Puddling hard clay

G'day
While testing out a new puddler to break down hard red clay my mate (not into gold) suggested a metal disk dropped in the bottom of the bucket to save punching through it. we used 2mm checker-plate and suddenly the clay was breaking down much faster and easier. The checker-plate seems to be giving a second grinding surface when twisting.

Is this something everybody already knows bar me?

Cheers

Chimpy

Chimpy wrote:G'day
While testing out a new puddler to break down hard red clay my mate (not into gold) suggested a metal disk dropped in the bottom of the bucket to save punching through it. we used 2mm checker-plate and suddenly the clay was breaking down much faster and easier. The checker-plate seems to be giving a second grinding surface when twisting.

Is this something everybody already knows bar me?

Cheers

Chimpy

I like the way your mate thinks that sounds like a neat trick indeed. cheers

You could also try expanded raised metal, that should work a treat.

G'day
I'm going to make up a checker-plate bucket with foot tabs out of some scap I salvaged. The disk in the bucket works great and seems to stay put and not rotate due to pressure and mud-suction.
Maka, I'll give the mesh a try but think it make move around the bottom of the bucket. If it does I'll weld it to the bottom of a steel one. I can mentally picture it working a treat but might be hard to wash everything out of it if I have to weld it in???
Anyhoo, a good excuse to tinker and I'll post my findings

Cheers

Chimpy

Question witout notice

What's the legality of trommels in NSW?

Cheers

Chimpy

Chimpy wrote:Question witout notice What's the legality of trommels in NSW?
Cheers Chimpy

They should be fine as long as you load your wash by hand.

I used to use an old hand turned Cement mixer that my grandfather gave me. It worked OK on clay wash but was a bit awkward to move about without a trailer or ute.

Oldmogo

We still use a petrol driven cement mixer to break down the hard clay it dose the job well.