Magnets and scoops

[mynah]

The question of scoops are up again and wanted to discuss the use of a magnet.

I have a magnet fixed to the bottom of my scoop. It's a circular magnet from a car speaker approximately 21/2 inches in diameter with a 1 inch hole in the middle that's plastic tied at two sides to the scoop. The purpose of the magnet is to catch all the metal items such as bottle caps, safety pins, bobbie pins, nails, fish hooks, and any other small iron object that has the potential of falling through the holes in the scoop. You'll know what I mean when you scoop your target and know it's in the scoop then when all the sand is sifted out there's nothing there. "Where the heck is the target"? Only to find the pin fell out of the scoop and back to the ground. Arrrrrrrg.

I usually leave the metal items stuck to the magnet until the it gets full then I'll take some time and pick them off and put them in my bag. To me, this saves a little bit of time.

Any magnet will do, eventually I'd like to get one of those rare earth magnets which are small, light, and powerful.

Your thoughts?

Aloha, Ike

 

[midalake]

I have bought several rare earth magnets off ebay with holes in them......the only way to go. Get them about 3/4 wide and 3/4 long if you buy smaller thickness just get enough to get the length.

Dave

 

[Wet and Dry]

Magnets do have there place in some parts of the world. I live in Southern Ontario Canada. They work great here. But when I go to spots like So Cal, the black sand is so bad that the magnets look like black fuzzy balls after a few scoops in the sand. They got so bad that I threw them in the garbage. I also find the best way to clean them is with compressed air. (wear safety glasses)

 

[mynah]

Magnets do have there place in some parts of the world. I live in Southern Ontario Canada. They work great here. But when I go to spots like So Cal, the black sand is so bad that the magnets look like black fuzzy balls after a few scoops in the sand. They got so bad that I threw them in the garbage. I also find the best way to clean them is with compressed air. (wear safety glasses)

Wow, that sounds pretty bad. Usually blasting it with a garden hose and water does the job here.

 

[kered]

no need for magnets if you use an excalibur, you dont dig iron period

 

[woodwizard]

try this place for magnets-never used them yet but am planning on it as their prices seem fair.http://www.kjmagnetics.com/categories.asp

 

[pachinko893]

Magnets in the scoop definitely saves time... especially on night hunts. Like Mynah, I attached the pictured magnet with two zip ties at the bottom of my scoop. I got lucky and found mine on a local net auction for $2 including shipping. HH

 

[JDknight34]

Place your magnet in a small ziploc baggie (like what might be used for jewelry or something. It makes it way easier to clean the magnetite and iron off.

 

[HawaiiMDer]

Mynah,

My bradduh, just crack open a old computer harddrive and remove the magnets from them. Those are rare earth magnets and worth using. I have two in each of my scoops. And how i get the black fuzzys off magnets is blast them off with my garden hose.

thanks,

 

[familycache]

... just crack open a old computer harddrive and remove the magnets from them. Those are rare earth magnets and worth using...

Great suggestion, I'll give it a try myself!
Thanks

 

[mynah]

Mynah,

My bradduh, just crack open a old computer harddrive and remove the magnets from them. Those are rare earth magnets and worth using. I have two in each of my scoops. And how i get the black fuzzys off magnets is blast them off with my garden hose.

thanks,

Rajah, I blast with the garden hose too, easy eh? I looking but ones on the side of the road no more HD. The ones I get working good for now.

Aloha

 

[HawaiiMDer]

Oh yeah, that stuff just shoots right off and i'm telling you mine always has plenty iron stuck on them.