Best Sand Scoop for the Beach??

[Bryan Jon]

I am looking for a sand scoop for the beach. Any brand better than the other? Looking for something that will last. Thank you all in advance.

[EBCIII]

Hey Bryan I just got a scoop from a member. I knw that their are tons of scoops out there. From plastic up to major deals. Check with our sponsors. Let them know how often you are gonna be hitting the beach and what type of hunting. Here is a good page to start, Beale.

Metal Detector Beach & Sand Scoops

[bdahunter]

Lots of choices out there in scoops but there are a couple of things you want to factor in before you make a decision.
Dry or wet sand? You want an open mesh barrel for dry sand(lighter duty and drains dry sand better) and closed metal barrel with holes for wetsand(heavy duty for heavy digging with water assisted drainage).
Homemade or store bought, depends on your skill and what sort of material you want the scoop to be made of. (most folks don't have a TIG welder for SS welding)
Material - basically your choices are Stainless Steel or Aluminium but you can get cheap scoops made out of galvanized steel or even plastic, avoid these unless you are only going to hunt the beach a couple of times a year. SS is more rugged but also heavier (how hard on your toys were you as a child?) and Aluminium is not as strong but much lighter. Most people choose aluminium for the weight saving but I added a Stainless tip to my heavy duty aluminium scoop for extra durability.(I was somewhat hard on my toys as a child)
Long handled or short handled, unless you only want to do short trips to the beach once or twice a year, get the long handled scoop, your back and knees will thank you. Wet sand and water, a long handle is a must, technically optional in the dry sand but why do all of that stooping over? A heavy long handled scoop also makes an excellent deterent to would be thieves and punks if you hunt the beach at odd hours.(use the blunt end unless they really annoy you, otherwise you may have to do a lot of scooping to get rid of the body)
I won't go into brands because that would be unfair to the sponsors.

Cheers,

BDA

[smartfox]

and it works great. It is getting a bit wasted around the border but after 3 years so far so good. Luckily My father in law is a welder so he could weld it back if I ever had a problem of it breaking or something.

[Bryan Jon]

Thanks BDA. I live across the street from Crab Alley Bay on Kent Island in Maryland. I will need one for wet and dry sand. probably a longer handle (at my age ,too much bending, lol )
Thanks for the detailed post!

[MinelabMan]

Hey Bryan, just to add my 2 cents to what's already been said, I prefer a basket with drilled holes rather than the wire mesh type only because for going deeper I can push it into the sand with my foot, although I've seen the wire mesh type with a kicker plate that would work.

Are you anywhere near Red Eyes?

[Bryan Jon]

I have looked at many scoops so far. I know I do not want the mesh type. I was just wondering if there was one that most folks use. Brand and place to buy. I was going to say I have never heard of Red Eyes so I could not be near it, BUT then it came to me that you are talking about( I think) RE Bar in Kent Narrows. If that is where you are talking about .....well then , that is 5 minutes away.

Originally Posted by MinelabMan

Hey Bryan, just to add my 2 cents to what's already been said, I prefer a basket with drilled holes rather than the wire mesh type only because for going deeper I can push it into the sand with my foot, although I've seen the wire mesh type with a kicker plate that would work.

Are you anywhere near Red Eyes?

[MinelabMan]

That's the one, we've gone by it several times by boat, lively place!

I got the 2 piece aluminum scoop from Kellyco, costly ($142.00) but very well made and heave gauge and fairly heavy. The basket is 6" x 11" and I've filled it with wet sand and pried it up by the handle with no problems.

One thing about aluminum is that it will turn your hand black, I got some plastic-coat in a can and am going to coat the lower brace and rod up to the shaft, and on the shaft above the brace I got some heat shrink tubing to put over it.

[NexusX]

Hi Bryan,
I am new to the hobby and need a scoop myself for some beach hunting in May. I am planning on buying a new MD this week. A lot of people on here have said to get an Ace 250 so I am going to get one to take with me. I would to buy one scoop to take with me that will do wet and dry sand.
The bar that MinelabMan was Red Eyes Dock Bar at Kent Narrows.
I had a couple cold ones there in my younger days.
Dan

[bdahunter]

I forgot to mention, avoid the lightweight scoops as they break too easily in the surf and the wet sand and definitely in the rocks. Go heavy duty and the scoop will last you a long time, particularly in the travel scoop as the connection is the weak point and the bolts will strip out if you don't tighten them properly.

Cheers,

BDA