wood handle or aluminum?

[Finderskeeper]

I am in the process of building a water scoop. I can TIG weld and so it will be aluminum with a riveted stainless lip.

I have seen some of the scoops with a wood handle and was wondering if that is a plus or a minus?

In the past I have owned scoops with the aluminum handles but while I have been detecting I sometimes drop the scoop and so I have to attach it to my belt with a rope so I can pull it up from the bottom. I tried the float wrap stuff and it did not last very long. I would like to have a scoop that the handle floats so I can just grab it without having to get all tangled up with rope.

Is a wooden handle the way to go?

 

[Dig]

If you want a floating handle then yes, wood is probably the way to go. You could also look at fiberglass handles. I prefer aluminum myself but that's just me. If you are hunting deep, I would advise the longest handle you can stand. If you buy a wheel barrow handle (usually the longest pre made) take the time to lathe or route off the sharp edges... Your body will thank you for it. I also recommend spraying it with truck bed liner or wrapping in electrical tape. Just give both plenty of time to adhere before taking it in the water. Good luck and be sure to show us some pics! I am always interested in a fellow metal detectorists creativity.

 

[JMW]

Aluminum scoop with stainless lip, awesome combination. As far as handles, for water, I'd go with the wooden handle. They're great since they tend to float upright when let go, makes for an easy grab when needed. Aluminum's OK but in the winter will suck the cold out of the air and becomes an icicle unless you wrap it in pipe insulation.

 

[kaptainkosmic]

I prefer wood because I can let go and its right there when I need to get back hold of it. I don't tether the scoop to me I put it in a floating sifter which is tethered to my finds belt. Scoop is usually within reach and if not a tug on the sifter rope brings it in range. I put a small anchor on the sifter to keep it from "crowding" me when working down wind, down current or down wave.

Steve

 

[SandPhantom]

I like the Nuttall handle.

 

[8720roger]

try a post hole digger handle it as the length and the girth you will need and cost wery little.

 

[Finderskeeper]

I saw your post and went up to Lowe's. They had an ash post hole digger handle for <$9.00. It is the perfect width but I will have to find tubing to fit it as it is 1 1/2 inches wide. I don't want to decrease the width as it looks pretty strong and don't want to weaken it.


I tried the float idea a while ago but found it was more trouble than it was worth especially in the really high surf that I often find myself in.

 

[Micheal_R]

I built this one about 10-12 years ago.. and other than the odd rewelding if a seam broke, I have not had to do anything to it. If you can TIG aluminum, you can TIG stainless. The weight is acceptable and it is as tough as nails. The most difficult part was the actual bending of the scoop.. Has to use the press to make that.

Just another consideration to take into account. The one thing I did incorrectly was the bending of the handle. Stainless collapses fairly easily... so if you go this way, clamp and weld one end of the pipe, fill with sand fully, clamp and weld the other end.. Then bend it to your shape. Cut off the two welded ends, get rid of the sand and weld away.

[attachment 188772 scoop-006.jpg]

calm seas

Micheal

 

[Finderskeeper]

I have built a air/hydraulic tubing bender and have bent stainless tubing in the past with no trouble at all. I've decided to use an ash handle as I want a floating handle. I have the ability to build more of them so I will try a few ideas including metal handles of a similar nature to what you have.

I am looking for the best combination of handles and scoop for me. I've owned a few of the better scoops....aluminum, stainless, but never had a scoop with a wood handle. I want to try it and so I am going to build one.

 

[Micheal_R]

They are about 4 feet long.. I split them down the middle and wrap the handle in it. Then it floats.

I also have a revision C scoop with the wooden handle. Both work well. Each is used in certain circumstances exclusively... other areas there is a decent amount of room for a crossover.

How did you you make the bender. It would be a nice addition to my shop. I have a tubing bender and it works well for large pipe, like exhaust , but nothing for one inch stuff.
What type of TIG do you have? I have a MIller 200.. Works very well for me

Fair winds

Micheal

 

[darkmark1967]

I've built my own scoop and had trouble with handles breaking, I used wood. Finally I came up with the idea of using a handle reinforced with fibreglass around the outside. This seems to work very well, it flexes quite a bit but always goes back. I used a 4" wide woven tape and wrapped 3 layers on the wooden core, alternating the middle layer at 45 degrees. It is always a lot warmer on my shoulder than the stainless neck on the scoop. Heat conduction was the original reason for me using the wooden handle.
Happy Hunting,
Mark