To Dave, Hear are my digging tools, all made by myself. I started off with the screwdriver look-a-like, it's actually a high tensile bolt I turned down and made a handle for it. The preferred one that I now use is made from 1 1/2' diameter stainless steel tube with the side cut away to make it like a scoop. By doing it this way, gives it great strength. It is 9" long, so it gives me an idea of depth when I am digging. Also being small in Diameter, it is easier to push into the ground. I find I only need this diameter, in conjunction with my X-1 Probe, and I leave very little evidence of me being there.
The plastic sand scoop is made from 4' sewer pipe, with and end cap and a handle cut from wood and routered round edges and sanded. I also made an Aluminium re-enforcing piece around the top, front of the scoop as I use it to help me get up off the beach. All items cost me nothing as i had the material in my scrap bin. The plastic scoop is 2years old, and showing very little wear, which surprises me . I have made my own Hipstick, it presses together to stop it coming out of the holder every time I bend down to dig, It also has the added advantage of holding the detector up out of the dirt and sand while you are digging
This is my first attempt at posting a Photo on this forum, Thanks to lazyaussie, I hope I have not mucked it up
The plastic sand scoop is made from 4' sewer pipe, with and end cap and a handle cut from wood and routered round edges and sanded. I also made an Aluminium re-enforcing piece around the top, front of the scoop as I use it to help me get up off the beach. All items cost me nothing as i had the material in my scrap bin. The plastic scoop is 2years old, and showing very little wear, which surprises me . I have made my own Hipstick, it presses together to stop it coming out of the holder every time I bend down to dig, It also has the added advantage of holding the detector up out of the dirt and sand while you are digging
This is my first attempt at posting a Photo on this forum, Thanks to lazyaussie, I hope I have not mucked it up