Scalable Highbanker Sluice Blueprint
Budget: $30 – $250 AUD
I am building what will likely be the largest yet truly portable high-banker on the market: a 26-foot modular sluice made up of eight individual trays. Tray widths step up as follows: 11.75", 12", 17.75", 18", and four at 36". The concept is simple—bolt together as many trays as the job site warrants, throw the rest in the truck, and scale back down just as easily.
The core design goals are:
• True scalability without compromising water velocity or capture efficiency.
• Easy transport and setup in remote locations.
• Reliable performance in clay- and silt-heavy paydirt.
Key features I need engineered straight into the plans include adjustable water flow and fully removable riffles so I can fine-tune recovery or swap in specialty riffle sets without tearing down the entire run. Interchangeable mats are a nice-to-have but not mandatory at this stage.
What I expect to receive:
1. Full CAD drawings (2D & 3D) for each tray and the assembled 26-foot unit.
2. Exploded views that show connection hardware, riffle mounting, and water distribution plumbing.
3. Material and thickness recommendations for aluminum construction that balance weight with durability.
4. Set-up and breakdown instructions suitable for a two-person crew.
5. A short design note explaining how flow adjustment will be achieved across different tray counts.
There is no hard deadline, so you can iterate until the design is genuinely field-ready; I care more about robustness than speed. If you have placer-gold gear already under your belt—or have wrestled with sticky clays before—your insights will be especially valued.
The core design goals are:
• True scalability without compromising water velocity or capture efficiency.
• Easy transport and setup in remote locations.
• Reliable performance in clay- and silt-heavy paydirt.
Key features I need engineered straight into the plans include adjustable water flow and fully removable riffles so I can fine-tune recovery or swap in specialty riffle sets without tearing down the entire run. Interchangeable mats are a nice-to-have but not mandatory at this stage.
What I expect to receive:
1. Full CAD drawings (2D & 3D) for each tray and the assembled 26-foot unit.
2. Exploded views that show connection hardware, riffle mounting, and water distribution plumbing.
3. Material and thickness recommendations for aluminum construction that balance weight with durability.
4. Set-up and breakdown instructions suitable for a two-person crew.
5. A short design note explaining how flow adjustment will be achieved across different tray counts.
There is no hard deadline, so you can iterate until the design is genuinely field-ready; I care more about robustness than speed. If you have placer-gold gear already under your belt—or have wrestled with sticky clays before—your insights will be especially valued.