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Mounting the Excal Control Box

S

Smudge

New member
One of my greatest hesitations about the Excal is the weight of the detector. At over 5 pounds, there is no question its a big one.

I see that a hip mount is available.

I also see that Anderson advertises a chest mount, in addition to shafts that mount the box either under the arm or behind it.

My question is for Excal users: is there a way you have found to mount this detector that minimizes arm fatigue and doesn't wear the cables out in no time?
 
I find chest mounting is the easiest for me .......I'm a little guy at 250 lbs, so I like to move around comfortably ....Jim
 
Chest mounting. Hip mounting is not all it is cracked up to be. I'm right handed. Hip on the right it gets in the way of swinging. Hip on the left it gets hit with the scoop handle. Hip in back you can't see or adjust the knobs. Hip in front worked best for me. But if you are wearing a jacket it gets in the way. And you have a hard time bending over. The chest mount is just great in my opinion. Out of the way and easy to adjust.
 
i have a used excal-1000....i took an old wooden broomstick handle which happened to be just the right diameter,cut it so each end of the handle only sticks out a half inch farther than the control box and battery...i drilled the three holes thru the piece of broom stick handle to line up with control box and battery holes and attached belt loops with 3 quarter twenty nuts and bolts--dont over tighten or you risk cracking the plastic--i then bought one of those fat boy belts at the 2nd hand store...you know one of those belts that is twice as round as you are....its one of those belts that can be latched anywhere along the hole length of the belt...this way it doesnt matter if im wearing a tee shirt or heavy winter clothes i can always adjust accordingly......as far as cable goes i let a little more slack hang free than what i need and havent had any cable issues thankfully...
 
i hip mounted before i didnt like it couse the coil is heavy and it was a pain to hold it in the air now i can swing for hours with the 3 pieace aderson straight shaft super balance i can swing longer than i could when hip mounting
 
I made a straight shaft out of old canes and have fewer problems with fatigue.
 
I hip mounted mine with a diver belt and a piece of PVC for the batter pod. I also have the head phones zip locked on the PVC to stop wire pull on the Pod. The cable going to the coil is zip locked on the straight rod and on the belt also to stop the pulling. I have a picture of mine on the MOD forum. B U T..... if you can get the Anderson that was mentioned its the best way. Why.... because chest or hip that wire is always moving and twisting.... like any wire bend it long enough and you will have problems. Not so if its all on the rod. Hip mounting is some what of a pain unless you set it and leave it.

Dew
 
I bought a used Xcal 1000, then put the Anderson straight shaft on it, much better. I got the tall man one, & I'm only 6'. Then I turned the pod around so that I can access the pp/disc switch easier. There's no strain on the wires that way, & I can hunt for 5-6 hrs before I get tired.
 
you can buy an extension that comes off the back of the stock rod, puts the control box behind your elbow and makes it much easier to swing. Its a little tougher to make adjustments but you dont have to constantly make them so its really not that big a deal. Its a very nice setup, inexpensive, and your taking care of your cables that way.
 
I'm 65 and weight 250 lbs and the Excalibur setup from the factory was just to much weight for me to swing for long periods of time.

I started out by getting a Anderson behind the elbow mount and really liked the balance, but found I had trouble getting to the control knobs.

I later ordered a Anderson under the elbow mount, but found it didn't change the weight distribution all that much.

I ended up ordering a Anderson chest mount kit with a straight rod. I liked the chest mount setup as it got rid of the extra weight, but I didn't like the straight rod as there seemed to be a lot of drag with the 10" coil. I ended up going back to the S rod from the Factory with the chest mount. I changed the elbow support by adding a padded arm cuff and installed a arm strap in the cuff. I also ordered a longer front rod for the Excal. and now I am very happy with the balance and am experiencing much less arm and back fatigue. Rick IL
 
Get a plugger hip mount and turn the detector on and slip it around to position it directly behind your back like a fanny pack. If you are right handed the the pinpoint disc knob will be on your left behind your back. Just reach your hand just past your left hip if you are a switcher. The shaft and coil, plugger straight shaft that is, is like holding nothing and in the water even less. If you are gonna use OEM shaft there's not a lot you can do, it's junk and uncomfortable. What you really have to be careful of is making any shaft too long. The coil needs to be about 10 or 12 inches in front of your feet , no more with any detector.
 
First knob from the Left..Pin Point/Disc
Second knob from the Left...On/Off Threshold
Third knob from the Left......Volume

First knob from the Right.....Disc
Second knob from the Right...Sensitivity
Third knob from the Right ...Volume

Now I like the S rod on mine...I also tape the Headphone Chord to the Round Minelab Housing...& I Tape both the battery cable & the coil cable together starting at the coil/cable relief & tape it down for 1 1/2 inches...Hunted this way this past summer & no problems......I'm also using the Plugger Hip Mount Belt but not their cable relief set up...........
 
I started off with the factory shaft and of course was not crazy about the weight. Then I switched to the under the elbow mount, which was better and the controls were nicely positioned. However this also gets heavy after a while. Now I use a travel straight shaft (behind the elbow mount) which I like best. I strongly recommend the straight shaft configuration.
 
All the BIG DOGS i know are using that longer straight shaft set up. Good balance and you dont have swinging and twisting of the wires..... which cant be good for them.

Dew
 
Well lets see: Am almost 72, hunt 4-6 days a week excal W straight shaft with a WOT coil and I think that when I start to worry about how heavy my detector is I will look into crossword puzzles using a very lightweight pencil:rofl:
 
Speaking of BIG DOG.... erikk does have a heck of a rig. No way you are 72 thou???? You are in better shape than me except for those knees. These Xcals are really light after using an Explorer with an inline for 6 hours...... you can say HEAVYYYY.

Dew
 
I made the straight shaft (OldBeechnut's idea) for less than $50....worth a try!
 
dewcon4414 said:
Speaking of BIG DOG.... erikk does have a heck of a rig. No way you are 72 thou???? You are in better shape than me except for those knees. These Xcals are really light after using an Explorer with an inline for 6 hours...... you can say HEAVYYYY.

Dew
Click to expand...
How about an explorer 2, SR inline & WOT Did that for years till I sold the inline and replaced it with Pocket UniProbe with mono ear bud 72 Jan 2012
 
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