Manually sifting dirt for arrowheads on a 4x8 table got tiring real quick.

This project started as a few lines drawn in the sand over the Christmas weekend while using that 4x8 table.
The idea was then transferred to high quality blueprints drawn on the shop refrigerator door in soapstone.
After 2 weeks of working off and on, mostly waiting for bearings, pulleys, heim joints, etc. we ran the first test session.
The test session pointed out a couple of changes and improvements that needed to be made but it worked better than expected and could sift thru an entire front end loader bucket in less than minutes - with wet dirt!

We hauled it down to the dig site yesterday and ran it for about an hour and found one nice point and some partial bird points in the secondary screen.

This was in the second bucketful of dirt.


Work in progress...




Drivetrain mockup while waiting for correct pillowblocks and small pulleys.
If you look right over the gas tank, you can see some of the diagrams and figures on the refrigerator door.



Setup in place at dig site.


Searching the secondary 1/4" mesh for bird points and small chips that make it thru the upper screen.


My nephew has the next 3 days off and I'm sure it will see much use.

Very cool machine!

We used to find alot of arrowheads on our lease by the creek, but haven't found any in the last 2 or 3 years, mostly chips and stuff.

I have a few on a bookshelf.

Nice work, I like how you did the gear reduction with the double pulley system. What did you use for your flywheel?

Absolutely LOVE this project. Well done!

Makes me think of the gold shows or standing on top of a dam reclaimer all freakin’ day, dumping bag after bag after bag of bentonite and soap.

Where are you digging? Old camp sites?

3" on motor to 12" on jack shaft with a 3" on jack shaft going to a 12" on the crank and flywheel.
The crank has a 1" throw so 2" total travel 112 times a minute w/motor running 1800RPM.
1 tank of gas lasts a long time.
Genuine 50 pound barbell weight from Academy...machined on my lathe to attach a highly modified 4 lug keyes gokart hub on each side and with 4 bolts thru the flywheel.



Yes Sir. We have an old camping area on our creek bottom.
Lots of points, tools, drills, hammer stones and Victoria umbrella tips.

Great info - thanks!

Few minutes from test #3.
Dirt was pretty wet but it still worked well.