Well, now, if ya ever wondered how to make one of them gold shaker tables, I reckon I can tell ya a thing or two. I ain’t no expert, but I done seen a few folks mess around with ’em, and I picked up a bit. So, sit tight, and I’ll walk ya through it the best way I know how.
First off, a gold shaker table’s mighty useful if you’re tryin’ to get the gold out of dirt, gravel, or some of that there ore. It works by using gravity to separate the heavier gold particles from the rest of the muck. The table shakes back and forth, and that shaking helps the gold move to one side, where ya can collect it. You don’t need nothin’ fancy to make one, just a bit of know-how and some patience, that’s all.
Gatherin’ the Materials
Now, if you’re gonna build one of these tables, you’ll need a few basic things. Ain’t too complicated, but you gotta have the right stuff:
- Wooden board or plywood – This here’s gonna be your table surface. You’ll want it big enough to hold your material and give it space to shake.
- Metal rods or pipes – You’ll need these to make the frame and the parts that make it shake.
- Small motor – This is what gets the table movin’. If ya don’t have one of them fancy motors, you can always try usin’ something like an old fan motor or even a car motor if you’re handy with tools.
- Water source – You’ll need some water to help the shaking process. It washes the lighter dirt away, leavin’ the gold behind.
- Gold recovery mat – This is important for catchin’ the gold. Some folks just use rubber mats or even some ol’ carpet, but it’s gotta be something that’ll hold the gold in place as it moves down the table.
Buildin’ the Table
Once you got all your stuff together, it’s time to start buildin’. Start with a big ol’ board for the surface of the table. It should be smooth enough that things can slide on it, but not too smooth, or the gold won’t get trapped properly. Cut it to whatever size suits ya, but I reckon a good size would be about 4 feet long and 2 feet wide, just to give ya plenty of room to work.
Then, ya gotta build the frame to hold it up. Take your metal rods or pipes and make a basic rectangle or square that’ll hold the table steady. You don’t want it wobbly, or it won’t work right. Now, attach the table to the frame using some screws or nails, whatever’s easiest for ya.
Adding the Shakin’ Mechanism
Now comes the tricky part, but don’t worry, it ain’t too hard. You’ll need to attach your motor to the table. This motor’s gonna make it shake back and forth. Depending on what motor you’re usin’, you might need to rig up a pulley system to get it workin’ just right. The idea is to get a steady shaking motion, not too fast but enough to move the material.
You’ll want to set the motor up so it moves the table at a slight incline. That way, the water can flow across the surface, and the heavier gold will sink while the lighter material moves off the side. Ya can adjust the angle of the table by adjustin’ the legs or the frame, and you might need to play around a little to get it just right.
Setting Up for the Gold
Once ya got the table built and the motor in place, it’s time to set up for the gold. You’ll need a good supply of water to wash the material as it moves across the table. Some folks use a hose or just pour water by hand, but I’d recommend gettin’ a little setup with a constant drip to keep the table wet and workin’ steady.
Now, you want to spread your material out evenly across the table. Don’t dump it all at once, or you’ll have a big mess. Just take your time and spread it out in small amounts. As the table shakes, the lighter dirt and rocks will wash away, and the gold will stay behind, trapped in the matting or carpet you’ve set up at the end of the table.
Finishing Touches
Once ya done separated the gold from the rest of the stuff, ya need to clean up your recovery mat. You’ll wanna carefully remove the gold that’s stuck in the mat, which can be tricky. Some folks use a spatula or a piece of wood to scrape it off, but it’ll take a little time and patience.
And that’s all there is to it! Now, you’ve got yourself a homemade gold shaker table that’ll help you get that shiny stuff out of your dirt. It ain’t perfect, but it sure works better than just panning for it, and it’ll save ya some time if you’re tryin’ to get a good amount of gold. If it don’t work just right the first time, don’t give up—just tinker with it, and you’ll get it right. You’ll be a pro in no time, I reckon.
So there you go, that’s how you can make yourself a gold shaker table. Ain’t too hard once ya know how, and with a bit of patience, you’ll be collectin’ gold like a real prospector in no time!
Tags:[gold shaker table, how to make a gold shaker table, gold recovery, DIY gold shaker table, shaking table for gold]