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Homemade sand and water scoops

2

2wheeldevil

Active member
I would like to see some homemade scoops made out of aluminum, stainless steel or just plain steel. I know you have them out there, give us a chance to see them.
Particularly interested in hole design, handles and handle angles, and the gauge of the metal.
 
I believe most commercial SS scoops are made with 14 gauge, what gauge do you need for aluminum to handle the rocks etc.
 
I bought and primarily use a SS diamond head scoop but I designed a flat bottom diamond head scoop for certain applications which has worked out great. Its good for clay and or flat hard type bottoms but also good for fresh drop searching since its a bit lighter than my main scoop. I sent the template I made in photoshop to a local welder who hooked me up. If you would like a copy, Im happy to send it to you.
 
I really like your design with the built-in kick plate and all. What gauge of SS do you use? I am making another scoop this winter because I have been losing a lot of small stuff like ear-rings because the holes are too big.
Planning on using smaller holes at the back, sides, and bottom of the scoop to catch more of the small stuff. Weight is still a issue but I am afraid of using a gauge smaller than 14 gauge will not handle the rocks etc.
Your handle and brace configuration looks great.
 
Made these 2 scoops out of cookware...the smaller 6in one was a piece of calphalon ware and the larger one was a farberware 6 qt soup pot.... i use the bigger one for lake hunting mostly... and much like you mentioned about smaller holes on bottom and backside,it works very well for catching the small stuff,it's almost like a strainer and scoop in one... takes a little longer to shake the sand out to find the target but hey it's better than chasing the same target over and over because it keeps falling thru the scoop.. the u bolts and hardware i picked up at tractor supply..handle came from old shovels... i really like the d handle for dragging the scoop behind me , it leaves a groove in the sand which i use as a reference to sort of grid the bottom...[attachment 323328 20150111_0810072.jpg][attachment 323329 20150111_0811022.jpg]
 
Here is my new hole design, hope this catches the small stuff that my present scoop keeps missing. The back section of the scoop is not shown but will also have
the 3 rows high of small holes and then the bigger holes. Will only have to try it out to see if it flushes out the sand to my satisfaction. This is now ready for the metal brake to bend it at the lines and then weld the top piece with the handle(not shown)to it.
After this is welded I will then form fit the back piece and cut it out to be welded onto this section. There are 172 holes in this section, 80 small holes and 92 bigger holes. The bigger holes have to be drilled twice because you need a pilot hole to start with-lots of work drilling in this 14 gauge SS. I am going to make the back section out of 16 gauge SS just to save some wt and hope that will be strong enough.
Thanks goes to Saltshaker for giving me the design for this scoop.
 
Wow, that looks great and thanks. Really nice job too...I like your idea and design with the smaller holes. The one change I did make with mine was just to cut and flatten the tip on the top since it was starting to bend a little. Regardless, I think you got a nice scoop there.
 
Just got the scoops back from the welder for the first go around. Now have to cut out the back sections for the scoops and drill the holes in them. Also have to cut the braces for the handles. Then off to the welder for the final welds.
As you can see I made one scoop 1/2 inch wider on the top piece and the bottom piece.

My welder guy says making the backs out of 16 gauge SS instead of the 14 gauge like the main part of the scoops will be more than strong enough. My concern is the welds on the front top, I am still going to have him weld a small L shaped piece on there to reinforce that area.
 
Those look sweet! I think they'll work great. Nice work.
 
This is my proposed brace for the handle. Do you think this is strong enough? Bad thing is this total scoop with the handle comes in around 7 lbs. The wood handle alone is 2 lbs. Fiber glass handle would be better but more $.
 
Done, ready for the water hunt. Wish welder had welded around the L shaped reinforcements instead of just on the ends. Little worried that the small holes may be too small to flush the scoop enough. Can always drill those holes
bigger I guess if I am not satisfied.
To be honest, with the work and the cost of building these scoops, it is probably better to just go out and buy one. The bending and welding cost of $70 per scoop is what surprised me, 5 yrs ago this cost me $25.
 
After building a scoop you can really appreciate the effort in design and construction of the professional built scoops. Little subtle things like the lifting point where the handle meets the scoop is important. A still overlooked feature is the handle design to help control a full bucket of wet sand, preferably with just one hand. Most people use lift handles but to me they just help you lift the full scoop but not really maneuever it to easily dump the wet sand and check for a target. I use handles that act as a counterweight to a full bucket of wet sand and allow one handed digging and control of a full scoop to either dump or let the surf flush the bucket in a controlled manner.

Here's some pics. My goal is to not have to bend my back when lifting or controlling the full scoop.
 
2wheeldevil said:
Done, ready for the water hunt. Wish welder had welded around the L shaped reinforcements instead of just on the ends. Little worried that the small holes may be too small to flush the scoop enough. Can always drill those holes
bigger I guess if I am not satisfied.
To be honest, with the work and the cost of building these scoops, it is probably better to just go out and buy one. The bending and welding cost of $70 per scoop is what surprised me, 5 yrs ago this cost me $25.
Click to expand...
He said he had
to increase his hourly rate to pay for his health insurance.
 
Here's a clamp on assist handle we developed to help one handed scooping and controlling the full bucket. It's milled aluminum and very lightweight.

It really helps when working in the water to lift a full scoop and not lose the target.

It's pictured on a Stealth 720i scoop on a carbon fiber handle, a Stavr on a wood/fiberglass handle and a regular tapered wood handle.

The carbon fiber handle is a larger diameter and requires a slightly larger clamp. Rubber gaskets are used in the clamps to protect the handle finishes.

ROBOCOP
 
What about a wood handle...picked up an oak handle at garage sale from a old farmtype rake...Floats and used for 10 years and bent a tad but never broke..
 
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