Dry Washers vs. Highbankers: What's the Difference?

Pulling in your latest find when metal detecting isn't always straightforward. To find the best treasure, you sometimes must do extra work. Dry washers were once used to extract gold while prospecting, but highbankers have grown in popularity. What's the difference between dry washers and highbankers?

Versatility

One significant difference between dry washers and highbankers is how they work. Dry washers are simple mechanisms that use air pulses to separate gold from sand. Highbankers, on the other hand, require an engine with a water pump to mimic a sluice.

Highbankers are more complex than dry washers since they have more moving parts. However, you can use them to extract materials from wet sediment, while dry washers can only process dry materials. This makes highbankers more versatile for gold prospecting.

Efficiency

Another area where dry washers and highbankers differ is in the amount of gold recovery related to the work you perform. Dry washing requires much more effort than traditional metal detecting with a lower recovery rate. Materials must be a certain size to be noticeable; smaller flakes and fine particles often slip through with the sand.

Highbankers, on the other hand, are self-contained units that are great at trapping gold, even small particles. They are great for finding materials, sampling them, and cleaning up a worksite, allowing prospectors to do more in less time. Some highbankers can collect more than 100 buckets an hour, making them incredibly efficient.

Cost

Some people may want to consider the difference in cost between dry washers and highbankers. Both utilize specialized equipment to separate gold from sediment. However, dry washers can be more expensive, depending on their size.

Finding a reliable dry washer is essential for separating materials from gold caches. Some situations will require a dry washer, especially if you're prospecting in arid regions such as deserts or if you want to minimize your environmental impact.

Do Better Prospecting with the Right Equipment

Finding gold and other rare materials is a complicated process. Depending on your circumstances, you'll need to consider which type of prospecting equipment works best for you. By looking at the difference between dry washers and highbankers, you can maximize your equipment and find precious materials.