1. Scoop a few plugs with a std garden shovel
2. Spread the plug out with your foot
3. Scan the spread
3. Sift with your hand
In the dry/wet sand, target recovery should take 20-30 seconds max. Start Youtube'ing video's and you see some guys do this in about 10 seconds.
The scoop's real advantage is when you are in the water and/or finding the occasional coin spill in dry sand. For dry sand, any scoop will work because you are just gently pushing through uncompacted sand. But wet sand and surf will quickly bend/break cheap scoops. Unless you are a fabricator, there is no way around the saying "you get what you pay for."
BTW, when I started out, I used a tennis racket to sift sand. Also used a steel mesh fruit bowl (used to wash fruit) that I found at yard sale for $1. Then I made several PVC scoops until I saved enough for the real deal. anyhow, I no longer care how people look at me when they see my funky assortment of tools. I use whatever works fastest for my hunting conditions.
