Martin Prospecting Shovel

[nuggetshooter323]

I've been looking at these shovels for the last five years, so I decided to grab one before they stopped making them. I'm really excited to try it out with my BGT Miner.

 

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[Treasure_Hunter]

Nuggetshooter, Martin Prospecting isn't a supporting vendor, can you please edit the picture that has his store info, block out the label or delete it, other wise I have to delete the thread...

thanks...

 

[nh.nugget]

I built my own.

 

[nuggetshooter323]

nh.nugget, if I welded I would have made my own. Your's looks really nice.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Nuggetshooter, thank you...👍

 

[restless spirit]

id like to have that on small shovel

 

[nh.nugget]

nh.nugget, if I welded I would have made my own. Your's looks really nice.

Thanks I saw the picture of one some where then I saw the price and built it. And I'm building one with a smaller garden spade about half the size of my big one.

 

[nuggetshooter323]

I wish someone made a scoop, like a beach scoop, just solid. I've got a beach scoop, I've just been trying to figure out an easy mod to convert it.

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[nuggetshooter323]

Thanks I saw the picture of one some where then I saw the price and built it. And I'm building one with a smaller garden spade about half the size of my big one.

That would be useful, also a trenching shovel would be an interesting one also.

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[nh.nugget]

I wish someone made a scoop, like a beach scoop, just solid. I've got a beach scoop, I've just been trying to figure out an easy mod to convert it.

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You just gave me another idea I could make that! What dia. and how long? I own an autobody shop I'm retired but it's in my back yard fully stocked with equipment. I just made my own blue bowl for about $5.00

 

[nuggetshooter323]

I believe the handle on my scoop is about 36", and the inside diameter of the cup is slightly bigger than 4". I tried to line the inside of mine with a piece of 4" PVC, but it just rattled around.

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[SunshineMiner]

I'll throw out another duct tape tip... Gorilla tape that is... I did the same thing sort of, build the back up with a couple layers of Gorilla tape, then just build up a shallow side wall, about 2-3, maybe 4 inches, and while it doesn't have the rim over the top, it still holds lots of material without losing it out the back. Will post a picture tomorrow

Edit: Here's a couple pics, albeit a bit large :P I guess I need to go back over and redo the shovel. I haven't inspected it much since i put it on, and dont notice it enough to worry about, but this is also not gorilla tape, but its held up for over 8 months of intermittent digging

 

[njcommercialdiver]

nh nugget, many times I thought about making one when I see them, but don't do a lot of digging, mostly dredging but you got my mind made up to make one on a spare shovel I have and then maybe the 6 inch wide one I have too

nugget shooter, that solid beach scoop would be easy to make with a section of 4 or 4 1/2" exhaust pipe and a handle

 

[nuggetshooter323]

I found out that Wolf Stumpf of Wolf Trap Mining is still making his gravel scoop. I called him and he said that he was going to make another batch of them this weekend. After talking with him I decided to get the one with the 40" handle and the 3.5" diameter cup. Wolf said that the handle breaks down, and if you need a longer handle than 40", you can use a piece of PVC and install it as whatever length extension that you want on the handle.

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[WesternMassGold]

I bought a box shovel at Home depot for 37 bucks . it's called 6" box shovel , had to be shipped to Home depot.

 

[nh.nugget]

I like to fab my own stuff. It gives me some thing to do and I like fab-work. I used to make most of my own tools for sheet metal work like an English wheel a planishing hammer and my own dies for my bead roller. Even built my own chassis for hot rods.

 

[utah mason]

I bought a box shovel at Home depot for 37 bucks . it's called 6" box shovel , had to be shipped to Home depot.
View attachment 1298237

After seeing your post I ordered one . Looked exactly what I was looking for. Unfortunately it didn't last long before it started to bend. Had it out twice, first time I mainly shovelled out of bucket into sniper. Second time I did real digging with it. I really liked it for the first little bit. Perfect width for the sniper. Held material and the water really nice. But at the end of couple of hours of digging it was just about shot😞
https://youtu.be/GX_lTYY0HeY

 

[WesternMassGold]

Holy crap what did u do with that thing? I have mine for over 6 months now, dug up big rocks with it, pryed out big rocks, pretty much banged the crap out of it , but it hasnt bent at all.
Just a hint >> if you have to move really really big rocks thats what pry bars are for not the shovel. You wouldn't use a teaspoon to move yards of dirt , you would use a bucket loader. I am very happy with mine.
I also use it alot for shoveling gravel out of the water, it holds the sand well and it doesnt spill.

 

[utah mason]

Hilarious
Trust me it's not from prying to hard. Unfortunately for me I know my way around a shovel. Use them everyday for work. And grew up with a father and grandfather who were plumbing contractors. And had to dig many trenches for the plumbing and quite a few sprinkler systems for them. I know what a quality shovel is capable of and what is to much force for one. Maybe I put to much weight on it, after all I'm a hulking brute at 155lbs. It was fairly easy digging, Not many large rocks. The metal is just too soft, It shouldn't have bent under those conditions.

 

[spudnick]

utah mason
Thanks for your ( Heads -Up ) video review , and post. It was informative. And being a plumber !, gives a lot of credibility as well..( roots, rocky clay, buried junk,etc ) .. I do like the size and sides on it. Looks more like a clean up shovel. If it had a curve bottom or triangle "V" body line on 2/3 thirds of the bottom, you would still have a straight cutting edge and more rigid structure.. Type of Metal is another issue, to have any quality , it would have to be a type of carbon steel. If any one is building one, make sure your using carbon steel. After your done welding and grinding. heat it up red hot , dunk it in a pail of oil. or water. .This will temper the metal.

If it doesn't have to be a flat straight cutting edge , maybe use a 5" "V" type trenching shovel, weld sides and back. ( that could be 6" wide after modifying)........ The handle would be more likely to break than the metal bending.. I guess everything has a limit.. Haha...........Ken