Last Post 06 Apr 2020 01:15 AM by  Brent Usry
Gold cradle construction & use
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Len Solarz
Greenhorn
Greenhorn
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28 Jan 2016 09:26 AM
    Has anyone prospected with a cradle? What's a good build for GOLD dust? I've read that Prospectors are able to get concentrate down to color for ascertaining gravel content per yard. Anyone doing this? Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
    Tim Leibel
    Buzzard
    Buzzard
    Posts:608



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    29 Jan 2016 06:30 AM
    If you have the Season 1 Gold Trails box set, one of the extras is Kevin Building a rocker box. He does a good job using only the tools you are likely to have in your RzV.
    Kenneth Swineford
    New Member
    New Member
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    29 Jan 2016 08:57 AM
    I've built wood cradles, but they get heavy when they have been used all day, I would recommend a build from aluminum sheet. Size is up to you. They are great for moving volume where water flow and availability are in short supply or the drop isn't adequate for a sluice box. I build mine about 2 feet long and the drop should be about 1 and 1/2 inches per foot. the apron baffle inside the hopper needs to be sloped at about 30 degrees, most of the gold should be caught on the baffle just under the classifier. Keep the riffles shorter, I like slightly more than a quarter inch straight up and down riffle, this is because they don't wash the same way a sluice does, gold will stop in the concentrates before the riffle not lay in an eddy behind it. This is because the water puddles in front of the riffle and creates a fluid bed or quick sand if you will. Rocking though not necessary keeps that fluid bed loose like panning does when the gold is moving, allowing it to sink into your concentrates and be stuck. If there are a lot of black sands they tend to fill the rocker quickly.
    Len Solarz
    Greenhorn
    Greenhorn
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    29 Jan 2016 02:20 PM
    Thanks for the material advice and angle on the apron. Great photos!
    Len Solarz
    Greenhorn
    Greenhorn
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    29 Jan 2016 02:22 PM
    Yes I got the set w/my membership. It was great fun watching him making it up as he went along.
    ARTHUR WAUGH
    Advanced Member
    Advanced Member
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    29 Jan 2016 03:38 PM
    I don't know if they are still around or not, but a couple 2-3 years ago there were ads in the GPAA mag for an alum. cradle that stored in it's own self, came with a shoulder strap and weighed around 20 lbs.complete.  It was around $350 IIRC and was made in northwest Oregon.  I remember looking at it, and went another direction.
    Len Solarz
    Greenhorn
    Greenhorn
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    29 Jan 2016 03:43 PM
    Thanks. I want to build my own...but I'm getting some great tips and ideas. It may be heavy but it'll be mine!
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    ARTHUR WAUGH
    Advanced Member
    Advanced Member
    Posts:967



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    30 Jan 2016 08:33 AM
    I agree, sometimes DIY is neat and satisfying.  I have built 2-3 sluices and am rebuilding a 2 1/2" dredge to suit myself.  On the other hand the research , design and engineering in a commercial piece is worth the cost in the trial and error in our efforts.  Just tossed it out as an alternative and something to look at.  Gold Grabber has what looks like a nice unit as well with a hand pump mounted on side which not only supplies the water but is the rocking handle.
    Brent Usry
    Greenhorn
    Greenhorn
    Posts:3



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    06 Apr 2020 01:15 AM
    I bought a rocker box from jerry at gold cradle in Oregon his # is 503 357-3697
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