New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

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MD369		Posted : 15 years ago
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 2/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 26 Location: West Coast Thanks: 4 times Was thanked: 5 time(s) in 5 post(s)		I've just been having a squiz at the "Rotapan" on Youtube. Has anyone here had a go with one of these? If it works I can see some situations where it would be quite handy.

gingerbreadman		Posted : 15 years ago
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/07/2010(UTC) Posts: 473 Location: south of the black stump Thanks: 34 times Was thanked: 96 time(s) in 74 post(s)		Hi MD...The 1 that you stick in a bucket? a m8 of mine has 1 iv used it a few times works pretty good for what it is....you thinking of buying 1?

kiwijw		Posted : 15 years ago
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/03/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,152 Thanks: 92 times Was thanked: 658 time(s) in 324 post(s)		Hi there, Yes I have one & reckon there crap. I would much rather shovel through a sluice box. There only good use would be for sampling away from a water source. As you can fill the bucket with water & take the whole thing to a dry area to sample material. No good for production type work. Havnt used it now for years. Happy hunting JW :)

MD369		Posted : 15 years ago
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 2/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 26 Location: West Coast Thanks: 4 times Was thanked: 5 time(s) in 5 post(s)		Cheers JW - they looked a bit odd to me, but thought I'd ask for info anyway. I'm still looking for feedback on the California Sluice Box as sold on the www.goldminingnz.com website. Anyone used one of these?

mygrain		Posted : 15 years ago
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 6/07/2010(UTC) Posts: 27 Location: West coast Was thanked: 5 time(s) in 3 post(s)		Hi Craig check out ''The Canadian prospectors forum'' for more information on the bucket sluice. cheers Russell

gingerbreadman		Posted : 15 years ago
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/07/2010(UTC) Posts: 473 Location: south of the black stump Thanks: 34 times Was thanked: 96 time(s) in 74 post(s)		Iv got a bucket sluice....if you look at those fellas on you tube useing them it looks good....but i dont think they have any black sand at all as iv played around with mine trying it in different positions,water flow and when thers lots of black sand gold always go,s out the end...im going to get a small electric pump so i can use detergent and see if that helps.

gavin		Posted : 15 years ago
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Administrators, Registered Joined: 20/02/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,326 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 736 times Was thanked: 535 time(s) in 287 post(s)		Detergent - that's a new one by me. Just out of curiosity... what's the theory there? Always keen to pick up a new tip!
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gingerbreadman		Posted : 15 years ago
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/07/2010(UTC) Posts: 473 Location: south of the black stump Thanks: 34 times Was thanked: 96 time(s) in 74 post(s)		Hi gavin It soften,s the water...have you ever been panning your gold off and had the fine gold start floating? it happins when your back panning and the gold is breifly out of the water and when the water washs back over it floats...it seems to happen a bit more with those plastic pans so any way to help fix this you just add a couple of drops of detergent it works pretty good most of those fella on youtube add it to ther finshing systems so i figerd id try it on this bucket sluice see if that helps. File Attachment(s): 073.JPG

criticol		Posted : 15 years ago
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 14/05/2010(UTC) Posts: 234 Location: coromandel Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 66 time(s) in 48 post(s)		Hi GBM,Gavin. The use of a small amount of detergent is used because it it s classified as a "Wetting" agent. The addition of it to water causes the water to "Stick" to things that normally "Shed" water off, like "Waxy" objects etc. If you add detergent to water that you, say, water your roses with, it wets the leaves etc, and also causes the bug spays to stick to the leaves without running off,therefor raising the effectivness of the sprays. Gold, being an "Inert" substance has the ability to reject water, and even acids. Cheers---Colin.
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mygrain		Posted : 15 years ago
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 6/07/2010(UTC) Posts: 27 Location: West coast Was thanked: 5 time(s) in 3 post(s)		Hi guys In regard to using detergent. Do not use normal dish washing detergent, it has oil in it, and it also lathers up to much and your fine gold will ride in the white soap suds. The best thing to use is a rinse aid, the sort they use in automatic dishwashers. It dose not lather up like normal detergents and removes most of the surface film. I find Finish is great to use. cheers Russell

gavin		Posted : 15 years ago
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Administrators, Registered Joined: 20/02/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,326 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 736 times Was thanked: 535 time(s) in 287 post(s)		I met a guy this weekend at Nelson Creek and he had a Rotapan - seemed to think it was pretty good, especially where there's not enough water to run a sluice-box. Got on to the topic as I was having trouble getting enough water running through the sluice-box as they'd been having too much good weather over that way and the stream was pretty low. Wouldn't mind giving one a go out of curiosity.
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SusanP		Posted : 15 years ago
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 18/07/2010(UTC) Posts: 13 Location: Hokitika		Hello there, couldn't help having a laugh at you boys discussing dishwashing detergents, perhaps next week we can talk about knitting needles? te he

gavin		Posted : 15 years ago
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Administrators, Registered Joined: 20/02/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,326 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 736 times Was thanked: 535 time(s) in 287 post(s)		Knitting needles are probably very good when cleaning out crevices ;)
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Richie		Posted : 15 years ago
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 14/10/2010(UTC) Posts: 38 Location: Blenheim Thanks: 4 times Was thanked: 12 time(s) in 12 post(s)		Lol Gavin you could be on to something there.... with those knitting needles... But on a serious note I made a crevice scratcher from an old painters roller, I removed the cage and sharpened the tip to a point using the bench grinder,I tell ya it's the best ever....

gavin		Posted : 15 years ago
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Administrators, Registered Joined: 20/02/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,326 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 736 times Was thanked: 535 time(s) in 287 post(s)		Cheers Richie - that's a pretty good tip!!!
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auldrider		Posted : 15 years ago
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 28/04/2010(UTC) Posts: 16 Location: Otematata, North Otago, South Island, New Zealand. Thanks: 1 times Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 3 post(s)		MD369 wrote: I've just been having a squiz at the "Rotapan" on Youtube. Has anyone here had a go with one of these? If it works I can see some situations where it would be quite handy. I own a Rotapan and I use it as a rotary classifier on modified 50 litre bucket/tubs. I use it where there is no water and carry enough water for it in a tank on my wee 4x4 truck. The Rotapan does actually work as claimed when you learn to use it! Surprising statement for something so simple but you can easily lose fine gold into the bucket! Unfortunately as it is it's not quick enough for what I use it for and I am going to modify it to suit, so then it wont actually be a "Rotapan" any more, will it! The answer to your question is, yes, they do work as claimed and advertised!
		I try to learn from the mistakes of other's, I haven't got enough time left to make them all myself!