kevin24018
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 284
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Post by kevin24018 on Jan 25, 2018 10:05:58 GMT -5
heading to the beach again to visit her mom, bleh, but I can collect some quartz pebbles. Need an easier way than bending over all the time, was thinking about something like this Similar things on amazon are a bit pricey imo so I think I can build one. I don't have a welder but could probably buy a pop rivet gun to keep it together. Any thoughts or ideas?
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Post by captbob on Jan 25, 2018 10:18:23 GMT -5
How deep is the water where you want to scoop from the bottom?
What is the bottom there, rock or sand?
If it's a kinda hard bottom, you would have to make something that didn't fall apart when doing your dredging.
Maybe the easy button is to use whatever shovel is necessary and dumping shovel fulls into a screen classifier or a colander. You could then go through the contents of whatever inspection bowl thingy you opt for much like panning for gold.
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kevin24018
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 284
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Post by kevin24018 on Jan 25, 2018 10:53:18 GMT -5
How deep is the water where you want to scoop from the bottom? What is the bottom there, rock or sand? If it's a kinda hard bottom, you would have to make something that didn't fall apart when doing your dredging. Maybe the easy button is to use whatever shovel is necessary and dumping shovel fulls into a screen classifier or a colander. You could then go through the contents of whatever inspection bowl thingy you opt for much like panning for gold. actually they are on the surface of the sand, don't even need to go into the water. There's usually 3-5 or so right next to each other, it's just a pain, literally to keep bending over to pick them up. Lots of times I can just squat down and pick up several within arms reach, but again I'm not as young as I use to be or wish I was lol. |
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lookatthat
Cave Dweller 
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360 
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Post by lookatthat on Jan 25, 2018 11:06:28 GMT -5
What about one of those long grabber things in one hand and a small bucket on a bail in the other. That's how I pick up cigarette butts at work.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jan 25, 2018 11:27:16 GMT -5
Maybe a small- meshed sand scoop on a handle, like metal detecters use? 
Yes, expensive to buy, easy to make. They only have to be functional, not works of art! |
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kevin24018
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 284
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Post by kevin24018 on Jan 25, 2018 12:13:49 GMT -5
What about one of those long grabber things in one hand and a small bucket on a bail in the other. That's how I pick up cigarette butts at work. I was thinking about that but that would be too slow for me. When I go I come back with a few pounds of stones, being able to scoop them would be faster I think. |
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kevin24018
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 284
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Post by kevin24018 on Jan 25, 2018 12:15:11 GMT -5
Maybe a small- meshed sand scoop on a handle, like metal detecters use?
Yes, expensive to buy, easy to make. They only have to be functional, not works of art! yes something like that, looking at the shape I might be able to cut some plastic from a 5 gallon bucket, though a smaller one would probably better for the curve. |
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 25, 2018 13:15:51 GMT -5
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kevin24018
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 284
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Post by kevin24018 on Jan 25, 2018 13:43:14 GMT -5
looking for something bigger to cover more area and maybe even just pull it behind me as I walk, they are right on the surface in the dry soft sand. |
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Post by aDave on Jan 25, 2018 19:33:54 GMT -5
looking for something bigger to cover more area and maybe even just pull it behind me as I walk, they are right on the surface in the dry soft sand. I would think it would be pretty tiring to pull something - just too much drag as it starts to move through the sand. In that thread linked above, I have a photo of a golf club that I modified for scooping. It's light, strong, quick and efficient. In the Mojave Desert one day, I was able to collect over 150 pounds of material, so don't let the size fool you. Hope this helps. Dave |
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Post by Rockoonz on Jan 26, 2018 11:58:36 GMT -5
kevin24018 this one appears to be riveted together from either stainless or aluminum, I would go with stainless around sea water.
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Post by spiceman on Jan 27, 2018 22:49:55 GMT -5
I was thinking of a butterfly net, putting two together would make it stronger.
But strong enough? Cheap and easy but strong enough, maybe worth a try.
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kevin24018
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 284
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Post by kevin24018 on Jan 29, 2018 8:52:46 GMT -5
I was thinking of a butterfly net, putting two together would make it stronger. But strong enough? Cheap and easy but strong enough, maybe worth a try. I used something like this www.amazon.com/dp/B000PKQ3YW/ref=twister_B0764N5VM3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&coliid=I23GFZP32KQS92&colid=QEA0Y6JOORKB I wrapped a bungee cord around a broom handle so I could also take it apart to stick back in the car. It worked fairly well, however.....it had rained and the sand was sticky and packed so best I could get is one at a time. This should work really well when it's hot and the sand is powdery soft and fluffy. It did save my back but I still want to collect more at a faster rate. I've purchased some wire fence before than had 1/2" squares, it was fairly stiff. I'll try to find it again that should be easy to form into a scope shape and mount to a handle, though it probably won't work for digging into the wet sand. one other thought is a deep fryer basket. |
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Post by spiceman on Jan 29, 2018 23:00:11 GMT -5
Fryer basket could be the answer.
Go to a store and look at the cooking utensils section.
It might give you more ideas if you need some.
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kevin24018
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 284
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Post by kevin24018 on Jan 30, 2018 20:19:08 GMT -5
Fryer basket could be the answer. Go to a store and look at the cooking utensils section. It might give you more ideas if you need some. this is what I connected to a handle with a bungee cord and some of what I brought home  |
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