A Mod to Bling's Hipmount for the Excal...

[grumpyolman]

Yesterday I received the battery bag for Minelabs SD and GP metal detectors. I saw how Bling used the bag and decided to go that route. I hate swinging the electronics all day long when I don't have to. The first picture shows the battery bag as it comes. Note there are no longer the nice padding to go over the shoulders. It's just 2" webbing. (Unless I ordered the wrong one)
The second picture shows how I modified the bag to fit the Excal and the battery for it. I used a soldering iron with a flat tip to cut the holes in the material to allow all to fit in the pouch. I needed holes in the top for the control knobs to go through and I needed to open the ends to accommodate width and depth of the electronics housing. I also needed a large hole cut in one end to allow the Ike-lite battery connector to be connected. I wanted everything sitting in side the pack with the pack using the large Velcro flap to hold it in place.
The third picture shows a short piece of 1/2" plastic that is used to join the Excal electronics to the battery pod so it is all 'one' unit like it was hooked to the shaft. Finally I have a picture of the unit installed and the Velcro flap closed. I may use a permanent marker to label the control knobs but I don't change things much once I start working the water anyway.
Hope you enjoy looking at it and it might be an idea that others will try and make even better....Regards...Jim

 

[GraveDiggerMax-VaBch-Va]

n/t

 

[sandman256]

This is really sweet. I've got my controls hanging straight down from a neck strap set-up, but I like this one better.

 

[Bling]

very nice job Jim.i found a place that sent me pic's of the vest.this guy Jerry has 3 diff styles.1 cammo with like 4 pouch's on it . he said the old style like you got is the old style and the new style is the one i have with the padded shoulder straps.i like the way you put it in the pouch.im going to order me a spare as i use it on all my detectors i hip mount and i can snap my scoop to one of the vertical buckles and drag it behind me and dont even know its there! .also on the front of each shoulder strap,there is a 0 ring that is perfect to snap the swingy/thingy to when i hunt the dry beach for houres with the large coils it is an awsome helper.

 

[goldnugget]

I found a Nylon Pistol Pouch about 8- 10 inches at the Goodwill store. I use an Excaliber and now just put it in the pouch. I modified it by putting a hole in the bottom and then installing a one inch grommet in the bottom. This helps drain's the water from the pouch when detecting in the water.
Cost about a Dollar for this.
Good Luck-Goldnugget-Charlotte,North Carolina

 

[grumpyolman]

Dang I wish I would have know there are two different vests available. I don't really want to spend another $30 to get the right one. Maybe with what we have put here on the forum will save some others some grief. I know about those "D" rings you talk about and have already eyeballed those to do just what you have done. I wanted to make sure my straight shaft floated without tension on the cables so I put pipe insulation around the upper end, about 12" of it, and wire tied it on. I think when I let go of the tector it'll float right beside me without tension on the cable where it hooks to the electronic unit. Got a Diamond Head scoop with the fiberglass handle. I think it's supposed to float the handle so if you are hunting in less than 4" of water you ought to be able to keep track of it. I'll have to contact Nuttall and see if I can drill a hole in it without sacrificing how well it'll float. Later...Jim