Non metalic floating sifter prototype

[richm]

I wanted to make a floating sifter that you could pass your detector over without it going off unless you scooped up something metal. I've noticed guys scooping in the surf, rechecking the hole and if they still have a signal they just empty the scoop and scoop up more. Who's to say there wasn't a target in the scoop? I've found more than one target clumped together, especially in the water. I made this one so it all snaps apart for cleaning. Ideally I would like to use an inner tube but I can't find one with a plastic valve. Ever heard of one? I tested this one in my bathtub and you can put a lot of weight in it and it still floats.I designed it so the part with the holes sits about an inch below the surface of the water. The Lexan disc is completely unbreakable, you can smash your scoop on it and not harm it. The styrofoam tire spacer I found on eBay. I work at a glass co. so the Lexan was free. Total cost: $20. Looking forward to your input...Rich.

 

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[Surfdigger]

One big flaw in your design....high center of gravity.....it needs a wider floating base.....one scoop of heavy sand and that thing is tumbling over like a bowling pin and or sinking.....I use a plastic bread pallet.....i line it with plastic mesh tie it down with plastic lock ties....and lash a foam swimming pool noodle float around the perimeter this proves to be a verrrrry stable sifter....here's a pic of the plastic bread pallet that you can get from any food store or mini mart you just have to schmooze the proprieter a little.....

 

[Diver_Down]

You mentioned an inner tube, but they have a metal valve stem. You should consider the swimming pool float/tube. Should be available at any Wally-World. Surf-Digger is right, you need to extend the base.

 

[OBN]

Re: Non metalic floating sifter prototype.......Sd is right

Got video coming on the making of this sifter, All plastic no metal, cost about 3o Dollars to make...still have several feet of the plastic mesh for sale..Joe

 

[Sandman]

That is a nice one Joe. I don't use a sifter anymore as my Sunspot sifts all the sand out before I get it to the surface. I used a Garrett gold classifier pan with an motor cycle inner tube. Light weight and worked great.

 

[OBN]

Thanks Sandman, I really like the Sunspot scoop and would have went for that style of scoop but most here in the bay use the old miller scoops and the float sifters. Guess because it is more of a muck, clay, sand mix. {pic}...Joe


Sorry richm, did not mean to takeover your post.......great amount of work went into your design, looks Hitech...let us know how it works.....joe

 

[47thelement]

I have done basically the same design but I inserted pool noodles for extra boyancy inside of the pvc piping.

I also live about an hour away from Calvert Cliffs MD and have recovered 5 Megladon teeth with this bread pallet sifter there.

 

[kaptainkosmic]

heres the sifter that i use.it is also non metallic, because i use a vibra probe to locate targets that aren't easily seen. my scoop does a great job on sugar sand but when ever i hunt were there is gravel, shells, marl, etc i just dump my scoop in my sifter and keep on hunting (yes i always bury my holes :-)) if there is alot of gravel, shells or debri in the sifter i use my vibra probe to locate targets. the sifter has significantly improved the number of very small finds and the number of finds overall because i don't spend any time looking for targets in the bottom of my scoop instead that time is spent looking for targets in the bottom:-)

even when i'm hunting in lake michigan (which has very fine sugar sand) i still take my sifter just to float my scoop, trash bag, etc on.

steve

ps a little trick i picked up from cupajoe is to make a small anchor and let it drag as you hunt, this keeps sifter from crowding you when working down wind/current. it also leaves a nice line so you can see where you've been.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

I don't empty a scoop with out sifting it first, found too many double targets in a hole, I also scan over where I drain my scoop after finding target just to be sure.

Most of the time for us a sifter will not work in the oceans here, too much surf on east coast, but would work on west coast many times and South Florida, but rarely ever see or use one, I have one I made, works well, uses fine mesh but I very rarely ever use it, we have sugar sand here and it drains quickly.

Use a "noodle" it is the long swimming pool floats, about 6 foot long and 3 inches wide......

 

[Sandman]

Thanks Sandman, I really like the Sunspot scoop and would have went for that style of scoop but most here in the bay use the old miller scoops and the float sifters. Guess because it is more of a muck, clay, sand mix. {pic}...Joe


Sorry richm, did not mean to takeover your post.......great amount of work went into your design, looks Hitech...let us know how it works.....joe

I would love to have one of them old Miller scoops now only with more holes like the Sunspot or if the Sunspot had a handle like the Old Miller scoop.

 

[mumszie]

What is a Miller scoop?

 

[Indasurf]

I don't emty a scoop with out sifting it first, found too many double targets in a hole, I also scn over where I drain my scoop after finding target just to be sure.

Most of the time for us a sifter will not work in the oceans here, too much surf on east coast, but would work on west coast many times and South Florida, but rarely ever see or use one, I have one I made, works well, uses fine mesh but I very rarely ever use it, we have sugar sand here and it drains quickly.

Use a "noodle" it is the long swimming pool floats, about 6 foot long and 3 inches wide......

Yep, I've pulled multiple targets out of the same hole many times with the scoop.

While using a sifter in fresh water, I've had jewelry sitting there that was almost tossed out while I was looking at another target in the box.

 

[extractor]

Glad I spotted this thread. there is a lot of great info in it . Thanks everyone.