Metal Detectors I Use For Treasure Hunting
I currently have two metal detectors: Minelab Explorer II and Tesoro Cortes. First two pages describe how to prolong the life of the Minelab Explorer's body and increase its durability. The third page of this section provides information on Tesoro Cortes.
Body Reinforcement Of Minelab Explorer XS and II Metal Detectors
I bought my first Minelab Explorer XS five years ago. Back then, the Explorer had a substantial flaws in its body design: cracking of the plastic control box camlock, cracking of the armrest, and breaking of a small (1/8 of an inch) headphone socket. But being attracted to the Explorer's impressive reputation and capabilities, I purchased it anyway. At the same time, I did not want to face any troubles mentioned above while metal detecting on daily basis and under tough detecting conditions (searching around rocks, dense vegetation, and roots at the remote mountainside locations, ravines, etc.).
So I did some simple modifications to the detector's body to prolong its life. Over five years of intense metal detecting have passed and none of those problems have ever arised. Now, every time I meet new treasure hunters in the fields, they see my Explorer XS and make their funny remarks, something like, "Your detector looks like it made it through the World War II." It sure does look like that but it is still in one piece and functionable.
My Minelab Explorer XS Survived Through Five Years of Intense Detecting
When I acquired the new Explorer II, I knew that Minelab had had already eliminated all the flaws discovered in the body design of Explorer XS: now stronger plastic material was used for the body parts, the 1/8 inch headphone's jack was replaced by 1/4 inch one, the lower shaft was made of fibre glass. Nevertheless, I decided to be on the safe side and reinforced the body of Explorer II the same way I reinforced its predecessor's one.
My Minelab Explorer II Modified
The following is a short tutorial on my modifications of the Minelab Explorer's body:
1) I made the handle more comfortable and "handy" by winding a rubber strap around it.
2) By using a short bungee cord, I found the way to prevent the upper shaft from (a) swinging sideways inside the control box camlock that is the only holding point of the shaft, and (b) sliding out of the camlock.
First, I placed an improvised hook (a short piece of plastic rod slightly bent) at the upper part of handle before I wound a rubber strap around the handle, thus securing the hook. The hook would keep the bungee cord from sliding towards the control box.
Then I bought a couple of plastic household hooks and firmly secured them on the upper shaft, at medium point, with zip ties and an electrical tape wound around the shaft and behind them.
Not to increase the weight of your metal detector, it is important to use only light-weight materials. To "Repositioning Headphones Socket and Sealing Coils" on Page 2.
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