| Material | Normal path | Failure clue | Response |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wet Sand | Settles on top and is processed | Builds a deep unprocessed layer | Reduce feed or divide the bank. |
| Gold | Falls through the bottom | Appears in the upper output | Open the underside and separate the lower lane. |
| Residue | Stays on top and moves slowly sideways | Covers the intake path | Clear and lengthen the top exit. |
| Other solid | No normal process path | Remains inside or on top | Stop feed and remove it manually. |
Start from the documented material paths
Every Wet Sand becomes one Residue and has a one-in-four chance to produce one Gold. Gold is the only solid that passes through the Shaker; Residue remains on top and moves slowly in the facing direction. A stopped machine may therefore be an input problem, a top-output problem, a blocked Gold exit, or contamination inside the body.
Clear a stopped Shaker bank
- Close the Wet Sand feed
A continuing pile hides which path failed first.
- Open the Gold exit
Clear below every Shaker and follow the lower lane away from the bank.
- Clear the Residue side
Remove the top layer and restore a downhill or open side route.
- Inspect the Shaker body
Remove any non-Gold solid trapped inside rather than pushing more material through.
- Check the wetting boundary
Raw Sand, Water, and reaction changes should not occur inside the Shaker cell.
- Restart one shallow batch
Watch Wet Sand settle, Gold fall, and Residue leave before opening continuous feed.
Why a diagonal bank can remain readable
The official Shaker tip uses a downward staircase. Denser Wet Sand sinks toward each Shaker while lighter Residue is displaced upward and continues toward the end. That explains the geometry, but it does not define a single optimal length. Current community reports show that one very long bank can still overload; several shorter banks with distributed feed may be easier to keep clear.
Feed-control options
- Use a low ceiling or Filter to limit the depth of Wet Sand entering at once.
- Split one large input across shorter diagonal banks.
- Return escaped Wet Sand to a secondary pass without returning Residue or Gold.
- Keep the first and last Shaker accessible for manual clearing.
- Reserve an overflow catch that cannot drain into the Gold lane.
| Symptom | Most likely path | First check |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Sand covers the whole staircase | Input exceeds processing or distribution. | Pause feed and restart across shorter banks. |
| Residue forms a thick cap | Top output is slow or blocked. | Clear the downhill side and remove an upward lip. |
| Gold is visible but does not leave | Lower output is blocked. | Empty the bottom lane before touching the feed. |
| The bank stays stopped after surfaces are clear | Non-Gold material may be inside. | Inspect and manually remove trapped pixels. |
| Wet Sand escapes unprocessed | The return wall or last processing cell has a gap. | Use a labelled Filter boundary and route overflow to a second pass. |
| Only high-volume operation fails | Feed geometry exceeds the available exits. | Reduce depth, distribute input, or add another bank. |
Update record
- 2026-08-21 — Replaced the unsupported Shaker Layout page with symptom-led clogging guidance.
- 2026-08-21 — Separated official machine behavior from community feed and recirculation patterns.
Frequently asked questions
What should enter a Shaker?
Wet Sand belongs on top of the Shaker. Each Wet Sand becomes Residue and may also produce Gold. Raw Sand and other non-Gold solids do not have a documented Shaker recipe.
Why use a downward diagonal?
The official Shaker page says denser Wet Sand settles along a staircase of Shakers while lighter Residue rises and continues toward the exit. It is a stability principle, not a unique footprint.
Can Residue itself clog the Shaker?
Community reports disagree on that wording. A thick Residue layer can be a visible symptom, while the root cause may be excessive feed, trapped Wet Sand, contamination, or an obstructed top exit.