Built A Water Hunting Sifter Tonite...... (instructions)

[John-Edmonton]

A sifter is a unit which will sift the sand out of your scoop when water hunting. Without the sifter, you have to shake your scoop in the water, passing the sand through all the holes, with the intention of catching coins ans jewellery in the scoop, too big to pass through the holes. The sifter will do this automatically, giving you more time to search for coins and rings.

<center><img src="http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/John-Edmonton/one2.jpg">

A very simple project. You need a Garrett Classifier and some 2" styrofoam. Cut two square pieces 2 feet x 2 feet, find the center, measure out a hole to support the top lip of the plastic classifier. Then, cut a smaller hole in the second piece of styrofoam to allow the bottom of the pan to fit through.

<center><img src="http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/John-Edmonton/holes2.jpg">

I cut the holes out adjusting the jigsaw platform to the same angle as the classifying pan for increased strength

<center><img src="http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/John-Edmonton/two3.jpg">

Once the holes are cut, you can see that the two pieces of Styrofoam are just the perfect thickness, to allow the bottom of the classifier to just poke through about a 1/4 of an inch. I went out Walmart and bought some porous fabric to cover the sifter, figuring it might extend its life somewhat. I also got some water proof duct tape and used it to keep the unit together.

<center><img src="http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/John-Edmonton/three2.jpg">

Here is the finished sifter. All I need to do now is wait for the ice to melt, get out into the water, attach a tether line to my belt and dump my scoops of sand directly into the sifter, letting the water action sift the sand, while I continue to look for more gold rings.
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[lucky-luc]

i think there is a small problem with yours ,,,,its the water level,,
if the sifter is always underwater you will have to lift it to search for goodies,,
i made one using a innertube an the sifter is higher then the water
level when i want to clean i just push it down several time an the water clean the mud away,,,,also having an innertube next to me is a safety for me in case of an emergency ,,,i can always grab it just in case something happen like filling my wader boots,,etc....


innertube are not to expensive around 15 $cad,,,an you can always deflate it to save space ,i held the plastic sifter in place with tightwrap,,,,

Lucky-Luc

 

[yardhunter]

............made from styrofoam, 1" X 6"'s & ratwire. It takes a lot of material to sink this baby!! The tupperware pitcher holds all ( including larger targets ) the finds & I've removed that potato masher since this pic was taken. The towing straps are from a old White's hipmount kit. I retaped it last week for the upcoming water season so it looks better now.

[attachment 21243 sifter.jpg]

I've put 4-5 scoops of sand, mud, etc. in it & I haven't sunk it yet! ...........see ya mark

 

[SNOWY]

You're a clever man John!!!

Snowy...

 

[kaptainkosmic]

n/t

 

[Hermit]

I built mine from an old Boogie board and some .5 hardware cloth.It works like a champ and if worse comes to worse I can ride that baby in.

 

[yardhunter]

..............I've put 10-12 scoops full of material in this sifter & it gets heavy but I've never tipped it over

 

[kaptainkosmic]

thanks for the reply yardhunter. i want to build a sifter that will hold atleast a couple of scoops and float the scoop also. the potlicker is heavy but i sure like the stuff i find in it! steve

 

[adam in cal]

you must be bored up there !!!!!!!

 

[yardhunter]

kaptainkosmic.............

Here's a pic of the sifter with at least 5 scoops of material in it:


[attachment 22947 sifter.jpg]

As you can tell, it's still 4"-5" out of the water & could hold more if needed. It has 1" X 6" wood center with ratwire in the bottom. The tape covers styrofoam that I found in dumpsters behind a Radio Shack in my hometown. I actually found 4 targets in this mess before clearing it this time.
The "stolen" tupperware pitcher ( from my wife's cupboard ) holds all the finds. It's even big enough to hold a soda can.

Total cost??
Ratwire -- about $4.00, duct tape -- about $4.00
everything else was free.

It works for mee.
Thought you'd like to see it............see ya mark

 

[kaptainkosmic]

thanks for the info mark. price is right and holds alot i'll be making one! steve

 

[Hermit]

Did'nt your mamma tell you if you don't have anything nice to say,Don't say anything!
Care to expand on that worthless comment?