Do It Yourself Gem and Artifact Hunting Tool

Hunting agates, arrowheads, and so on can be pretty strenuous
work. There's a real handy tool that you can make at home that
can take a lot of the work out of your hunt. It's easy to make
and easy to carry. By using this tool, you can pry up, turn
over, or pick up specimens without having to bend over each time
you see something that looks worth examination. For lack of a
name, I'll just call it a scoop. 

A scoop is simply what it sounds like - a long handle with a
scoop on the end of it. It is an easy tool to construct. To make
it you need an old broom stick, a large serving spoon, two or
three sticks of JB Weld or other super strength adhesive, and
duct tape. 

Cut the broom handle to the length you desire. I like waist high
myself. 

Now pound or pry the wood or plastic off of the spoon handle so
you are working with just the metal.

Bend the spoon to the angle of a scoop - a full ninety degree
angle works pretty good for me.

Cut a slit in one end of the broom handle long enough to fit
most of the spoon handle into.

Slide the spoon handle into the slit, then mold the JB weld into
the slit until it the hole is completely filled and the spoon is
solidly held. Spread the adhesive completely around the broom
handle to make one solid cover or boot over the slit area of the
broom stick. Let it dry over night. 

You can wrap the adhesive booted end with duct tape the next
day. I don't think this helps the strength, but it makes it look
nicer. 

Cut a strip of duct tape and roll the tape into a round string.
Wind the string in a spiral on the handle end then wrap with
duct tape to make a textured grip for the handle. 

Now you have a terrific tool for prying up, flipping, and
picking up stones without the necessity of continuously bending
or stooping to see what they are.