Omega vs. Fisher F5 weight balance

[Sven]

Picked up a F5, been swinging it the past couple weeks and noticed my elbow is killing me for several days afterwards (have tendinitis).
Never had this problem with the Tesoros. Didn't put 2 & 2 together until today. I went hunting, after 45 min. with the F5, pain was coming back.
Went to a different spot to try out my wife's Delta that just came in. This thing is light!! Didn't bother my elbow at all.

I sure do like the F5, hate to sell it but, if the Omega is as lightweight as the Delta and basically the same platform as the F5, it might be the way for me to go.

Another thought came to mind, adjusting the lower rod from the usual length of extension to a shorter length. The coil would be closer to my toes, my arm would not be extended out.
I did the adjustment in the house, seems to feel better. Will have to go out and try it.

Any thoughts, anyone else have elbow problems?

 

[TerraDigger]

Speaking from a medical standpoint. Pain is a indicator something is wrong. The physical body doesn't suffer from denial, like the mind sometimes does...lol.
Do try different adjustments. If it works, great. If not, you have your answer.

 

[Sven]

Speaking from a medical standpoint. Pain is a indicator something is wrong. The physical body doesn't suffer from denial, like the mind sometimes does...lol.
Do try different adjustments. If it works, great. If not, you have your answer.

My left elbow is still good, but right handed. Feels really odd trying to swing using the left arm. Joint problems seem to run in the family, started effecting my younger sister 10 years ago.
My turn now, some resulting from joint injuries when racing motorcycles and some other demanding non ball game sports and work. Sucks getting old.

As I posted on the Fisher forum, fiddled a bit last night. Added 1/2 high density foam to the arm rest cup, seemed to help some. Will also make an extension to bring the arm rest back a few inches--long arms.

 

[pull tab mel]

Is the F5 compareable to the omega performance wise? Aren't they cousins? Is the omega a better coin machine?

 

[TerraDigger]

I think the Omega is the better coin hunter (that's what it was specifically designed for) and the F5 is the better jewelry hunter, due to its seperate gain/sensitivity controls. Both are excellent machines. It seems that the Omega gets more performance out of the additional 11" & 5" DD coils than the F5. That's strictly my opinion from what I have read from dual users of these units regarding the DD coils.

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

I have them. Mine is hurt now in fact. Light machines def help!

 

[Furious T]

I have both the F5 and the Omega. The Omega is, I feel, slightly more comfortable to use. They are both beaut machines, and different (dont ask me in what ways are they different). I probably can use the Omega for longer periods at a time than I can with the F5, without suffering discomfort/pain. Try cutting down the time you spend with the F5, even by a half hour per hunt. It could help.

 

[Sven]

For those who don't visit the Fisher F5 forum, I will repeat here what I did that helps solve the problem:

Looks like I was on the right path of curing my achy elbow problem when I thought about adding the high density foam to my arm rest.
Then added to that thought.

Using the F5 arm rest popping the foam inside seemed to help. This little bit of a rise off the arm shaft maybe the clue. Grabbed my wife's Tek Delta
arm rest which is wider and already extended up higher and attached on the F5. Hmmm feels better. Then put the foam in place which raised the position my forearm would be in.
After I slid my hand and forearm in place noticed it felt soooo much nicer, world of difference. Seems to balance nicer as well.

I also moved the arm rest to the last position hole on the s-handle, I'm tall with long arms. Changed to a Minelab GT foam grip. Lower coil rod has been positioned in the upper most
hole in the middle shaft.

Here's an extra feature the foam will add if attached correctly, adds a bit of pressure on the correct muscle of the forearm to help prevent tennis elbow like commercial devices like I own.
The Delta arm rest seems to support the F5 better when lying on the ground.

P.S. Placing the F5 arm rest on the Tek Delta actually made it feel much better than the one I took for the F5. Win-win situation.
----------------------------------
Spent a little time moving the foam back and forth and found a position that fits my forearm. With just enough extra on one side that puts slight pressure on the muscle tendon that
commercial products for tennis elbow do. ... Now this really feels pretty good. Played with lower shaft adjustment and can't decide if the upper most hole or the second hole feels better. A toss-up.

So I was looking thru my parts box and came up with a padded armrest pad for a Minelab. Hmmm, let's see what that feels like. Now that's even better placed over the foam pad!!

Dave J. mentioned he didn't know what the Minelab grip was helping. Well, those of us with big hands find it's much easier to hold onto a larger diameter grip in a more relaxed manner.
Just for the sake of it had another Minelab grip and placed it offset a bit on front of the handle where finger wrap around. Felt nice as well, will have to explore the possibly making a grip to fit my hand, just like those who have a firearm with custom made grips. Gee whiz always a another project to tinker with...LOL

 

[Salida]

Maybe like me your just getting old!-)
I've been practing using the other arm to swing the dector. Takes
some getting used to.
Salida

 

[Sven]

Maybe like me your just getting old!-)
I've been practing using the other arm to swing the dector. Takes
some getting used to.
Salida

Almost time to buy one of those geriatric metal detectors (soon to be made) for us older folks.

 

[TerraDigger]

That armrest now looks pretty comfy. Nice work.