Sluice Box

🪙 Passive Gold Sluice Box (No Pump Needed)

🔥 Overview

This is a compact, passive gold sluice box designed to work in natural flowing water — no pump, no power, and minimal setup required.

Built for beginners and hobby prospectors, this design focuses on fine gold recovery in small rivers and creek confluences (like where a creek meets a river).

⚙️ Features

• ✅ No pump required – uses natural water flow
• ✅ Fine gold optimized riffles (low profile to prevent washout)
• ✅ Wide intake flare to catch more water
• ✅ Built-in hopper for slow, gravity-fed material
• ✅ Anchor points for easy stabilization with rocks
• ✅ 3D printable design

🧠 How It Works

Water flows into the intake and down the sluice. As material moves through:

• Lighter sand and gravel wash away
• Heavier material (like gold) settles behind riffles

The hopper allows slow feeding, making it semi-automatic.

📍 Best Use Case

This sluice performs best in:

• Small to medium rivers
• Creek-to-river confluences
• Shallow flowing water

👉 Ideal for locations like the Crowsnest River where fine gold is present.

⚙️ Setup Tips

• Angle: 5–12°
• Place in moderate flow (not fast current)
• Position slightly angled to water flow
• Use rocks to secure in place

🖨️ Print Settings

• Material: PLA (test) or PETG (recommended)
• Layer height: 0.2 mm
• Infill: 20–30%
• Walls: 3+ perimeters

⚠️ For larger setups, scale up or print in sections.

🧪 Notes

• Designed for fine placer gold, not nuggets
• Works best when flow is steady and not too aggressive
• Results depend heavily on placement

⚠️ Disclaimer

Always check local regulations before using sluices in waterways. Respect nature and avoid disturbing riverbeds unnecessarily.

👍 Final Thoughts

This is a low-effort, passive gold collection tool — set it up, let nature do the work, and check back later.

Perfect for experimenting, learning, and seeing what your local river holds.