steveg

Hi everyone! I just wanted to note that all "pre-orders" have been filled, and now will begin taking regular orders for non-conductive, glass-fiber lower rods for the previously mentioned detectors... Equinox 600/700/800/900 Manticore XP Deus (for my carbon-fiber Deus complete shaft, NOT for the stock XP shaft) GPX 4500/4800/5000 (I'll have them for the stock Minelab shaft, and also for those who have one of my carbon uppers) GPX 6000 Gold Monster 1000 Thanks! Steve

King -- SORRY -- typo! The tube on the RIGHT, in that picture, is the Kelvar one (the one with the "twill" weave that looks like a carbon-fiber tube). Steve

Fibercarbon... That's a good one, strick! LOL! Steve

Tony -- LOL! King -- the main reason I am using the term "glass fiber," is that the tubes I am using have a different appearance than what I think of when I think of "fiberglass." Technically, they are "fiberglass" tubes, but I'm using the term "glass fiber," because appearance-wise, they look much different from what i used to seeing when I think "fiberglass." So -- as an attempt to convey that "difference," I decided to call them "glass fiber" tubes/rods. Here is a picture of what I see in my mind when I think of a "fiberglass" tube... This is much different, appearance-wise, from the tubes I am using, as can be seen below (the black tube on the left, and the silver tube in the middle, are both "glass fiber," i.e. "fiberglass" tubes, which are available from my supplier; the one on the right is a Kevlar tube)... Hopefully, that answers your question, King, LOL! 🙂 Steve

Caliche -- I am not sure what the factory 4500/4800/5000 lowers are made of, but I have a number of customers who purchased a GPX carbon-fiber shaft from me, and figure some folks will want to swap out the carbon lower rod, for a glass fiber one. And my lowers (that fit my carbon-fiber upper) are a different diameter than the stock Minelab lowers, so they are not cross compatible. Thanks! Steve P.S. I sent you a PM, as I'm ready to build you a Manticore lower if you still want one...

Hi all! I have some good news, in terms of an update on the non-conductive lower rods. The glass-fiber tubes arrived this afternoon, and I've done some preliminary inspection, and everything looks good thus far. Therefore, I expect to begin building the lower rods starting this weekend, and continuing over the next several days. I'll be contacting each of you individually beginning tomorrow, if your name is on my "wait list." If you do not hear from me by end of day Saturday, please send me an email at steve@stevesdetectorrods.com to let me know that you didn't receive an email regarding your lower rod pre-order. Meanwhile, if you are interested in a non-conductive lower rod, and haven't contacted me before, I'll be happy to build you one as soon as I get my pre-orders taken care of (I expect to have those completed by the middle of next week). The machines for which I'll have glass-fiber non-conductive lower rods available for, include: Equinox 600/700/800/900 Manticore XP Deus (for my carbon-fiber Deus complete shaft, NOT for the stock XP shaft) GPX 4500/4800/5000 (I'll have them for the stock Minelab shaft, and also for those who have one of my carbon uppers) GPX 6000 Gold Monster 1000 Thanks! Steve

Hi all! I have some good news, in terms of an update on the non-conductive lower rods. The glass-fiber tubes arrived this afternoon, and I've done some preliminary inspection, and everything looks good thus far. Therefore, I expect to begin building the lower rods starting this weekend, and continuing over the next several days. I'll be contacting each of you individually beginning tomorrow, if your name is on my "wait list." If you do not hear from me by end of day Saturday, please send me an email at steve@stevesdetectorrods.com to let me know that you didn't receive an email regarding your lower rod pre-order. Meanwhile, if you are interested in a non-conductive lower rod, and haven't contacted me before, I'll be happy to build you one as soon as I get my pre-orders taken care of (I expect to have those completed by the middle of next week). The machines for which I'll have glass-fiber non-conductive lower rods available for, include: Equinox 600/700/800/900 Manticore XP Deus (for my carbon-fiber Deus complete shaft, NOT for the stock XP shaft) GPX 4500/4800/5000 (I'll have them for the stock Minelab shaft, and also for those who have one of my carbon uppers) GPX 6000 Gold Monster 1000 Thanks! Steve

I expect to have the new glass-fiber lowers ready to ship in about 3 weeks...just FYI. Thanks! Steve

Hi all. This post is intended for all Aussie and Canadian detectorists. I just learned of a brand-new shipping option that is much more affordable than other options. This service is offered by GlobalPost -- and is called "GlobalPost Go." I've used GlobalPost before, utilizing a couple of their other service options (usually their Standard International service). The issue, though, is they limit package size to a maximum of 24" in length -- which is too short for most of my shaft packages. BUT -- for most lower rods, this is possible (keeping package length under 24"), so, I've used GlobalPost on occasion in the past. It utilizes the U.S. Postal Service (to get the package to the destination country), and then the remainder of the shipment is completed by the destination country's postal service. As such, it is a slower option, usually 2 to 3 weeks for overseas deliveries, in my experience, but -- the upside is that it is generally more affordable than other shipping options. The brand-new option is called GlobalPost Go, and is available for shipping from the U.S. to Canada, or to Australia. A major benefit of this option is that it is a "DDP" option -- which means "delivered, duties paid." Thus -- no customs fees or duties are owed by the customer. You would pay for my invoice (cost, plus shipping charge), and then nothing more. The limitations are that the package must be under 2 pounds, under 24" length, and under $200 in value. But, all of these conditions would be met, with a shipment of either one or two lower rods. This service claims 6 to 10 days for delivery, but I'd expect more like two weeks. The BEST part of this service, is the price. Shipping a package meeting the above requiremens is only $19.95 USD for shipping to Canada, and $25.95 USD for shipping to Australia. So for instance, a lower rod priced at $89, going to Canada, would run $89 plus $19.95 shipping -- or $108.95 USD TOTAL. No customs fees, no import duties. I would expect Canadian Provincial sales taxes would still apply, but no customs fees or import duties at all. For Australia, the same package would run $114.95 USD TOTAL, no customs fees/import duties. I wanted to make folks in Canada and Australia aware of this option, for those who may be wanting a non-conductive lower rod (or a standard carbon-fiber lower, for that matter), but were concerned about high shipping costs, and customs fees/import duties on top of it all. This option is the best I've seen, for shipping to these two countries, not significantly more expensive that shipments within the U.S. -- ESPECIALLY given that there are no customs/import charges. You can read the details here, if interested, at: GlobalPost Go - GlobalPost International (goglobalpost.com) Thanks, Steve

Caliche - will do, thanks. The first batch will be in black, so that should satisfy "dark" :)! Thank you, Steve

MSC -- yep, I have you down for one, on the list. Thank you! With any luck (i.e. lack of delays on the part of my tube manufacturer, where the tubes are currently in production), I hope to be shipping these around mid September. I expect the price to be $89 plus shipping ($10 for U.S. shipping). Thanks! Steve

Okara — Will do! Thanks! Steve

I would be glad to supply these to an Aussie dealer, and yes -- it would certainly reduce the cost (shipping multiple lowers in one shipment, versus sending them from the U.S. to each Australian customer individually). With the number of prospectors in Australia, this would make sense, I'd think... Steve

Haven't finalized pricing yet, but I'll send you a PM... Thanks! Steve

Bob, Thanks! Would you like me to put you on the "wait list," or are you just in the "pondering" stage, for now? 🙂 Thanks! Steve