afreakofnature

Sorry I guess I was mistaken about the hex bolt and thumb bolt for tension on the clamp. However if the hex bolt is the same size as the control unit bolts that are used to clamp on to the upper shaft that would be awesome. Then you could tighten and adjust everything with just one Allen wrench.

For your first runs, i would not worry about the thumb screw. Locking nut on the hex bolt? If so that probably would work the best. Otherwise if your gonna just do thumb bolts you then have two adjustments (thumb screw and clamp). As a buyer i then would resort to pluggers clamps which is just one adjustment, the wing nut. I would try to keep it simple, to me that is just the clamp (my reasons for wanting it, plus it looks better imo)

I personally like the one on the right the best too. Would it make or break a deal, It wouldn't if I never knew about both But now that I have seen both (but don't have them in hand to make any determinations) I think the looks and possibly quality of the one on the right is the way to go. As for hex bolts. I would not see that as a problem. Once they are adjusted they should need to be adjusted again or that often I would assume.

Fred, Thank you in advanced. We will just have to wait and see what Mitchel wants. I have looked and really the only place that I can find ones to buy is his website directly or eBay. (and they are certainly not cheap, hence why I was looking to borrow or find at a library). Thank you though, much appreciated! Fred and JW, What I ment about being "successful" was I would like some more years of experience behind me before I make a bucket list MD trip. I don't wanna show up and not know what I am doing per se. Knowing how to prospect the OZ outback though can only be done with research, and boots on ground. That is going to be the "experience" for me (plus the lovelies of OZ). So to make a long story short, I am not going there to make money, but I am going with the "hope" of finding a ripper!

Based solely on looks from the pics (and not at all on function). I like the first ones. They seem more "sleek." Especially in side views.

I am glad you are bringing up going to OZ. I was planning on going last year but realized I needed to save a bit more and I want to get more experience under my belt to make the trip successful. My next chance is going to be 2020. Through my research and recommendations (JP being one) it was Gold Extractors or Gold Prospecting in Australia for me. I emailed them a lot and they were so friendly and emailed back a lot too with tons of information as well as things and companies to "be aware" of. Gold Extractors (Kim and Linc) have changed just a little. When I was looking they provided you a caravan. Now it seems they have communal living in a house. But is way cheaper! Anyways, however, a lot of my old links no longer work, except for these two! That should say something too. Although the two private tours in your links above look really interesting an way fun too! Fred I would love to be able to borrow your Doug Stone books and maps, if mn90403 isn't gonna or after he is done. I have been looking for anything from him in the library and such with no luck. I would be willing to pay for shipping both ways and even put a deposit down until you get the books and maps back. However you would like. I bet I could read through them in a month or 2 over the winter.

Looks fantastic!

Guess i did not ask a dumb question after all although I do not think that any question is really a dumb question.

I was there, one of the under 50 guys GB's write up is spot on. Excellent class and had a lot of fun. The main thing for me was asking questions. Come with lots and lots of questions. Its your chance to ask directly, get advice, and see with your own eyes any of the things you might only read about. With all the questions I asked and all the new techiniques I learned my confidence as a good detectorist increased exponentially! Also it was fun to meet other detectorists and hunt with them, bounce ideas, etc. I have no detectorist friends where I am from. Finding gold on your own is not as much fun as to share your finds with someone immediately.

Both look like gold to me but the above pieces seem to be in a matrix. Could be quartz could be cliche. Try soaking in CLR, if its cliche it will dissolve off. Congrats on the double find! Welcome to gold fever!!!!

Thanks guys! I enjoyed learning new things from you guys as well as reinforcing things I learned on my own. I hope we can meet up and hunt together again in the future. I'm itching to get the Zed out more and the snow is here for me now. Winters for me are research research research (with hopefully a week to AZ ) BTW pulled a grammer out of the gulch with the SDC before the snow hit. My hands are still cold digging in that water

He says on his forum free shipping too.

AZO has a few right now

Yeah i got thinking anout my idea and you would have to make a different cam lock for the same dia upper and lower section. Hmmm

I am not too sure on the stainless steel coupler. If you have to screw it together sand will easy get caught in that and cause problems. I was hoping it could involve your new cam lock and perhaps slide together. Maybe with a smaller diameter carbon fiber tube? I'll wait to see your new locks and maybe we can go from there. I have until Feb until I need one. The only one that I have seen was made by Plugger, but I'm looking more for that CTX feel.

Hey Steve any chance of making a travel rod? So it can fit in a carry on. I am really interested in your design and camlock system.

For some reason I have never turned on my machines in the house, i always go out in the field, or for VLFs the yard, and turned on there to learn. I was curious if you turned on your machines like the Zed, PIs and VLFs inside, would it hurt the electroincs? Especially if its constanly overloading or going off on all the crazy EMI. I just want to turn on to play with the settings and practice more with the buttons, etc.. Not actually detect. Funny been detecting now for 5 years and never bothered to ask or try

No one wants to store their detector, they wanna be out using it! But when at home at and especially now that I'm getting married, i cant just leave my gear out and about. I would love to hear how you guys store your stuff. Pics would be great! I was thinking of hanging my machines, and maybe a shelf above to have containers for the other gear. I wanna have it quick to get to the truck to get out fast! Lol

Chaining an area used to be popular, so i have read, lol. But with the Z seems like you cant do that anymore. I grid too, but man is it tough to stay focused especially if you go hours with nothing. But detecting is a patience game of extreme highs and lots of low, gotta be stong willed. Never tought of griding gulches though, gonna try that now in a couple spots that i was just going right up the gut in.

I got help on Larry's book, still looking for help on Jim's

Hello all! I can not seem to find a copy to purchase of the 8th Edition of Jim Straight's Follow the Drywashers Vol 3. The Nuggetshooters Bible. I have the 6th Edition and I would like to see what has been updated and added since. I have heard there are over 40 new pages of material! The other book that I have been wanting to read is Larry Sallee's The Complete Unabridged Zip Zip! I just can not afford the $200 price tag on this book nor do any libraries have it. I was wondering if anyone would be kind enough to let me borrow their copies. I would only need it for a couple weeks. I would pay for shipping both ways (PayPal friends), I could even put a deposit down or something. Would anyone be willing to give a hand? Thank you!

https://www.robsdetectors.com/jim-straights-8th-edition-follow-the-drywashwer/ here's a link to Robs store with a bunch of pics. He told me its no longer in print and doesn't expect to get anymore

Thanks Lanny, I checked Abe's but no 8th. Boy some are selling for almost $200. I haven't tried each vendor.

Though I might just give this a little bump up. Anybody even have the 8th? LOL

Thanks Fred but Terry said I could borrow his 7th if I don't find an 8th. But I might as well look for the latest one. Rob was telling me there are 30-40 extra pages. They are discontinued so no place to buy one anymore.