Sand scoop

[HARRASS]

Here's a sand scoop I made about 10 years ago. It has never fail me and believe me I have really tested it in all kinds of conditions. Cost next to nothing to build. Had most this material around my shop. As a designer I had the challenge of making a scoop strong enough to withstand the punishment I gave it because I have a collection of stainless steel and aluminum scoops, I paid quite a bit for, all bent and broken. It also had to be a scoop made without metal in it. I actually injured my left shoulder dragging those metal scoops behind me so my explorer wouldn't detect it. Another advantage this scoop and others I have built is they are very light and they float.
It has served me very well because if it isn't in my scoop it is still in the sand. It has been very effective when it comes to small items such as ear rings. I have several jars of them... problem is none of them match.
If you need any more info please ask.

 

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[Acquisitor]

I'm sorry but I fail to see how this scoop can serve for "ten years in any condition".

 

[HARRASS]

I'm sorry but I fail to see how this scoop can serve for "ten years in any condition".

Most of the time the sand has been typical sand... however I have worked sand with lots of rocks and some sand beaches with clay. It wasn't easy however it never failed. The way I designed it there is no stress on the points where the parts are attached. Each scoop full is equivalent to half a shovel full. I have dug some fairly large holes... the fun begins when I fill them in.

 

[fllawboy]

Can you take a close up shot of the scoop mouth and back and where you connected it to handle? Thanks

 

[zigzag]

Ain't no way.

 

[HARRASS]

I have to get my son to do the picture taking... I'm not that good at it. The plastic came from a friend of mine who works for the PUC in town. It is a piece of municipal water pipe about a foot long. Just ask some one who installs water pipes. There is always small pieces left over. I serrated the front with a grinder so it can really dig in. At the back I used a 1 inch piece of ash cut in a circle to fill in the back. I used dowels to hold it in. Those are the black dots at the end. The handle is a piece of maple flooring. Think of a how strong a hockey stick is but only double.
Hope this helps you.

 

[baywalker]

That would not last 5 min. where I hunt.

 

[HARRASS]

Oh yeah of little faith...

 

[Irishgoldhound]

Looks like zip ties from the scoop to the handle. I would break that pretty quick. Not likely that would last with my foot on it.

 

[lookindown]

I don't see any reason that scoop wouldn't work in wet sand. Ive seen a lot of homemade scoops that I thought would fail but I think this one would do well.

 

[HARRASS]

Short of driving a truck over it, this scoop is indestructible. The secret is based on the triangle. The weakest point is probably where the handle and the scoop are connected. In my design all the stress is on the zip ties. I'm 230 and wear a size 13 and if you look at the handle it's bent backwards from me pulling on it. I've popped the odd zip tie, which can be replaced easily, however I think it has broken more from being in the sun than stress.
As for the plastic pipe, this plastic pipe is used by towns and cities for there water systems. If you ever get a piece of this pipe try and bust it. Harder still, try and cut it to the shape you want. That's why I took a grinder to the front of it so I didn't have a blunt end. I sharpened it once and it is still the same after all that digging.
I have one I call the monster. It is 6 foot and I only use it in deep water. The handle is 2 inch oak. I use it in water when I am in water chest deep or deeper. With the one I showed you, if I push down and try to dig I float away. With the top of the handle out of the water I can still push down and use my foot to dig. This one is great for around rope lines which are usually fairly deep. I also like the fact that it floats. Some times I end up over my head and I use it to float back to shallower water.
Hope this helps you.

 

[Sandman]

I think all of us have made a scoop at one time or another. I know I have just to see if I could. He may have a better design that none of us has ever tried. Those Zip ties from handle to scoop flex so they have some give to them.

Here is a pic of the retrievers used at the county beaches. It has the squared off front because there is fabric under the sand and it doesn't cut the fabric. We pull the scoop toward us. At state park beaches we use the old Stealth Scoops by Sunspot.

 

[mnruxpin]

yea one of my beaches has that netting now, the little square scoops work great and dont make the park guys mad

I think all of us have made a scoop at one time or another. I know I have just to see if I could. He may have a better design that none of us has ever tried. Those Zip ties from handle to scoop flex so they have some give to them.

Here is a pic of the retrievers used at the county beaches. It has the squared off front because there is fabric under the sand and it doesn't cut the fabric. We pull the scoop toward us. At state park beaches we use the old Stealth Scoops by Sunspot.
View attachment 992627View attachment 992628

 

[shawninNY]

Looks like it would hold sand really well!

 

[HARRASS]

Sandman; are you still interested in building a scoop? After 10 years, if not more, I have worn out the wood at the base from digging. I can show you my collection of metal scoops that I have wrecked over the years. This one has never failed or changed over the years. If you need any more info I would gladly help. You were the only one that didn't think I was nuts when I said I had a home built scoop that really worked.

 

[TampaTroy]

I like that it doesn't contain any metal. I was thinking of making a scoop out of Lexan and wood. I just cant figure out a good way to connect it all together without using metal. This gives me something to think about. Thanks.

 

[lost items recovery]

I like that it doesn't contain any metal. I was thinking of making a scoop out of Lexan and wood. I just cant figure out a good way to connect it all together without using metal. This gives me something to think about. Thanks.

P.L. Construction adhesive. Drill a few small holes between the 2 surfaces to join together so the PL can bridge inside. P.L. Is available at Home Depot .

Sent from my iPhone using TreasureNet

 

[lost items recovery]

P.L. Construction adhesive. Drill a few small holes between the 2 surfaces to join together so the PL can bridge inside. P.L. Is available at Home Depot

Epoxy, crazy glue, or PVC glue might be worth a try on the lexan

Sent from my iPhone using TreasureNet

 

[Sir Gala Clad]

I like the design: Since I prefer straight up 90 degree scoop handle(s), am am looking for a scoop that will not set off my metal detectors.

I see no reason, why this design should not work well. Municipal water pipe is far far stronger and harder than the PVC water pipe commonly used for this.

From the pictures, it looks like it would be very difficult to get it far enough under an object to really stress it when you lever back. More likely the scoop would slip out, even if you were able to develop that type of leverage, the zip ties would snap before
catastrophic failure of the basket.

Round enclosed can shaped scoop baskets tend to role when hitting a hard object, plus they tend to be corky and difficult to hold in place when there are currents.

I currently use a light weight aluminum scoop with a basket shaped like this for retrieving targets in the trough where the sand is soft. I prefer the thicker more blunt edges of aluminum scoops have as the blunt tip of flailing scoop in strong surges/waves is less likely to hurt you. Also, a scoop with a smaller basket size works better for sifting heavy wet sand.

Thank you for sharing, hopefully I will be able to find the parts I need (sigh)!

View attachment 991795Here's a sand scoop I made about 10 years ago. It has never fail me and believe me I have really tested it in all kinds of conditions. Cost next to nothing to build. Had most this material around my shop. As a designer I had the challenge of making a scoop strong enough to withstand the punishment I gave it because I have a collection of stainless steel and aluminum scoops, I paid quite a bit for, all bent and broken. It also had to be a scoop made without metal in it. I actually injured my left shoulder dragging those metal scoops behind me so my explorer wouldn't detect it. Another advantage this scoop and others I have built is they are very light and they float.
It has served me very well because if it isn't in my scoop it is still in the sand. It has been very effective when it comes to small items such as ear rings. I have several jars of them... problem is none of them match.
If you need any more info please ask.

 

[HARRASS]

If you look at the back and around the PVC pipe at the rear end you will see dark dots. Inside the pipe is a circle of inch thick piece of hard wood. I used dowels, about one inch long, almost like how they used wooden pegs in the old days to hold wood beams in barns. Hope this helps you.