Reverse Helix Trommel Test

This is the absolute first test run of our trommel. We use a reverse helix barrel I purchased figuring it would be too complicated to easily make. The rest of the machine is fabricated. I want to use this to separate sapphires from gravel at our claim, and whatever gold is there too. Gold for me is secondary. Any thoughts you might have to help us fine tune is most welcome. I will say this, I know the reverse helix WILL work to concentrate the stones, I have seen it large scale just how to make it work small scale...?

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Trommel
• gold
• gold mining
• panning
• sapphires
• gemstones
• prospecting
• montana
• yogo
• alder gulch
• Virginia city
• philipsburg
• gem mountain
• Gold (color)
• Outdoor Sports
• Advertisement
• Spot

[krxyt]

the inner screen is too close to the outer drum aswell. with more water and more room for the material to flow you'll have less problems

[acme663ryo]

@krxyt Steeper, that can be done easy enough, moving the screen in, that one might take some time. Thanks for the input.

[circusboy90210]

how to slow the self feeding down??? smaller shovel fulls .

[acme663ryo]

@circusboy90210 My goal is to be able to minimize the babysitting necessary, ideally to be able to shovel straight in. All within reason and machine limitations of course.

[circusboy90210]

@acme663ryo if you can babbysit @ pull 3 oz per day what do you care ? It's called work . work =force applied o a mass. sometimes there re easier options

.

[acme663ryo]

@circusboy90210 You got the part where we are not using this for gold right? Wishing to fine tune and derive the maximum amount of usefulness is not a lack of work on our part, quite the opposite. This is part of a larger experiment to see if the trommel can be more efficient than our current rubber tire concentrator. I know the reverse helix trommels can be used to find sapphires, I have stood next to large ones and watched them do it. This is to determine if a trommel can be scaled down.

[DarkenedJay]

i'm sorry to say this....but its a P.O.S. BUT I'm sure its a "prototype" at least i hope it is... BECAUSE it has great potential. all in all, good work and good luck my friend

[packrat541]

It needs a spray bar to wash the material down otherwise it will stick to the outer wall and ride up making a mess. Every successful spiral (helix) concentrator has a spray bar the entire length of the drum. I suggest 3/4 inch pvc pipe with 1/4 inch holes spaced 1 inch apart in a straight row. This is really just a sluice box that cleans itself so it needs lots of water flow.

[dogmusher]

u need more water in it and add reject big rock screen so let big rocks out of hopper and small rock ,sand and gold going into trommel because i have big trommel in my gold claim

[dogmusher]

u need more water in it

[rkcaldwell]

@krxyt Yep needs more water flow.

[tangibleinspiration]

you need to add a small length of solid pipe on your screening tube where the feeder enters, with a "ring" around it creating about a 1" lip. Then extend your feed ramp a couple inches beyond that. Should have no problems with build-up then.  Your angle obviously can't be very steep if you're concentrating sapphires, so you need to compensate for the fact that material will be moving through more slowly. You could also reduce the size of the intake if necessary, or slow the water flow up top