Anyone make their own 2 piece travel handle for their scoop ?

madmikegolf · Feb 15, 2015

I was wondering if anyone made their own 2 piece travel handle that could fit in a carry on suit case ? I've seen some on the Internet for sale but the $145 price tag just for the handle is huge turn off. I only need to come up with a two piece handle....I already have the scoop part. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

CASPER-2 · Feb 16, 2015

In the long run - better off buying a top rate 2 piece that will last you years - than trial and error for something that may last a season
sent you a PM with articles ive written - you'll find one there on scoops

Treasure_Hunter · Feb 16, 2015

I bought another used golf carrying bag yesterday, I can fit 2 excals with 15 inch coils and the handle of my stealth scoop plus the stealth by taking them apart...

Higgy · Feb 16, 2015

I'm so laughing right now, because in my shop right now I am putting the finishing touches on a travel handle that I have made for my trip to Myrtle Beach next week. I agree with Casper totally about buying a nice travel handle, but the travel handle for my 720i hybrid is $160 that I would rather be spending in SC on biscuits and gravy. Anyhow, give me a couple hours and I'll post a pic or two of what I made.

Higgy · Feb 16, 2015

Here you go

I've been waffling over buying a travel handle from Sunspot, but I'm ticklish about spending $160 for something that I'll only use once or twice a year. Oh I'll definitely buy one. Quality enhances your detecting experience with stuff like this. Don't ask me how I know! :tongue3:

I've spent hours using cheesy-cheapo-crappy diggers that I have cobbled together from wire screens and hardware cloth, and hose clamps. Its fun, but not real fun if you catch my drift.

Anyway, Here is the finished product. I made it from TWO shovel handles what were broken. I save stuff like that.

The fit is tight and very square to each other as you can see here.

The fit inside the sleeve is firm, but slides right in. Should be tight as a hammer handle when it hits the water.

Treasure_Hunter · Feb 16, 2015

Do you have picture of the two pieces separated.....

Higgy · Feb 16, 2015

But Wait, There's More!

The handle halves are held together by a 5/16x18 threaded rod, which penetrates each half a full 3 inches. One half will be glued in place using some epoxy. I use the cases from beer 12-packs to mix my glues on. It free, its plastic-coated and disposable. :thumbsup:

Here is a pic of the threaded rod inserted to half it length.

I've added a stainless washer and lag bolt to attach to the bottom. Should be fine. I pre-threaded everything.

Higgy · Feb 16, 2015

And Last but not Least...

Here is the two pieces next to each other. My plan is to dribble an entire tube of superglue the joint before I screw them together. That should make it pretty rigid. Hey if not, well, there's always a bar on the beach somewhere! :occasion14:

And finally here they are inside my suitcase. The longest half is 28" long. The one thing I didn't consider was that after it was made, it might not fit into the suitcase. I think I got lucky! :laughing7:

Hey its cheap and it'll work. Even if I bust the thing in half, I'll still muddle along with the lower half. I'm only going to be down in Myrtle for four days, of which I may only get 2-3 hours cumulative time to hunt.

Higgy · Feb 16, 2015

Oh I forgot to mention. The threaded rod was $1.89, and I think the stainless lag bolt and washer sucker-punched me for another three bucks. I get grumpy buying stainless. The shaft was put together then I used a block plane to match the diameters up.

madmikegolf · Feb 17, 2015

Thanks for all the help guys ! :icon_thumleft:

meMiner · Feb 21, 2015

An option I have used is to buy a wooden shovel handle when I am away at a hardware store and use their tools to make it fit. I have done this on many Caribbean Islands.

I tried once to make a handle like above and my job was not as good and it broke. There is quite a bit of stress lifting a big scoop to the surface. I have also built one with a metal sleeve over the connection and that worked better.

One suggestion whenever using wood handles is to take a little hand saw (mine has a 4" blade). I used to have problems with the wood swelling so badly that I could not get it off the scoop. The easy solution is just cut it off at the scoop.

lawsonland · Feb 21, 2015

I just made one using a stainless tube from ebay, extra hand grip from my excal straight shaft and a spring clip from the old excal shaft

mnruxpin · Feb 21, 2015

Hey TH, can you check that on a plane

?

Treasure_Hunter said:
I bought another used golf carrying bag yesterday, I can fit 2 excals with 15 inch coils and the handle of my stealth scoop plus the stealth by taking them apart...

Treasure_Hunter · Feb 21, 2015

Yes it can be checked as luggage it is a travel case for golf bag...

ARC · Feb 24, 2015

lawsonland said:
I just made one using a stainless tube from ebay, extra hand grip from my excal straight shaft and a spring clip from the old excal shaft View attachment 1122719 View attachment 1122720

This is the way to go...
Well done.

Lisarez66 · Feb 24, 2015

lawsonland said:
I just made one using a stainless tube from ebay, extra hand grip from my excal straight shaft and a spring clip from the old excal shaft View attachment 1122719 View attachment 1122720

Nice! What is used as ferrule, also how did you attach to basket?

lawsonland · Feb 26, 2015

The guy I bought the tube from added in a 12" piece of smaller diameter stainless tubing that fits inside. The connection to the trex scoop was the tricky part. I took a wooden handle and cut a piece to fit into the scoop. Then I drill a hole for the stainless tube to fit tight and then that is bolted into the scoop.
Eventually I would like to make a coupler with stainless but this seems to work for now.
I was using a fiberglass shaft from a lowes shovel but I've gone through 2 of them. This should hold up better. I don't have large hands so this tubing (7/8" 316 stainless) will be easier to grip (used tennis racket grip) and the small bike handle to help pull it up. Need it when I'm out in the water trying to pull up a full scoop. Its small and shouldn't be in the way like some of these larger handles I've seem.
It's easy to make a hacksaw & drill. $30 for the tube (I got sent 2 60" tubes, I only ordered one so I can make another), handle was $7