building a small scale suction gold dredge

Then another washer about 35mm allowing for the rubber and thong to extrude just bigger than the washer.Īt the end of the bolt that holds all of this which I glued into the bottom of the 25 mmm I think it was, plunger piece, is a wing nut, which you can tighten and lossen at the end of the day. I have the bottom washer, then some 3mm rubber cut as best as I can with stanley knife, then the round bit of thong, then another bit of rubber just slightly smaller than the diameter of the main tube. Am experimenting with rubber washers and some thong, after I move will be going to mates at Kallangur near where I live and we're going to grind some pipe down so I can punch out 40mm rubber, or thong, the trouble with old thongs are the variation in the thickness, I am looking for an even thickness. I have tested it and works really, really good. Will bring it up next time, thinking of putting a bolt through the bottom of the nozzle at the end, so big rocks don't block it. Now to answer your question mate, looks good, this pump, but can't work out how to use the pump!! Actually just made another one, will have to do a shot soon, I designed it for Spot X for the gravel, I think it's better than my last one. Hey Yobs how are ya mate, itching to get out, but gotta move, so busy, oh I hate packing, throwing stuff out, so much stuff gone to tip. You can go as small as needed to get into the cracks. One thing to note is that we reduced the 25mm suction hose at the tip to prevent blockages by using a small nozzle cut down to 12mm. Here's a before (left) and after (right) of a bedrock area done with our original first type of ground-based setup. Note: Just added the 30cm steel ruler for scale. Still some kinks to work out with this new design.

I'm still debating on whether or not to add a small base to the pump to kneel or stand on. The pump itself is a Jabsco Manual Bilge Pump and they run around $130-ish. Our previous design was all used on the ground with the pump attached to a small separate stand.

It can also be left on the ground in an upright position (to let gravity do the work). Just need to attach the main PVC section to a sturdy backpack. That's why this type of hand pump works so effectively We are under the same rules and regulations here in N.S.W.

Building a small scale suction gold dredge