Digging Science

[landman]

Digging those deep signals are the test of what separates the men from the boys. Sometimes I'm a man other times I just know what ahead of me and move on to shallower targets and hope for the best. Having the best digging system is key and I'd like to hear from those who have put some thought into how they have fine tuned their digging "system" For me when using the Excal I can usually not have to use a floating sifter and my Sun Spot like scoop with a 4 foot handle and magnets in the interior of the scoop works well. However my model is 6.5 lbs. It was 7.5 lbs with the large donut magnets inside that I swapped out for the neodyne I currently have and lightened it up a lbs. I'll be investing into an original Sun Spot for 3 reasons. 1.) It's 1 lbs lighter at 5.5lbs. 2.) The shaft is round the entire length. Which means I can place a scythe nib handle on it for a great sifting experience, less expenditure of energy. 3.) It has a 4 and 5 foot handle so I'll be buying both to see which works best with my 6"2" height.

Regarding the pulse machine. Man I love a larger loop for coverage, but as far as pinpointing the 8-8.5 loop on a PI is the best. There are those who have mastered the larger loops and pinpointing with accuracy by pinpointing with the edge of the loop. If I could look and see where the loop on edge is "pointing to" I might have a better experience and learn how to do it. In fresh water I do everything blind folded because most of the time the water at waist to neck has limited visibility so its all about touch, feel and gauge those scoops of dirt out of the hole. The NEW floating sifter I'm designing will be a modification of the one in Andy Sabish's book and I'll report on it soon.

So do you like the long handle scoops? And why? Do you like a smaller lighter scoop and why? Have any of you tried the lighter stainless scoops and the sun scoop and come to a conclusion what works best for long term hunting success? Have you had the chance to compare scoops in the field or just gotten use to the one you have. Any ideas on how to dig more with less energy without going to a dredge?
Faster more accurate digging, more gold.

 

[Furious T]

landman, I dont get to the surf often, but love it when I do. My first "long handled" scoop was a metal hand scoop to which I attached to plastic plumber's pipe with a plumbing fitting. Was very light and worked very well..in dry sand. It worked in the water, but the scoop was only 4" wide, so it sometimes took a long time and many scoops before I sighted the target. I suspect that I may have pushed a few targets out of reach with it. I then bought a large stainless steel scoop. Magnificent, but quite heavy. That was OK. In the water it was fine, and I was recovering targets a lot easier. Then (well away and disociated from the beach) I aggravated an old back injury(upon examination fund that I had lost two discs from my lower back). Bugger!!
time to revise my approach to scoops and water detecting. My old original lightweight scoop gave up the ghost (died) and so I had to find something else. I rang a couple of dealers here (Aus) and found one that had a scoop with no handle. Asked him to weigh and it weighed in a couple of pounds lighter than my big stainless steel magnifique. So I ordered it, and I think the dealer was glad to be rid of it (I,m sure he smiled when he got my cheque) and I found that it was a large square type scoop thinggy. No handle. That was fine, I wasn't expecting one. I found a good solid shovel handle andoiled it up and fitted it to the scoop. Was really great, but getting very close to the weight I was trying to avoid. What to do? Then I visited that magic place that all men fantasise about and own if they possibly can--my shed. Found an aluminium handle from the swimming pool scoop. Well, we didn't need it anymore because we have been in drought for about 8 years and there isn't enough water to pyut in the swimming pool and the kids will be too old to use it by the time there is enough water. The aluminium handle had to be cut down to size, but it works really well....takes about 1-2lb off the weight of the scoop with the wooden handle and I found my first 18 K gold ring with it, so it cant be that bad. Dont know if any of this drivel helps, but my advice is to be innovative and take anything that the kids have left behind. HH Sapper