Hello there from Florida!

[Fossilman]

I just wanted to say hello to everyone out there. I've been practically addicted to this forum since I found it a few weeks ago. Lots of great info. It certainly helped in making my decision to buy the Excal. I've been hunting "treasure" for years in Florida, but my "treasure" was in the form of fossils. It's become a little more than that --- if I can throw in a plug (Fossils), but with two young boys, I don't get out much in the search for them. My 8 year old has taken interest in my old detector that I have had since I bought it over 20 years ago and we've spent some time searching the beaches. I've always wanted to get in the water and hunt and finally decided to give it go. My boy can't dive for fossils, but he can search the beaches with me so that's what we do now in our spare time. I like to make my own things, so I guess the first thing was to make a scoop. The first I made in haste just so I can out that afternoon after the detector came. It worked fine, but I think I made it a bit too narrow. I hope the second one will work better. More holes and a bit wider for stability (the other rocked a bit) I also became tired of the detector weight and almost bought a hip mount, but decided to make one to see if it's really what I want. It's not pretty, but it seems to work fine. I'll use it for a bit and tweak it if need be. Not sure why Minelab would not have a forearm strap on the cuff, so I made a template out of aluminum to run my dremel in. I used the strap from the Whites detector. I hope the plastic holds up. I haven't used it yet. Anyhow, enough blabbing. I just wanted to say hello and introduce myself. BTW, if someone wants to buy the other scoop, I'll sell it for $40 shipped. If you want me to weld something to accommodate a handle, just let me know. Thanks and happy hunting!

 

[GunnarMN]

welcome to the fourum, I see you are a craftsman, nice scoop , and I am sure you will work out the bugs as you go

 

[dewcon4414]

Exceptionally nice work. You will find a need for the narrow one.... that point comes in handy when the sand is gone and you have to get some push thru the shells. My rounded one has a tendency to want to turn on me.

Dew

 

[Fossilman]

Thanks guys. I guess you're right, Dew, I should probably keep that other one.

 

[Des D]

Hey Fossilman,

Where you at in The Sunshine State?

Me - former resident of LBK Sarasota...

Good Hunting

Des D

 

[Fossilman]

Hey there. I'm in Venice.
Happy hunting!

 

[Florida Keys Pirate]

Welcome Fossilman ,

Nice work on your scoops. If I didn't already have two , I'd be buying your extra. Be careful with your hip mount. Make sure you rig something up , so it's impossible to pull on the wires , where they go into the pod. Most people seem to have a broken detector pretty fast , when they fail to properly prepare their excal for a hip mount. Just something to be aware of.

Good Luck and Happy Hunting !

 

[Crispy Critter]

I've done a lot of fossil hunting in Florida too. Welcome to the forum.

crispy critter

 

[Fossilman]

Hi Pirate, I ended up welding another handle on the scoop and will keep it as back up. I'm really liking the bigger scoop. I can get that target out in one scoop now. I've heard about the danger of yanking the wires, so I've taken precautions. I like the hip mount, but that fact that's two things ( I guess three with the headphones) I have to deal with. I am going to weld up a straight rod with the unit under or behind the elbow and try that out for a bit. I'm poking around to see some pics and configurations. As it's set up now, I have a straight rod with a nice grip. Sooooo much more comfortable and it's a little longer so my swings are a little wider.
Crispy, one of these days I'll get back to some fossil hunting. I haven't collected in Florida in years...and I sell the darn things.