Scoop info needed..

[Copperhead]

Working on a homemade hand scoop...It's going to have round holes...What would be the optimum size for the holes?...
Thanks..I'll post up some pics when I finish it...

 

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[urdaboss]

about a hand made scoop, why?
the second most important piece of equipment you use is the scoop. why buy a good detector and not have a great scoop?

 

[urdaboss]

sorry, the size of hole should be a little smaller than a dime.

 

[Copperhead]

about a hand made scoop, why?
the second most important piece of equipment you use is the scoop. why buy a good detector and not have a great scoop?

sorry, the size of hole should be a little smaller than a dime.

Thanks...As for why...I don't really do much beach hunting...Most of the time it's during the winter when everything else is frozen or I just want to spend some time down by the water...I've actually never even used a scoop, just my regular digging shovel...Anything I come up with will be better than using that...and I like tinkering around ...

 

[ron lord]

No bigger or small than 3/8'' HH Ron Lord

 

[Sandman]

I have found that if not going in the water the screen sifter type works better for fast sifting of dry sand, works pretty well in the wet too. The smaller one in the pic is about $40.00 but I like the longer handled one for not having to bend over and it goes deeper.

If always going in the wet surf you would do well to get a larger basket with lots of holes for fast sifting and strength an a long handle.

 

[richm]

Here's mine. $8.99 pet food scoop (True Value) I put a handle on it but you could use it as a hand scoop. Has held up extremely well. It's galvanized and easy to drill

 

[erikk]

about a hand made scoop, why?
the second most important piece of equipment you use is the scoop. why buy a good detector and not have a great scoop?

Give it time!

 

[Copperhead]

Here's mine. $8.99 pet food scoop (True Value) I put a handle on it but you could use it as a hand scoop. Has held up extremely well. It's galvanized and easy to drill

Nice job Rich ....I may have to modify my plans....

 

[jrandy]

NICE WORK !!! My wife is on the way to get me one as I type this! I'm goin "Coastal" next week . Just have enough time to make one. You da man

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

A good scoop will hold its value just like a good detector. I bought the original Beach Brute used for $100, I used it for 2 years and sold it for $75.....Cost me $25 to use a great scoop for 2 years..........

 

[digum smacks]

youd better take advise from season pros. i dont care if you hunt the beach 5minutes a year.i say it and i will say it again you hunt with crap and you will find crap.period.unless you are a welder and weld stainless steel.go get yourself a real scoop.iam a master welder with aluminum.and made many a scoops iam here to tell ya ,if you hunt saltwater anyone who hunts regulary knows aluminum only holds up for so long.ive made some awesome scoops and they last 6months before i have to either modify it or make a new one.if you only hunt 5 minutes a year i guess you will own a good scoop forever than.you can baby your P.O.S and hope it lasts.thats my take been there done that more than 5 times

 

[Montauk3]

HaHa, Sometimes the truth hurts.
I hope no one complains that you are politically incorrect.

Been there, done that. (banned)

Ralph

 

[Tom_in_CA]

I agree with those that say to save your time, and just get a ready-made scoop.

I see people show up on the beach, thinking they can save money by making their own scoop, (or perhaps they didn't think they'd hit the beach often enough merit spending $, etc...). They show up with the silliest things: a coffee can with holes drilled in it, an ice-machine scoop they attempted to attach to a pole, with few holes on it, etc... They end up realizing that they're better off just to bring a garden or army shovel, dig out the spoils, then just rake out the target with your fingers (like you would do on land, but of course, easier because it's sand).

And I say this as someone who has un-limited access to metal fabrication and welding (as the company I own has a full industrial mechanical shop, a mechanic, etc... that I can have fiddle or invent for me, if I want). The fact is, the ready-made ones (like what Sandman shows), you can't do it for cheaper, even if you tried. They are mass-made, and thus, the unit cost comes down enough, that by the time you put in a few hours (assuming you had all the metal fab equipment to begin with) you'd be asking yourself why you just didn't buy it.

If you truly aren't going to go more than few times per year, then just take a regular shovel. When you get your target out of the hole, just kick the tailings flat with your foot, and you'll do ok.

 

[Montauk3]

I must say this tho, I commend you Copperhead for trying to be in a sense, self sufficient.

I myself am a tinkerer. I also understand what self satisfaction there is in making things.

Ralph

 

[urdaboss]

i was clearwater beach when i saw a guy break his scoop lifting something.
i said "man that was a big ring you were lifting!"
he looked at me and whispered "i can't weld!"
buy a good scoop!

 

[FLauthor]

RichM: That is exactly the way my first scoop was made from a grain scoop only I used 3/3" EMT shaped like a bowtie and bolted to the handle and back of the scoop. Used it for 8 years until I bought a Beach Brute and gave the old one to a poor TH'er who didn't have enough to buy a good scoop. Way to go.

 

[Sandman]

Granted not everyone has the money after taking out a second mortage on the house trailer to buy a Sunspot after buying a good detector. We have to make do till we can afford the good stuff. Once you start using good equipment your time is better spent hunting and not wasted babying a weak scoop. Heaven knows I waste enough time staring at the waves.

 

[Copperhead]

youd better take advise from season pros. i dont care if you hunt the beach 5minutes a year.i say it and i will say it again you hunt with crap and you will find crap.period.unless you are a welder and weld stainless steel.go get yourself a real scoop.iam a master welder with aluminum.and made many a scoops iam here to tell ya ,if you hunt saltwater anyone who hunts regulary knows aluminum only holds up for so long.ive made some awesome scoops and they last 6months before i have to either modify it or make a new one.if you only hunt 5 minutes a year i guess you will own a good scoop forever than.you can baby your P.O.S and hope it lasts.thats my take been there done that more than 5 times

Wow..tough room… I don’t mind folks asking questions or offering opinions…Anyone who takes the time to reply is obviously only trying to be helpful….Maybe you’re totally correct about how long something I build is gonna last…and yeah…I can afford to go out and just buy a damn scoop…But maybe I don’t WANT to buy one…

I’m not a hard-core hunter…I probably send more time watching the waves and taking pictures when I’m at the beach than metal detecting…I own an Ace 250…which from what I’ve read..is probably one of the worst detectors for beach hunting…Despite that..it performs pretty well in my area…even in wet sand…I find enough stuff for it to satisfy my "treasure fix"…

Now I’m sure someone will tell me I’m wasting my time using an Ace at the beach….I’m only gonna find crap… and should just go out and buy a decent detector for the beach…So before they do… let me say…I don’t WANT to go buy a decent beach machine…The only thing I do WANT…is to go out and enjoy myself…Which believe it or not…..I manage to do…beach scoop or no beach scoop….

If I ever desire to become a more serious, proficient beach hunter…This is the first place I’d come to ask for advice…At the present time…my only question was as to what size holes I should drill in my POS homemade scoop….I think a couple of folks gave me my answer…If it breaks the first time I use it…it’s no big deal….too me anyway…

I assume you and others have only good intentions in posting a reply….but try to understand that not everyone has the same passions in life as you might….. and sometimes a lecture isn’t always necessary…It’s all good though…. Thanks for all your thoughts…I’ve got to get back to making my scoop…

 

[richm]

I drilled mine 1/2" and it works great...Rich.