My “new” Dual Field PI & hanging out with OldBeechnut (OBN)

[Sand Sifter]

Well, it’s taken me 56 years, but after swinging VLF’s and starting as a kid with a BFO & TR, I finally took the plunge into PI’s by adding a “new to me” White’s Dual Field PI to my beach hunting arsenal.

I’m an ole’ turn the knobs, beep & dig kinda guy, so I like great detectors with simple controls, and the Dual Field looked to be right up my alley, only 3 knobs so not too complicated. And after swinging a Minelab Sovereign Elite for the last 14 years, a PI doesn’t scare me as I’m used to digging ½ way to China on the beach with my 12x10 & 15x12 SEF Butterfly coils, lol.

Due to OBN & his buddy Mike’s generosity, I was able to acquire a Dual Field PI that OBN used to own and had modded to accept an external Excal battery pod, and external headphones. Although OBN has retired from making his custom battery pods, since I was getting the PI he used to own and modded, and as a favor to me, he graciously agreed to temporarily step out of retirement this one time to make me a custom battery pod for the Dual Field.

So earlier today I drove down and got to spend a few hours with OBN. We discussed the new battery pod, he found a shaft that would work for the Dual Field, and we got to test out the DF using a set of his handmade headphones. Man, quarters, dimes & pennies sounded so sweet! Joe’s going to replace the external battery cable with a new/better cable, and tweak things a bit. I’ll be going back again to visit once all the tweaks have been completed. I also have some Teflon silver coated hookup wire left over from my amp building days that I’ll be giving to Joe to use for any of his future mod projects.

I’m getting close and am almost done with this PI project. Now, I just need a lower rod to fit the DF coil, and a good set of waterproof headphones. Joe recommended Tony Eisenhower, like a bunch of others on the forums, so I sent Tony an email earlier to ask if he could make me a set.

MANY Thanks to Joe & Mike for getting me hooked up with the Dual Field PI. Although I would take my Sovereign into the water a bit, I was always worried about it getting wet or getting swamped by a rogue wave. So now, I’m really looking forward to hitting shallow water without worrying about the control box getting wet, along with of course, getting some serious depth in the saltwater.

 

[tvr]

Well, it’s taken me 56 years, but after swinging VLF’s and starting as a kid with a BFO & TR, I finally took the plunge into PI’s by adding a “new to me” White’s Dual Field PI to my beach hunting arsenal.

I’m an ole’ turn the knobs, beep & dig kinda guy, so I like great detectors with simple controls, and the Dual Field looked to be right up my alley, only 3 knobs so not too complicated. And after swinging a Minelab Sovereign Elite for the last 14 years, a PI doesn’t scare me as I’m used to digging ½ way to China on the beach with my 12x10 & 15x12 SEF Butterfly coils, lol.

Due to OBN & his buddy Mike’s generosity, I was able to acquire a Dual Field PI that OBN used to own and had modded to accept an external Excal battery pod, and external headphones. Although OBN has retired from making his custom battery pods, since I was getting the PI he used to own and modded, and as a favor to me, he graciously agreed to temporarily step out of retirement this one time to make me a custom battery pod for the Dual Field.

So earlier today I drove down and got to spend a few hours with OBN. We discussed the new battery pod, he found a shaft that would work for the Dual Field, and we got to test out the DF using a set of his handmade headphones. Man, quarters, dimes & pennies sounded so sweet! Joe’s going to replace the external battery cable with a new/better cable, and tweak things a bit. I’ll be going back again to visit once all the tweaks have been completed. I also have some Teflon silver coated hookup wire left over from my amp building days that I’ll be giving to Joe to use for any of his future mod projects.

I’m getting close and am almost done with this PI project. Now, I just need a lower rod to fit the DF coil, and a good set of waterproof headphones. Joe recommended Tony Eisenhower, like a bunch of others on the forums, so I sent Tony an email earlier to ask if he could make me a set.

MANY Thanks to Joe & Mike for getting me hooked up with the Dual Field PI. Although I would take my Sovereign into the water a bit, I was always worried about it getting wet or getting swamped by a rogue wave. So now, I’m really looking forward to hitting shallow water without worrying about the control box getting wet, along with of course, getting some serious depth in the saltwater.

Enjoy the the Dual Field while you can. Looking at the picture reminds me why I don't like pictures of me to be taken ... I hadn't seen OBN in about four years ... ever since we moved south. None of us are getting any younger. I'm glad we are still getting out and detecting though. May God be willing to let that ability to get out and detect continue!

 

[Sand Sifter]

Enjoy the the Dual Field while you can. Looking at the picture reminds me why I don't like pictures of me to be taken ... I hadn't seen OBN in about four years ... ever since we moved south. None of us are getting any younger. I'm glad we are still getting out and detecting though. May God be willing to let that ability to get out and detect continue!

Thanks TVR, I had asked OBN if he minded if I took & posted his pic, he didn't mind, I don't mind posting my pic. I guess we may have reached the age of not giving a hoot. Age is not a question of mind nor matter, if we don't mind, it doesn't matter, lol. OBN only hunts in the water. I've only hunted on beaches for the last 14 years, but last weekend, I had an opportunity to try out my X-Terra Elite that I bought several months ago. This was the first time I've hunted on land in something like 15 years.

Getting down and digging in the dirt was no problem. It was the getting back up part that was the issue, a bit tougher than I remember. I still feel like 30 inside, but when trying to get up from the ground, that's when I feel every one of my 68 years. But at least on the beach, I dig standing up with my scoop and can use my scoop to bring targets up for me to see, so I don't have to bend down to hunt the beaches. I'd like to do more land hunting, have some permissions, but I'll just have to get the ole' muscles in shape or suffer through it until they build up by more and more detecting on land, lol.

 

[tvr]

Thanks TVR, I had asked OBN if he minded if I took & posted his pic, he didn't mind, I don't mind posting my pic. I guess we may have reached the age of not giving a hoot. Age is not a question of mind nor matter, if we don't mind, it doesn't matter, lol. OBN only hunts in the water. I've only hunted on beaches for the last 14 years, but last weekend, I had an opportunity to try out my X-Terra Elite that I bought several months ago. This was the first time I've hunted on land in something like 15 years.

Getting down and digging in the dirt was no problem. It was the getting back up part that was the issue, a bit tougher than I remember. I still feel like 30 inside, but when trying to get up from the ground, that's when I feel every one of my 68 years. But at least on the beach, I dig standing up with my scoop and can use my scoop to bring targets up for me to see, so I don't have to bend down to hunt the beaches. I'd like to do more land hunting, have some permissions, but I'll just have to get the ole' muscles in shape or suffer through it until they build up by more and more detecting on land, lol.

Yup. I prefer the water too. It supports the weight and that helps the back a lot. As the years go on, I am less inclined to work in the higher waves and low period time between waves. Give me under two foot waves and five to six second periods or more and I'm very happy. I do very little land detecting any more; mostly when someone I know says they lost something and want some help.

 

[Cameraniac]

Sand Sifter, I've got extra lower rods that fit the Whites three piece shaft setup. Is that what you need? If it is, I'd let you have one for the shipping cost.

I'm downsizing, big time, for my move back to Florida, so you'd be helping me out by taking one.

 

[Sand Sifter]

Yup. I prefer the water too. It supports the weight and that helps the back a lot. As the years go on, I am less inclined to work in the higher waves and low period time between waves. Give me under two foot waves and five to six second periods or more and I'm very happy. I do very little land detecting any more; mostly when someone I know says they lost something and want some help.

For me, I'm not so worried about the waves, I'm more worried about toothy critters that might be swimming around. Can't really even see my feet on the beaches of DE & MD once I wade into the water about a foot or so. If I can't see my feet, then I can't see anything swimming in my vicinity, so I typically will hunt in the water at low tide, as I usually don't want to wander out past my knees. I figure, when the tides out and I'm in water up to my knees, that water will be waist/chest deep when the tide comes in, so low tide gives me a chance to work further out, without being too deep where large toothy critters can swim more freely than they might be able to in shallower water, lol.

 

[Sand Sifter]

Sand Sifter, I've got extra lower rods that fit the Whites three piece shaft setup. Is that what you need? If it is, I'd let you have one for the shipping cost.

I'm downsizing, big time, for my move back to Florida, so you'd be helping me out by taking one.

Thank You!! Yes, I need the lower rod with clevis that fits into the coil ears, to mount the coil to the shaft. I have 2 pieces; S shaft & middle rod, the lower rod would make this a 3-piece shaft. OBN said that the shaft he gave me is the original White's S shaft for a White's PI DF, which I assume would also fit a Surfmaster PI & PI pro as well, same control box.

Do you know how long the lower rods are? Message me directly with details and we can make arrangements for me to pay you for the shipping cost. Thanks Again!!

 

[tvr]

For me, I'm not so worried about the waves, I'm more worried about toothy critters that might be swimming around. Can't really even see my feet on the beaches of DE & MD once I wade into the water about a foot or so. If I can't see my feet, then I can't see anything swimming in my vicinity, so I typically will hunt in the water at low tide, as I usually don't want to wander out past my knees. I figure, when the tides out and I'm in water up to my knees, that water will be waist/chest deep when the tide comes in, so low tide gives me a chance to work further out, without being too deep where large toothy critters can swim more freely than they might be able to in shallower water, lol.

I don't worry too much about that. Been bumped in the water by manatees, have caught sharks in some of the waters I detect and figure that they are looking for something that tastes better than an old fart like me will taste. I lived in Maryland for many years. Detected the bay tributaries and made many trips to the DE and MD Atlantic ocean beaches too. Now loving life in South Carolina.