Hand grip question

[yowow#1]

I need to change a torn hand grip on the F-70, how do i get it over the wiring, i took loose the electronic components "display and battery chambers" but they seem to be hardwired together . How do i get the grip on? I hope some of you F-70 folks can help me out. Thanks.

 

[dbax]

yowow#1 I too had the same problem, just did not want to do all of that strip down for a foam grip. One thing I did not like about the foam grip is that if you are working a muddy or wet area this grip becomes a mess and if you ever forget to wash and squeeze it out it will dry and then -- well, it is terrible. So, what I did, I bought some closed cell foam grips for bikes and cut them in half and wrapped around the bar, then I took black duct tape and wrapped from top to bottom, completely covering the new grip. Guess what, it became water proof and easy to clean. No more soggy grips. The black duct tape blends in and does not look as bad as you might think, very functional and I did not have to tear my machine apart. Just one way of doing it. Since then I decided I wanted to change the grip from a fat round to a pistol type grip. cut all the tape off and started over with a 1/2" PVC and two 2" screw and more Black duct tape -- hey, I bought a whole roll of this stuff I have to figure out some way to use it up Peace, Dan

 

[yowow#1]

Thanks dbax, much appreciated.

 

[shadowulf]

If you can find some tennis racket grip tape and some dense closed cell foam tape. You can build the foam up to around the thicknes you like and finish it off with the grip tape.

 

[yowow#1]

If you can find some tennis racket grip tape and some dense closed cell foam tape. You can build the foam up to around the thicknes you like and finish it off with the grip tape.

Thanks Shadowulf, appreciate you response. I do some leatherwork , maybe i can take some thin leather and thin foam and do a nice soft stitch job handle? Good winter project?

 

[hershey1]

You might want to look at self-adheshive bat tape. I have that on my detectors and it works very well. HH

 

[mudpuppy]

Yeah, yowow, I tried to take everything loose to replace the grip, and like you decided I did not want to cut and solder those wires..

I suffered for a year by wrapping that white medical tape around the existing torn up and muddy foam...It was free, since we always find those rolls around soccer fields, so when it got really dirty, I'd just re-wrap......then one day I found a roll of ACE bandage, and it had some sort of a self adhesive on it!...not one of the kinds you need those little metal hooks for, this must be something newer? Anyway, started wrapping it from the bottom of the grip area on up towards the box, so now my grip is WIDER at the top than at the bottom, which really fits a persons hand much better...sort of lets the detector ride on top of your thumb and forefinger, It can be replaced easily, or modified for your particular hand and balance point too..!

We dont really GRIP the F70, like how a conventional grip is structured, ( wider at the bottom than at the top) we sort of just gently hold it with the thumb and forefinger, almost more balance than grip, maybe one finger curled around it just to guide the thing and not drop it..your palm will hardly even be touching it... so any little light cheap and replaceable wrap should work real well, at least you will know real quick if you like an inverted style grip made out of an ace bandage wrap...
Mud

 

[dbax]

Tennis grip wrap -- not a bad idea. What I like about the black duct tape it has a surface like black paint and is easy to wipe clean while being water proof. I had built my original grip up by cutting and wrapping the bike foam handle bar grips over the old then wrapping with the black DT. That was almost a year ago and I hunt 2-3 times a week. Still in good shape, but then I wanted to redesign the grip to a pistol grip and try that. I get bored easy and by doing the pistol grip redesign I don't have to buy a new machine for a new feel So far I really like the pistol grip but need to adjust, or shape it more so the idea of using a thicker foam type tape is a good one, then I can rewrap that with the Black DT -- like I said, I have use it up to justify the $4 I spent on it -- you know, I could have had a glass of stout instead --

Yowow#1 don't forget to let us know what you ended up doing -- peace, Dan

 

[shadowulf]

If you can find some tennis racket grip tape and some dense closed cell foam tape. You can build the foam up to around the thicknes you like and finish it off with the grip tape.

Thanks Shadowulf, appreciate you response. I do some leatherwork , maybe i can take some thin leather and thin foam and do a nice soft stitch job handle? Good winter project?

I work with leather occasionally too. Some good elk or goat wetted and stretched would make an awsome grip. Just tacky enough to hold to the fingers and smooth enough to not bother the hands.

 

[mudpuppy]

One would think there would be a small market for a soft grip that snaps or uses screws to attach it around the shaft? Then, a fellow could take it off and wash it every so often...as much as we use these detectors, I would think a custom grip priced @25 bucks would have some buyers. Even like the grip on top of a ski pole? has that flange on top, and a strap on the bottom..a guy could run his hand up through the strap. Sure, its probably not so important for the F units, or Tesoros, being so light and ergonomic and all, but on nearly every other site guys are complaining about weight and balance. And,they all can get quite muddy in the Spring..

 

[shadowulf]

Since most machines use a similar foam grip, I don't see why someone hasn't done this already.

 

[shadowulf]

You might want to look at self-adheshive bat tape. I have that on my detectors and it works very well. HH

I tried the bat tape and like it!
My local oversized sport store only had overwrap tape for rackets, in some gawd-awful colors.
But I did find some cushioned bat tape in basic black.
I used it as an overwrap for my stock foam grip, wrapping from the bottom to under the control box.
Sheds the mud pretty well and has that slightly tacky feel I like. I might put some on the centershaft for carrying between sites.

Nice tip, Thanks

 

[dbax]

Bat tape sounds like some good stuff, especially if it has the cush feel. yowow how did you end up with your torn grip?

 

[yowow#1]

I found some split foam grip on line, kinda like the split foam you would insulate pipes with, except it is for handgrips, i think that might be the way i go, if that doesn't workout some kind wrap i guess. Thanks

 

[stilpony]

Buy some black surgical tape, it doesn't leave any sticky residue after you take it off, and it keeps your grips nice and new looking, just in case you go to trade it in, or sell it.