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The Desert Fox automatic gold panning machine takes the slowest part of prospecting, panning down concentrates, and does it for you on a motorized 7-spiral wheel. Camel Mining has built the Desert Fox since 1969 and rates it to recover up to 50 times more gold than working the same concentrates by hand, because fine gold that washes over a pan's edge gets picked up again on the wheel's next rotation. This is the variable speed model (Camel part CM-009), the only spiral panning machine sold with speed control, paired here with the 120V power supply (CM-015) so it runs from a wall outlet as well as a 12-volt battery.
Variable Speed or Single Speed?
The speed control earns its price when you process heavy black sand: slowing the wheel gives the spray bar more time to wash black sand out before it reaches the center tube, which means cleaner catch-cup gold with fewer re-runs. If your material is ordinary sluice concentrate without severe black sand, the Desert Fox single speed model does the same recovery work for less money. If you want a spiral wheel from another maker to compare, see the Gold Magic spiral panning machines, which run on 12V or hand crank.
How the Desert Fox Works
Fill the tub with 3 to 4 gallons of water, connect power, and feed a scoop of concentrate about every 20 seconds. The 12.5 inch wheel carries seven separate spiral leads, so gold is picked up seven times per rotation, over 100 pickups a minute, lifted to the hub, and dropped through the hollow shaft into a hanging catch cup. The 450 GPH pump recirculates the same few gallons, which is why the machine is a favorite for desert prospecting where water is scarce. Camel Mining rates it to work through up to 70 pounds of concentrates per hour, and the wheel's pitch adjustment plus the spray bar let you tune out black sand as you watch the spirals. It runs from any 12-volt source with the included battery clips, from a vehicle or small motorcycle battery to a 35-watt solar panel, or from a wall outlet with the included 120V supply. The whole machine weighs about 10 pounds, folds into its Action Packer tub for transport, and can also run beside a stream with the pump drawing from the creek instead of the tub. New to concentrates? Our gold panning guide explains classification and cleanup steps that make any automatic gold panning machine faster.
What's Included
- Desert Fox variable speed gold panning machine (CM-009) with folding stand
- Action Packer carrying case, which doubles as the water reservoir
- 120V power supply (CM-015) plus 12V battery clips
- Owner's manual
- Bag of practice sand containing real placer gold, packed by Camel Mining with every machine
Specifications
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating dimensions | 20" H x 14.5" W x 20" L |
| Stowed dimensions | 10" H x 14.5" W x 17.5" L |
| Weight | 10 pounds |
| Wheel | 12.5 inch, 7 spiral leads, double-wall construction, adjustable pitch |
| Drive | Gear driven with sealed ball bearings |
| Power required | 12VDC (5AH rating; any 12V 7-amp source); 120V supply included |
| Water required | 3 to 4 gallons, recirculated |
| Pump capacity | 450 GPH |
| Throughput | Up to 70 lbs of concentrates per hour (per Camel Mining) |
| Warranty | 5-year limited manufacturer warranty |
Why Buy from Serious Detecting
Serious Detecting is a family-owned US dealer, and every Desert Fox we sell is a genuine Camel Mining machine backed by the manufacturer's 5-year limited warranty, not one of the look-alike copies Camel Mining warns about. We stock the full line of Camel Mining machines and parts, including replacement wheels and drive units, alongside the rest of our gold prospecting equipment. We offer free shipping on most orders over $99, a 30-day return window, and a price-match guarantee.
Customer Questions & Expert Answers
What is the Camel Mining Desert Fox automatic gold panning machine?
Does the Camel Mining Desert Fox run on house power or a battery?
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