Angus MacKirk FORMAN II SLUICE BOX Gold Nugget Traps - 29-3/4" High Production

Now in BLACK!!! The FORMAN II Sluice Box  – 

Sluice box for the prospector that wants to go through large amounts of material. Perfect for bank run shoveling by one person, durable, light weight

“Foreman-II” Designed as a MEDIUM Production Sluice box. This innovative sluice is widely known for its unmatched ability to capture hard-to-find fine gold thanks to a unique dual-flair design. Constrictions near the ramp slow water flow, then widen out to cause a quick, drastic drop in water pressure. This allows heavier precious metals to fall into the riffles and get captured where it can be recovered easily. Two-step ramp riffles capture more fine gold. Struts across the sluice serve as a bridge for rock weights. Handy carrying handles.

E-Z Storage and Great Recovery. 29-3/4" X 13-1/2" Wide OD. Flair in - Flair out. This is the sluice I use

It’s built of lightweight yet rugged premium-grade ABS plastic and doesn’t use carpet, expanded metal, miner’s moss or ribbed mats. That means cleaning and recovery are fast and easy. The grey background shows high-contrast material such as iron very well, making it easier to control the angle and pitch that determine the level and speed at which the riffles clean. The result is superior recovery.

Step 1 – Setting Up the Sluice

Locate a place in the stream with fast water and a gradual drop.  Water should run fast enough to move a 1” rock through at a medium speed -steady pace.  You may have to remove or re-arrange rocks to provide a space for the sluice to set so as to provide approximately 1 ½” to 2” of water uniformly at the proper speed.  If the water supply is slow, you can use rocks on the up-stream end to form a wedge which will direct more water flow (and speed) into your sluice.  

Step 2 – Holding the Sluice in place

Your EXPEDITION Stream  Sluice  comes with  a “ROCK WEIGHT BRIDGE” to hold the sluice in a stream or creek’s fast current.  This allows you to place a rock on the bridge to hold the sluice in place.  Use just enough weight to keep the sluice from washing away from the position you have set.

Step 3 – Processing the Material.     Deposit the Gold bearing material in the upstream end of the sluice and allow the water to wash it through.  NOTE:  Sluice will perform much better if the material is first run through a 1/4” classifier screen, thus eliminating the larger rocks from blocking the riffles and slowing down the processing of your material.  Continue to feed the material until the bottoms of the riffles be-come plugged with heavy black sands (which will prevent the Gold from settling to the bottom).  The amount of material that can be run will vary from one location to another (depending on the types of deposits in the area).  i.e. - Clay type material should be fed much slower than Gravel type material because the Clay/Mud must be broken up better to release the Gold trapped in it.

Step 4 – Clean out. When you are ready, stop feeding the sluice and allow clear water to continue running through the sluice to wash out any excess lighter material.  When the sluice is ready for clean out, lift the intake end out of the water first.  This stops the water flowing through the sluice and drains the excess water out.  Pick up the sluice and place the lower left (or right) corner into a bucket or Gold pan.  Keep the sluice tilted to the side, flush the sluice with water from a can, gold pan etc., washing the “concentrates” into a container.  NOW, you are ready to Pan (or other method) your concentrates and retrieve your Gold. If you have set your sluice correctly, most of your Gold will be in the first 4 riffles.  If you find most of the Gold at the lower end,  you have too steep of an angle on your sluice or, are feeding it too fast.  Reduce the down angle or, slow the feed on your next run. 

Your Sluice is made of Acrylic Butyl Styrene Plastic.  It is one of the toughest Plastics there is.  If,  (in the unlikely event) Your Sluice should become cracked or otherwise broken, it can be easily re-paired with ordinary ABS Cement that is readily available at any Hardware or Home Improvement store, or any Plumbing Supply.