Heavy duty sand scoop suggestions?

[Bullhead23]

I'm getting into water/beach metal detecting for the first time and have come to see how hard it is to hunt without a scoop. The areas I'm hunting have a lot of hard clay, thick mud, and rocks. What in your opinion is the best bang for your buck scoop that wont easily break, especially along the weld?

 

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[Digger_O'Dell]

Tough question! There's a lot on the market, but anything stainless is a vast improvement over aluminum. In your case I would suggest looking for a scoop on the smaller end with a more pointed leading edge to penetrate the tough clay and move rocks while digging. A larger scoop will take immensely more power to dig under those conditions.
The other big choice is to the handle you will fit to it. Wood is cheapest and raiders to come by. Fiberglass is more expensive, but it won't decay over time like wood. Lastly is carbon fiber. Light, bulletproof and very expensive.

 

[lookindown]

Stealth.

 

[Oddjob]

I have a 2 piece all stainless from a German MD shop in Hamburg. Not sure of the manufactures name, something generic like AAA. I can not add a link due to the rules on here.

 

[ARC]

The future is now here...

Settle for nothing built less than these.

 

[ARC]

 

[rebbel31]

Xtreme scoops make a tough scoop with a 10 year warranty. He also offers a military discount. Worth a look. 1

 

[Terry Soloman]

I am sending you a PM with a link you should check out. Good Luck!

 

[OBN]

Stealth.

Yes, 720i (20 degrees angle tilt back)
with the lifetime warranty. I dig in clay, rocks, mud, clam shells, and deep sand. ..A Lot..

I can say it has been the best for cutting thru clam shells. Every other I have used had a issue with clay..every scoop cut thru and did good in the clay but if you ever hunted it before you will know it sticks to the scoop, what a pain in the azz, you have to spin the scoop around and dig it out with your foot. But NOT the 720i rarely does it stick, a big time saver. Expensive at 220. but well worth every penny, and to know if it breaks you pay shipping to and it gets fixed for free and done right, then shipped back free.

If your a partime hunter, or vacation hunter buy cheaper. But if you hunt several days a week, why take a chance.

 

[ctdirtdigger]

But who makes them ? They look great !!

 

[cudamark]

Yup, Stealth scoops by SunSpot are the ones I use. I have a reinforced 720 for cobble/rocks/shells and a 920ix for easier areas and dry sand. If you hunt often, or need a lighter unit, get the carbon fiber shaft. Well worth the extra money IMO.

 

[ARC]

Hmmm...

And I thought the title of this thread had the words "heavy duty" in it.

:/

 

[GreenMeanie]

I wouldn't mind trying the xtreme sand shredder but it is pricey.

 

[cudamark]

Hmmm...

And I thought the title of this thread had the words "heavy duty" in it.

:/

What mentioned was not heavy duty?

 

[CASPER-2]

heavy duty RTG

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Stealth.

2nd the stealth, what ever brand you buy if you have rocks buy SS, aluminum will tear.

 

[Bullhead23]

Thanks for all the info guys, the Stealth's look awesome!

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Something to keep in mind, a good heavy duty scoop cost close to $200 +/- , remember though you can sell a 5 year old scoop you paid $200 for all day long for $150-$170 as long as you take care of it. I have done so twice.

 

[LE.JAG]

on some hunting / not in the water
but at low tide, a very strong scoop makes the difference

mine / homemade
stainless steel A4 / 3mm
what weight does it make? / I do not know, I drag him

fiber handle incasable / the same for 5 years
the right angle of departure is the most important
I ride on it / my 95 kilos do the rest lol

and a good spoon effect
allows to take very deep targets

go see a boilermaker who works stainless steel
and do an over-measurement

the right scoop adapt
to each type of hunt

often neglect / Yet as important as the detector
maybe more...

 

[jyt2017]

Do you know anyone that can weld ss? You will need a stavr 9.5” or wider scoop. Have a spike or tip welded on it that extends well down middle of basket for strength. Weld additional 3/8 stock to strengthen existing brackets. I also had a lip cut out of .072 ss and it adds about one inch to the tip. It was ball busting work and I paid a skilled welder 100$ to do about 3 hrs of work. A shops gonna charge a lot like 150 and hr. Give me an hour and I’ll post picks.

The shaft it has the back saver on it. And it’s made of carbon fiber. And a solid oak dowel for inside of it. The dowel was coated heavy with epoxy before being assembled. It’s lasted 3 years of heavy New England digging in rocky beaches.

It to bad the extra work is needed. It’s normally not needed. Most conditions won’t stress that scoop out. Mine lasted 6 weeks in its stock form. If you have rocks to dig through you need something stronger.


good luck. When figuring out dimensions start with the inside diameter of the stager and go from there. I got the cf from eBay for 130$. I know. I put probably 500$ into the scoop.

I'm getting into water/beach metal detecting for the first time and have come to see how hard it is to hunt without a scoop. The areas I'm hunting have a lot of hard clay, thick mud, and rocks. What in your opinion is the best bang for your buck scoop that wont easily break, especially along the weld?