After swinging a uMax for a bit :detecting:

[tab-nabit]

Went along a stream thats behind a fenced property that had burned some years ago. The fenced in area had a dwelling that burned. Hunted and panned at this spot every now and then. This morning the weather was nice so I thought the stream would be in good shape after being high a couple weeks ago when I checked. I changed plans on using the Tejon, so I decided to swing the Bandido-II. It sure seemed heavy after swinging the Compadre most of the month. I really appreciate the Tesoro uMax series for the weight and not feeling front end heavy. Makes the Compadre feel light as a feather. I also resisted the urge of swinging the Compadre today also.
The Bandido was fun to swing - being an older Tesoro.
[attachment 82157 Bandido-IIa.JPG]

Found loads of the usual junk items, and no silver today. Found these spoons that cleaned up well - I don't think they are old though - and some UFO (unidentified found object) that I think is brass, so it's in my brass case tumbler now till tomorrow.
[attachment 82158 OldStreamSpot.JPG]

Spent the rest of the morning panning. Never find anything big but always seem to get a little color in the pan. Always seem to get an aching back also, so this evening detecting I was planning on is not going to happen. Still it was fun trying out an older Tesoro and getting more color in the pan again.
[attachment 82159 FebPanning.JPG]

 

[tabdog]

Nice post.

Wow, that's more productive than anything I've seen in Arkie Land.

Not including diamonds of course.

It's getting to be detecting time. Hope we do good in the future.

Thanks for the pics

HH,

 

[Pap]

gold, gold is so very nice! That is a great way to spend the day. I like that Bandido-II; sweet!
Pap

 

[TonyTX(MXT)]

n/t

 

[Anonymous]

Looks like a fun time to me!!!!!!!!

 

[tab-nabit]

Thanks Tabdog - and the weather been running in the 70s lately, but the water nearly froze my fingers. With all the snow in the higher elevations, many of the streams will have very cold water for some time now.
That panning becomes back breaking work. It's not as easy as it was some years ago. I don't do it as often as I used to, so seems like every time I go, I'm not used to it. Not getting any younger either. Although I'm still sore, but it was fun and thats what counts.

 

[tab-nabit]

Thanks Tony - wish I was going again today, but i hit this spot just once in awhile. It always seems to be for myself since I have never seen anyone there. I have a few spots like that but they are not like they used to be.

 

[tab-nabit]

Thanks Pap - the gold was from panning. I been panning every once in awhile at this spot for about 7 or 8 years I think, and always get a little in the pan. I wish I could get into the private property and maybe find the source. Well I'll have to settle for the small stuff and a pan.
Used to pan more often, run a sluice (still have a few), and swing a few gold detectors, just never had the luck for the bigger stuff like a nugget. A real nugget. So the gold fever sets in once in awhile and I settle for panning, my sluice boxes sit dry, and I let go my gold detectors
The back and legs keep me in check - maybe that's the good part - always leave some for return trips

 

[tab-nabit]

The fun is what its all about - its the best part

 

[rmptr]

Those are nice little colors Tab!

Have you tried a gold sucker for sniping to ease those ups and downs?

I heard the old miners came down with arthritis from working the cold water too much...
It might be fun, but boils down to hard work, all told!

HH

 

[TonyTX(MXT)]

[quote tab-nabit]Thanks Tony - wish I was going again today, but i hit this spot just once in awhile. It always seems to be for myself since I have never seen anyone there. I have a few spots like that but they are not like they used to be.[/quote]

I know what you mean! I wasn't able to hunt any today due to other commitments If the weather is nice tomorrow I may try to get out for a short hunt. Good luck and keep up the good finds!! HH TonyTX

 

[tab-nabit]

I have gold suckers from a little 14-1/2 inch squeeze bulb type to a larger home made draw unit. The home made unit is about 44 inch from the stationary nozzle end to the end cap of the main housing. Then I have a variety of friction fit extension tube's to add to the end of the nozzle.

Small Lil-Sucker
[attachment 82237 LilSucker.JPG]

Home-Made Big Sucker. This thing really has some high power suction. Can suck a load of gravel up to almost an inch in diameter.
[attachment 82238 BigSucker.JPG]

 

[rmptr]

Hey Tab,
EZ to see you're way ahead of me! lol

Yup, I was thinking of the larger one...

What does it use on the internal plunger?
Could you take a pic?
...and do you like it?

I'll ask another, if you don't mind... What do you think of the Blue Bowl?

Thanks!
rmptr

 

[tab-nabit]

I have never used the Blue Bowl.
Anyway, here are some pics of the plunger assembly. This was built years ago. The end of the stainless steel rod is just 2 fender washers squeezing a piece of ribbed rubber stock to create a seal. I can't remember what the rubber stock was originally made for, but it was from a home improvement center which is no longer in business, not around here anyways (Lumber-Jack). Years ago a friend was building several models so he gets the credit for telling me how to do this one. I've seen a few "How To" on these in books or magazines some years ago, and have seen similar assembled units in mining shops. After use, I would lightly grease the rubber plunger assembly.
And here's another one - slip on a extension nozzle to shove along the bottom of boulders in deeper water. Pull back on the handle to draw, and when near the end of the plunger stroke, raise the nozzle upward to keep the gravel from falling out the nozzle. The end cap must also have air relief displacement holes.
There are probably much improved models and plans available nowadays.
I used mine mostly to drop into 5-gallon buckets, then after a few buckets were half full or so, I would feed that into a sluice.
[attachment 82294 Sucker-a.JPG]
[attachment 82295 Sucker-b.JPG]
[attachment 82296 Sucker-c.JPG]
[attachment 82297 Sucker-d.JPG]

 

[rmptr]

Thanks Tab,

I've got some of the fixins' here to make up a couple...
Our oldest wanted to go out to Pozo and pan for colors with some friends..

All my gear had gone at yardsales... there is very little that makes my wife happier than clearing out my stuff at a sale!

Think I'll make up a wooden sluice they can use in the creek, and some from raingutter to use here in the yard for fines.

LOL I will NOT let 'em use my MD's to bang around among the rocks!
Kids are tough on everything!

HH
rmptr

 

[tab-nabit]

Out of all the sluice's I had, one of my favorites was a portable take-down keene unit. It assembled and quickly. I used an alloy frame drop shelf back pack, had a couple 5 gallon bucket's attached with the sluice in the bucket, and all kinds of other gear attached, including shovels, suckers, bars and all. I have done some packing a ways off the beaten path and felt well equipped. I couldn't let the take-down sluice go, I still have it. For some reason, they were hard to come by around here at the time.

 

[tab-nabit]

This unit takes less than a minute to assemble. After use, it's best to later remove the diamond screen, shake out the rolled carpet in a bucket of water, then pan out the fine stuff. Then of course a sucker bottle from the pan and then into a vial. Bigger stuff pick out by fingers before packing it up. As you see, it fits easily in a 5 gallon bucket and sticks up only a few inches above the bucket top. Then one bucket into another for 2 buckets, bungee to a back pack frame with lower drop shelf, then go crazy with all kinds of gear. Anyway, here are a few photos.
[attachment 82404 Keene-1.JPG]
[attachment 82405 Keene-2.JPG]
[attachment 82406 Keene-3.JPG]
[attachment 82407 Keene-4.JPG]
[attachment 82408 Keene-5.JPG]
[attachment 82409 Keene-7.JPG]

 

[rmptr]

By Golly that's real nice, Tab!

Jerry did pretty good on that one!

I had his A36 I think they called it, for prospecting, and used a modified 3" on my placer claims.

Never saw that folding backpack sluice before, though.
It's a dandy!

It's been more than a few years that I let my claims go.
Had 3 contiguous claims of about 20 acres each, in the vicinity of a well known lode claim and mill site.
Probably about 5 grand tied up in mining equipment at that time. As usual, it always takes a bit more! LOL
If I could have scraped up another couple grand I would have tried it full time and went for the 'prudent man' test.
Just didn't work out at the time...

It would probably work out better at today's market prices, but I can't do that rough and tough work anymore!
Mining is some of the hardest work I've ever done. It's pretty basic, and no way around it.

If the price of Au keeps climbing, though, a person might do fairly well even sniping in a good location.

I've got a drywasher out back, but that kind of dusty mess never caught my attention much.

HH

 

[tab-nabit]

Back then after I got this one, I contacted 3 mining shops in and near the area. For whatever reason, they couldn't get another for me. Maybe supply and demand, I don't know. I never did follow up on it but I sure wanted another at the time.
I been out of it for some years now except the occasional panning every now and then. And it's been some time since I been in the mining shops. Maybe I'll get an urge soon and visit a few for the latest and greatest products.
Now I have already let go of my gold detectors, and a small dredge that I never put into operation, plus all my other sluice's. Kind of wonder where all this thinking is going to get me - gold prices has gone up, and had some fun days back then. Your comment about the sniping brings back some memories here
It all started on me with that urge - oh boy - wonder if its spinning around in the head again - will have to think on that one. HH

 

[rmptr]

That's how it goes, Tab!

My wife almost checks my pockets for cash before I go out the door on a weekend!
I get drawn into yardsales like a black hole vortex. No MD or mining stores around here, though.
Jerry never had much in his northridge store when I was mining. He was backordered on almost everything!

HH