straight shaft

[Cupajo]

Hi Ron,

I'm sorry I missed your reply Friend!

The handle is one of two I removed from an old mountain bicycle I had that was headed for re-cycling (No pun intended!).

I got the idea from other posts I had read on shaft building and it works just fine.

The handle is adjusted anywhere along the shaft you like and locked in place with an allen wrench.

It was a perfect size to fit the tubing and is fairly comfortable to use as I can shift my swinging hand to different locations along the arc to ease the discomfort in my arthritic hand.

I can swing for an hour or two now and not feel too much discomfort.

Thanks for your reply,

CJ

 

[silversmith]

This may be asking for too much, if so I understand. It would be great to see a couple of close ups of that handle installation. Thanks.

 

[Cupajo]

These pics should provide enough detail to enable you to see how tight a fit the components were on the Excal shaft and the configuration of both shafts.

The Infinium has an extra long shaft so I can swing it in long slow arcs for maximum coverage.

The Excal coil cable restricted the length of the shaft, but as I use it on dry land it hasn't been a problem.

The Excal parts are almost jammed together to make them fit!

[attachment 133607 Scoopparts020.jpg]

The bike handle set (of two) has a handle with the screw on the left and one on the right.

I could only use the one with the screw on the left on the Excal shaft due to the tight fit!

[attachment 133608 Scoopparts021.jpg]

I had no such problem with the LS shaft as you can see.

[attachment 133610 Scoopparts024.jpg]

The screw is clearly seen in the last shot.

[attachment 133609 Scoopparts022.jpg]

Thanks for your interest!

Regards,

CJ

 

[silversmith]

Thanks Cupajo, what totally confounded me was I've never seen a handlebar made like that. If I can find one, that would be the perfect setup for my application. I'll print out your image and take it to a bike shop and see what it came from, and go from there. Much appreciate your help. Thanks, Ron.

 

[silversmith]

ivanll's straight shaft is not really a rake. I chatted with the salesman at K-mart. It's really a cultivator.
And, it's seasonal. They won't get any in 'til next spring, and then for a short period of time.....RAT's!

P.S. I printed out ivanll's pics and took them with me. Sometimes, folks don't recognize stuff by words, but if you take 'em a pic....they're nailed!

 

[Cupajo]

The handle-bar hand grips are used on mountain bicycles for hill climbing.

You might even find a set at Wallmart in the bicycle department.

K-Mart is a bit of a drive for me and I try to avoid that stretch of road if I can, therefore I searched locally for the only suitable alternative I could think of and I am pleased with the results.

Regards to all who have an interest in building your own!

I hope I have given you food for thought!

CJ

 

[silversmith]

Hey C J, you can bet I'll be going to Walmart tomarrow morning. My straight shaft is going to be easy, cool and will make you smile. When it's finished I'll upload to Finds.

 

[Cupajo]

 

[sovereign-fan]

well i acquired a cruche today so i had ago and this is what i come up with.
the bottom section of the minelab shaft fits perfect in to the bottom section of the walking cruche.

 

[Cupajo]

Looks like a winner to me!!

CJ

 

[silversmith]

Hey that looks great sovereign-fan. You did super job.

 

[tonyweston]

before I had my apartment and I had to take my detecting gear every where on planes I had both my scoop and detecting shafts made from crutches and I would take them through airport security with the story that Im ok now but after being sat down in small seats for 2.5 hours I could be stiff with cyatica at the other end !!!! i never got any problems . Just wash the tubes out every time you hunt or they will soon silt up solid !!! a stainless jubilee clip will tighten up the end of the aluminium crutch shaft onto the carbon coil shaft

happy hunting Tony

 

[ivanll]

To use a bicycle hand grip on your straight shaft is a beaut of an idea.
Thanks for the tip.
It's the kind of sharing that makes a forum worth reading.

ivanll

 

[Cupajo]

Hi Ivan,

Good to hear from you again!

Like a few of "my" best ideas I borrowed that one from someone else because I thought it was a good one!

Those are usually the best ones (the good ones!) to borrow, although I have made a couple of mistakes along the way!

It's always a pleasure to hear from you!

Good Hunting Friend,

CJ

 

[sovereign-fan]

well i used my new home made shaft for the first time today as loads of the fields me and the friend have permission to hut on have bean cut, and yes it works a treat.
i found it more comfortable to sweep with and i didn't have the usual ache that i normally have between my shoulder blades after a few hours of sweeping the coil. its not much lighter than the stock shaft but much better to use.

 

[sovereign-fan]

i picked up another cruche today so i had another go at doing a straight shaft. i like this one much better.
what do you think..........

 

[doindadiggin]

I know i have posted this before but it appears not a lot of guys/gals have seen it.notice i have turned the handel around a before and after shot.tery in oz

 

[clockdryve]

SaaaVeeeeet!!!

 

[LX Kid]

Hat's off to all you guys and your inovative ideas! Makes me want to crush my Anderson shaft! Super Greeeeeeat! Thanks

 

[sovereign-fan]

i tryed out the new shaft the other day but the hand grip wasn't broard enough so it was a bit of a strain on the wrist. i have now added some rubber to it and its much better now..........