How to Build a Homemade Shaker Table for Gold Recovery

Well now, let me tell you, makin’ your own homemade shaker table for gold, that’s somethin’ you might want to do if you’re lookin’ to recover some of that shiny yellow stuff. If you’ve been panmin’ or sluicin’ and you ain’t quite gettin’ the gold outta your dirt like you should, then a shaker table might just be the answer for you. Ain’t no need to go spendin’ all that money on a fancy one when you can make one yourself right at home with just a few tools and a little know-how. Don’t be scared now, it ain’t too hard, and I’ll walk you through it step by step!

Now first things first, you need to know what a shaker table does. It’s a simple contraption that helps you separate the gold from all the other junk you find in the dirt. It does this by using a bit of vibration to get the heavier gold to settle down while the lighter stuff gets pushed away. Think of it like sifting flour but a lot faster and with a little more action involved.

When you start thinkin’ about makin’ one of these, you gotta get yourself some good plans. Don’t just go puttin’ stuff together willy-nilly. You’ll need a sturdy frame, something that can handle the weight of the material you’re gonna be workin’ with. The table itself has to be tilted just right so the material moves across it properly, with the gold bein’ the heaviest, stickin’ closer to the riffles, and all the lighter rocks and dirt movin’ on down.

Step 1: Get Yourself Some Materials

• Wood: You’ll need some good, strong wood to build the frame and the table itself. I always go for something like plywood or pine. They’re sturdy and won’t break on ya.
• Vibration Motor: Now, this is the heart of the shaker table. You can buy a small motor off the internet or find an old one from some machine that ain’t workin’ no more. A motor with adjustable speed is the best kind, ‘cause you can control the amount of vibration you get.
• Mesh Screen: You need a screen to separate the finer material. A good mesh will help keep the smaller particles from goin’ down into the riffles.
• Riffles: You can make your own riffles out of scrap metal or buy some pre-made ones. The riffles are what catch the gold as it shakes across the table.

Step 2: Build the Frame

Now that you’ve got all your materials, it’s time to get to work. Start with the frame. Cut your wood to the right size, making sure the table’s wide enough for you to work with. It don’t need to be too big, just enough to hold the motor and give the material room to move. Once you got your pieces cut, nail or screw ‘em together, makin’ sure the frame is square and solid.

Step 3: Install the Motor

The motor’s got to be mounted at the end of the table, and you gotta be able to adjust the speed of it, so the material shakes just right. You don’t want too much vibration or it’ll just make a mess of things, but you don’t want too little, or the gold won’t separate properly. Some people use an old washing machine motor or a fan motor for this, just as long as it gives you a good steady shake.

Step 4: Put the Table on an Angle

The table needs to be tilted a bit so the material moves down towards the riffles. I always go for about a 5 to 10-degree tilt. This helps the gold sink while the dirt and rocks move away. You can adjust this later if you find it’s not workin’ just right.

Step 5: Install the Riffles and Screen

Once your table’s sittin’ pretty, you need to add the riffles. These should be spaced out evenly along the table, from one end to the other. The riffles help catch the gold, so make sure they’re not too big or too small. After you got the riffles on, put the mesh screen on top of the table, just under the riffles. The screen’ll help separate the smaller material and keep the riffles from gettin’ clogged up.

Step 6: Test It Out!

Alright, now it’s time for the fun part: testin’ it out! You’ll want to run a batch of dirt or material across the table to see how it works. Don’t worry if it don’t work perfect the first time—you can always adjust the speed of the motor, the angle of the table, or even the size of the riffles to get things just right. The more you practice with it, the better you’ll get.

Once you got everything workin’ good, you can start recoverin’ gold with your homemade shaker table. Just keep in mind, it ain’t always gonna be a big haul every time, but over time, you’ll get better at it and maybe find yourself a nice little stash of gold.

Conclusion

So there ya go, folks, makin’ your own shaker table for gold recovery don’t have to be somethin’ complicated. With just a few materials and a bit of time, you can have yourself a good ol’ shaker table that’ll help you separate that gold from the dirt. Now get to work and start shakin’ some gold loose!

Tags：[homemade shaker table, gold recovery, DIY shaker table, build your own shaker table, gold mining equipment, portable gold shaker table, riffle design]