Screen Sizes (Pulsator and Trommel)

[drdjw]

G'day Guys,

Hope everyone is keeping cool in this weather!

I'm building a trommel and pulsator at the moment and was hoping that you guys may be able to share some advice about aperture/hole sizes for mesh.

The trommel has three sections:
     1. A fine mesh to remove dirt from the wash;
     2. A larger mesh to allow the smaller size fraction through to that pulsator; and
     3. A larger mesh again to allow the larger size fraction of the wash through into the second pulsator.

I've got two pulsators operating to help the separation process, as sapphires separate better in a pulsating bed of similar sized stones.

My guess for the screens are:
     1. 2mm opening (use this same size in the bed of the pulsators),
     2. 10mm opening,
     3. 25mm opening.

What are people's thoughts on these sizes?

Cheers,
Dylan

[Bluey Zarzoff]

Sounds about right to me. You may even be able to go a bit bigger with the 25mm if you wish. Maybe 35mm.

[Andrew]

 We only ever used two Mesh sizes but we did not ever get Massive Sapphire,Mostly Bombs you get in QLD.
 I would suggest 2mm is way to small for your small size as it will just get Blocked up,2mm can work in a Pulsator as the Water action keeps it Clear but in a Trommel anything under 5mm will just cause Havoc.
 Thats my experience but from a different Field      

[drdjw]

Thanks Guys! I'll look into adding both of your recommendations to my design.