Homemade Sand Scoop

[stew]

This is the sand scoop I made for fresh water rivers, lakes, etc. So far seems to work really well in gravel, sand, and mud. What do you think?

 

[Dodqe]

What materials did you use? Looks pro.

 

[Tom Slick]

Looks really good but you'll need a gusset between the backside of the handle and the top of the basket.

 

[stew]

Actually I've been puting it through some pretty heavy testing to decide on a gusset for some extra support. But it has no give at all when I push it all the way in sand , mud or river gravel and really have to pry the handle to scoop and it has no problem so far.
Thanks for input Slick.

 

[stew]

Dodge, I used 3/4 inch conduit for the handle and 4 1/2 inch conduit for the basket. It is all galvenized but I painted it to help keep the welded areas from rusting. Oh, the grips were the most expensive part, 8 dallors. It took about an hour to throw it together. Alot cheaper than I could a scoop for.
Thanks for the compliment.

 

[Dodqe]

Nice... Glad you painted it though. Galvanized steel is steel with a thin plating of zinc. Shoveling in the gravel would scrape the zinc off and it would rust. Also as you said, the welds would have rusted.

How much did the 4 1/2 conduit cost?

Also are you familiar with welding galvanized steel? You have to be careful not to breathe the fumes. They're highly toxic. The safest way is to remove the galvanized coating in the area to be welded with sandpaper or a grinder. Just a note!

 

[stew]

Thanks Dodge,
I've welded for about 28 years and you are right, welding galvinized metal is very toxic, helps to have really good ventalation. Definately nothing to mess with.
To answer your ? about price, it cost me nothing because they (my place of employment) were doing some repairs and they were scrapping it out. Same with the 3/4".

 

[Tin Fin]

My foreman always had us go buy some milk and drink it before welding galvanized material - it helps a lot, but still need the good ventilation.