I did all the same things as you. I did notice last year that I was processing so much cobble that I had to create a chute off the exit of the trommel. I had such a big pile the weight broke my front legs 3 or 4 times. The chute was just just a piece of bucket with some split pvc tube, heated it and bent it sonitnwould clip on eithor side to I could just spread it and snap it onto the frame. It saved my front legs all year this year! Throws the cobble about an extra foot away! best add on yet!
That's a fantastic idea there. You could make a little stand with one or two buckets to catch the cobble coming out and use it as a radial stacker (rotate it from one side to the other) to spread out the tailings.
A suggested modification. I took a small piece of bucket scrap and put it over the axle. That helps keep dirt out of the top axle. Oh, and I used bungies with the hooks on both ends and cut only one end. That left the hooks there just to hang stuff if I needed to.
I am in the process of building one now. I put a zerc grease fitting on the underside of the cross and t that the axle runs in. This way I can lube these areas without needing to disassemble. Also bought 1.5" rubber hubs placed on the axle to keep dirt and ? Out of the greased areas.
+Bruce VanderZanden I thought about lubricants, but I'm using mine as a mini wash plant. I don't want grease/oil coating my sluice box mat or carpet. I figure I can always cut out the axle/fittings and replace those pieces. On the other hand, if you're running dry dirt only, keeping dirt out and lubrication in via the rubber hubs you mentioned should extend the life of the trommel for quite some time
I would also suggest applying duct tape along the cutting seam of the buckets so you don't end up with any jagged edges because they're easy to bug up and anything jagged ends up being extremely sharp.
Could you post all sizes eg pipe used,total length of bottom bucket to top bucket,mesh size,full length of middle shaft ,and any other sizes you may need, thanks Dudley , Queensland, Australia
+Jacobthebest1 I'm pretty firm in having the screen on the inside even though it's a little tougher to build. The reasoning for that is otherwise your material flows out of the hopper, slides down the smooth plastic of the first bucket, and then is only starting to break apart (if clumpy at all) once it hits the screen. If you're digging on site into gravel, the more tumbling/rough friction you get on the material the more gold you can break loose out of what you're feeding it. I should have a new video up and running soon, going to make it into a wash plant this weekend.
Thanks for the advice, I stated making one last weekend. I'm also trying to make mine into a washplant, and would love to see your video. Once again, thanks for the help!!!
