Scoop advice?

[Tejaas]

I don't beach hunt, so I was hoping if one of y'all could provide insight into whether or not a well-made sand scoop would hold up against marble to golfball sized gravel like the stuff we have here in our Texas rivers.

I'd imagine eventually the aluminum lip would fold up, right?

Who makes the best sand scoop?

 

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[LootHunter]

Golf ball sized gravel, yikes! Stainless steel is the way to go but would you really be able to kick in the scoop with gravel that size?

 

[mnruxpin]

I use the RTG scoop, gonna get a stealth too, thats what most of the saltwater guys use. RTG is aluminum and the stealth is stainless. 90 percent of the beach pros use one of those 2 from what ive seen on here.

 

[Tejaas]

Golf ball sized gravel, yikes! Stainless steel is the way to go but would you really be able to kick in the scoop with gravel that size?

Golf ball size would be WORST case scenario, as well before that I'd prolly ditch a scoop in favor of shovel and screen sifting!

But your the pro, tell me! Would relatively loose-packed pea and marble size gravel allow these beach scoops to dig in?

 

[Tejaas]

I use the RTG scoop, gonna get a stealth too, thats what most of the saltwater guys use. RTG is aluminum and the stealth is stainless. 90 percent of the beach pros use one of those 2 from what ive seen on here.

Thanks for the recommendations!

 

[gerryk]

I dont do much beach hunting yet, but i have two scoops. One is a long handled stainless steel kick scoop and the oer is a smaller hand held. He holes in mine are about 3/8 inch which would not let the size stone your talking about pass through.

 

[NCGREG]

I have been using an old RTG aluminum scoop for 7 or 8 years now. The aluminum scoops tend to be lighter than stainless scoops, but the draw back with "all aluminum" is that the scoop and point are going to be a much softer metal. And when you use it in very "harsh" or rocky conditions the softer aluminum will not take as much wear and tear abuse as the harder stainless will. I have noticed that RTG and some of the other mfgr's have started adding a stainless lip on the point of their aluminum models. I just rebuilt the point and lip area on my aluminum RTG with a stainless point, and it looks really good. I'm trying to get another year or two out of it, but I personally am looking at eventually replacing my aluminum RTG with either a Stavr or maybe a Stealth which are both stainless scoops. (when I get the buckaroo's to pay for it, that is) LOL!

Hope this helps

 

[dale3fan28]

Call wayne at metal detecting stuff, they have a great travel scoop that is aluminum except the very tip is riveted on and is stainless steel..... I love mine...... Also they are located in spring, tx

 

[Dig-It-Scoops]

If it's loose most good scoops would work. You may want to look for one with a wide opening so the larger stones will fit without clogging.

 

[dale3fan28]

http://www.metaldetectingstuff.com/product/TRVSSTP.html

 

[Tejaas]

Thanks to everyone for all the wisdom shared here!

 

[Fletch88]

FYI RTG makes stainless scoops also. I use a stainless tipped aluminum scoop from them and like it pretty good. I would probably go all stainless in the conditions you described. They're not too heavy once you get knee deep in water. Here's a pic of the RTG SS tipped model and a smaller all aluminum. You can add the grab handle for $10 which I highly recommend.

 

[tiderider]

Maybe this could help in the gravel ,

 

[cashdummy]

I would suggest using a shovel. I have 2 aluminum scoops and I wore them both out in semi rocky areas (but I was using them daily up to 9hrs per day) . The SS tips didnt help. I have a SS scoop too but when working in big rock areas the shovel is hard to beat

 

[bigscoop]

Sounds like you need to locate a weld/fabrication shop, have them make you one out of 6" galvanized tube, using 3/8" gal. pipe in the same style as the old Miller type scoop handles. At the lip of the bucket have them add a serrated lip, about 1" wide by 3/4 deep, this will really allow you to work/wiggle the bucket into the gravel and rock. When we were hunting the rivers all the time this is what we used, only weighed about 5-6lbs and lasted several years without any issues/failures. The Miller style looped handle also provides you with a lot more leverage and also better balance when the bucket is carrying a load. $100 will probably get you one made if you drill your own holes, we used 9/16ths holes, pretty quick and simple if you use a 1/4" pilot drill first. These buckets/scoops were tough to the task, length of handle being whatever suits you.

 

[Togreenfeet]

Mine is PVC with stainless mesh but I use it in sand not as hard corps as you are asking got it on ebay

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[Tejaas]

Sounds like you need to locate a weld/fabrication shop, have them make you one out of 6" galvanized tube, using 3/8" gal. pipe in the same style as the old Miller type scoop handles. At the lip of the bucket have them add a serrated lip, about 1" wide by 3/4 deep, this will really allow you to work/wiggle the bucket into the gravel and rock. When we were hunting the rivers all the time this is what we used, only weighed about 5-6lbs and lasted several years without any issues/failures. The Miller style looped handle also provides you with a lot more leverage and also better balance when the bucket is carrying a load. $100 will probably get you one made if you drill your own holes, we used 9/16ths holes, pretty quick and simple if you use a 1/4" pilot drill first. These buckets/scoops were tough to the task, length of handle being whatever suits you.

I'm actually a multiprocess fabricator with a full shop setup here at the house... Haha

That's why I posted this thread!

Wanted to find out what does and doesn't work, see the photos of the scoops y'all recommended the highest... Then step outside and fire up the TIG and save the 150 bucks!

 

[NCGREG]

I'm actually a multiprocess fabricator with a full shop setup here at the house... Haha

That's why I posted this thread!

Wanted to find out what does and doesn't work, see the photos of the scoops y'all recommended the highest... Then step outside and fire up the TIG and save the 150 bucks!

Well, if that be the case then you are truly blessed for sure. I would look at the Diablo proto type scoops, the T Rex, the Stavr scoops, the Sun Spots, the RTG stainless scoops ... on and on and on and on ... Just google image them, and fire up the torch and the welder, the sky is the limit. You've got the bull by the horns.

 

[sponge]

Just go get a front loader and be done with it. Oh and a bulldozer to fill in your holes faster. It wont take long to get your investment back. Unless fuel skyrocketed,scratch the whole idea I forgot fuel went into orbit.

 

[RobSFRD]

For river hunting with a rocky bottom, you need to use a pick and waterproofed pin pointer, that's about it. Check out Beau Oumette's videos on YouTube. He goes through the gear you need in one video. I bought my pick from Bunk's Arizona prospecting. Great pick. Scoops don't work very well in rocky river beds, I used to do that and went to the pick like Beau.