There are several folding sluice boxes on the market. They function just like a regular sluice box, but have features that allow them to be either folded or broken down. There is one big advantage to this type of sluice box, and that is portability.
Functionally, a folding sluice works no differently than a regular sluice box. Once you have it set up, material is shoveled into the head of the box just like any other. How well it recovers gold will depend on the many variables that are so important when adjusting any type of placer mining equipment.
Hiking In
If you mine close to the road, then you don’t need a folding sluice. A standard sluice box like the Keene A52 would probably suit your needs perfectly. It is fairly lightweight and has a handle that makes it easy to transport a few hundred meters with no difficulty.
The advantage of a folding sluice comes when you are packing in to remote areas, far away from existing roads. These are the places that most other people avoid, but they can be very productive because they don’t get prospected very hard.
I love to hike into remote streams and prospect. Not only is it a great way to get away from the crowds and enjoy nature, but I almost always find more gold than I do at the hammered areas that everyone else goes to. Put in the work and you will almost always be rewarded with better gold.
Back in the day, I had a spot that was several hours in the backcountry. I would load up a pack frame with a long sluice box and enough gear to stay for a couple nights. I looked like a mule going down the trail.
With a folding sluice you can be much more compact. Most are small enough that they will fit into a large backpack, but when it is unfolded it is long enough to be effective.
Riffles & Matting
Just like any other sluice, the configuration of riffles and matting will have a lot to do with the effectiveness in gold recovery. There is no single right answer to which is best. It depends on the size and shape (flat, round, coarse, etc.) and the amount of stream flow.
Carpet and miner’s moss underneath hungarian riffles are tried-and-true gold catchers. Combined with the durability of an aluminum frame, this classic sluice box configuration can definitely catch a lot of gold.
It is common these days to find sluice boxes made from high impact plastics. There are advantages and disadvantages of these types of sluices, but one benefit is that they are definitely more lightweight than metal. Additionally, some designs are modular which allows them to break down. Not exactly folding, but the idea is the same. You can break them into smaller parts which provides excellent portability.
