Sand scoops

[101numlock]

i do a lot of beach hunting and am thinking of buying a long handle scoop, Who all uses one and what should i be looking for? My back is killing me after 3 days of bending over with a little hand scoop.I am only using it on shore wet and dry sand, no in the water detecting as of yet anyways LOL

 

[SloDave]

If you have the money there are plenty of them out on the market. As for what to look for.

The only thing i suggest is buy a stainless steel one. Aluminum just doesn't last.. The one time i bought one it broke on me. (aluminum)
also a

At the moment i use what i have. A short round point shovel.. Lol no money to buy a new one..

Hope this helps..

 

[ZOFCHAK]

Have you considered a short handled shovel as opposed to a scoop? When I'm only detecting the dry and wet sand I don't even bother taking a scoop along, it's faster, much cheaper and easier on my arms.

 

[GraveDiggerMax-VaBch-Va]

dry sand hunting is normally fast and easy, targets are shallow.............need a scoop with wire mesh so sand will filter out fast

same rule for damp sand except depth............your detector .............says Etrac..............goes very deep in the wet damp sand - u will need a scoop with long bill and lots of backbone. most just dig out the target and toss sand on beach and kick target out and then pick up off the beach. wet sand is heavy and hard to sift - not like the dry stuff - some even wash sand out the sea waves.........faster.
lots of options on how to dig and retreive..........u will find out what works best for u as u dig many pennies and pull tabs.

now u have to decide.........stainless steel or aluminum.

most of the scoops made today wheather stainless or aluminum hold up great. s/s are heavier and work fine, aluminum much lighter, but the bill part will wear over time and gets bent and jagged, most have a s/s lip added to them.

check out these guys .............there are others...........good luck
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http://www.kellycodetectors.com/accessories/longhand.htm
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http://www.rtgstore.com/rtgaluminumscoops.htm
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http://www.proscoops.com/

 

[bcoop]

A long handle scoop is a must for beach hunting, it is so much easier to dig and retrieve a target. The sponsors have good quality scoops, which one to use is a matter of personal preference and the type of beach your digging in. The Nuttall diamond head is very high quality, a little heavy but it will dig some holes. I dug some cell phones at 18 plus inches using my Excalibur II and the diamond head, when digging that deep you want a durable scoop. I also have a lighter scoop from Reilly's that works well and is a lot lighter.

BCOOP

 

[Jiminsandiego]

After breaking my $40 ss scoop I got a diamond head ($170) this week. It made my old one look like a toy. I got to use it yesterday in wet sand cemented together with millions of broken shells (Mission Bay Ca) an wow that thing can dig a big hole fast! The sand here can be like heavy mud or wet cement so after some research went for the diamond head after reading it "cuts like butter".It is built like a tank and at around 5 pounds it feels very heavy. I ended up taping a strap a couple of feet doun the handle and dragged it along just behind my leg.
It does not sift well, even in dry sand so I may get an aluminum scoop for the easy stuff but i just spread out the sand and use a pro pointer for the hard to see targets. If you detect difficult sand like me this scoop is sure worth looking at as I am sure I can retrieve many more targets with it than with a "whimpier" scoop.
Lots of options and a tough call on what to buy.
Cheers,
Jim

 

[normdiver]

I like to make my own,,,,not that hard,,,,,just need more toys to do it.....

 

[jenkiel]

Yes Jimin..... It's a bit heavy,but if you can handle that,it's a winner

 

[ratpack]

http://www.proscoops.com/6HDTBSS.JPG
This is the one I use. I have used it for the past 2 years just make sure you get it with the SS LIP as the front takes the beating. no bending over and it's a brute in any beach condition

 

[Goldak]

Perhaps I missed it but pay attention to the angle at which the handle is attached to the basket. It will determine whether a scoop is designed to:
Push away from you- Probably the preferred method in wet sand. (obtuse angle)
Pull towards you- (acute angle)
Either?- (90 degree angle) What I use in the water because of the leverage I can get in deeper water.
Good luck! HH!

 

[mickfin]

I have a Rillys 5" Mesh long Landle Scoop and it sifts well, I had to add a handle on it 45% dont know way manufactars dont do that??? A handle is a must it helps the wrist out
Mickfin, Good Luck

 

[Parkerized]

I like to make my own,,,,not that hard,,,,,just need more toys to do it.....

Nice! Good to see you're still at it.

 

[SloDave]

I like to make my own,,,,not that hard,,,,,just need more toys to do it.....

Hey norm just wondering what you would charge for one?
That is if your interested in possibly selling one.

 

[101numlock]

yeah i think he has two more ready to go, just bought one from him yesterday, very stout looking scoops!

 

[sandman256]

For the dry sand and wet you need a screen sifter type like Max suggests. You can make your own but why waste time which you don't get all that much of in life. I bought mine from Reileys. The RTG Beachmaster

http://www.rtgstore.com/rtgaluminumscoops.htm




For in the water, fresh or salt there is only one in my opinion and I have used many. The Sunspot Stealth is the best SS scoop I have used. Straight handle that floats upright and being streight it is easy on the wrist.

 

[Jiminsandiego]

The second time out with my diamond head was in packed, clean, wet sand. The difference between this scoop and my $40 one is amazing! Pulling deep targets out in one scoop is simply a joy. I'm glad I used the other one so I can fully appreciate the diamond head. Yesterday I found a silver and diamond Mickey mouse ring and a 14k nugget ring, each of them with one scoop. The ease of target recovery by far makes up for the effort of dragging this thing along. With a 12x15 sef coil (my next purchase)and this scoop I'm gunna feel like a knight going into battle but it should be an efficient way of working the wet sand.
Cheers

 

[ToniSteve]

I have the Nuttall (which I do not use any more) and 3 other scoops, the Nuttall is way to much scoop in the type of bottom I hunt in in the Northwest. In sand it probably works good but it is to much scoop for the armored sand/gravel/clay/mud/hard pan bottoms I have here. My 2 favorites (made by 2 different people) use a wooden post hole digger handle.



Best Regards,
Steve