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Here's my review of Doc's "Swingy Thingy" while using one heavy coil.

R

Ray-Mo.

Active member
As it is snowing like crazy here in MO today after being over 70 degrees and sunny yesterday I have time to post my test results on Docs "Swingy Thingy" that I received earlier in the week. I went back out earlier this week for several hours to my burned town CW site and waited to give my 12 x15 a workout or should that be the other way around with the weight of said coil. I had been hunting several weeks ago with the Guvner and noticed how nice his "Swingy Thingy" was working but never felt the need for it until I got the SEF 12x15 and noticed my shoulder getting sore after a few hours use.

Anyway I got one and after only a few minuets had it installed on me and my E-Trac. All I can say is WOW! No more Mr. Macho. I am still young and can hunt just fine on my own. It made the extra weight of the 12x15 disappear along with most of the machines weight. It worked well in the brush as well as in the open. I thought it might get in the way in the overgrown brushy area that makes up most of this site but my fears were unwarranted.

If you have been thinking about trying a bungee system you need to get one of Doc's and give your back and shoulder some relief. Not to mention it could save you some issues down the road if you are still a youngster like I am at 45.
 
n/t
 
I have found that if you shorten up the rod and swing with the coil right in front of your feet most of the force will be downwards. If you have the coil out too far, you have to "push" on the detector against the bungee tension which can cause other muscles to get sore. I use mine every once in a while, but when I do I make sure to adjust the detector height appropriately.
 
I found that it works best for me if mounted next to the control housing on my E-Trac.I am short at 5-6 and it works nice with the shaft extended for me this way.I may have my son shoot a short video demonstration of how I use it as soon as the snow melts,Ray
 
Do having the swingy thingy cause entanglement troubles with an X-1 probe?
 
Not at all.I was out with my E-Trac with Sunray probe for several hours yesterday and the Swingy Thingy worked great :thumbup:I was using the 12x15 and it was a dream come true considering the weight of that coil:thumbup:
 
That sounds great ray! I have been kicking around the idea of getting one for my bad shoulder. My shoulder is so bad it hurts even with the pro coil and no probe. I'm only 47 my self. But I can't blame it on the E-trac or metal detectng in general. It was all the years of hanging and stocking drywall that did it in! Those 5\8'' 4'x12' sheets are a killer!
 
Just used mine for the first time on a hard core detecting trip in England for 10.5 hours a day for 6 days straight last week.
NO PROBLEM at all. Never had to stop.
Before I had it - my arm and wrist were hurting after 2 hours and I had to stop for a few minutes to continue and the pain would be back after 30 minutes.
Will NEVER go out without it EVER again.
Barry
 
I use it the same way Ray does. I've had it ever since I got my first Explorer SE. Always use it with the X-1 no matter what coil. I like it cuz you can scratch your...nose and not hang on to the detector or bend over to put it down. I use it all the time, not just when I swing the 12X15. Two things. The shoulder strap connects behind you with a suspender type closure. Make sure it's on your pants waistband and not your tool belt. After a bit, while moving, bending, etc., it will cause the tool belt to ride up and the ST will never stay 'adjsuted'. Clip it to your waist band and it won't ride up. You might experience a very minor 'wedgy' but that's it. Speaking of adjustment...there is a quick slider on the end of the bungee that allows one to make fast minor adjustments that affects the length of the bungee. Stay tuned to what your body is telling you. If you feel like you are using a lot of muscle to keep it level, it's probably maybe only a half-inch to long or to short. Going uphill the length needs to be shorter, or you have to use muscle. The opposite is true downhill. I am much older than 45 and with the ST I can swing any of my coils longer than my interest will hold. Jim
 
Can it be used for left handed swingers?
 
I'm a lefty and use it...just slip it over your left shoulder instead of your right. It appears we might be talking about two different types of swing thing in this thread. One type uses a suspender type setup and one (the subject of this thread, I believe) just slips over your shoulder and another strap comes around the side to attach to the ring on the shoulder loop. The bungee attaches to the ring and the detector. Are we talking the right one Ray?

Beep
 
Yet the one main wide strap goes over the shoulder that you swing with and clips to your waist band in back and the smaller strap goes around opposite side of body and hooks to wide strap in front and back to keep it in position.It is a very simple device that is easy to rig up and use.:thumbup:
 
Me thinks there are copies or modifications by other builders, but there's only one Doc's Swingy Thingy. Jim
 
I got Doc's gear (fast shipping) and looked at it and the other two models I have. There is an obvious difference in the way they distribute the weight of the machine.

One of the styles is similar to Doc's, but has no clip to attach to your pants/belt. A loop goes over your shoulder and a strap goes from it, around your side, and clips to the d-ring in front. This means that all the weight is still being fully supported by your upper body.

The other one is a full upper body harness..two shoulder straps, belt around the chest...heavy duty. I got it a long time ago and I think it was OK...a bit overkill and, still, all the weight was being supported by the upper body. I ended up modifying this one into a chest mount for my Excal.

By clipping the end of the strap to your pants you relieve some of the weight from the upper body. Some is still taken by the shoulder and side strap, but a significant portion is transmitted to the pants, which, if you're like me, need to be yanked up every once in a while anyway. The bungee adjustment is nice too.

I've only walked around the living room with it so I don't have a hard-core report, but I think I will be able to see a difference in the muscle groups involved (or, hopefully, not involved).

HH!
Beep
 
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