Good/Cheap Sandscoop For Fresh Water Wading & Dry Sand?

[Critterhunter]

It's been years since I hit the beaches with any kind of regularity but I plan to do that more this summer combined with my normal land hunting for old coins and rings. I can't seem to find the old sandscoop I had laying around. When I hit the beach a few times this past summer/fall I was using my normal land digger to find targets on dry sand. Obviously there's a much better way by using a sand scoop with a handle so I don't have to bend down on those targets anymore. I don't like the idea of long handled shovels for land hunting because they look intimidating but hunting the beach with a long handled sand scoop is a more friendly looking thing to other people. I feel I can get away with not having to get down on the ground at the beach without people thinking I'm digging fox holes like something with a long handle would look like on land.

So here's what I need to know. Who makes a good but cheap sand scoop with a long enough handle to use wading in maybe knee to waste deep water and also to use on dry sand without bending over or getting down. If you can't recommend a name then at least give me an idea of how long the handle should be for somebody 6 foot 2" tall. Also, aluminum or stainless and how big of holes in the screen? I'm looking for something cheap yet isn't going to fall apart on me with continued use of maybe 30 to 40 beach hunts a year.

Kellyco appears to have a lot of scoops at good prices so if you have one from there to recommend please do.

If somebody has a used one to sell shoot me a PM. I don't care how it looks so long as it isn't going to fall apart. I also have one of those black Minelab bags meant to hip or chest mount a Sovereign that's brand new if somebody wants to trade for it.

 

[bdahunter]

If you spend a little over $100 you should be able to get a scoop that will last you for a very long time, spending less than $100 will get you a scoop that will last a season or two. Buying a better quality scoop would be the better value. I like the scoops that Bill Babb's makes from ProScoop but I am sure that our sponsors carry excellent quality scoops as well.

 

[Critterhunter]

$100 seems a little steap. I'm thinking something more in the $40 or $50 price range. So long as it can hold up to moderate use in sand since I won't be using it in rocks or more than 30 or 40 trips a year that's all I want.

 

[bcoop]

I would definitely invest in a quality scoop, whether it be a used one or fudge for new. When you start digging in wet sand you need a durable made scoop or it will not hold up, they get a lot more stress than you think when your prying them out of wet sand. I prefer a 48" long handle.
If your going to wade you may want a large barrel scoop so you can get the biggest bite possible to try and retrieve the target the first scoop full so the waves don't suck it out of the hole and carry it off.

 

[surfman]

Crittrehunter, i got mine from Kellyco last year. Real nice long handle scoop. 5" bucket, 5/8" holes. The thing works great. I'm afraid your gonna have to pay up if you want a good one. Remember you gotta use your foot to push it in the sand. Some of the cheaper ones aren't made for that. Check Kellyco out, mine is product #519-100. $112.95 and free shipping. Of course the 6" bucket might the way to go now that i've started using mine. Unless you know someone that can fabricate it for you. What ever you do remember to keep it as light as possible. Hope this will help. Good luck and happy hunting. Joe.

 

[Goldak]

I had some scoop problems during a lake hunt and it was a very frustrating situation to be in. A good sturdy scoop is truly a worthwhile investment. HH!

 

[Critterhunter]

Thanks for the tips but I'll not be using it on a regular bases. I mostly land hunt and I'm guessing 20 trips a year to the beach will be a lot for me. I'm also only hunting fresh water sand and not in any rocks. If I can't find something for $40 or $50 new that will hold up to VERY moderate occasional use (which would be very surprising to hear- that those at that price won't) then I'll make one. I can not see spending over $100 for a piece of metal the length of your leg, I don't care what it's designed to do. There's no moving parts or exotic electronics in it so that thing shouldn't cost that much. In fact, my neighbor is always welding stuff in his garage and I just noticed he's got a lot of strong diamond plate aluminum scrap and other various bits of aluminum crap laying around. Looks like it's time to ask him to help me build one. I'll give him the $50 (let's say $40 ) and he'll put it to good use for the projects he's working on.

 

[grumpyolman]

Critterhunter...I believed you when you told me/us what a good battery charger does and you recommended a particular charger. I would hope you'd listen to all those who posted above giving you, what I think, is excellent advice. Twenty times a year, 4 hours a hunt, you've got 80 hours of tough work lined up for that scoop.

We both water hunt the fresh lakes. Few, but some, of the ones here have sandy bottoms. I envy the guys who did the coast. But I ended up getting the big ol heavy Diamondhead as it's one of the few that'll take on the rocks and won't be damaged. If you are in the water dragging it along side you, the weight is not an issue. If you are working the damp sand or dry sand the weight is an issue. Once you sink a scoop into the sand and take a full bite, after standing and stomping on it to get it deep, then yarf back on the handle, there's lots of stress where the handle joins the scoop. I've seen my fiberglass handle start to flex a little on a deep bite.

Somebody above in another post said one should not use the words, 'cheap water detector' in any sentence. It's an oxymoron like fighting for peace, or honest politician. You could say 'cheap scoop' and you'd be on the same path. Good on you guy. Jim

 

[surfman]

Let us know how the new fabricated scoop works out.

 

[Critterhunter]

I've got my neighbor on board to help me make one. When I showed him a few pictures and told him what people were willing to pay for them he almost choked. I'm not paying over $100 for a piece of metal with no moving parts, I don't care how much people like it. I got a few good designs off the forum and will copy one of the more liked models with a few hours of work and no need to buy any parts. With all the scrap he's got laying around and how expensive I told him these things were he's seriously thinking about making and selling a few for extra money at $40 to $50 a pop. If he goes that route I'll let people know who don't want to pay more than that for a commercial one. When something seems over priced I'm inclined to make it myself and save all that money. Always up to a good project in the garage anyway.

 

[grumpyolman]

If you are going to have someone help you make it consider Titanium. #9 whose been on here has made a couple of them. Lighter than Stainless and half the weight. Titanium is a little harder to work, but seems well worth it.

 

[Number9]

Your neighbor's metal work is much cheaper than mine! LOL!

 

[Number9]

Hey you grumpyolman!

Didn't I hear you say that you were thinking about making a titanium scoop? You got an update?

I don't think "good and cheap" go together? I guess it's up to the person and what they want?
If you want to use a large coffee can, put holes in it, and nail a stick to it to use... go for it!
Every tool has limitations, and cheap has them at very low levels! Understanding the limits will put the real price
of a tool in their proper perspective!