PRO/SCOOP Sand Water Scoop Handle Mod

[Sven]

This is one of the best scoops going. Only one drawback it uses a straight handle at 90 degrees when attached to the scoop, like many other scoops too. The straight handle does not allow you to reach far enough at arm's length to put the scoop tip at a more vertical dig angle. Thus you can't push the scoop deep enough into the sand. You will also find that your wrists will hurt after while when drawing your hand closer to the scoop for content examination. Your wrist are not at a natural angle.

So I dug back into the info I had on one of my best scoops I ever bought back about 10 years ago off ebay. It was built like a tank of stainless steel with an aluminum handle. The handle was bent in such an angle that it made it very easy to dig and scoop. The orig maker from what I see sold his idea to one of the big detector sales websites or they copied it. What I did is bought a piece of 6063/T6 aluminum tubing 1 1/2" .OD, .125 wall .ID. Then took it to my local metal fab companies and hand it custom bent to fit me exactly.

Results were astonishing, this scoop works 100x better than it did. You can slide your hand down to the scoop easily if needed.
I do have another mod for this scoop just haven't made it yet. There is a portion on the scoop with holes where a small handle can be bolted onto and the attached to the scoop at an angle.

 

[Mel Parker]

This is what I did to fix the straight handle.

 

[tomcatpl]

is there a place that still sels those scops???

 

[dewcon4414]

Funny you did that since i saw Mel's post the other day on his wooden handle. I was thinking of doing a little more tweaking on my RTG 7 inch handle to fit me better.... much like you just did. Cool mod, let us know if you run into trouble with it bending...because ive noticed with a full scoop on the RTG you can really feel a little give trying to remove it from the sand when its deep. Maybe im just trying to get it the first time and getting in to deep as opposed to taking a second bite.

Dew

 

[Sven]

Sent you a PM as the company is not a forum sponsor

 

[Sven]

http://www.metalsupermarkets.com/catalog/ALUMINUM/TUBE_ROUND/6061T6

 

[cubfan64]

While it's certainly worth a try and would make that scoop excellent to use imho, I'm worried that a few tough digs would bend that handle at the weak point. Have you noticed any "give" there with it?

 

[Sven]

While it's certainly worth a try and would make that scoop excellent to use imho, I'm worried that a few tough digs would bend that handle at the weak point. Have you noticed any "give" there with it?

I have dug in some pretty thick clay sand bottoms around here and it is holding up. There will always be some one out there that will use bear strength the scoop handle and probably bend it.
I have bad wrists so I pull back on the handle with not a lot of force, it doesn't need a lot of force anyways. I was also originally concerned about the bending at the weak points. Think I put the bends at points that would not weaken it much. Would have liked to use a thicker wall tube, just can't find any up here in Canada where I live. Another thought was to insert a second tube to increase the wall thickness or to make it using stainless steel; regular steel. Only problem is that it increases the weight---didn't want to drag around a tank. The current set-up weighs just a bit more than using the hickory wheel barrel handle. My handle cost $22.00 Canadian plus the $$ labor charge cost to bend it.

The metal shop here used a 16 ton tubing bender like the one pictured. If you have one of these or access to one, you can bend a handle yourself.

 

[kaptainkosmic]

If you use this type bender, try filling the tube with sand and capping the ends before you make your bends. It will help to keep the walls from crushing and the end product will be much more resistant to failing.

Steve

 

[cubfan64]

If you use this type bender, try filling the tube with sand and capping the ends before you make your bends. It will help to keep the walls from crushing and the end product will be much more resistant to failing.

Steve

That's an excellent idea and one I hadn't thought of! Thanks

 

[smoldrn]

is there a place that still sels those scops???

I picked one up on ebay, he has several.