Well now, if you’re lookin’ to make yourself a shaker table for gold, I reckon I can give ya a bit of a hand. You see, this whole shaker table thing, it’s a good ol’ way to separate that shiny gold from the dirt and other bits, right? And, makin’ one isn’t too hard if ya got the right stuff and a little patience. Let me tell ya, it’s all about the right motions and flow, just like how ya need to keep the chickens fed and the pigs watered, it’s all about routine and control.
First thing’s first. You gotta get yourself a flat table or board to start. I mean, this part ain’t complicated. I’m talkin’ about somethin’ solid, like plywood or even metal if ya got it. You don’t want the thing wobblin’ all over the place when you’re workin’ on it, so make sure it’s good and sturdy. Once you got your table, you’re gonna need to build a little slope to it. Now, not too much of a slope, just enough to let the water and gold move properly across the table. If you’re makin’ it yourself, use a level to make sure it’s not too steep or too flat, ya hear?
Then there’s the surface of the table itself. See, ya want it to have something for the gold to catch on, so ya need a rough surface. People use all sorts of stuff for this—some folks use rubber mats, others use something like ribbed plastic or even old carpet. It’s all about givin’ the gold a place to stick while the lighter dirt gets washed away. You can glue this down or staple it, whichever way works best for ya.
Now, here comes the tricky part—motion. You gotta get the table to shake just right, kind of like when you’re shaking out a rug, but not too much! If it’s too rough, all the gold will just bounce away with the dirt. If it’s too soft, it won’t separate a thing. The right motion’s key. Some folks use a motor, and others make do with springs or a hand crank. Whatever gets it vibrating gently, that’s the way to go. The motion needs to move the material back and forth across the table in a smooth, controlled way. Kinda like how a river flows, slow and steady, but with just enough push to move things around.
Now let’s talk about the water. You can’t forget the water. This whole process is called wet shaking, after all. You need to get a nice steady flow of water going over your table. Some people use hoses or pumps to do this, but it’s important to get the flow just right. If there’s too much water, it’ll wash all your gold away; too little, and it won’t move the dirt off. You want a slow, steady stream that just keeps things wet but doesn’t flood the whole setup.
Once you’ve got your table sloped, covered, shaken, and watered, you’re almost there. You just need to put your crushed ore or dirt onto the table and let the magic happen. As the table shakes, the gold, being heavier, will start to sink and stick to the rough surface, while the lighter dirt and rocks get washed away. It’s like separating the wheat from the chaff, just in a more shiny way. After a while, you’ll have gold collected in one spot, and you can scoop it off and start the whole thing again with more dirt.
Now, like I said, it’s all about patience. Ya can’t rush this thing. Just like when you’re pickin’ through beans, you’ve gotta take your time and make sure you’re gettin’ all the good stuff. If you keep that water flow right, the shakes smooth, and the table level, you’ll be collectin’ gold in no time, just like the pros. Ain’t no need to be afraid to get your hands dirty either. Gold don’t come easy, but with a good shaker table, you’ll make sure it’s worth your while.
And there ya have it! With a bit of effort and the right tools, you can make yourself a good ol’ shaker table for gold. Keep it simple, keep it steady, and the gold’ll come. Just remember, it’s all about control, and sometimes you gotta work a little harder to get the good stuff. Good luck, and happy gold huntin’!
Tags:[gold shaker table, how to make a shaker table, gold recovery, gold prospecting, DIY shaker table, gold mining, wet shaking table]