Using a 1800s Rocker Box to Mine Gold!

[@VoGusProspecting]

I got the quick maths at the end wrong, it was 20x (twenty times) greater. Not 200.

[@LUCKYB.]

Good .you got your off/on switch fixed on that fkN pump .

[@frantiseklaluch6605]

1 pan = 5 liters 1 m3 = 1 000 liters 1 m3 = 200 pans...

[@doogssmee9742]

Chris .... Now if you were to turn that spud pan over and put it on your head, you would have pulled the re-enactment off perfectly !

[@hardup9809]

I'm ready for some paydirt from you boss! All the way over from Washington state usa!

[@hansdevos5919]

If you want to learn about gem cutting. Check out the channel "Vintage Time". Also based in Autralia

[@gregeverett7620]

Waking bake and vo-Gus prospecting nice 😊 can’t be a better morning

[@wisconsingoldprospecting1716]

Same!!!

[@mrlayu5154]

Try wake and bake with pauly

[@ninefingermining8694]

Wake n bake to nine finger mining to get ready for vo gus 👍🏻lol

[@heavymeadowdetective192]

Birds of the same feather flock together lol

[@stlrsmike]

LOL, as a teenager, that was Saturday morning.

[@kenlyneham4105]

I built a rocker box in the 80s and my kids loved it, but not for long. I used to take them fossicking from the time they were about 7. I built mine out of scrap timber and it worked quite well. The classifiers on the top were twice as deep or more, as yours are. Eventually, I donated the rocker box to the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney for their gold display.

[@gayleharvey7280]

On the rocker box... it may help to fix a box with springs to maybe help you rock it more smoothly. And a catch box at the end to catch what it misses. My dad did this at his claim in Idaho

[@saintofthesinners41]

I was going to comment a few weeks ago about your broken pump, But i thought you might of figured it out or got a new switch, When the switch on the Pump is turned to the on position its a open circuit, When the switch is in the off position its a closed circuit, the Switch grounds out the coil to ground and kills the spark. So when your switch broke and you wired both wires together to complete a circuit you were actually grounding the coil, so it wont run. So if you undo both wires the pump should run, then to shut the pump off just ground the wire to the body of the pump and it will shut down.

[@VoGusProspecting]

I'm going to try it!

[@berniezee147]

I built myself a cradle in the early 80s. The classifying box is deeper, so no need to classify. The angled part under the classifier has riffles and is removable, while the long section has removable timber riffles to hold in a felt base. Also, the arched rocker bits on the bottom have projecting pins that fit into 3-4ft long timbers - much easier to get a stable setup. I never did put a can on a stick to get water like the old timers did - must do that.

[@the66hobgoblin.45]

Me thinks your finding all the gold that ran of the end of a mesh & hessian sluice from way back. Surprising how much gold the old rocker box actually captured. Most of the "rocker box" use in early WA gold prospecting was by "dry blowing" rather than with water. As the box was rocked it also operated a bellows which blew the air through the paydirt. A very dry, dirty & dusty operation usually in temperatures above 100° in the WA bush. A most enjoyable watch again Chris. Keep on "Rockin".

[@teresajames2725]

Such a beautiful location. That was very interesting to see an old school tool being used. Thank you Chris. Cool looking spider there. Keep up the good vibes and awesome videos. Your fun to watch when I wake up and have coffee. Nice way to start the day. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@itatane]

Chris, I hope someone comes out with an affordable, modern day rocker box. It would be great to have something that doesn't require a gas pump setup or batteries. I wonder how efficient it could be made to run with modern engi-nerding and materials...

[@nathandayman7588]

I like your thinking! maybe it could fold up or slot together somehow for easy carrying!

[@inthenightandy4616]

Love seeing old tech still being used. Keen.

[@bobsquire8609]

Not seen a rocker box working for a while well in a colour vid 👍👍

[@michealklonowski5267]

I still like the rocker box because for its time period it was brilliant think about it no technology at that time,in low flow areas so it worked great stuff for the time period. someone used what they had and made it work .thank you for sharing.

[@Dustylittledigga]

Nice old rocker box Chris. There's a KZbin video I recently saw that a guy had a hand pump hooked up to his rocker box handle. Every time he rocked the box it would pump water to his box. You should do this. Great video from one moldy old hat to another.

[@geoffyplayz9523]

The speed you shake the rocker-box is more to do with the size holes in your hopper The bigger the holes in your hopper the more violently you want to shake, because they were looking for lots of small nuggets in WA they put bigger holes in their hopper to stop them having to spend all day picking nuggets out of the hopper and letting them run more dirt. The violent shaking also helps clean off the rocks faster and the gold settle in the mat while more of the material just flows off the top so I would recommend a more violent shake, having built several of these myself Also if you can put a bit of miners moss on the diverted just under the hopper which will slow the water and make more of the bottom mat useful for catching gold

[@zacktoby]

Back in 1853, the first metal detector was a shovel, prospectors would bounce the dirt on the shovel listening for the metallic clunk sound. Needless to say they missed a lot of gold. I understand the rocker box was introduced by Californian prospectors (49ers) who travelled to Victoria after the end of the 1849 rush. They also bought with them their bowie knives as most could not afford firearms. I have prospected around albury/ wodonga and know that a lot of the later stamp mills using mercury plated copper were very inefficient only capturing about 24% of available gold. Reef gold in that area also contained allot of sulphides which further reduced the recovery rate. It was not until 1890 when the cyanide gold extraction process was invented (up to 96% efficient) that some of the taillings could be re-worked. Many smaller deposits are still there today.

[@ut000bs]

The Golden Face care products. Mask up with this Aussie mud to make your skin fresh and young-looking once again. Then you can pan it out and find a few nice specks.

[@timothychack9276]

I think to be using old technology. And learning the ways from the old-timers . can make you a better and more skilled prosecutor . I admire anyone keeping history alive and truly showing us how good we have it now days. Keep up the love and thrill

[@christinehall3550]

Just a tip.... dry out the burlap mat, put it in a bucket and beat all the fines out of it. You will be surprised at the amount of fine gold. 😉

[@theunlimitedexpedition9418]

Great video Chris! It was awesome to spend the morning out on the creek with you guys. Thanks for the tips on the drop bears too! Cheers.

[@larryhicks7558]

Old moldy hat great stuff . Dragon Flys and beauty mud . I didn't think or know of a rocking box nice . I like your channel buddy. THANKS

[@jackarmer8560]

I built one and your right it is slow but great fun and faster than a pan I still us it every now and then when water is low Great Job Gus

[@dave5litre462]

Love the concept of rocker boxes , might be better with a cradle stand , I’ve seen a couple of great designs on utube that might give you a bit more of an idea , even seen one with a hand bilge pump the pumped water and allowed rocker movement in one pump action , look it up I’m sure you’ll like it , cheers

[@shanesalmo1163]

Back in my younger days with my old man found a old timer rocker about 10 meters above the river, obviously floods, minus handle and mattiing but so cool.

[@SandhillCrane42]

Excellent video as always. Manual technology is not only affordable, it's required by law many places. One of my favorite channels. I take the Australian "blokes" as definitive experts in mining. (I hope "bloke" is not some slur)

[@hulkgqnissanpatrol6121]

There's 3 kinds of drop bear! #1 the 3-4tf ones who are in groups of up to 8, trouble making but quiet! #2 the 4-9ft ones who are shy, groups of 3-4, smart and always watching but friendly! And #3 the 10-14ft tall ones you'll never want to see, solo alpha, Aggressive and territorial!

[@audigga4396]

Thanks Chris, Love your work! I was looking to build one of these 40 years ago but family came along:)

[@VoGusProspecting]

Go for it! Do it now!

[@briankarlsen6676]

while bilge pumps are usualy quite underpowered for highbankers a smal bilge pump could probably provide plenty of water for a fair size rocker boxsould save a lot of efort dipping for water add a clasifier on top and you could probably move a lot of dirt with it

[@harleyberge3677]

Out of curiosity, have you ever made a video with pioneer Pauly and or Dan Hurd? I would really love to see the three of you guys collaborate to make the greatest prospecting video the world has ever known! Your videos are awesome and thank you so much for entertaining me as well as lighting the fire under my butt to start prospecting myself.

[@robertschick7854]

I like how you explain it all in the big picture. Cuz when you think like that it's a shit load of gold.

[@jaycee6996]

It would be interesting to compare the traditional mats in the rocker box with more modern mats. It is quite possible you might be able to significantly improve on the results you had with the sack trapping the gold.

[@scottishgirloutdoors2662]

That looks cool, I like seeing how the old timers done it. 😊

[@montanatreasurehunter9600]

Nice gold I thought about making a rocker box for my daughter. Thanks for the video Chris.

[@Jib230181]

Enjoy watching your videos and thank you on explaining why you use a paint brush too as I have asked why you use it and now I know so thank you and keep on finding that gold.

[@dr4x388]

If you're into sapphires, I just did four or so pans at sailors Creek near Daylesford and they were loaded with sapphires (and a few garnets). Along with a few specks of gold as well! Bit of a trek for you though, food for thought

[@benjarvie1072]

Where abouts on sailors I was headed there this weekend... cheers

[@dr4x388]

@@benjarvie1072 i went to sailors falls and walked downstream like 2-3 kms and found heaps. then moved up to twin bridges and found heaps as well. they all small, but i guess there is always a chance of getting something half decent! i got one decent garnet and a few specks of gold all in all

[@Jeepmeat1974]

The Drop bear ad was freakin hilarious man 🤣🤣🤣🤙🏾❤️😎 well done with the recovery on the rocker box man ! Definitely did ok ! I was definitely surprised 😬🤙🏾😎

[@firemantim9601]

Thank you for raising awareness of Look Up and Live, Be Bear Aware!

[@VoGusProspecting]

Any time!

[@captnron59]

That area looks like it's full of danger noodles.

[@HouseholdDog]

Oh cool. Always wanted to know how rocker boxes work.

[@davidvilla3243]

Simple but effective way to seperate that yeller stuff.You must sing old miners songs while operating their equipment.LOL

[@HeidiConanGoldProspecting]

Sweet Chris, got a rocker box going eh? Not tea bag m8. Not having a motor screaming at you really appeals to Heidi. Loved seeing the water bugs. We get really cool long legged ones here. Shots in my vids, but I will get a shot on insta some time too. Cheers guys!

[@48vdcwrld]

i found a pipe along a creek, about 70ft or more feet long, along with the other pieces/tools discarded in the area, I believe they were using gravity feed to run the sluices, i could be wrong, but the area was known for having a gold claim nearby...

[@boedhaspeaks]

Nice, wasnt expecting that smal size of gold! Check out Tims adventure's , he is a sapphire miner .

[@secretstreamsandfeverdreams]

Bear aware , you are truly a legend

[@VoGusProspecting]

Keep the legend alive

[@ferdburphel2076]

Way to rock that box!! You box rocker you!

[@MrInsaint]

Nice work Chris👍 excellent video and if the Sapphire is not a»dud» You can cut it 😄💎 Btw, thank You millions for sharing the good stu..... the gold stuff👍🤩🙏

[@FeatherHorseforge]

Gday Chris, could you do a video on making your rocker box please.

[@trevdyer173]

Thats awsome.... i wanna see you take it to the next level and bang up a hessian and wire extension to catch it all

[@jeffsalcedo8334]

You need an in-bucket classifier. I got one from Arbor Fab and it works great!

[@ronvi4539]

That looks like a real pain in the ars. Really!

[@Notellemkrik1776]

Chris, what is your feeling of how the old timers done it. Do you feel blessed to be in 2020. Or would you rather of been living in old timer days.

[@shaunfelton2046]

Another quality video, Chris! In your next video, can you please run us through the best way to use a snuffer bottle? Cheers, Cobber!

[@diggertheamateurprospector6611]

"There's Gold in the mat!" Haha i love your genuine excitement when you see ANY gold. Makes me feel more human seeing this

[@VoGusProspecting]

All gold is excitimg.

[@stevenbateman4353]

grouse display of the rocker chris. can you imagine the old timers if they had our technology back then.

[@PALM311]

In Mid-Austraila,they shook that rocker box any damn way they pleased!

[@infinus5]

I ve built many a rocker in my time, may i suggest some more aggressive riffles? i ve noticed that 90% of the gold you catch in these is caught on the meeting point of the top riffle and the matting, only the micro gold makes it past that point. Flat riffles dont hold the courser flakes as well.

[@fishmut]

Despite this video getting on in its infancy lol , I think some people think it would be hard to make , some like power pumps and generators battery’s to run high bankers etc , the old timers only had hand tools , no power tools just plain hand tools what they could muster , if you can use a hammer and nails and or hand screw drivers with some screws a Hand saw even and some scrap wood and like in this video a hession bag or two and something like a ladle to pour water you can enjoy the outdoors getting some gold like Vo-Gus did , I made one and love it.

[@MountaineerMichael]

Awesome video always enjoy the Rocker box!! Im in the middle of makeshifting one. Good lookin' Gold and gemstones. 🤙✌ _~ Keep On Rockin' ~_

[@gordongadbois1179]

"CHRIS ROCK ER MAN" GOT SOME KIND OF RING TO IT

[@RichardRoger1966]

Given gold claims can cost as little as $100 or less in Canada, how long until you move here??? hahahaha

[@videoaccount1947]

Those Aussie Drop Bears are even more dangerous than the wild Jackalopes that we prospectors in the U.S. must avoid.

[@videoaccount1947]

And was that a Redback spider crawling across your diggings?

[@weekendwarriorprospecting817]

Did you pan the tailings? That looks worthwhile. It's effectively a highbanker without the sluice 👍🏻⚒🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@sugarnads]

Here in NSW we say 'look up or die'. Damn dropbears.

[@hansonlife9465]

Yank here, just got done looking up drop bears. Vicious! I don't know how you dare venture outside your house with those around. 🤗

[@iSTAYuGO]

I love "bean" running machinery, cant beat that.

[@PeteMonaghan]

Who's providing the artistic stealth shots from the woods?

[@VoGusProspecting]

My yowie

[@Notellemkrik1776]

Great adventure, thanks Chris .

[@zemetrius]

can the rocker box process dry material? the resulting separated material to be washed out with water later after the days run that is. Now here in nevada if the rocker box could do work with dry material this would open up a lot of places that i could go to.

[@VoGusProspecting]

I tried this a few years ago and had no luck at all. A dry blower is a much better option.

[@zemetrius]

@@VoGusProspecting i took my small royal drywasher out to my groups claim, sad to say it did not find any gold, seems like a rocker would be a slower way to run dry material, but it might help to reduce chance for any gold loss than an incorrectly setup drywasher.

[@chrislilly1463]

Hi Chris, What are the 2 stacked things on the top of the rocker box? I would have guessed classifying screens, but you classified before taking the material to the box. Also, at the bottom, could you replace the screen and burlap for new mats? Or even put a shallow V mat under it? Or is there a reason you don’t do that. Thanks!

[@murlbailer3755]

I watched a movie called BAIT starring John Agar about gold fever lol. They had what looked like an old rocker box. No water just dirt.

[@scottmadd1]

Chris why are the rocker box upper deck sidewalls so short? A little taller would seem to prevent spillage over the top 🤔

[@josephballard8404]

Thanks for sharing your sexy brush strokes! There's gold in them there hills!

[@thatdude8247]

I was gonna complain about the snakes we have around here in North Carolina but then remembered you're in Australia.

[@Notellemkrik1776]

Do you like the snake skin pan. I will be trying mine out later this morning .

[@Blumack21]

Thank you. Andy

[@VoGusProspecting]

No worries!

[@chrissaucier9386]

Might consider a base and pivot

[@rojelio989]

Loved the bear skirt. Haha

[@stephandowding8290]

Drop Bear... well played Sir!

[@AyouGuysProspectingTM]

Have you tried modern sluice Matt's in the rocker box?

[@WestCoastGoldProspecting]

Good job man, I wouldn’t mind trying one some time.

[@VoGusProspecting]

Do it! It's so much fun

[@rockydavies9555]

Awesome Video Chris

[@docwoods415]

Loved your video I really liked the old Rockerbox I like old stuff GREAT VIDEO I SUBSCRIBE

[@PRLake007.1]

You'll be on Discovery Channel soon. I heard they are looking at you.

[@MossyNutz]

He deserves it.

[@VoGusProspecting]

I've heard nothing

[@mark_zuckerburg]

I was literally thinking this the other day, a show formatted like River Monsters. Only it’s you, exploring all the places round the world gold is found - Using the gold mining methods the locals use.

[@hansomdaley3365]

If you put Vegemite on your shoulders, that should deter the drop bear. I love your work mate, I’m jealous of all the gold you get though

[@VoGusProspecting]

Thanks for the tip!

[@pnwprospecting]

We won’t be mad if you wear sunglasses while doing your talking head scenes! Protect your eyes buddy! Thanks for sharing!

[@HouseholdDog]

I suppose once the finer gold ends up in the hessian it isn't coming out very quickly. It would be interesting to burn the hessian and see what gold is still there.

[@danhodgins4015]

Chris - let's see a hessian burning video! Wasn't expecting that much fine gold. Great stuff!

[@happyface7342]

What museum did you get that from 🤔🤔😂😂👍👍👍

[@scotmhead]

Greetings, new subscriber from the gold-free swamplands of coastal Texas. Very satisfying and enlightening videos. :-)

[@bigredracer7848]

I think if you had another runoff tree another two feet after your rocker box you might catch that fine gold with that rubber mat in it

[@CamshaftFM]

Chris when are we gunna see a video of you panning the little creek at sovereign hill? The rocker box made me think of it haha

[@VoGusProspecting]

Not sure I want to pay to play

[@CamshaftFM]

@@VoGusProspecting yeah that's spot on no possible way you could make your money back haha

[@ut000bs]

That spider at 10:20 has the shape and looks of a redback. Is it? I can't be sure.

[@adrianbryant7342]

Gotta get your pump going that's such hard work good for you though, Respect 😉

[@strangerwildernessoregon3164]

There is guy in Australia, at least I think that’s where he is, he has a channel called Black Opal Direct. I bet he could help you learn to cut gems !

[@exjw8623]

I noticed you using an Equinox 600 in some of your past videos. Have you ever used it to hunt for gold nuggets? If so, was it in high mineral content soil? I am looking at getting iether that or the fisher f70 is why i am asking. thanks

[@travis728]

Couldn't you put a V mat in the rocker box in place of sack? Or wouldn't it clean out

[@fortunatusnine2012]

Pretty good !! Where new drop dog ?

[@bjvoorhies]

Looks like several pieces of "black stuff" in your "scaled gold". Something ironish? or other lighter dross? Could you move it out with your small paint brush an purify your take a little better? My bad! I viewed the vid again - at 18:19 there's a view in a little plastic "thingie" with some chunky black things. Your gem stones? The gold on the scale looks quite clean on second view....

[@1955chriss]

good on your Skip good show is there going to be a new Grizzly helping you when I lost my mate I only last two weeks I had to go to poumed to get another one

[@martyparsons8395]

Good stuff.. keep it coming!

[@goldradium77]

Love it Vo-Gus...

[@donazzopardi8747]

It would have been cool to put modern day tech at the end just to see how much gold got past the old tech.