When going out gold panning there are several tools you should have at your disposal to make life easier. A gold classifier is a tool that will be of great help not only when it comes to speeding up the gold panning process, but also with improving the recovery rate. So, what are the best classifiers for gold panning?
The best classifiers for gold panning and prospecting are:
- SE Patented Stackable 13-1/4″ Sifting Pan
- Garrett Metal Detectors Sifter/Classifier
- 9 Stackable Sifting pan/classifier set
- 5 Stackable Sifting pan/classifier set
- Stansport Gold Panning Classifier
Table of Contents
What Does a Classifier Do?
Simply put, a classifier is a sort of sieve/screen which is made to fit on top of a bucket or a gold pan. As you pour the streambed material through the classifier, it will screen out larger rocks and other pieces so that you are left only with finer pebbles and sands. This has several benefits:
- Panning gets easier: When panning, you remove the lighter materials by submerging the pan into water, raising it, and letting the water that escapes the pan carry the lighter materials with it. Bigger rocks will simply stay in the pan and require manual removal, which is time-consuming. A classifier screens out these rocks so that they don’t end up in the gold pan in the first place!
- More Gold: As the panning process can be carried out much quicker, you will be able to pan more material and collect more gold. And as you throw away the larger rocks they will not interfere with the panning process, often resulting in a higher recovery rate.
- Less to carry: If you are collecting streambed material in a bucket and moving it to your panning location, having a classifier obviously means that you can toss away heavy rocks and only carry the valuable streambed material.
When you run some types of specialized equipment they might require material within a certain size-span to run efficiently. Here classifiers provide a quick way of achieving the necessary size separation.
Three examples of such devices are sluice boxes, miller tables, and blue bowls.
Classifier Terminology: Understanding Mesh Size
When talking about classifiers there is some special terminology you should know about. Specifically, it has to do with the size of the holes in the screen.
In general layman terms, the size of the holes is referred to in inches. In other words, a half-inch classifier has holes that are 0,5 inches wide. Nothing strange here!
However, in proper mining terms, the size of the holes is expressed in mesh sizes. In simple terms, mesh size is the number of openings per linear inch. If the mesh is 2, it means that every square inch contains 2 * 2 holes, which is 4.
Here is a table showing three classifier sizes expressed in inches, mesh size, and openings per square inch.
| Inch Size | Mesh Size | openings per sq.in. |
| 1/2 inch | 2 mesh | 1/2 inch |
| 1/4 inch | 4 mesh | 1/4 inch |
| 1/8 inch | 8 mesh | 1/8 inch |
Which Mesh Size Should You Pick?
For most gold panning operations, a 1/4 inch classifier is a good choice. However, most prospectors have several classifiers of varying sizes at their disposal, to be able to pick the optimal size for the current site.
The best classifier size depends on the area you are working in. For instance, if you know that the area has yielded gold nuggets in the past, you might not want a too fine mesh, as you could risk throwing them away. Regardless, it’s always a good idea to go over the tailings with a metal detector if you are prospecting in areas known for having gold nuggets.
In some cases, like when you are working with some pieces of equipment such as blue bowls, you will be classifying material all the way down to 100 mesh!
With all this said, let’s look at the 5 best classifiers you can get your hands on today!
Top 5 Classifiers For Gold Panning
As with most tools and equipment there are many options available to choose between. A classifier simply is a sieve, and as such, there is no point in spending too much money on one. However, as you will see, the very cheapest options are made completely from plastic, which simply isn’t as durable as the metal screens found in many other models.
Here are the five best classifiers for prospectors and gold panners:
SE Patented Stackable 13-1/4″ Sifting Pan
If you were to choose just one classifier for your ventures, this is certainly one of the better options out there. Being inexpensive, lightweight, and with a screen made of stainless steel, this is a no-brainer if you’re looking for just one classifier that will last you many years to come.
There are several mesh sizes to choose from, ranging from 1/100 inch up to 1/2 inch. We suggest you go for the 1/4 inch size as it will screen out most bigger rocks, while still allowing smaller gold nuggets to get through as well.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Robust Design: Made from durable plastic with a stainless steel
- Comes in various sizes
- Stackable
- Fits on top of regular 5-gallon buckets
Cons:
- Nothing in particular
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Garrett Metal Detectors Sifter/Classifier
Garret has gained a good reputation in the gold prospecting industry for making durable and high-quality products, and their classifiers are no exception.
While this classifier is geared specifically towards metal detecting, there is nothing keeping you from using it in wet conditions as well. Being really cheap, it’s also a good fit for any new prospectors who might not want to spend too much money.
Unlike the previously listed classifier which only has the frame made of plastic, this one is composed completely of plastic material.
This is definitely reflected in the weight of the device, which is roughly half that of classifiers equipped with a stainless steel mesh screen.
For me, it raises some concerns regarding the longevity of the device. Although I’ve seen quite some prospectors who are happy with their plastic classifier, I can’t help but think they will break more easily than a solid, steel net.
Pros:
- Really inexpensive
- lightweight: Weight is half that of classifiers with metal screens.
- Fits on top of five-gallon buckets
Cons:
- Only Available in one size (1/2 inch)
- Some concerns regarding the longevity of the product, given its plastic screen.
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9 Stackable Sifting pan/classifier set
- 1/100
- 1/70
- 1/50
- 1/30
- 1/20
- 1/12
- 1/8
- 1/4
- 1/2
Having so many classifiers of varying sizes might not be a necessity for regular gold panning, but it will prove really useful when cleaning up your gold concentrates Many pieces of specialized clean-up equipment, such as the blue bowl or miller table, require the material to be fairly similar sized to function efficiently.
In addition to the features above, all the classifiers are made to fit on top of a 5-gallon bucket, and are stackable to ensure quick and easy classification of materials.
As you pour the material through the stack of classifiers, each classifier will simply catch gravels of its particular mesh size or bigger, while the rest falls through to the next classifier with a smaller mesh size. Really convenient!
Pros:
- Stackable design that saves time
- fits on top of a regular 5-gallon bucket
- Durable stainless steel Wire design that won’t break in the first place!
- Great price
Cons:
- The included mesh sizes might not be exactly those you are looking for.
- It might be considered somewhat expensive if you’re not going to use all or a majority of the included classifiers.
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5 Stackable Sifting pan/classifier set
This set is very similar to the one just presented, with the only difference that it contains 5 classifiers instead of 9. To be more specific, they have got rid of the really tiny mesh sizes, while keeping the bigger ones.
Here is a list of the included sizes:
- 1/20
- 1/12
- 1/8
- 1/4
- 1/2
If you aren’t going to be separating really tiny gold using devices like the blue bowl, you might decide that this is a better option for you, as you won’t need those smaller mesh sizes.
However, last time I checked the price difference was really small, so if the somewhat higher price of the bigger set isn’t a problem, you might still want to go for the bigger package.
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Stansport Gold Panning Classifier
This is another plastic classifier that is popular and has all the features you can ask from a classifier. It’s lightweight, cheap, and made from durable plastic, with a 3/8 inch mesh. It also fits on top of a 5-gallon bucket, which makes it easier to work with.
Like the other plastic classifier on this list, it only comes in one size.
Pros:
- Really Chep
- Lightweight
- Fits on top of 5- gallon buckets
Cons:
- Only comes in one size
- Again, I have my hesitations when it comes to the plastic screening net.
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Conclusion
- Classifiers are really helpful pieces of equipment that help us classify materials into sizes that are more manageable. This not only makes the whole process easier but also helps with increasing gold recovery rates.
- Classifying your material is especially important when running clean up devices such as the blue bowl. For them to work efficiently, they need the particles to be fairly similar sized.
- According to us, the best all-round classifier size for prospecting is 1/4 inch.
If you are looking for other equipment such as gold pans, sluice boxes, or high bankers, make sure to visit our recommended gear page.
Happy Prospecting!
