DIY Hand Gold Dredge using a Tennis Ball!

[@jspace111]

Thank you for taking the time to share this idea. This looks solid. I'm going to build one.

[@GoldHunter-77]

@@jspace111 They work great and you can use an L handle as well.

[@CB-ww7qy]

Thanks for the build info. I made one this week and put the fuzzy side out and like it better. Also changed the handle to a pistol "L" grip instead of the T. no blisters that way. Can't wait to try it out in the field.

[@GoldHunter-77]

Awesome, nice twist. I just go from the old timer that mentored me on gold panning. But next time I want to do a double with the curve facing opposite but mine works good. I've made them a little different over the years but the tennis ball material is tuff as hell and will outlast the PVC pipe

[@randysmith3171]

love the tennis ball idea. I been having trouble finding things that last for the suction.

[@GoldHunter-77]

@@randysmith3171 learned it many years ago from my old school gold mentor. Last name is Garrett imagine that!

[@movingtorichmondva]

perfect, thank you! I was in a pinch and needed to know how to do it real quick. pulled this up while standing in Home Depot's plumbing section! Found everything you pointed out! Now I just need to find some gold!! 💛

[@GoldHunter-77]

Good luck and heavy pans!

[@Goldpan-SuntanNM]

I just rat packed off a bunch of material yesterday to make one of these. Glad I saw this video because I'm getting ready to make one here pretty soon! Thanks!

[@GoldHunter-77]

@@Goldpan-SuntanNM right on! Feel free to experiment. I like to have a smaller 2 footer and a 3 footer for deeper water. Careful what you glue in place! Heavy pans, I moved over to fishing for now.

[@Goldpan-SuntanNM]

@Goldhunter7769 I started off with a 30 and 32 in her. Have them all made up already just need the tennis balls. I saw that on FB, probably bring home $ in fish than we do gold and at least those will fill a belly!

[@GoldHunter-77]

@@Goldpan-SuntanNM ha! Certainly

[@richardjoyner9266]

Local to the Roseburg area, if you ever want a tag along, especially for sniping when the river warms up, would definitely be interested in going. Ive got all my own equipment.

[@GoldHunter-77]

I moved from roseburg but I still come over there on occasion. Great gold there too

[@GSProspecting]

Great job all around fam. Loads of great info. Keep on having fun getting that au and living the dream. Gold Squad Out!!!

[@GoldHunter-77]

Thanks again GS! Gotta sticker with your name on it

[@brianpalmlund6770]

Brilliant idea

[@norcaljim8535]

We made them 20 years ago. Never thought of a tennis ball. Good idea. These are also good for cooling off on a hot day. Giant squirt guns.

[@GoldHunter-77]

Yep done that too

[@buffalokrisgoldprospecting]

I built one and I love it. I'm going to try to get out and demo it. I will give you a shout out and let the people know that they need to check out your video to build one as well

[@GoldHunter-77]

Awesome get that Gold

[@homesteadaquarius]

I like the design of that pump and your right the tennis ball will last a long time!

[@jonmorgan1913]

Good vid. Instead of glue, I use small half inch sheet metal screws to hold fittings that you would normally glue. Just one little screw on each fitting, even the internal connections. That way, you can take it apart and replace the seal (tennis ball section) if you need to, or tighten internal bolt if it ever works loose.

[@GoldHunter-77]

That’s a great idea thanks!

[@hoborobprospecting]

Love the the simplicity

[@GoldHunter-77]

An old timers method passed down through the generations

[@Joshaug1005]

Building at least one of these today, thanks for the video.

[@gorillagoldhunters]

Awesome! Super smart idea!

[@GoldHunter-77]

Thanks just another way to improvise from the old timers ways

[@dougosgood3437]

I made mine last night. I made the top hole larger so the air can escape faster. There are certain caps that I didn’t glue. I tapped them on and drilled a hole threw both from the outside so I could put a small screw that acts like a pim.. I also made mine with a trap for the gold can drop into when I pull back. I made it with an angle 2” 30* Y with a clean out at the end. I made it removable so I can use it or not.

[@GoldHunter-77]

There you go. When people ask about these and I tell them this is just a very basic model. I’ve made them longer and some different handles. The tennis ball material works great as a plunger if done right and last forever.

[@edreichert3377]

Hi thanx so much for your video. One way to stop clogging in small pipe is to put a pin through the top of pipe like a split pin. It will stop the small rocks getting jambed in the pipe

[@GoldHunter-77]

Hey thanks Ed. I thought Bout that like they have on full size dredges but forgot about the idea I appreciate you and I'll be sure to add that feature!

[@edreichert3377]

@@GoldHunter-77 no problem bro glad to help

[@almightybeerman]

If you use a street y, a 6 inch length of pipe, and a screw in clean out you get a sump that collects more dirt so you dont have to leave your spot after each pump and its super easy for clean out.

[@GoldHunter-77]

Good idea and I’ve seen them but heard they clog up a lot. Is it tue? That’s the reason I never made one.

[@almightybeerman]

@@GoldHunter-77 if you let it get impacted. If it does get impacted I just suck up some water and give it a little shake and it's good to go.

[@kevindwatson1963]

Thanks for sharing.

[@WildBill86]

Nice build! Great ideas

[@kennethgreene7124]

That's not a bad idea with the tennis ball. I built mine with a test plug but I was thinking about building a couple more with different suction deals and see which one works the best

[@GoldHunter-77]

Yep test plugs work great. This is just an old school hack my gold mentor taught me years ago. Gotta be careful cutting these dam balls though be reall easy to lose a finger tip!

[@dougosgood3437]

I did mine a little different on the bottom of the main shaft. I put a coupler and glued a couple to the main shaft. I have a mate from the nozzle end and I will slide into that coupler I do not glue it. I also made a second one that the nozzle and will plug into but it is a 45 angle backwards and it also will slide in to look up or at the end of the shaft. Drill a hole through the coupler into the Mail that slide into it. Insert a short screw the screws in and keeps it from coming out now the 45° angle Y can be removed. The nozzle can also slide into that coupler, and that screw can go into that the hold out that way the 45 angle backward coupler can be removed, if not needed. 45* Y act like a sluce., and when the water passes over it, the gold can drop down into the Y. The end of the way bottom has a couple on it with a screw in cap so it can be empty. I also rolled two holes in the top cap of the spout. Now you don’t have to glue. It undo a screw on each side and it can come out for repair that.Y act like a mini sluce.

[@GoldHunter-77]

Sounds like a great idea, my next one I’ll do something like that and I’m also considering a snake version.

[@shawnfecke4322]

Tennis ball definitely works better than the service plug because flexes and conforms to the imperfect diameter of the tube.

[@GoldHunter-77]

My Gold panning mentor taught me this back around 2010. I’ve made several over the years and they last forever and work great.

[@jamesderr1344]

I used a heavy duty doggie tennis ball hoping it would seal better and last longer but now I think its going to make my shoulder flare up. That might have been a mistake and I might have to cut it down or go to a regular tennis ball. And my seal flips back and forth with the stroke so it might not matter which way it goes.

[@GoldHunter-77]

@@jamesderr1344 some guys use two don’t goes both ways but mine works great with the concave facing up.

[@buffalokrisgoldprospecting]

Awsome brother I need to build one. I appreciate this video for real my friend. This is the best one I've seen

[@GoldHunter-77]

Glad to hear it, I love these bad ponies LoL

[@hobbieminers8487]

Does the tennis ball have to go in that way what if u put it in the other way would it still work as well. 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿⚒️

[@GoldHunter-77]

I think if it’s tight enough, it shouldn’t matter.

[@ChatobStewart]

would doubling up the tennis ball add better suctions or help it?

[@GoldHunter-77]

Maybe a little but if cut correctly, they work great already!

[@dougosgood3437]

How long is the main larger pvc. I missed it in the video.

[@GoldHunter-77]

2 feet of 2 inch pipe and 3 feet of 3/4 pipe. If you want yours longer that’s fine too just make sure your 3/4 pipe is always a foot longer for the tip and handle portion.

[@dougosgood3437]

Also did you drill holes so when the plunger is pulled back to let the air out quicker. @@GoldHunter-77

[@Mr.LightsOut]

Thanks for the info video. Can u make a video of how to make a gas furnace with a vacuum blower to melt sulfides and gold? I made one and it backfired almost caused an explosion

[@GoldHunter-77]

Thanks, I will be doing a retort video down the road of some kind!

[@silvaorgold]

Very nice very informative thank you

[@GoldHunter-77]

Thanks got some free stickers soon, preciate ya

[@JohnCarter-v5e]

Its best to have everything threaded for easy access .

[@GoldHunter-77]

Very good point, appreciate the tip!

[@skullstaxx]

Simple but genius

[@GoldHunter-77]

Glorified shrimp gun, they do work well for collecting sand shrimp too!

[@rayannjordan4041]

Do you have any extras for sale atm?

[@GoldHunter-77]

I only built one but I might pump out a batch soon. Pardon the pun

[@avzamani.Turkey]

Good video bro 👍

[@GoldHunter-77]

Thanks, I appreciate it.

[@Giseledesmarais]

Has anyone ever tried a soft hockey puck as a suction?

[@GoldHunter-77]

I’m not sure but can use many items with rubber stoppers being quite popular. Others use cheap foam from pool noodles etc

[@greatsoutherntrendkill79]

You really don’t even have to glue anything smash the PVC and twist it and that shit locks on