EASY BUILD FINE GOLD SLUICE

[@rubyduma6238]

The one you made me is still working good as it caught all of that fine gold from my last cleanup. You sure know what you're doing. Thanks again!

[@utahavalanch]

Glad to hear it's still working well. it's surprising how small a gold these will catch. Thanks for watching.

[@recreationalvehicle5212]

@@utahavalanch anyway you could send me (USCG VET) a sluice that you dont use anymore

[@mvandepeer9836]

I'm late to the show here but glad I came across your video. As a cnc machinist, woodworker and gold panner I love seeing others builds and ideas! I've never used wood for a sluice just the standard sheet metal style but definitely going to incorporate your plans with mine. I do have some advice for you water flow. Your T design- inside I used the plastic mesh like expanded metal, rolled it up to help baffle and smooth out the flow. Also had slots instead of holes with the water flowing slightly backwards also having more room between the water pipe T and the start of your mat allowing water flow to settle and make the V point meet up. I have been wanting to get a gold wheel but after seeing your miller table design ideas I'll be going that route first. Nothing like getting gold from something you made 👍 Thanks Utah!!

[@utahavalanch]

Hi and thanks for stopping by and watching. I have made hundreds of different types of equipment over the past 17 years and this sluice I made for 2 gentlemen that were over Boy Scout groups who wanted to move up from panning but wanted something the boys could build themselves without a lot of tools. It’s a very simple design and can use a number of different mats. I very much like the expanded metal designs but it’s hard to come by here so I use what I can find. My Miller Sluice designs are what I use most as I can use it as a sluice and Miller Table. It can be used with any type of mat, expanded metal or hard riffle arrangement. Thanks for your info.

[@MichaelJohnson-ux7pe]

Hey Utah, just wanted to give you an update on this table I built last year using this design. Came up with nothing just a lot of black sand. Tried a different spot a couple of weeks ago upstream from where I was and found some gold using this sluice not in the stream back at the house. It was not much but found some right away, better than last year. Thanks for your help. Your a good person. Oh I used a deep groove mat.

[@utahavalanch]

Hi Michael and thanks for the comeback. It's always nice to hear from other builders on how some of these builds work for them. I am revisiting this sluice and making a video on some of the modifications you can make to it. If you have heard of the Silicone mats that Alan Robertson came up with, they work great on this sluice. I have some videos on them myself. You can find Alan's channel here if you haven't run across it yet. kzbin.info/door/q2tap0uNZmPLhs0JqrQOlw Yep, sometimes the gold is pretty elusive. But keep at it and I think you'll find it. I usually check out an area with a gold pan first and then if I find some, I then bring in the sluice. Don't just check the streams, check the upper banks around them for where the stream used to flow many years ago. I find most of my gold in places you wouldn't think it would be. Just keep at it and sooner or later you'll get the hang of it. Best of Luck.

[@MichaelJohnson-ux7pe]

Thanks for all of your input and I'll give it a try going on the bank and take some samples. Thanks Utah and be safe.

[@MichaelJohnson-ux7pe]

Utah, one quick question for you on my findings. it's a small sand-gravel bar should I be looking more down stream or up stream? I started in the middle and have found a small amount so far. Thanks

[@utahavalanch]

Michael Johnson Hi Michael, you may find flood gold all along the bar but the heavier gold will drop out at the head of it. The larger gold will drop out in the larger cobble rocks. I look for the larger rocks in a stream when I'm looking for gold. Also check the banks where the stream has flooded. The gold will be in pockets and I usually take my pan and take samples all along the sandbar until I find a spot that has the most gold. Too many people just start sluicing before finding the gold and end up with none or very little. Taking many samples is the key to finding gold. Also look for the old riverbed where the stream used to flow. Most of the gold is not found in streams so test dirt everywhere. I find it in my gutters, lawn and flower beds as well and I live in a "no gold area" :-) keep at it and you will find it. 👍

[@MichaelJohnson-ux7pe]

@@utahavalanch I just wanted to say thank you for your advice and I'll keep you posted on what I find. You have been a big help for this old man turning 60 this year. Thanks

[@trumpsahead]

We think alike, which makes me happy, because I needed some confirmation after so many videos showing so-called pro gold sluicers "allowing" their water flow to run over the top of the sluice pads by inches, looking like rapids, and makes me cringe knowing that very fine gold "dust" will fly right past any length sluice box. So hats off to you, for your gentle and careful touch. With your rubber mat pad you prove to me that careful and considerate water flow rate is most important and I would include the angle of sluice box as another priority to help adjust flow rates. You won me over big time. Hope you've got many videos, this being my first watch. I'm subscribed now. ciao.

[@utahavalanch]

Hi Trumpsahead and thanks for watching. Yes, you're right. most people end up blowing up about 80% of their fine gold out with the fast water. I've spend a number of years building and testing equipment to just catch the fine gold. I have a new one I have been using this summer that pretty much catches every piece even down to the -200 and nano gold. I will probably put a video up on it when I get through running the tests on it.

[@fiftysomething7199]

I'm looking forward to your Miller table build. Well done.

[@utahavalanch]

Thank you Fifty and thanks for stopping by. Yippers, out of 36 Miller Tables, this one is definitely my favorite. I lost the videos on it in a computer crash but I'm currently working on a new one. So stay tuned.

[@MrLodak]

I love your builds! The new design of the miller looks like it works well. Great video!

[@utahavalanch]

Thank you J. It works better than anything I have tried so far. There is also a matching sluice that is a combination fluid bed and either drop riffle or Vortex mat. Thanks for watching.

[@FlashInYourPan]

Looks like I have missed the last few of your videos, Very nice build, and a really nice miller table, I also like the PVC stands, if you know me, you know I like building stuff as well... Great Job, thanks for sharing and may you always have a Flash In Your Pan.

[@utahavalanch]

Hey Ed thanks for stopping by. I really enjoy your videos and shows as well. Keep up the good work.

[@FlashInYourPan]

Your more than welcome UA, Thank you very much... I will do the best I can...

[@mountainviews5025]

Extremely creative my friend great tools to have thank you Sir for sharing your creativity with the world also with me LOL thumbs up my friend I have subscribed to your channel and can't wait for more

[@utahavalanch]

Mountain Views Thank you Mountain Views and thanks for watching and subscribing.

[@keanuangel9260]

I guess I am kind of randomly asking but does anybody know of a good place to stream newly released series online?

[@kianzechariah9181]

@Keanu Angel lately I have been using flixzone. You can find it by googling =)

[@cesaridris4884]

@Kian Zechariah yup, I have been using FlixZone for since april myself :)

[@lelandhamza9245]

@Kian Zechariah Thank you, signed up and it seems like they got a lot of movies there :D Appreciate it!

[@kevinblair191]

Great video sir. Just what I have been looking for. Do you have any videos on how you built your pvc stand as for as dimensions and pvc sizes? Thanks!

[@utahavalanch]

Hi Blair and thanks for watching. I’m sorry, I don’t as I build quite a number of these for different pieces of equipment and they are all a little different. I usually build them for a particular sluice although this one worked for about 6 different sluices. When I get through I tear them down and use the parts to make a different one for the next project. I usually use 3/4” PVC but lately I’m experimenting with 1/2” which is working quite well. I like this particular design as the tote can easily be slid out for easy cleanup of tailings.if you watch my last video on the different pieces of equipment I have been building, the highbanker is on another stand similar to this. These are easy to build and you may want to draw out the design on paper with the measurements to fit the sluice you are building it for.

[@ajanvier7538]

I love this and I’m super new to this. What pump did you use ? I would like to know the whole set up for this from tubber ware and pvc stand please

[@utahavalanch]

Hi Phoenixadra and thanks for watching. The pump is a 500 GPH and it has a valve in the hose to control the water flow. The mat is what they call a vortex mat you can buy on EBay or online prospecting store. You can get an idea of how to build the stand from the video. It is made from 3/4” PVC. The mini tote for the water you can buy from Wallmart, Home Depot or Lowe’s. The catch bucket you can buy from Home Depot online or a plastic container store. The base you can make from a piece of plywood and then paint with about 4 coats of paint to waterproof it. Hope this helps

[@ajanvier7538]

@@utahavalanch thank you so much!

[@utahavalanch]

Hope it helps

[@Goldmizer]

Add a rubber flap to the top to calm the water flows turbulence.

[@jottingtraveler553]

Awesome content. Can you tell me the link or name of the seller for that Vortex mat. Thank You!

[@utahavalanch]

@@jottingtraveler553 Hi and thanks for watching. The mat is actually conveyor belt. The Gold Cube folks use it in the Gold Cube and made it very popular a few years back. There used to be many people selling it on Ebay back then and I bought it from one of those vendors. I think that Martin Prospecting is one of the few still selling it. Look for fine gold sluice mat on his website or on Ebay.

[@jadm110]

what size holes to you drill to get your water flow??

[@utahavalanch]

Brian Hariot Hi Brian. Thanks for watching. On my sluices I drill 3/16" holes 1/2" apart to start with. If I need more water then I enlarge them to 1/4". The miller table water bars I drill 1/8" holes 1/2" apart.

[@rickkelly-crapse2492]

What size are those screws? I am guessing that they are #8 x 1 1/4 inches modified truss head? Thanks!

[@utahavalanch]

Hi Rick and thanks for watching. Yippers, you are right on that. These are the Home Depot version and they call them pointed lath screws. I use the 1-1/4” on the header and 1” on the side rails. That was what I had on hand when I started building my own prospecting gear 12 years ago and I find they work well for me today.

[@benwarren2559]

Hi im a first time viewer. Im wondering how you think flex seal would work on the dear wood to to make it more durable. Thanks for sharing your build im going to make one. 😀 Ok now after seeing your miller table im a huge FAN i subscribed.

[@utahavalanch]

Ben Warren Hi Ben and thanks for watching. From my experience with Flex Seal, I like think the Spar Varnish would work much better. However you can give it a try and see how it works for you. I think you will really like the Miller Table. You may also want to check out my combination sluice. It’s a very versatile gold catcher.

[@benwarren2559]

@@utahavalanch im watching the miller build now i will jump over to the combo next thank you. Wow i just seen your name im from Utah as well.

[@utahavalanch]

Ben Warren Thanks for checking out some of my other videos. Hey, nice to have another Utahan stop by. The combination is what I’ve been using mostly this year. It is a fluid bed sluice, Miller Table and a regular sluice all in one. I like that you can tell if you are on the gold in the sluice mode as the gold stops on the treated deck. It has really been catching the gold.

[@Tim_from_Fresno]

Love your videos and builds. I do have a question on your Miller's tables, will they work well on -200 & -300 gold? I have a few areas where the bulk of the gold I plan out is this small.

[@utahavalanch]

Hi Tim. Sorry, KZbin is not notifying me of comments. Thanks for watching. Yes they will and quite easily if you control the water flow and angle of the table. Much of the gold I catch, I need 10x magnification glasses to see it. I have a new one that I have been working on for a year now that is way better than anything I've made so far. I am currently working on 2 videos on it. It's a design that is a bit different than anything I have seen so far. You can get a glimpse of it in my Urban Prospecting video. So stay tuned.

[@coptechgold]

Another great build. I always enjoy your videos. Where did you get the matting?

[@utahavalanch]

Thank you and thanks for watching. I buy my mats on Ebay. They have all different lengths and widths. Just do a search for fine gold sluice box mat and that will bring up a number of different size mats. A 14" or 16" mat is plenty long for one of these sluices and I've made some with only a 12" mat that have worked well.

[@coptechgold]

That is what I thought, thanks.

[@cabandit1]

What do you call the mat material and where can it be gotten from?

[@utahavalanch]

cabandit1 Hi Cabandit1 and thanks for watching. You can use most any mat with this. The one used here is what they call Vortex mat that they use on the Gold Cube. You can buy it from eBay or Martin Prospecting here: mjcoinstore.biz/accessories.html You can also use Deep V ribbed mat or low profile ribbed mat or Sawtooth mat. All can be found on EBay. I am also working on a video on how to make your own Deep V ribbed matting out of Silicone. If it works I'll put the video up on my channel. You can have all of these and just swap them out. I make all of my mat sluices the same size so that I can use the same mats on all of them and so I don't have to buy them for each sluice. You will find that some mats work better for some things than others and so it's handy to be able to swap out mats to see what works the best. Hope this helps.

[@bjvoorhies]

What camera are you using for these videos? It seems to do a great job.

[@utahavalanch]

Hi James, sorry but youtub isn't notifying me of my comments anymore. The camera I'm using is a little Kodak ZX5. It's about the size of a small cell phone. I quite like it. They no longer make them but you can find them up on Ebay used or refurbished. Thanks for watching.

[@MichaelJohnson-ux7pe]

Hi Utah, I'm having a problem with the water tube it well not come straight out, I'm getting it coming out at an angle. Is it the way I'm drilling the holes?

[@utahavalanch]

Hi Michael. That is a bit of a problem with this water bar design. It actually doesn't hurt anything but yea, it can be bothersome to look at. There are several things you can do to correct it. The uneven water pressure inside the tube can cause a stream or two to shoot out at an angle. You can make sure that when you drill the holes, your drill is straight up and down. A smaller hole size and higher water pressure can also cause it. If you drill the holes a little larger, sometimes that can solve the problem. The holes in the water bar on this sluice are 1/4" in diameter which seem to work well. You can also rotate the tubes and have the water shooting back and hitting the back wall and running down it. You can put a scotchbrite pad or piece of miners moss underneath the streams to help smooth out the flow. If you can drill a hole through the header board and install the water bar through it so the bar is only about 1/4" above the bottom like in some of my other sluices, that helps a great deal. I designed my Deep Well Sluice to get around the uneven water flow problem and the deep sump really smooths out the water flow which is very important with Miller Tables. If you are able to drill the hole in the end of the header board for a water bar then all you have to do is cut a piece of board to set inside to make the deep well. Hope this helps some. If I can help any more, just let me know.

[@MichaelJohnson-ux7pe]

Utah, thanks for the info as always your great. I'll give it a try and go from there. I'm hoping to get a sluice down in back on that creek/stream instead of bring a couple of buckets of dirt back to the house. Anyways thanks again for your advice. Be safe

[@utahavalanch]

@@MichaelJohnson-ux7pe Thanks Michael and you stay safe as well. If you don't have a sluice in mind, you might try building one of my drop riffle sluices for the stream. You can buy square dowels from Home Depot or Lowes for the riffles if you don't have a table saw to make them. I built these just for fun to try out the technology and for a backpacking sluice and I ended up retiring my Gold Hog sluice in favor of these. They are much more adaptable to different water flows in a stream and they caught gold a lot better than the Hog.

[@MichaelJohnson-ux7pe]

Utah thanks we will be safe. I just might do that cause I was just thinking of trying to build another one like one of those of yours. Take care

[@gurshobitladhar336]

What type of mat Can I use ???

[@utahavalanch]

This is a very simple sluice I built to show Boy Scout leaders an easy sluice the boys can make that really works well. This will take pretty much any sluice mat on the market. If you go on Ebay you can find quite a number of them. This one has a Vortex mat in it. I also have Deep V, several of Alan Robertson’s Silicone mats that really catch the gold and several homemade silicone mats. You can even use some indoor outdoor carpet with a low height.

[@deadheadprospector]

Nice! I really like your new Miller table. Looks like it's a great design. You said you were doing some Urban prospecting, would you mind elaborating.

[@utahavalanch]

Hi Utah. Thanks for stopping by. I am really loving this new Miller Table. It is my all time favorite. It has a companion sluice to go with it that works as well. I will be most happy to elaborate on the Urban Prospecting and share it with you. The material run in the video is from about half a gallon of material we collected. My 13 year old grandson got me into this and we spent the summer doing it and he really made out. It blew my mind when I found out. No one believes me when I tell them about it. I didn't at first and it took 3 runs (the big gold) like in the video to convince me. Enyhoo, I'm currently working on a couple of videos on how we do it and places to look. So stay tuned :-)

[@aliabdihaj001]

The difficult step for me is how that water is being recycled.please which machine is needed to bring back the water

[@utahavalanch]

Hi Ali and thanks for watching. You can use a 12 volt Bilge Pump that is used in boats for pumping out the water. You will also need a 12 volt car type battery to run this. Or you can use a fountain pump that runs on your house power. A pump that is around 800 GPH or 1100 GPH should be a good size.

[@MichaelJohnson-ux7pe]

How long is this sluice? The inside. I'm getting the items to start making one of these.

[@utahavalanch]

Hi Michael and thanks for watching. This one is about 21 inches long on the inside and 8 inches wide. The side rails are 22 inches. I make many of mine to these dimensions to fit a particular tote set up I have. I run it out of a 10 gallon roughneck tote from Home Depot. You can make these any size you want. I have needed to run more material at a time and so I have a 10" wide x 21 inches long running with the same tote. I run this with a 600 GPH pump that has a valve in the middle of the hose so I can adjust the water flow. I found that 3/4" bilge pump hose works very well and I found a 3/4" gas valve and the 3/4" hose barbs for it at Home Depot. This way I can classify my material down to different sizes and then adjust the water flow so I don't blow the fine gold out. Its best to have the valve mounted in the hose a foot before it goes into the sluice to reduce the turbulence caused by the valve when it's partially closed. These little sluices are very easy to build and work as well as anything on the market. You can also build a drop riffle sluice using the same basic design but gluing 1/2" or 3/4" dowels across the sluice and gluing in a slick plate as well. I have some other videos on that. Good luck with your build.

[@MichaelJohnson-ux7pe]

@@utahavalanch Thank you so much for all of this info your a good person and I love your videos, Thank you

[@utahavalanch]

Michael Johnson Thank you sir. I appreciate it. I hope to have some more out that will be of interest.

[@MichaelJohnson-ux7pe]

@@utahavalanch I look forward to them, keep up the great videos and advice. If I have any questions I hope you can help answer them for me.

[@utahavalanch]

@@MichaelJohnson-ux7pe I have a number of projects I am currently working on. It usually takes me about 3-4 months to put a video together as I usually have to make several prototypes and test them for awhile to see how well they work and then go back and make modified units to test again. Feel free to ask any questions and I'll try to answer them as best I can.

[@davidbean5807]

Leaving you a link to a page I share on Facebook . Have a picture of a design for a flow control I drew up for you to make your flow adjustable without burning up your pump. Check it out and see if it might be something you could use on your setup. If so feel free to copy it . You could even incorporate it into your PVC frame design. Https://facebook.com/IdeaCollectiveShare01