What should I look for in a gold pan, to go gold panning in Alaska?
Ozymandias asked:
My family is moving to the Fairbanks Alaska area, and my wife and I had the idea of gold panning during the summer months while we are there as an outdoor recreation activity, something the whole family could enjoy.
My family is moving to the Fairbanks Alaska area, and my wife and I had the idea of gold panning during the summer months while we are there as an outdoor recreation activity, something the whole family could enjoy.
While we MAY end up with a small sluice in a year or two, for right now we are going to be restricted to panning.
Our first goal is to get the family panning enough to scavange up enough to make me a ring.
Looking at gold pans I see many different types, and I was wondering which was best?
I see ones with DEEP ruffles cut 90 degrees, but these seem very large grooves to me, then there are some with just a small lip, and some are smooth.
Then there are the sizes, 10 inch, 12 inch, 14 inch…
and Colors… black, green, orange, pink…
Could use some info…
Anyone know a good brand of gold pan?
gold prospecting equipment
The larger the pan the more dirt it will hold. Plastic pans work all right. Be sure and wash them with a good dish soap. If you go with metal, try what my grandfather did. get a small fire going and put the pan in up side down. This burns all the oil off and darkens the metal allowing you to see the gold better. if you go with plastic try the darker colors, black, dark green . also get a plastic strainer or colander . put your dirt in it and shake to eliminate the larger rocks. be sure you put your pan under the strainer first.