way2cool Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 I need to replace the bellows material and I am not sure what to use. I picked up a used Thompson12 volt for $90.00 everything else looks good. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlstruck Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 I used the canvas off a folding chair. Have used other canvas materials and found that a backing, plastic/rubber keeps it from getting strings when you work with it. Use the old one to trace the new one out. I sew the pockets by hand. You can contact Thompson mfg. and buy one from them. Good luck I like my puffer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 Canvas? are you serious?? Hows the recovery with that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Border Boy Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 Wal mart has some nice pleather that works well and super cheap.Hope this helps,JUSTIN. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldies1955 Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 Take a sample to a material/sewing store.If its the bellows, then most likely a thin vinal material will work.Tom H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank c Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 Cordura or Sunbrella is best. For the bellows cloth.Canvas will work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
way2cool Posted October 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 Thanks Gents. I got a hold of Mr Thompson he uses Sunbrella. So I will check a few places after work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beepinpete_WA Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 Lotta bloke here in WA use 6oz canvas and wet it down real good once you'vecut it to size before fitting it on mate.The wetting is important as when the canvas dries slowly it seals the bellows.I'm not fully up to speed with your dryblower model, any chance of a quick photo or 2 of it ??Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZNuggetBob Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 I agree with frank c the Cordura may be a good durable alternative to canvas. or maybe even a rubberized cordura. AzNuggetBob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beepinpete_WA Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 Bob do you mean Corduroy as we knopw it here ?And if so, is the fine grained corduroy the best or course graned.Cheers Bob for the word on this PS dont it leak when in the "Puff" mode on petrol blowers or is it negligable ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beepinpete_WA Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 Forgot to add BobMost blokes here in WA do with the right geo conditions on finer gold like to run their "Puff Puff's" on 60 - 90 Puffs a minute.What sort of speeds do a few of yous like to run the small 3x1 ft puffers.We now have water rights to pump from a large ex mine pit and scrape to 4 meters, so its a wet plant for me.This weekend we will be just detecting it and maybe bag some rock chip and stream sediment samples for some sampling.Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Tom Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 Hey pete, Cordura is actually a texured nylon that is used in many military applications. Hunting gear and rain gear also. its a tough material that won't leak when used on a Puffer. Old Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZNuggetBob Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 PeteI have not used a drywasher in years but when I did I used a gasoline blower/vac for the air off of a vacume also to suck the material out of the cracks in bedrock. so I really cant answer on the puffer speed?. As far as the Cordura it is a very durable material. I have a pair of waist high snake chaps made out of it that I have had for years and there still holding up very well.They are hot to wear because they dont breath, (leak air) well at all. AzNuggetBob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvchris Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 Here is one of Franks "Ol Yeller" Puffers in action Pete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutch john Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 Well... what a great variety of answers... all can be right. .. drywashing is really an inexactsubject that has been kicked around the campfires for over 100 years. Each user claiminghis the best. But one thing for sure the dirt must be dry and the tilt of the bellows box ismore critical as it somewhat determines the bellows speed. Other factors are the amountof "lumps" of clay and other "balls" of dirt. They can cause any gold within them to wind upin the riffle tailings.Articles and books can, and have been, written on drywashing. But we need to keep in mindthat the early washers were made (handcrafted) with whatever material was available inthe camps... levis, wool shirts, powder box's, screens from old screen doors, salvaged boottacs and other local available material... Make and can-do!.I can well remember "Dragline" Miller admonishing my dad "Grub is short, tip up the riffletray and shovel faster." This was back about 1937 at the 'Hogum" claim in Oceola Nevadaand Dragline was turning the crank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notoriouskelly Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 Hadn't seen the automatic version; I love my manual Ol Yeller - probably the only drywasher I'll ever own.And just found a very black-sandy spot out detecting I want to return to to wash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gravelwasher Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 I used a pair of old blue jeans for the bellows portion, still in construction though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
way2cool Posted October 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 Gravelwasher I think you will lose too much air out of the sides and not force enough air throughthe sluice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlstruck Posted October 23, 2012 Report Share Posted October 23, 2012 Canvas? are you serious?? Hows the recovery with that? Are you talking about the bellows material? or the riffle? Canvas works fine on the bellows and my recovery is strong. For the riffles I use muslin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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