If your local prospecting shop has a dredge set up, take a close look and even measurements or photos if you can. Check out their web sites as most have good photos of their dredges and the individual components that make up these dredges – you can get a lot of information from their web sites. These manufacturers have done quite a bit of research studying their products, they have tested different options and have developed efficient pieces of equipment that do the job well. Perhaps the best thing I can suggest is that you study the designs of the well-known dredge makers like Keene and Pro-line. Think about what you want and what you need then weigh those together with what you can afford. The time you spend sorting through design concepts, deciding what you will build and how you will build it will be well spent.

Dredges need to be functional, durable and sturdy. You don't want your dredge to be rickety, or to fall apart, or to fail to function.

Of course you will be building on the cheap, but you don't want to shortchange yourself too much.

Suction nozzle dredge