DIY Hand Dredge Pump

thingiverse

Please support my channel so I can continue creating and sharing my innovative projects with you. Additional content, tutorials, and exclusive files will be available at https://ko-fi.com/manmade. This DIY hand dredge pump is a game-changer for prospecting enthusiasts, and I'm excited to share my design with you. The motivation behind this project was to make it more accessible and affordable for everyone. After all, who doesn't love saving money? The total cost of this project came out to be around $75, which is significantly less than the typical $175 options available on the market. Here's a breakdown of the materials I used: For the pump and sluice tube, I opted for 2"x36" PVC pipes. I made them extra long so you can use them in rivers or any other body of water with ease. The handle and piston were made from 1" diameter PVC pipes, ensuring a smooth and efficient operation. For the hose, I recommend checking out this affordable option on Lowe's website: https://www.lowes.com/pd/STAR-Water-Systems-Plastic-Hose/1000678131. You can also find a similar hose at Walmart for a great price: https://www.walmart.com/ip/LITTLE-GIANT-SPDK-Sump-Pump-Hose-Polyethylene-Dia-1-1-4-In/161323725. The rubber plunger was sourced from this link on Lowe's website, but I had to grind down the flange on the larger side to match the smaller side: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Oatey-PVC-Test-Plug-Fitting/3880609?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-rpe-_-google-_-lia-_-142-_-indoordrainage-_-3880609-_-0&store_code=1080. One-way valves were used to ensure the water flows in one direction, and you can find them on Home Depot's website: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Water-Source-2-in-Plastic-Sewage-Check-Valve-SPC200/203449540?mtc=Shopping-B-F_Brand-G-Multi-NA-Multi-NA-Feed-PLA-NA-NA-Catchall_PLA.