At Least the CTX3030 Flies 1st Class...

[Shayne]

I am an active duty military member moving to Japan in about a month. I have lived in a number of countries around the world in my 22 years of service and almost every time I move, something I care about gets broken. Worse yet - something my wife cares about gets broken - but that is a different story! This time, I decided to give my CTX3030 the best possible chance at survival - without causing me a lot of trouble associated with disassembly/reassembly when I get wherever I am going. I have shipped military weapons across the globe in either Pelican or SKB cases for years without incident - why not my CTX? Both brands are air tight, waterproof, have a built-in pressure relief valves and can be locked! They have been dropped, thrown, hit by small vehicles and still survived. Anyway, I found the perfect SKB case online - the SKB I-SERIES DOUBLE RIFLE BLK 3I-4217-7B-L. It has three layers of UNCUT foam that enable you to recess the dectector in the case evenly through cutting out specific areas. When complete, I was able to get the fully assembled CTX and ALL factory accessories (including charging cables, etc...) in the case - with room left for a CTX06 Coil and Pro-find 25, should I decide to add them. Bottom line, this is an easy project; all you need is about $225 for the case, a thin bladed razor knife, a black sharpie, one (1) can of Fusion Spray Paint, one (1) can of spray adhesive and about two (2) hours on a Saturday or Sunday. Sorry for the quality of the pictures - took them with my phone....

 

[RandyNorthridgeca]

n/t

 

[GateKeeper]

Enjoy your time on The Rock.

 

[mtwolf2270]

Great job that looks awesome

 

[Mason Jarr]

That white colored foam that you have between the fins of the coil, what is that? Did you just glue those into place once you cut them or are they free floating? I'm building one. Thanks for the info.

 

[CT Todd]

that's hard core. I like it

 

[Shayne]

That white colored foam is actually silver. Before I cut the top foam piece where the coil rests, I traced the inside of the coil. After I cutout the top foam, which was about 2" thick, I cutout the separate pieces between the coil spans - cut them down from 2" to 3/4" - and used fabric/foam adhesive to permanently secure them to the second layer of foam. Bottom line - they do NOT come out and they provided added support to the design by further preventing movement of the coil.

 

[greedykind]

Case looks awesome and thank you for your sewrvice

 

[DigginVt]

Shayne,
Very well done! After seeing that I ordered a case online. Hope it comes out as good as yours. Good luck in Japan and happy hunting. Thank you for your service to our country and our freedoms!

Quack

 

[Mason Jarr]

I ordered a case and it'll be here on Friday. So the blue and silver colors you painted with Fusion?

 

[Ryan Kruger]

That is AWESOME. I like the blue. Looks good and quite professional. Well done. And most of all thank you for your service.

 

[Shayne]

I ordered a case and it'll be here on Friday. So the blue and silver colors you painted with Fusion?

Yes - Krylon Fusion - purchased at Walmart. I also use the Krylon Fusion Satin Black for the second layer of foam and silver for the third layer. That way, when you take the detector out of the case, you can see distinctive layers that are NOT the factory gray. Krylon Fusion has a great spray pattern, dries to the touch in 10 minutes and dries completely in a few hours! Great stuff.

 

[Mason Jarr]

Thanks! You must be Air Force with the blue and silver colors.

 

[DTOM]

That is beautiful!

 

[Mike MD]

Nice job on the case. i'll send my new tool boxes to you. .

HH
Mike

 

[Forensicman]

Shane

Any chance you could make one for me?

I'll pay you

Si

 

[Shayne]

Si - I really wish I could help you out, but I am currently stationed in Japan. To get the case here, customize it and ship it back to the states would be ridiculously expensive - $250 for the case and $100+ for shipping alone.It really isn't that complicated, 1 hour or less once you give it your full attention. PM me if you need detailed instructions. I think I posted them somewhere before....perhaps I can find them. If I travel back to the states for work in the near future, I'll contact you in advance. I can get the case in VA, customize it and ship it out for about $250 there. Very solid design for global travel. Overkill for local trips. Kind Regards - Shayne

 

[Forensicman]

Hi Shane

I'm in the UK and to get that particular case is really expensive, I'll see if I can find a different source,

Cheers

Si

 

[tcornel]

Is there room enough in the case for the 17" coil?

 

[Shayne]

Yes - the 17" coil can be cut into the second 2" layer of foam under the shaft area of the CTX. You cannot see it in the photo, but that's where I store my cables in a separate plastic container and my extra 6" coil.