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Long handled scoop recommendations please
- Thread starter comisoas
- Start date
Florida Keys Pirate
New member
Get an aluminum scoop from Reilly's Treasured Gold. Light weight and bulletproof. They do custom work also. The RTG 5 is awesome.
Florida Keys Pirate
New member
No problem. Good Luck.
GeorgeinSC
Well-known member
I went to Lowe's and purchased a Werner ladder tool lasso. Put the elastic bungee cord around the handle just below the scoop and then carry it on my belt. I use a T-Rex 9.5 scoop with 42" wood handle that weighs quite a bit. Easy to carry, Easy to take off the belt for use and easy to put back in the carrier. It also keeps the metal scoop high enough that it does not interfere with my detector.
dewcon4414
Well-known member
I believe in the starvr scoops. Get a hoe handle from tractor supply and u have a great set up. Its lighter than my rtg aluminum. I know its lughter than the sunspot or t-rex. Mad top notch....real impressive welds. I use the m9 out ther to my eye balls. That handle if u put a wood dowl inside its water tight and making the handle float.
Dew
Dew
Can I have some opinions on the RTG STRAIGHT HANDLE ALUMINUM SAND SCOOP that is 5" in diameter and 7" long. It retails for about $79 which is in my price range. Seems a bit small, but I would mainly be searching the wet sand and upper beach, with maybe 20% of time in the surf. It only weighs 2 lbs. Also, I don't get to the beach too often, so it would not be heavily used. Does anyone have any experience with this scoop? Thanks
Florida Keys Pirate
New member
It'll kill your back. You're better off looking for a used scoop on eBay or the classifieds here. You're going to want a nice 40" or so handle. I've seen $150.00 scoops go for 1/2 that price quite a few times. Good Luck.
There's a fellow who sells on ebay under the name of "borderlineengineering". Search for his listings. He makes some good ones. I took one of his, and did some modifications of my own to it. To make it a one-armed operation, easy handling, extra control, never bend over. Ie.: pistol-grip and arm-cuff:
Ruslan,
Your baby has found a good home. He even has a big brother.
I think a good scoop really needs a good handle. If you want to dig big and fast with one hand without breaking your back, you need a good assist handle on your handle.
The assist handle makes the scoop carry like a suitcase. With a full bucket the assist handle is still the balance point.
It doesn't matter if your scoop is made of titanium covered in Teflon and sprayed with PAM, the Florida east coast sand does not drain easily. You need to carry it to the water to wash it out or dump and spread it. It's good to be able to do it one handed without bending your back.
Also the handle to scoop joint has to be strong! I dig vertically and twist the bucket while it's buried to break the ground suction. Then lift it with a little leg action.
The Stavr has a stainless dowel a foot long over it and pinned and inserted into the aluminum (marine alloy) handle.
The hoop handle works great in the water and the covered scoop retains targets in deep water.
The Stavr I use for wading and shallow targets.
Thanks Ruslan
ROBOCOP
Your baby has found a good home. He even has a big brother.
I think a good scoop really needs a good handle. If you want to dig big and fast with one hand without breaking your back, you need a good assist handle on your handle.
The assist handle makes the scoop carry like a suitcase. With a full bucket the assist handle is still the balance point.
It doesn't matter if your scoop is made of titanium covered in Teflon and sprayed with PAM, the Florida east coast sand does not drain easily. You need to carry it to the water to wash it out or dump and spread it. It's good to be able to do it one handed without bending your back.
Also the handle to scoop joint has to be strong! I dig vertically and twist the bucket while it's buried to break the ground suction. Then lift it with a little leg action.
The Stavr has a stainless dowel a foot long over it and pinned and inserted into the aluminum (marine alloy) handle.
The hoop handle works great in the water and the covered scoop retains targets in deep water.
The Stavr I use for wading and shallow targets.
Thanks Ruslan
ROBOCOP
Hey Comisoas...that RTG 5" ( or similar) bucket light scoop is perfect for dry sand, I have one, but you will find it lacking in wet sand and water...in fact, nearly unusable...
Theres a right tool for the job, and that aint it for the wetwork...that said, theres a lot of overlooked loot up on the dry, since most properly equipped water hunters head straight for the surf with their serious hunting and digging gear..If you want a comfortable scoop that will do both reasonable well, I would recommend a Sunspot with a wood handle...just sayin' youd be in it for less than 200 bucks easy, and have something for the off side chance you need to hunt the wet on a particular day when that 200 bucks pays off..I know its a B!...paying that much loot for a 'shovel'?...unless you can make your own thats pretty much the deal though..time and gold wait for nobody.
Mud
Theres a right tool for the job, and that aint it for the wetwork...that said, theres a lot of overlooked loot up on the dry, since most properly equipped water hunters head straight for the surf with their serious hunting and digging gear..If you want a comfortable scoop that will do both reasonable well, I would recommend a Sunspot with a wood handle...just sayin' youd be in it for less than 200 bucks easy, and have something for the off side chance you need to hunt the wet on a particular day when that 200 bucks pays off..I know its a B!...paying that much loot for a 'shovel'?...unless you can make your own thats pretty much the deal though..time and gold wait for nobody.
Mud
goldnugget
Active member
I would be lost without this scoop-goldnugget- and I wear Sandal's made by Merrill, I also wear a pair of Socks,I just got back from the Beach- I only got to detect for 13 hours, July 18,2014= goldnugget.I use a Minelab Excalibur with the 8 inch coil
I know right! Bummer! 
But, if a guy is intent on hunting gold/plat/silver in the wet sand or water...you gotta get a good efficient scoop! What good is hearing the target if you cant dig it? You could call a few mfgs and ask if they have a return or a 'second'...or post a request to purchase on the 'accessory' Forum!...just saying, a guy needs a good scoop, or whats the point of being out there?...I've struggled with this scoop expense subject as well and built my own scoop, during the whole process I came to appreciate the mfgs!...my scoop works for me where I hunt, it fits my need for comfort, speed, and results, but dang, I woulda been better off buying something after all the dicking around and research!
Mud
But, if a guy is intent on hunting gold/plat/silver in the wet sand or water...you gotta get a good efficient scoop! What good is hearing the target if you cant dig it? You could call a few mfgs and ask if they have a return or a 'second'...or post a request to purchase on the 'accessory' Forum!...just saying, a guy needs a good scoop, or whats the point of being out there?...I've struggled with this scoop expense subject as well and built my own scoop, during the whole process I came to appreciate the mfgs!...my scoop works for me where I hunt, it fits my need for comfort, speed, and results, but dang, I woulda been better off buying something after all the dicking around and research! Mud
good points. I tried one manufacturer recently and received the scoop, my first. But it just got to be too darn heavy. I didn't realize that 5.5 lbs or so could be so cumbersome. Anyway, I had to send it back. Once the $ is back in my acct, time to decide on which scoop to get. I like that Stavr, I have also looked at some of the RTG scoops. Still undecided. I am searching the forums and asking questions, so I appreciate your feedback.
Most scoops become cumbersome because all the weight is on one end, the scoop end. When you add light weight wood or fiberglass handles it just aggravates that condition.
The handle is a lever and a counterweight. The assist handle is another lever at the pivot point and balance point of the main handle in my scoops.
This lets you lift and control the weight with one hand. My big scoop holds 10 pounds of wet sand, but when I lift it , it's like lifting a 16.5 pound suitcase with one hand. Not that hard.
The mass doesn't try to rotate out of my grip so badly that I can't control it. The height and angle and position of the assist handle over the main handle is the key.
People who watch me dig with it on the beach think I'm strong. Not really, it's an optical illusion.
The handle is a lever and a counterweight. The assist handle is another lever at the pivot point and balance point of the main handle in my scoops.
This lets you lift and control the weight with one hand. My big scoop holds 10 pounds of wet sand, but when I lift it , it's like lifting a 16.5 pound suitcase with one hand. Not that hard.
The mass doesn't try to rotate out of my grip so badly that I can't control it. The height and angle and position of the assist handle over the main handle is the key.
People who watch me dig with it on the beach think I'm strong. Not really, it's an optical illusion.
Multiply that 16.5 lbs times 100 to 200+ digs on a 95 degree day while walking in sand. that is getting rough on my old arm 