SE Pro Tactical

[Charles (Upstate NY)]

All done phew what a mod job, lets have a look.

Everything adjust up/down this carbon fiber shaft, lower rod, grip/control box, arm cup, battery, probe holder. Below I have it setup for max balance for the stock 11" or larger heavy coils. With the battery mounted 6 inches behind the arm cup the balance point with the stock 11" coil is the front of the control box, that's about perfect for that coil. It can be setup from this extreme all the way back to the factory configuration e.g. the arm cup at the rear and battery below that.

Here you see the X1 probe mount. Since I put a coil connector on the end of the X1 probe I can remove it, carry it in my pouch or pocket saving 10 ozs off my arm, that's more than half the weight of the stock 11" coil which weighs 17.2 oz. That's the stock Minelab lower rod by the way.

Here you see how I mounted everything on picatinny rail, Magpul lightweight polymer rail to be exact. Those clamps are Leupold lightweight aluminum lined with 3M Scotch 103, it has a death grip on the carbon fiber shaft with only moderate clamping pressure.

I'm tired of failing headphone jacks, here I'm using a coil connector for the headphones instead! Yes that's a rifle scope cover for the battery door lol.

 

[BigTony]

Terrific job, I have to commend you for all that work and tedious I am sure.

Best of luck with your new Tactical!

 

[IDXMonster]

That's pretty serious stuff man! Well done!

 

[tiftaaft]

Dang Charles.. that is incredible worksmanship!!

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Charles, its AWESOME!
Is it any lighter than the original?

 

[MikeO]

Very nice Charles.

 

[chipper97]

Really great looking set-up! Looks considerably lighter and more balanced and very sturdy. The control box looks like maybe a more upright angle maybe better with glare? Don't suppose you can manually adjust the angle on the box.?

 

[Elton]

One question. Does it sit upright when on the ground..??????????????? when the coil is in the usage position for detecting

 

[Charles (Upstate NY)]

Thanks guys.

Tony - its a bit lighter than the original but not much. Most of the weight is in the coil, control box, battery, and X1 probe which can't be reduced. I could probably cut 8 oz more by using carbon fiber for the handle vs 316 stainless. Not sure it would hold up but I plan to order the carbon fiber and give it a try. Its WAY more balanced, too balanced for hunting in the grass I want the coil down next to the dirt so I'll reconfigure tonight to make it more nose heavy for hunting tomorrow. The current near perfect balance would be ideal for beach hunting though where you want to keep the coil off the wet sand or swinging a big heavy coil like the 15" WOT.

Chipper - The grip is more upright, 60 degrees, closer to an ETrac which I felt was an improvement vs the Explorer. The screen is therefore a bit more upright as well. There are 2 stainless screws attaching the control box, 1 would suffice and allow tilting the control box up/down quite a bit. If a guy were modding one like this you could design that in by machining a channel for the front screw so it could pivot up/down on the rear.

 

[Charles (Upstate NY)]

One question. Does it sit upright when on the ground..??????????????? when the coil is in the usage position for detecting

Yes, I adjusted so the battery is on the left, the probe on the right like wings so it sits flat on the battery, shaft, and probe. I went back and forth about adding a stand, have decided against it for now. I never use a stand on the beach and I'm fine with it laying on the grass when hunting inland. I may put a couple strips of 3M Scotch 103 on the bottom of the battery housing to protect it.

 

[Kapok]

What is the total weight now?

Why can't detector manufacturers build something this balanced and downright cool?

 

[Charles (Upstate NY)]

What is the total weight now?

Why can't detector manufacturers build something this balanced and downright cool?

When I'm finished total weight should be over a pound less and that weight concentrated in just 3 points, the coil, the handle, and the rear with virtually no weight in-between. The stock SE Pro with X1 probe weighs 78 oz or 4.875 pounds. The coil, probe, 8 batteries, and control box weigh 44 oz out of the 78, this weight cannot be reduced leaving only 34 oz for possible weight savings.

The 40 inch carbon fiber shaft I used weighs just 2.8 oz total, in comparison just the ML aluminum upper shaft with X1 switch box weighs a whopping 7.4 oz. My use of stainless for the handle and aluminum for the 5 clamps added weight back, there's probably 8 oz of weight savings there if not more by replacing with carbon fiber in the next phase.

 

[Explorer.se]

This is truly awesome! You are blessed w your skillset! Thanks for sharing! Will you make any more for sale? You would have buyers for sure!

 

[JeffInMass]

[size=medium]Very sweet machine Charles- if you ever hook up with Ed and Tony and travel back to Mass to give Seated Park one more try, bring that baby with you!

-- Jeff --[/size]

 

[david.di]

Looks good.