question for excal users?

[mham2]

I am having some back problems and was wandering if anybody was using a back or hip mount on there excal ? I had heard that it caused some problems with the coil connection with the constant movement.Just wandering if anybody was using this successfully. thanks Mike

 

[Steve from Ohio]

Have you tried the straight shaft?

I have a bad back and ankles and found the straight shaft was the answer for me.

 

[mham2]

I have a straight shaft the type that mounts the electronics below the elbow,I see a straight shaft that mounts the electronics above the elbow, which one are you referring to? thanks Mike (PS also from Ohio Massillon area spend the winters in Florida).

 

[NamVetLesTreasureSeeker]

Hi mham, If you are NOT HUNTING in the water, then an aftermarket straight shaft should help. But, for further help, scroll to the top of this forum, and click on to
DOC'S PLACE, and scroll down AWAYS, until you come to the SWINGY-THINGY HARNESS, that should REALLY HELP with your existing straight shaft!!
HH, Les Robinson

 

[therover]

Mike,

I only use my Excal with the hip mount. What I did was use a few of the plastic ties ( the ones that feed through a small slit with the 'teeth' on them) and secure the cable on the nylon belt so it does not move or have any tension on it when I swing.

The hip mount supplied by Minelab is not really that good, so what I am trying to do now is mount it on a belt I got from Lowes ( or Home Depot...can't remember which one) that is really nice. It's black, about 4 inches wide and is padded. Really comfortable. I can send you a pic of the belt if you like.

It's a shame how the Excal is shaped. On the hip it's not really that good...it's better when it's on the small of your back. Good thing it's a set it and forget it machine...it's kinda hard to do adjustments..you have to swing the machine to one side or the other to adjust the knobs.

Anyway, I have the straight shaft and had the thing on different parts of it...closer to the front, all the way back, and it still heavy and fatiguing when hunting the wet sand or suds. It's only manageable for me when the machine is under the water since it's lighter, but I still took it off the shaft and have it on the hip mount.

I see others that have harnesses, etc. so there is a lot of inginuity out there to get some ideas.

Good luck.

JC

 

[mham2]

thanks for the info. I will try to come up with something. I have a etrac I use on land and wet and dry sand and don't seem to have a problem with that.thanks again Mike

 

[Dan-Pa.]

Lots of good ideas but remember you have a bad back and some of the ideas may or may not shift the weight from the small muscles of the arm to the large muscles of the back and cause more harm than good..Sore arm is one thing but back problems can be serious so whatever works for one may not for another..

 

[NamVetLesTreasureSeeker]

I personally use the kind that mounts them under the forearm, but I know the Longer ones, that mount the controls ABOVE the Elbow, are better balanced for detecting. I have never used one on my Excals', because I do alot of water detecting, and I like my controls handier. Just my opinion, hh, Les Robinson

 

[Bence]

There are lots of things you can do, here's a few ideas:
http://www.minelabmods.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=127&Itemid=40

http://www.andersondetectorshafts.com/2.html

http://www.akmining.com/cart/mlac-st.htm

http://www.akmining.com/cart/mlac-cjb.htm

http://www.minersden.com.au/default.asp?pageid=Products&template=PRODUCTCAT&catid=821&prodid=523&site=15

on and on and on...