Quest For The Ultimate Shaft - Steve's Detector Rods S-shaft For The Equinox Impressions

[CPT_GhostLight]

Sometime last fall, I was reading an interesting ongoing debate about S-Shafts vs Straight Shafts. My older detectors both have S-shafts and my Equinox has a straight. Since I have used my Nox way more than the other two detectors, I really didn't have any frame of reference to get into that debate. I did notice that the stock shaft of the Nox did feel nose heavy with the 11 inch coil and more so with the 12x15 inch coil. I swung the 11" most of the time and after the first year it was beginning to cause arm and shoulder pain when using more than a few hours. I'm sure that has as much to do with my aging 67 year old arms as it does with the shaft, but I was not about to give up detecting over a little arm pain. So I began searching for alternatives to help keep me going. I looked at and tried a couple of harness and bungie type devices, and while they do help, I didn't like to being spider-webbed to my detector and having to fiddle with disconnecting everytime I wanted to lay it down.

Enter the Carbon Fiber Shaft. I started looking at carbon fiber shafts because they were lighter than the stock ML shaft, so I thought, "lighter is better, right?". I waded through many brands that were offered through various online venues and settled on one I found that looked good. To be fair, it was a nicely made shaft and lighter than the stock shaft, but it did nothing to relieve the nose heaviness or the arm pain. So the search continued.

After joining the DetectorProspector forum, I came across a thread about counter balances for the Nox shaft and Steve's Detector Rods. While adding weight to the shaft seemed a little counter intuitive to me, I contacted SteveG and he explained in great detail the science of balance, fulcrums, and weight distibution as it applies to metal detecting. Not only was he very knowlegable, he listen to my ideas and concerns as well and worked to reach a good solution taylored to my size, arm length, and swing style and he even made it in a 3-piece travel shaft so I could pack it in my suitcase. Needless to say the counter balance worked perfectly, no more pain with the large coils. As my arms seemed to have strengthened a bit since I can detect more with no pain, I only use the counter weight with the 12x15 inch coil now.

Enter the Carbon Fiber S-Shaft. When SteveG announced he was looking for beta-testers for his new S-Shaft design, I threw my hat in the ring out of curiosity more than anything. I am perfectly happy with the travel shaft he made for me and am using it as my main shaft, but I wanted to compare a straight and S-shaft directly to see what the differences were for myself. I figured I had no chance of getting one to test but I was pleasantly surprised when a brand new beta shaft showed up at my door at the end of December.

I had to wait a week for the snow to clear a bit to begin my week of testing. The first thing I noticed was it was about an ounce and a half lighter than the stock shaft and my travel shaft. The prototype S-Shaft weighed 8.5 ounces (240g) without control pod, cuff, and coil, and with the pod, cuff, and 11 inch coil mounted weighs 2.8 pounds (1277g) total. The ML shaft weighs 10 ounces (283.5g) without accessories, and with pod, cuff, and 11 inch coil mounted weighs 2.9 pounds (1320g). So the S-Shaft saves about 1.5 ounces (42.5g) in weight.

The first coil I tried on the S-shaft was the 6 inch coil and it was ridiculously light. It was like swing a pencil on the end of the shaft with so much control I could have written my name in the sand with it, except I was on grass. I then moved to the 10x5 inch coil and while I've been using the 10x5 for a year on my straight shaft and love it, I noticed more precise control with the S-shaft. Is it game changing control with the S-Shaft? I think that is in the arm of the beholder, but for me it was noticible enough to warrant ordering one for myself.

The real surprise for me was when I mounted the 11 inch coil. I didn't expect it to do any better than the straight shaft, but again, the S-shaft seemed to be more responsive to my arm movements with the 11" and I worked with it for 5 hours continously with no arm fatigue, again adding to my decision to order one.

The 12x15 inch coil was responsive as well, but after a few hours, I was missing that counter weight as my arm began to ache a bit, so I like the big coil on my straight shaft with the counter weight.

SteveH described the differences between straight and s-shafts in more detail which reflects what I found in my tests.

SteveG works tirelessly to make sure his customers get what they need and want. I can't recommend him and his shafts enough. Are they the ultimate shaft? That's for you to decide, but for me they are. 😎

 

[steveg]

CPT_GhostLight -- wow!  What a terrific write-up!  Thanks for taking the time to do so, and it is so gratifying for me to hear not only that someone likes the shafts that I produce, but especially when it is apparent that by using one, it has allowed longer time in the field, without fatigue/pain.  I love this hobby, and I know how passionate so many others are about it, as well.  And so, the idea that I can in some way help others to enjoy it even more, is a most rewarding part of what I do.

Thank you!!

Steve

[CPT_GhostLight]

No, Thank You, Steve! You've definitely raised the bar! 😎

[FloridaSon]

I have about the same number of years (and a lot of hard miles) and can relate. I agree with everything you have said and followed the same steps as you leading me to the S-rod for the 11” as well. I also can recommend trying the counter weight on the straight rod and for me it was slowing down the swing change in direction that made it all come together.

Steve has created one of the best swinging detector rods for different coils and can accommodate any style.  Using “the big coil on my straight shaft with the counter weight.” Is a fantastic idea and one I had not thought of until now.

Cheers