Menu
What's new
Find's Treasure Forums

Welcome to Find's Treasure Forums, Guests!

You are viewing this forums as a guest which limits you to read only status.

Only registered members may post stories, questions, classifieds, reply to other posts, contact other members using built in messaging and use many other features found on these forums.

Why not register and join us today? It's free! (We don't share your email addresses with anyone.) We keep email addresses of our users to protect them and others from bad people posting things they shouldn't.

Click here to register!

Need Support Help?

Cannot log in?, click here to have new password emailed to you

Changed email? Forgot to update your account with new email address? Need assistance with something else?, click here to go to Find's Support Form and fill out the form.

Swingy Thingy, i'm now a believer.

S

Sailorman

New member
Did my first full day of swinging an E-Trac without changing arms and without pain. Thank you Doc and your Swingy Thingy!

My shoulders are a mess. Right one has been reconstructed and neither is great. Arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis and i also tore the rotator cuff in my right shoulder years ago. But being the hard headed soul that I am and loving this hobby I always just pushed on through.

Well after today, never again. Before I was changing arms every 15 minutes or so. Today that heavy detector was light as a feather. My wife also said I seemed much more relaxed and happier at the end of the day. Well, if I'd of hit some silver today it would have been even better but it's still hunting, not always finding...
 
I'm there with you on this thing Sailorman. After swinging the ET for the first time today, I'll be getting a harness.
 
Congrats. I haven't tried one but what I do is use the E-Trac with the stem almost completely shortened and swing it just in front of my feet. It feels very light like that, though if yo have shoulder problems that might not matter. Hope someone else though can use my advice. It really helps with the weight.
 
that's why I am building a chest mount for mine,,, just got an extetion cord for the coil from Doc,,, my mock-up /test-run went well today,,, will post pics when finished,,,,,,,,
 
.This is what I use and I like it, especially since the lower rod can be adjusted for exact height on the etrac. If your rod on your detector isn't fully adjustable for length (such as a white's) I would not recommend this one. Not too expensive either.

LEJERMON Harness Model S - Minelab Version


This is the new "Shoulder Harness" style. Works for left or right hand swing. Comfortable, adjustable harness that lets your shoulder and back carry the weight of your detector. Even those heavy Gold detectors with extra large coils! Works with Minelab Explorer, Quattro, and Safari. metal detectors. Includes easy to follow installation instructions with photos.
For use with:
Minelab Explorer, and Safari metal detectors.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
I got the swingy thingy after tearing a rotator cuff last year in my right shoulder.I got use to swinging left handed and decided to stay that way and give my right arm a break from all the years playing ball,fishing and bowhunting.
The swingy thingy is the way to go.
 
Would you recommend the Swingy Thingy for a person with a bad back? I've had 2 back operations and I'm always looking for anything that will help reduce the stress on it. How does the strap system distribute the weight?
 
The strap goes over your shoulder down your back and attaches to your pants. The chest strap keeps the D ring in place. So I guess it's trying to keep your pants up by taking the weight there. I never really noticed it there.

I can say that swinging the E-Trac required pre-emptive naproxin before if it was an all day hunt and my shoulders and back hurt. Mostly my shoulders and i had to switch arms a lot. Now I have hunted two full days pain free and without the naproxin.

I read up on several versions of this rig. Doc's is the original and there's copy cats around. Doc's has a patented quick adjust rig supposedly and i can say his quick adjust is just what it says, quick!

It took a few times adjusting the setup, about 15 minutes to get it just right and then it just floats there. When you let go it rests across your body coil down for recovery or you can just unhook it and set it aside.

If i had a friend with a bad back I'd recommend it.
 
Etrec-Virginia,
If I had a bad back I wouldn't be using a 12x15 sef coil period. I would maybe opt for a sunray x-12 if I had to run a big coil with a delicate back. As far as the harnesses go, yes they will help. Even with a harness and a big coil, one's back is still put to the test on a lonnnnnnnnnnnng hunt.
 
UncleTom said:
Doc, Is great to deal with and very fast to ship++
Click to expand...

Just ordered one from Doc. Cannot wait until I get it.
 
squirrel1 said:
Etrec-Virginia,
If I had a bad back I wouldn't be using a 12x15 sef coil period. I would maybe opt for a sunray x-12 if I had to run a big coil with a delicate back. As far as the harnesses go, yes they will help. Even with a harness and a big coil, one's back is still put to the test on a lonnnnnnnnnnnng hunt.
Click to expand...

I hear ya. I'm going to give the 15 X 12 another shot with the Swingy Thingy and see how I feel. I already have a 12 X 10 SEF coil, so no need for another coil of that size, even though I've heard a lot of good things about that coil. If the 15 X 12 is still to much, I'll have to do some research on what other coils are available in that size that weigh a little less.

Any input on alternative coils would be appreciated.
 
I just ordered one today! I admit too that I get sore after a good 3+ hour hunt, especially with a 15-month-old and newborn to pack around at home. I am eager to try out the Swingy Thingy.
 
With all the good reviews for Doc's Swingy Thingy, I just ordered one for myself.
I, too, have a bad back and shoulders. Anxious to try it out.
 
The Swingy works.......does it take strain off the back...in my opinion yes. I have a messed up lower back. But remember, a back problem may be aggravated by the act of detecting itself...bending, digging, body torque.
Took me about 3 hours to get the Swingy to balance perfectly for my frame/detector. Once thats done, I marked on the shaft where the Swingy attaches. Used electrical tape to take care of the excess strapping on the Swingy. After that it takes all of 30 seconds to put it on in the field. Once properly adjusted, the detector just floats on the bunjee cord. Its an amazing device.
 
TerraDigger said:
The Swingy works.......does it take strain off the back...in my opinion yes. I have a messed up lower back. But remember, a back problem may be aggravated by the act of detecting itself...bending, digging, body torque.
Took me about 3 hours to get the Swingy to balance perfectly for my frame/detector. Once thats done, I marked on the shaft where the Swingy attaches. Used electrical tape to take care of the excess strapping on the Swingy. After that it takes all of 30 seconds to put it on in the field. Once properly adjusted, the detector just floats on the bunjee cord. Its an amazing device.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the hints on how to set up the Swingy. As far as the back goes, the only reason I can metal detect is because of the pain meds that I take. Without them, I could not even last an hour in the field. My wife thinks I'm crazy, but I refuse to give up or give in as I love the hobby that much. One of these days, I will be MDing in a wheel chair, but I'll need to figure out a way of digging holes when that happens. Maybe I can talk the wife into it:lol:
 
is the sord in the wa;y when you set the MD to thte side for digging?
 
If you just let go of the detector it will end up slightly nose down across the front of your body. That works for me on the bend over to get a shallow target routine. For digging on my knees I just unclip the attachment hook and set the detector down next to me. No cord in the way, well except the headphone cord just like always.
 
E-TREC-Virginia said:
Thanks for the hints on how to set up the Swingy. As far as the back goes, the only reason I can metal detect is because of the pain meds that I take. Without them, I could not even last an hour in the field. My wife thinks I'm crazy, but I refuse to give up or give in as I love the hobby that much. One of these days, I will be MDing in a wheel chair, but I'll need to figure out a way of digging holes when that happens. Maybe I can talk the wife into it:lol:
Click to expand...

Good for you for keeping at it! Like my dad (Marine recon/Nam) always told me "you can rest when you're dead". :usmc:
As for the wheelchair MD idea, you might be onto a nice market making wheelchair mounted MD's....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top