recon or explorer or foreman?!?

Joined: 10 Feb 2012 Posts: 6 Location: new zealand!

hi guys. i am kind of new to prospecting but i still know quite a bit about sluices and how they work.
i am going to buy a angus mackirk sluice but i dont know exactly what one to buy Confused

i want a smallish portable one which can run with less water flow and captures very fine alluvial gold and can hold a decent amount of materiel. i also want no gold loss obviously Wink

ive narowed it down to a few options:
the recon au trap: http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?q=angus+mackirk+recon+au+trap&um=1&hl=en&sa=G&biw=1680&bih=927&tbm=isch&tbnid=2gS8ICq1GSBUsM:&imgrefurl=http://angusmackirk.com/product_pages/sluices.html&docid=kMjPC9LVeHD0ZM&imgurl=http://angusmackirk.com/angus2/images/products/sluices/2012/au_trap/recon.gif&w=285&h=210&ei=NRE6T_qsI8fxmAWE35XUCg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=717&vpy=162&dur=590&hovh=168&hovw=228&tx=108&ty=87&sig=113621874022073039822&page=1&tbnh=133&tbnw=168&start=0&ndsp=38&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0

(look at the url for image)

the explorer: http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?q=explorer+stream+sluice+angus+mackirk&um=1&hl=en&biw=1680&bih=927&tbm=isch&tbnid=RmPF2YjiHf4XpM:&imgrefurl=http://angusmackirk.com/product_pages/sluices.html&docid=kMjPC9LVeHD0ZM&imgurl=http://angusmackirk.com/angus2/images/products/sluices/2012/production-sluices/explorer.gif&w=281&h=206&ei=CRI6T4KlJqHsmAX2_biYCw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=366&vpy=164&dur=741&hovh=164&hovw=224&tx=139&ty=64&sig=113621874022073039822&page=1&tbnh=125&tbnw=170&start=0&ndsp=39&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0

or mabey the foreman: http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?q=angus+mackirk+foreman&um=1&hl=en&biw=1680&bih=927&tbm=isch&tbnid=tCM0jtPV42GxGM:&imgrefurl=http://www.bigvalleymetaldetectors.com/angusmackirk/stream-sluices.htm&docid=yw-O1J0o7Yo0eM&imgurl=http://www.bigvalleymetaldetectors.com/angusmackirk/graphics/foreman.jpg&w=285&h=210&ei=ghI6T4bNJMqOmQWmmpS5Cw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=195&vpy=159&dur=1158&hovh=168&hovw=228&tx=162&ty=109&sig=113621874022073039822&page=1&tbnh=128&tbnw=178&start=0&ndsp=36&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

i am kind of liking the recon more cause of the au trap technology but i like the bigger size and production of the explorer. and i find the foreman i bit too much to spend compared the the others. so yea... what is my best option?

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 7:02 am

If the foreman is too big then the recon!

Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 3:40 pm

The Foreman is a perfect size...you can run more material on the Foreman than the Recon. The Explorer is an excellent choice and very versatile but the Foreman is going to catch even finer gold(yay). I had gotten very use to the Explorer and had to play with the Foreman a few times to make sure I was running it as good as possible. I can now say with confidence that if you want AUtrap design sluice and dont have enough flow for the Boss, I would say go with the Foreman...just my 2 cents.

Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 5:13 pm

Well I've used my trusty 51A Keene for about five years now. Heard alot about Angus MacKirk sluices. Finally, just ordered he Au. Trap Recon from Shay. Started to get the Forman but wanted a few inches smaller. So, now I will be testing to see what all the hype is about. I hope I will be hanging my Keene up in the building after testing. Wish me luck.

Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 5:31 pm

Deputydog wrote:

Well I've used my trusty 51A Keene for about five years now. Heard alot about Angus MacKirk sluices. Finally, just ordered he Au. Trap Recon from Shay. Started to get the Forman but wanted a few inches smaller. So, now I will be testing to see what all the hype is about. I hope I will be hanging my Keene up in the building after testing. Wish me luck.

You should have very good results with the Recon. The cons are turbulance and surges(pretty much for any ramp riffle/drop riffle type sluice).

Dredger Joined: 09 Feb 2011 Posts: 487 Location: ohio

dont know what you went with , but i was kinda in the same boat as you , except the recon was as big as i wanted to go do to the fact that im pretty much on the move alot !!! i went with the recon do to the very fine gold i have around me and its size , plus im used to a low process rate with my sluice now and ill b able process a bit more and hopefully catch that smaller stuff that i may be losing now .. as in many other post i think your gonna be happy with what ever you get and size and such is gonna be narrowed down to your personal choice ... it is a tuff decision though ...lol

Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 4:09 pm

I personally would not want to go smaller than the foreman unless for just sampling. Dont take much water at all for the foreman. The explorer is awesome as well but the foreman will catch even finer gold.

What sluice were you using before gary? you said low process rate?
the Foreman is considered for medium production rates(drop a scoop in, go for another and drop it in, go for another drop it in, speed denpending on material ran).

Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 5:01 pm

""" i also want no gold loss obviously"""

NO matter what equipment you use you will have a loss factor...

Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 6:35 pm

I just got the recon a week ago. Small enough t fit in a bucket but not to big. I really like mine.

Joined: 10 Feb 2012 Posts: 6 Location: new zealand!

I'm probably going to get a grubsteak for where there's less water and a foreman for rivers and where there's ultra fine gold.