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.
....I may have to modify my plans.... 
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. 
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…
