Homemade Sluice

Sluice Box Dimensions

• Sluice boxes may be made out of wood or metal. The dimensions are the same no matter what material is used. The length is typically 3 to 6 feet, with a width of 8 to 18 inches. The first foot of the sluice does not contain any riffles. This is the area where the material is placed to be washed down the sluice. The riffles are placed every 6 inches. The riffles may be made out of wood or metal.

Sluice Lining

• Lining the bottom of the sluice box under the riffles will provide an area for the gold to be deposited and not stand the chance of being washed over the riffle. Short shag carpet, car shammy, heavy felt and miner's moss work well for this lining. The benefit to having a lining in the sluice box is to find the larger pieces of gold while sluicing and let the sluice dry out. Turn the sluice box over on a piece of heavy plastic and hit the bottom of the box several times. Small pieces of gold will drop from the lining to be found on the plastic. Other small particles will fall out also, but it's an interesting way to catch some of the smaller gold pieces.

Wood vs. Metal

• The wooden sluice box riffles wear down over time when they are made from wood. The gravel bumps up against the wood and either creates gouges or loosens the riffle from the wood base. Metal riffles work better but they will also loosen with time as the wood absorbs water.

  Lightweight aluminum works well for the sluice box. It weighs significantly less for transportation, does not absorb water and the riffles may be attached using rivets. The disadvantage is having the right equipment to bend the aluminum into the proper shape.