Freakshow Explorer

[Charles (Upstate NY)]

I took the shop tools to my Explorer recently to make it lighter and to waterproof it to the extent that it would survive a dunk in the ocean. Making it lighter was the primary goal.

The only Explorer parts to survive were the control box (though I encased it in an ABS hard cover shell with a vinyl face cover) and coil. Lower rod is from a Sovereign which I drilled to fit a Whites S shaft. I hip-mounted the battery pack, headphones are Grey Ghost.

[attachment 9615 exl1.jpg]

[attachment 9616 exl2.jpg]

 

[Dennis 2]

n/t

 

[Dave Z]

HAHA.How many control boxes has that unit been in so far?I will say one thing,you do good work.I think you should start tweaking it enternally now.See if you can squeeze more depth out of it.Just take a screwdriver and start turning pods and what not.hehe.Dave

 

[cachenut]

Actually it looks pretty good. I like it but will keep my explorer as it is for now. One thing though. Did you change the batteries around? My detector uses AA like they were free at Wallmart so I would like to explore and use an alternate power supply. I was thinking of strapping a larger battery to my hip and running it off that. Any ideas? Doesn't the machine step the voltage down to something like 7 volts before it uses it anyway so the electronics might be happy with a lower voltage built like the higher amperage?

Those box type batteries in copper top for large flashlights are dirt cheap cause there is little demand. Expired ones might be free if you could find them. I would like a battery that costs 3 dollars and runs the machine for 50 hours!

Suggestions?

Joe.

 

[Jim upstate NY]

Just get yourself some energizer 2500 mah NIMH batteries and a charger

 

[Joe G]

First of all, I have no clue how you go about such a transformation... That is really great looking machine. I guess my second question is, if you can make the machine lighter and "waterproof", why the heck doesn't Minelab? Do you have any pics of the process? Not that I'd attempt to do that with my machine still under warranty, but I just find this kind of stuff facinating.

Really nice job!

 

[JBM]

Charles thats a work of art.

Well done to you I hope minelab see it.

Perhaps it could be the basis for the Explorer MKIII.

 

[Charles (Upstate NY)]

Ha thats control box number 4 or 5 Dave at least. I think this ones a winner though. With a lighter coil its going to compete with your DFX weight wise. I think I'll leave the electronic tweaking to Minelab though.

 

[Charles (Upstate NY)]

Like Jim said, get yourself a set of rechargeables. They last longer and cost a lot less in the long run.

Its like with my digital camera, it will drain a set of copper tops in under an hour yet the rechargeables last forever.

In this particular case I hip mounted a 10 cell pack of AA rechargeables which last for a long long time. I hunted 5 hours and the battery meter still read a full charge.

8 AA 1.5 copper tops give you 12 volts, 8 AA 1.2v rechargeables give you 9.6v, I would stay within that range.

 

[Charles (Upstate NY)]

I'll have to post some pics later when I'm finished. I need to machine a couple of new parts, a housing clamp that doubles as a mount for my X1 probe switchbox and an aluminum clamping ring for the vinyl front cover.

As a project it was not complicated, most of the parts are off the shelf.

 

[Charles (Upstate NY)]

If Minelab every builds a lightweight Explorer I'd order one immediatly.