine river for me but i cant set a regular sluice there i need a header box with pump.The other spots are similar like on your videos small creeks and rivers. I want to upgrade from regular sluice with carpet to something that requires less time to set up and classification (closest creek is 2h driving for me)

[@VoGusProspecting]

TheMarhap the hog is a specialist very fine gold. Croc are working on new designs to target that sort but its not on the market yet.

[@TheMarhap]

Ok thx for fast answer, tomorrow im going to check some new spots in Bavarian forest where there should be some more chunky gold. Do you know if Croc fit to any sluice stand ? like the Snake one.

[@VoGusProspecting]

no idea mate sorry

[@tom77685]

Where can I buy one

[@Timeforstones]

nice chris :-)

[@VoGusProspecting]

Goldwaschen in Deutschland cheers

[@daleparker4207]

Very interesting

[@audigga4396]

150 Looks nice

[@13mjunky]

Nice

[@danredding7901]

Granite=Quartz, feldspar and mica

[@dwaynelowery5808]

Get/make removable trap. Don't have to completely reset sluice

[@jonomoore5535]

Where would I get one of these does anyone know

[@VoGusProspecting]

They are no longer made. Closest you can get is a grizzly gold trap

[@jonomoore5535]

Cheers mate yer I’ve been looking at them to can you recommend any other river sluices that work fine mate

[@HummelJaeger]

No longer made?!? I've been waiting months for Croc Gold's "temporary payment problem" to resolve. So, now I have to import one. Bugger!

[@skeets6060]

OK so its a BAZOOKA fluid bed sluice,, been around for years aint no big thing

[@ronaldpeterson1538]

how come you do not show us what the sluice actually looks like and how this particular sluice functions....not impressed..less talking...more gold please...or don't bother!

[@VoGusProspecting]

Threats, they never really work on me hey. Good luck out there.

[@billcoley8520]

That thing sucks

[@VoGusProspecting]

What would you recommend?

[@Bullarabdog]

To much talking

[@VoGusProspecting]

Not enough comment