Jobe 2.5" Floating Dredge

Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 2:35 pm

I just received my Jobe 2.5" Floating Dredge. This dredge comes with a Honda 2.5 engine and Keene pump. I plan on testing it tomorrow so hopefully it will perform as good as it looks! (Let me know if your interested in ordering one...this is the first one off the production line and I get to be the test dummy)

Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 3:47 pm

looks nice But that motor looks like it would get in the way mounted there Sad

but if it works thats all that counts....

Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 4:48 pm

What're you using for air?

I'll have a two line hooka with me when I make it back to the Broad. This weekend looks bad for the weather, but the following weekend might work out.

Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 6:05 pm

Does the sluice get wider as it goes down? (Or is that the angle of the photograph?) That would slow the water down thus on paper help with fine gold to drop out of suspension.

Let us know how it does and dollars.

Looks like a good unit.

Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 10:27 pm

What is the size of the sluice?

Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 9:22 am

I like it.

It may need a drip tray under the engine. I could see oil or gas getting dripped into the sluice, eventually.

Is that the 2" or 2.5" you have? I thought the 2.5" came with a flare.

Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 10:55 am

I like it but dont care for the placement of motor/pump. Ive always like the crash box setup though. Wish keene would take notes on that one.

Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 12:46 pm

I wish Angus McKirk would.

I think the beaver dredge is a good idea, just too small.

With a 2 1/2" dredge and the tapered drop riffle sluice like the Jobe, it might be a killer combination on small creeks and streams.

I'm for a jet log and flair over a crash box. The engine placement is terrible for cleaning out a plug or sluice cleanup, unless the sluice slides out from under the engine for cleanup. It's hard to tell from the picture Shay took. I'm really interested to hear what he thinks of it after taking it out for a trial run.

Hope it does real well with the fines and flakes! Very Happy

IMHO

Dickb

Guest

So how did the new dredge perform?

Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 8:42 pm

We spent about 4 hours with the new dredge today and it worked awesome! It took some getting use to and it still needs a few tweaks. The punch plate has got to be re-made to go all the way back to the end of the crash box and so does the carpet. The funny thing we realized about this dredge was it was catching all the gold in the middle of the sluice box and a lot of it! Nothing was being caught under the crash box like we are all use to. Like I said it did an awesome job at catching the gold....we just have to think outside the box...or crashbox Very Happy

Guest

My dredge with crash box catches the gold in the mat and the first two or so riffles, sometimes it gets down to the 3 or 4th one. Maybe its the punch plate that is letting the gold move to the middle.

I would think the gold would settle towards the most vibration, and since the engine is in the middle, it would all gravitate towards the middle. To the heaviest vibration.

Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 8:39 am

I was pleased and surprised with the dredge. After seeing the cleanups I realized this dredge is already dialed in with the exception of the punch plate Shay mentioned. We are always looking in the upper part of the box for gold when it actually ends up in the riffles because of the widened sluice. Maybe we shouldn't do anything to the machine.
I like it better than my Keene 2".

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 7:03 pm

Any other thoughts on this dredge, Shay, after using it?

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 7:06 pm

indyme2 wrote:

Any other thoughts on this dredge, Shay, after using it?

I think it is just a good dredge. I plan on re-doing the punch plate and thats about it. The dredge has great flotation and does a great job at catching the gold. Not sure what more I could ask out of it. I'm thinking about buying another one Very Happy

Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:23 pm

I am confused. Is the 2.5 available with either a power jet or suction nozzle? What is the delivery time? Thanks.

Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 9:40 pm

It is available with both and the lead time is about two weeks.

Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 7:44 am

In the picture it looks like the punch plate is sitting directly on top of the expanded. Its not is it?