Honest and even brutal input Welcome.

[Back-of-the-boat]

Let me start out by saying I know there is a Tool Shed forum on here but I wanted opinions from actual water hunters: I modified a Garrett hand held sand scoop by adding a handle, what I am wanting advice on is if I put a 45 degree bend in the handle about 3/4 of the way up it would improve the performance or if the straight handle is good enough and the reason I used this is because I already owned it. I also don't water hunt a lot so I couldn't justify anything more expensive. total cost about 50 dollars.

 

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[penzfan]

Looks good. A bend will surely help with ergonomics. HH and GL

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

Looks good. A bend will surely help with ergonomics. HH and GL

That is what I was thinking Thank you.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

It is just for fresh water hunting forgot to put that in original post.

 

[GatorBoy]

The bend works absolutely great for making it more comfortable to get a good angle on the initial bite of the scoop and gives you better leverage in my opinion.
That came out nice.
I think I might have added some angle to the scoop in relation to the handle but you can make up for that with the bend

 

[ron lord]

I won't use it in the water !! If it was welded yes ,but with all the pop ribbits I won't trust it . The first time you catch it on a rock it will brake.

 

[GatorBoy]

Just gotta love the power of positive thinking.
Something about the way I can tell this was thought out leads me to believe he could probably figure out that issue pretty quickly if he breaks it..
Maybe he could help get rid of all those pennies that crazy man throws all over the place where you hunt :-)

 

[rainyday101]

That was a really good idea starting out with the Garrett scoop. I have one and they are definitely heavy duty. Pop rivets are stronger than you think. The first weak point could potentially be the handle. That will depend on how thick it is and what material it is. If it is conduit it will fail. If aluminum it would need to thick walled.

I like your inner McGyver and give you credit, but I would change two things. First go to a wooden handle. You could lose those rivets and use stainless screws with nuts to go through the handle and pick up both supports. Second, place the handle 20 degress back from vertical. Those minor mods and I think you will make a good scoop great.

 

[Higgy]

I won't use it in the water !! If it was welded yes ,but with all the pop ribbits I won't trust it . The first time you catch it on a rock it will brake.

Back of the Boat, I agree with Ron. Those rivets are your weak link. See if you can find a friendly welder who will tack that up for a few bucks, and I think you will be fine for occasional use. Still, it looks great, and you have a good eye for detail, but its probably not strong enough for wet sand.

 

[Jason in Enid]

It's more than just the rivets. It's a hand-held dry sand scoop. It's made from a much thinner material than a purpose built water scoop. It will last for little bit in wet sand, but will eventually fail from stress fatigue.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

I won't use it in the water !! If it was welded yes ,but with all the pop ribbits I won't trust it . The first time you catch it on a rock it will brake.

That's what I was thinking. I checked out a local welder but he wants 75 an hour but he will do a charge by the minute just hope he doesn't milk the time.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

It's more than just the rivets. It's a hand-held dry sand scoop. It's made from a much thinner material than a purpose built water scoop. It will last for little bit in wet sand, but will eventually fail from stress fatigue.

I understand it is a cheap scoop but it was what I had available and since I don't water hunt but a couple times in a year it will last long enough.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

That was a really good idea starting out with the Garrett scoop. I have one and they are definitely heavy duty. Pop rivets are stronger than you think. The first weak point could potentially be the handle. That will depend on how thick it is and what material it is. If it is conduit it will fail. If aluminum it would need to thick walled.

I like your inner McGyver and give you credit, but I would change two things. First go to a wooden handle. You could lose those rivets and use stainless screws with nuts to go through the handle and pick up both supports. Second, place the handle 20 degress back from vertical. Those minor mods and I think you will make a good scoop great.

The reason I didn't address the angle, was I was using the original rivet holes in the scoop and there was no other place to drill new holes so that was why I went with the aluminum handle so I could get it bent if needed and I am going to get the bend done. But the welding may have to wait until I can find someone a little cheaper on the per hour charge.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

One other Modification I was thinking was putting a bar from both side supports and under the handle to strengthen it up.I do have a friend that has a body shop that has a sheet metal brake so later on I might make a new scoop for it.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

Thank you all for the help it solidified some thoughts I was mulling around in my head.

 

[Sir Gala Clad]

Thank you all for the help it solidified some thoughts I was mulling around in my head.[/QUOTE

The only modication, I would make is put a lift assist facing you near the top of the 90 degree handle.
This way, it would work just like an angled scoop without having to lean forward. Use what you have till it breaks, then buy a better scoop when you can afford with your finds.

I have done this with my 90 degree angle handle sunspot classic 8 scoop and you get the best of both worlds.
Don't have to lean forward in deep water, plus you have terrific leverage with the straight up handle when needed to pry rocks, which you definitely not do as your basket is not as strong.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

Thank you all for the help it solidified some thoughts I was mulling around in my head.[/QUOTE

The only modication, I would make is put a lift assist facing you near the top of the 90 degree handle.
This way, it would work just like an angled scoop without having to lean forward. Use what you have till it breaks, then buy a better scoop when you can afford with your finds.

I have done this with my 90 degree angle handle sunspot classic 8 scoop and you get the best of both worlds.
Don't have to lean forward in deep water, plus you have terrific leverage with the straight up handle when needed to pry rocks, which you definitely not do as your basket is not as strong.

Thank You something else to think about.

 

[Jason in Enid]

I understand it is a cheap scoop but it was what I had available and since I don't water hunt but a couple times in a year it will last long enough.

I can understand that, and any scoop may be better than no scoop. Good luck with it.

 

[Higgy]

B-O-T-B, I wouldn't spend that kind of cash to get that darn thing welded. That feller will probably charge you $75 no matter what, because aluminum does require a little setup. You can buy a Reilly's Treasured Gold stainless scoop for $150, and they are practically indestructible. Just buy one of those and have it done with, and leave this one in your trunk in case you leave the RTG at home, or if a friend forgets theirs. Then when they break it, you can really have some fun teasing them!

 

[meMiner]

I have one of those scoops and the only complaint is the lip bends in packed sand. However, I just straighten it out with my hands and keep going. Your mod is pretty good and better than bending over to dig the 100 bottle tops before finding that nice ring. I like an angle to the handle, but it is not absolutely necessary.