Thanks TrpnBils for the lower rod inspiration.

[Dan(NM)]

I finished mine this morning and it works great, very little flexing and it collapses nicely.

 

[sube]

What size pvc pipe did you end up using. sube

 

[Dan(NM)]

I used 3/4" sch 40 pvc with 3/4 square stock rounded on a bench grinder. I used a reciprocating saw to do the angle cut and 2 wraps of black electrical tape on the upped end

 

[sube]

Sounds easy enough will have a go at it . thanks sube

 

[sprchng]

2x on the kudos,,,,very quick. I can finish mine up tomorrow.
Some one's going to be very unhappy with TrpnBils but it won't be me
Made in America , too!

 

[Dan(NM)]

I had everything on hand, it took about an hour to complete. I love free!!!

 

[david.di]

Looks good.

Simple design and you made as cheap as they come.....free

 

[sprchng]

And it's only about 6 ounces heavier than the factory one.

 

[GKMan]

Great ingenuity! I think the companies that are marketing the aftermarket rods aren't going to appreciate it though...

 

[ML]

Great ingenuity! I think the companies that are marketing the aftermarket rods aren't going to appreciate it though...

You are so right, plus it sure beats paying for a Minelab lower rod that costs "only" $175, (ouch). Think I'll make one of these myself.

 

[TrpnBils]

Nice! Glad to see some others having success with it too!

 

[AngerManagement]

I have made up 2 Carbon Fiber extensions for my self..

AND doing another 2 for another, who also wants them a tad longer.

Even the longer ones are are almost the same weight, if not lighter...

I also have the coil access slot at the front or side as it reduces the stress on the coil cable.

Parts were less than $70. Wrapped Carbon Fiber tube at 500mm and only a little bit of left over...

 

[amberjack]

how did you attach the coil ? and where does the carbon fibre tube come from?

thanks !!

AJ

 

[AngerManagement]

how did you attach the coil ? and where does the carbon fibre tube come from?

thanks !!

AJ

The end piece to attach the coil is the easy bit

A: Moulded from other fittings - Heat gun and work the material = bit rough. B: Machined up an insert to be fitted into the end = much neater and a better fit

The C/Fiber tube is available from many places.... BUT none of it is the correct size.

I have to machine and polish 0.2mm from the OD.... Other wise the standard tube OD is too big and binds, if you try to slide it in.

Here is a pic of my First lot... The latest are much more polished/finished as this lot was a proof of concept.

# PROS # Significant savings / no position lock, so can have the coil off set to the screen = Better glare management / up to 75mm longer if needed / Light / Better Cable management at the coil.

# CONS # Machining 0.2mm from a carbon wrap tube can be dirty / Lathe work with one hand is not good risk management.

 

[amberjack]

so what's the right OD of the minelab shaft ?? 27mm to big? 26mm to small ??

I don't have a lathe so that's out I do have plenty of wet and dry

yeah I just like fiddling and want my coil cable to not have such a bend in it when I set it down and well having a fiddle is fun

what about a gpx end piece ? can buy those do they fit?

I do have a heat gun, wet and dry, time and a dremel what I need is to not spend wasted money on stuff that doesn't work

thanks for the pic's and info much appreciated.

AJ

 

[AngerManagement]

The the standard 28mm shaft from my supplier is 28mm +0.1

The size you want is 27.8mm to 27.9mm, depending on how worn your top section is.

End Pieces - what ever works - 101 different options.



For the standard ML shaft... Remove the locating lug. Rotate the shaft 180 on the coil ( cable now from top and front) re fit and your cable will not be in so much stress.

 

[sprchng]

If you are still under warranty , knock the locating lug off of your lower shaft and send a picture to minelab,,,,they will send you a new shaft and you will keep the old one,,,,,just sayin'

 

[amberjack]

sneaky bugga's aren't they so anyone tried rubbing off the amount required to make the 28mm rod fit? never worked with the stuff before so have no idea.

thanks for the heads up fellas , no warranty for me but will knock the locator off always wondered what its purpose was other than to annoy me still the hole it will not be long enough cable will have strain so I may not bother but I will be making a new one at some point so its a bit longer and a longer gap for less strain on the coil cable.

thanks again!

AJ

 

[AngerManagement]

Ordered some more lengths of CF.

Guess what arrived...

Not long to go now... Just waiting on a couple extra bits...

Polishing down to size. Then gut out cable access, place in Coil End Piece and then rotate to correct positioning and pin.

Cable access will be at about 60 to 70 OR just off Top Dead Centre; Also will be about 75mm longer for the new owner to suit his height.

 

[amberjack]

KOOL

good job!

its on my list , list is longer daily I think

AJ