:: :: what to get

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russm

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what to get ( 18:25:23 TueJan 17 2012 )

Wife has been after me to go to Happy Camp and do some prospecting. Both of us are dredgers and, since California currently does not allow dredging, what would be a better choice for the area; trommel or highbanker?

Thanks for your time
Russ

RUSTY_HAPPY_CAM

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Re: what to get ( 03:32:09 WedJan 18 2012 )

A good trommel is the better choice but the good ones are fairly expensive. The trommel uses much less water than a highbanker and the water use is what gets you in the most problems.

Rod_Seiad

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Re: what to get ( 15:42:03 WedJan 18 2012 )

I agree.

The trommel might become your best machine for today's circumstances. The good ones tend to be heavy and difficult to move. They process a higher volume of material and help with the roughing in.

End result is more clean gold recovered per man hour.

Oregon_Jim

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Re: what to get ( 16:08:58 WedJan 18 2012 )

In my few visits to Happy Camp, I have seen only one trommel in use, and it was a small one. Highbankers are used by most. My advice is to purchase lots of discharge hose for your pump so you can work a good distance from the river.

I have 75 feet and will purchase another 100 ft. of hose before I return this summer. It is quite discouraging as a man to discover your hose is too short... Some of the best digging late last summer was perhaps 200 feet from the water where we were, and for a lazy, broken down old guy like me, carrying heavy buckets of gravels to a distant highbanker is hell.

russm

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Re: what to get ( 00:14:48 ThuJan 19 2012 )

Thanks fellas I appreciate the replies.

So a trommel with a lot of hose is the ticket. I am not against spending some money if I am getting a quality, long-lasting product.

Guess I need to do a lot of research concerning small portable trommels.

Are there any particular models that appear to be better than any others?

Thanks again for your time
Russ

russm

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Re: what to get ( 08:06:33 SatJan 21 2012 )

Well, I have it down to two trommels;

The one from Summitmining
http://summitmining.com/store/pro-gold-trommel/

or the one from California Sluicebox
http://www.casluicebox.com/TROMMELS.html

Has anyone had any dealings with either of these companies or with either of these trommels?

Also, can anyone suggest what motor and pump would be required to run water 150-200 feet from the source that would be capable of running either of these trommels?

Thanks for your time
Russ

Rod_Seiad

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Re: what to get ( 17:07:11 SatJan 21 2012 )

"I am not against spending some money if I am getting a quality, long-lasting product".

I recommend you build your own.

The complete system is a rewarding and useful DIY project. The quality is best if you make it so.

I run a 2" trash pump, at idle, on my 13" homemade trommel when I am singlejacking. The barrel rotates only 15 RPM and not much motor is needed. When I can negotiate a couple helpers to shovel, I increase the GPM water and keep the barrel at 15 RPM.

The gold recovery sluice is where you need to pay attention. Use a sluice much bigger than you highbank with. Tune to trap fines and the pickers will too.

One of the makers you asked about says their units capacity is 25-30 5 gallon buckets per 90 minutes. That's 3 minutes per bucket. Way too slow. We highbank faster than that.

LipCa

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Re: what to get ( 17:07:46 SatJan 21 2012 )

Read the reviews on the summitmining link....

it talks about water....145 gpm is the min. for the 14"

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