I have made a number of scoops and after 5 or more years they have never failed. 2 suggestions that might help you... I use extra long tie wraps to take the stress of your the point where your pole joins your scoop. Go from the top front of your scoop to about 4 or 5 inches up your pole. On mine I can pull has hard as I want and all the stress is on the tie wraps, not on the joint. Second tip is to drill holes the way you have them in the front and sides. As you head to the rear of the scoop drill smaller holes to the point where there is a sieve at the catch basin in the back of your scoop. This area is for ear rings and other fine pieces. I don't know how many times I have tried to find an ear ring that keeps falling through those large opening. Hope this will help you.