MAXI-Banker!

[Geowizard]

Hi Guys and Gals,

Back in 2009, after looking at the many options available for a wash plant. I needed a wash plant to use in my placer GOLD mine. It was frustrating to see wash plants that were over-built, heavy, and too expensive!

I decided on a DIY Alaska Bush version of a wash plant that was light weight, able to be assembled from pieces that could fit in a Cessna 207 airplane... It can be flown into remote bush air strips.

The objective was a low cost wash plant that can process 50 cubic yards per hour with NO moving parts.

In this thread, I would like to share my design and TEN YEAR prototype experience with the MAXI-Banker!

- Geowizard

[Geowizard]

Introducing the MAXI-Banker;


Here it is:

This shows two MAXI-Bankers. The sluice boxes are wide and long.

Two plants can be bolted side-by-side for double capacity.

- Geowizard

[Geowizard]

A few details;

A few details are revealed in the following image;

The frame is constructed with tubing. The pieces are bolted together with 3/8" bolts similar to an erector set. Use two combination end wrenches for assembly.

All of the frame tubing is in sections. The two chain supports are long.

The sluice boxes are supported by pieces of Unistrut.

The tubing can be stowed for shipping inside of the sluice box with the second sluice box forming the top cover (upside-down).

- Geowizard

[Geowizard]

Sluice boxes;

The sluice boxes were bent out of Diamond Plate Aluminum.

This provides a long, wide sluice box with sides.

A note about aluminum...

Many "experts" were critical about "aluminum". My reply was, "I'm only making it to last my lifetime"!

- Geowizard

[Geowizard]

The screen deck;

The screen deck is steel with parallel screen supports.

The screen is overlapped expanded steel. Spray bars are PVC and ABS tubing. The spray bars are driven by a water pump that supplies 600 gallons per minute.

- Geowizard

[Geowizard]

Side panels for screen;

I had aluminum cut into pieces. The remaining piece could serve as an apron.

A lip was bent along one side. Holes were drilled to bolt the side panels to the deck.

- Geowizard

[Geowizard]

They got shipped;

In late winter/early spring, I shipped three disassembled/kitted Maxi-Bankers with spare parts on a double pallet. Total weight was 2000 pounds.

-Geowizard

[Geowizard]

Feeding the Banker;

The Bankers were hungry for GOLD!

I owned one Loader and bought a Second Loader.

I put the first on a trailer and pulled it. Both traveled. Then they hopped on a Freighter and flew over the Alaska Range.

Early the next spring, they were barged down-river. As the snow melted, eventually I was able to drive from the mine over the mountains. With the assistance of a helper, we drove the loaders to the mine!

-Geowizard

[Geowizard]

Regressing slightly;

Here's a view of the Screen Deck side panels;

These were cut and bent as described earlier.

- Geowizard

[Geowizard]

The MAXI Banker Sluice matting;

I started with miner's moss;

This approach looked good...

Eventually, I went with another (time proven) mat...

There's more to come!

- Geowizard