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Explorer too Heavy - I don't think so

J

Jerry/Oregon

New member
What is it with all the complaining about the Explorers being too heavy. I'm 57 and fat, i don't have any problem swinging this SE for 8 hours or more. I'm beginning to wonder if some of you folks should maybe start working out, maybe start lifting some weights or something.

Jerry/Oregon
 
You are right it is not heavy. It would swing better abd feel lighter if the guts were inside a garrett cx 3 shell or xlt shell. haha. Thats called good balance some of the older garretts were superbly balanced. The garrett cx 3 is much heavier than an explorer but i can swing one and not have an aching arm. Taller users seem to have a problem with the explorer's balance too. This is something to note.
 
The Explorers is great machines alright,
but the balance point is way tooooo far in front of the handle.

If you pick up a Whites XLT or DFX you'll see that they balance close to the hand grip, I wouldn't swap for any of my Explorers though.
Balance makes a great difference to the feel, can make it "feel" heavier.

HH

Snowy
 
John, God willing by the time i'm too old to swing the Explorer their will be something much better, and hopefully much lighter. I just hope my knees hold out for a few more years. :) All the best.

Jerry/Oregon
 
...and I cannot understand how Minelab hasn't heard the numerous complaints about this over the years. That one modification would of sold a ton of SEs.
 
You know Jim I have owned a few whites, Fishers, and Garrett metal detectors and just don't see that much difference between them as far as balance and weight goes. I was using a Fisher CZ7a when i got my first XS back in early 2000. Maybe it has to do with my height, i'm only 5'8". (a short old fart) :lol: HH

Jerry/Oregon
 
I'm 5'7" so I don't think its a height thing. It all depends on how many targets one is digging. If I'm stopping to dig frequent targets then I can go most all day. But put me in a field where I might dig only 1 target per hour and my shoulder is killing me within 2-3 hours. Detecting uphill is likewise painful. I modified my XS with a whites shaft and relocated the batteries and probe to the rear of the detector, it made a LOT of difference. It is far more pleasant to swing now.
 
if ya get as far as wakin up in the morn, then jist thank GOD fer that and swing whatever it is ya got with a smile on yer face.I lay in the hospital for 7 years, died twice, and i tell ya...the EX-II feels wondefull in my weak hands. :detecting:
Come to think of it, it feels great swingin any 'tector. But the E-II finds more...:wiggle:
 
Jerry, I'm about the same build and height as you describe,I have a bad right shoulder but find that not having the coil too far out front helps me a lot;
and Charles,I agree it isn't a short person thing,I still feel like you discovered that a better balanced unit improves things by leaps and bounds.

Boy Jim, you're so right about just being vertical,being healthy ~ and able to swing a coil.
We have to count our blessings... :thumbup:
 
the people that complain about any detector being too heavy have the rod adjust to the correct length. I adjust mine where my arm is extended straight and the coil is just 8 to 12 inches in front of me. The key is to have the arm extended straight. A bent arm in time will make any detector feel heavy or heavier that it should feel.

The Explorers feel just great when adjusted properly.

Harold
 
Jeesh is right. I am 66, and 6"2. Got back a few hours ago from swinging my ExII for 7 hours straight (no lunch break). This is with the huge 15" WOT coil on the heavy end of the machine. Found a Seated dime, Barber dime, 2 Mercs, 2 Indians, 19 early Wheats (I don't dig anything that measures into the depth scale above the middle- about 4"). Yes, there were a few deep Memorials and clad Roosies. Junky Chicago Park, rebuilt in 1894. No sense arguing about it- the Exp is a heavy machine which is ill-balanced. Taller people do suffer more because as you lengthen the lower stem you are putting that heavy coil weight further and further away from the fulcrum point. What helps is carefully adjusting length of lower stem so your arm does not have to hold up the weight of the coil- your arm should be straight, no bend at elbow, so with straight arm the coil just rests on the ground in front of you. Exp works best tight on ground anyhow. so if you are letting the ground hold up some of the weight while you swoosh the coil back and forth on the wet grass it is much easier on the arms. Most people make stem a little too long and wind up sticking the coil further out in front of them than necessary, forcing your arm hold it up. Of course, a "swingy thing" or equivalent helps a lot- I simply make a makeshift one that works great when I feel I need it. Take a long bungee cord (6' is good, or hook several together). Hook one end down where the lower and middle shaft join (may need duct tape help). HAve machine coil resting on ground in front of you where it would normally be when hunting. Wrap loose end around your neck, stretch it just a little and see where loose end hook meets the cord. At that point tie a simple overhand knot in the cord- leave center hole of knot open a little. Now put cord back around your neck, hook into the knot hole, and try a swing. You may have to adjust knot position several times until coil weight is almost totally supported by the bungee- in fact, it should spring up just a little so you actually have to push down on coil just slightly to skim the ground. Stick your neck out. Let it hold the weight- much easier than using arm muscle. Try it- you'll like it. And the price is right. Today I didn't use it- just depends how "conditioned" you are. Detectorists never get old- that's cause we are all "Swingers"!!!
 
I don't feel that the all important correct arm position,(achieved by correct lower stem extension length) is emphasised enough ~ even by Minelab...
If you take the time to set the machine up properly; without having the coil extended too far out in front, it really makes a major difference to the feel of the outfit.

I agree,

Snowy
 
Got my airline tickets and can't wait to get Pittsburgh and meet you. Chris said your coming with us, it should be fun, and hopefully we will all find some nice coins. See you the 8th.

Jerry/Oregon
 
Would advice all to experiment with cuff positions and lower rod lenghts. Explorer will allow you to fine tune them. Do remember some are taller, fatter, shorter,skinnier and of course have different strentgh abilities etc..so it will pay off..Sure its heavy and has poor ergonomics we have one old guy in the club that has pipe stem arms and has no problems, while on of the younger guys is always complaining and he could arm wrestle a Gorilla....Go figger...
 
Dang, mebby it's just that the darn batteries are too heavy :rolleyes:

I'm 50 and...er...fat and the ol' arm never gets tired with my EX SE :detecting:

Perhaps the balance is that much for the taller folks (I'm 5' 10") since I have no problem. Interesting thread....

Good hunting, Bill
 
I myself cannot wait to meet you guys and to see Chris again.
Goin with you ?!?!?!? Where ?!?!?!? I knew nothing of this. Where we goin ? Is it diggin pannin sluicin and such ?????
Janet and i got THE FEVER !!!!!!!!!! We have been runnin to the crick and diggin pannin sluicin and such every chance we git.
 
First of all, I run a jack hammer for a living, so when I was reading about people complaining about the weight of the SE I didn't give it any concern. Well after I got it I found it was very uncomfortable very quickly to the point I tried switching hands, that didn't work very well. I started experimenting with different length adjustments of the lower shaft and came to find out I had it extended to far out. The coil needs to be as close to your feet as possible and your arm has to be straight, if its bent at the elbow you're not going to last very long. Take a one pound weight hold it your hand with your arm extended and see how long you can hold it, a body builder couldn't do it very long. Then hold it with your elbow bent, you can hold it longer but eventually you want to put it down. Hold it in your hand and keep your arm straight down at your side and you could hold it all day AS LONG AS YOUR ELBOW IS STRAIGHT, that's the way you need to swing your explorer. I now can swing it 8 hours and it doesn't bother me at all. Hope it helps.
 
One of the best posts I have read on handling an Explorer, but dont forget the armcup position as well..Just about the way I do it and sure not a weight lifter at 68......
 
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