steveg

Matt, Sure, that could be done. I'll keep that in mind, as one of the optional configurations I can offer. Thanks! Steve

matt -- I am not sure that wouldn't be possible, based on my design. Since I'm not a water hunter, let alone a diver, what would you want in a dive shaft? What would be the requirements? Just "shorter" in length? Steve

Hi all, A couple of things... First of all, I am happy to offer cam locks to anyone interested. They run $15 plus $5 for USPS First Class shipping. Secondly, I'm working on a prototype Deus shaft also, and it would be an "S" shaft that would function very similar to the stock XP shaft, but would use round tubes (and my cam locks) instead of the XP "non-round" tubes. I am ALSO working on that issue of control-box placement, relative to the handle -- as I noted the same issue as Brad did (difficulty in accessing the buttons on the control box with your thumb, because the control box sits too far "in front of" or "toward the user," relative to the handle. I will be addressing that as well, with my shaft. Anyway, just wanted to make those two points. Brad, THANKS for mentioning the use of my cam locks. I'm really glad it worked well for you! Steve

Dew -- Interesting... Here are my thoughts... 1. SIGNIFICANT improvement in the tones (the "mod" that Aaron posted the video on, was a very good starting point). 2. SIGNIFICANT improvement in accuracy of the ID at depth (and with more accurate ID, more tone options could then be offered as well, instead of only a 3-tone option for the audio). I'd like to see 5 tones at least, but would prefer "full tones" (at least through the 30-point conductive range). But -- additional tones are ONLY USEFUL, if the target ID algorithms are made much more reliable/accurate. 3. Allow the pinpoint button to be one press -- engage, one press -- disengage style, instead of one where you have to hold the button down continuously for it to remain in pinpoint mode. 4. A MUCH LONGER "bottom" tube on the upper shaft, allowing more distance to be achieved between the arm cuff, and the handle. At least 3" longer would be necessary, if not a bit more. The short "bottom" tube on the upper shaft -- and thus the short cuff-to-handle distance, makes an already nose-heavy machine (especially with 12" coil attached) that much more uncomfortable to swing. 5. While speaking of "nose-heavy," a BETTER-BALANCED machine would be most welcome. The MDT with 12" coil is among the more uncomfortable machines for me -- at 6'2" tall with long arms -- to swing. 6. Wireless or bluetooth aptX-LL transmitter built in, for use with wireless headphones. 7. A screen where the ID of the target "refreshes" or "updates" more slowly. Much of the time in my experience, you can't determine what the machine thinks the ID of the target is, because the numbers are refreshing so quickly that you never get a steady readout on the screen. It's just a "blur" of rapidly changing numbers much of the time... 8. Better "modulation" of the tones, so that it's a bit easier to discern a deep (small) target from a shallower (mid-depth) one. 9. ASSUMING a better/more accurate ID algorithm, then the ability to adjust not only tonal frequency/pitch (when using the standard 3-tone option), but also the ability to define which VDI numbers are assigned to which tone bin. This would be less important, for me, however, if the machine had a "full tones" option (i.e. one tone per VDI number, similar to the 50-tones option on the Equinox). 10. Here's a DREAM -- but it would be great...a button that allows you to change from "time domain" post-processing, to SMF VLF post-processing. In other words, it's terrific to have the ability to "time-domain-out" things like bad dirt, black sand, tiny foil, and rust/tiny iron bits, etc. This is something the MDT offers that other VLF units DO NOT. BUT, it seems that because of this "time-domain post-processing," target ID suffers with the unit (I'm assuming this "time-domain post-processing" is the cause of the inaccurate VDI). SO -- if the target ID can't be improved within "time domain" post-processing algorithms, then perhaps the solution is to design the machine to utilize simultaneous multi-frequency, and then have a mode available where the user could quickly/easily switch to "traditional SMF VLF mode." This would then allow the user to "re-interrogate" an already located target, by switching to this more "conventional" SMF mode, so as to get a presumably accurate VDI readout in that "mode." Furthermore, perhaps information from the "time domain" processing of target ID, could be COMBINED, algorithmically, with the "SMF" processing of the target ID, to combine the benefits of both methods, and actually get ID of a given target that is even SUPERIOR to that which can be achieved with, say, an Equinox or CTX (or whatever one might consider to be the "most accurate ID unit" available). In other words, if -- via the press of a button -- a user could enter into "MDT" mode, where MDT-type time-domain post-processing is being used, and thus allowing the user to "tune out" black sand, tiny foil, rusty iron flakes, etc. as is currently the case with the MDT, and then press the button again, to switch into "SMF VLF mode," so to speak -- i.e. to gather the most accurate target identification that can be achieved via incorporating SMF VLF post-processing, THEN you'd have a machine that could rival any unit on the market (if done well) -- and one which could be effectively employed by a deep/old coin hunter in a site littered with modern trash. These are my thoughts. Steve

Nice digs, Dew! Steve

LOL!! Yes, if I can pull this off, I'll be able to make you one in camo! 🙂 LOL! Thanks! Steve

CPT -- I am SO glad to hear that you are so happy with it! Thanks! Steve

Hey all! I just wanted to refresh my "sale" ad, and announce that I am now also offering: Stavr sand scoop handles Garrett Ace/AT-series complete "S-shafts" Minelab Equinox complete "S-shafts" Minelab GPX 4500/4800/5000 complete shafts (before I was only selling the lower rods) Minelab Gold Monster complete shafts and -- per customer requests -- have begun working on a design for a complete Deus carbon-fiber replacement shaft... 🙂 Thanks, all! Steve

BeachHunter -- yep, I'm trying to consider such possibilities. No matter WHICH way I try to go, though, there are likely injection molds involved, which are EXPENSIVE. I just don't trust 3-D printing, in most cases, for any part that will be subjected to any appreciable stresses... By the way, I got my hands on a Deus II yesterday, to take a close look at the shaft. WOW...that flex... Steve

Nice stands! Steve

Ogliuga -- can you tell me what you mean by this? Are you saying the mount is "loose," in terms of its fit into the shaft? Thanks! Steve

Gents, Thanks for all of the thoughts here. I'm reviewing the posts, for people's comments/complaints about the existing shaft, and I'm really brainstorming to figure out what/if I can do... I'm ordering some Deus parts, so that I can have them in hand as I brainstorm... Thanks all... Steve

Steve, and others... Thanks for the interest! I've had a number of customers raising this issue with me. It seems there's fairly great demand for a Deus shaft replacement, with stiff/sturdy carbon fiber and high-quality cam locks. Since this is exactly what I try to provide my customers with, it would seem that this would be "right up my alley." The PROBLEM(S) are this, when considering the production of a Deus/Deus II... 1. NON-ROUND SHAFTS... To make a long story short, production of non-round carbon-fiber tubes is costly; there's a rather large up-front cost, as a non-round tube requires a mold for production, and then the cost of the molded tubes themselves are MUCH higher than round tubes. Additionally, a non-round tube requires a matching, non-round cam lock, matching non-round shaft fittings, etc. -- all of which require their own injection molds to be produced. 2. NON-STANDARD COIL EAR... One of the two coil ears of the Deus has that "proprietary" non-round "plug" that fits through one side of the coil ear, and that plug "mates" to a "cavity" on one side of the Deus lower rod "clevis" or "head." This makes production of a "proper" lower rod piece more difficult than your basic clevis. 3. THE CONTROL-BOX MOUNT... The Deus uses that "proprietary" mounting system for the control box, where the back of the control box "mates" to the front of the "mount," and that mount -- again -- is designed to fit in the Deus non-round shaft. This is another custom component that would have to be "replicated" for use with an aftermarket Deus shaft. 4. THE DESIGN ITSELF... The really cool "collapsible" design of the Deus, where there are "cam locks" integrated into the S-handle, and the shaft "slides through" the handle for collapsibility, is not easily replicated. NOW, some of these hurdles could be overcome, by avoiding use of the non-round tubes, and building a replacement shaft with standard, round carbon-fiber tubes. On the positive side, this would allow use of my current cam lock (thus no new cam lock injection mold needed), and would also easier-to-produce "round" shaft fittings (the lower rod piece, etc.) The lower rod "head" or "clevis," as long as it is round, could have the "cavity" for the "coil ear plug" to be machined into it, so that hurdle could be overcome as well. I have considered the possibility of adapting my new "S-shaft" design, for use with the Deus. HOWEVER, points 3 and 4 above remain challenges, even given that I now have that S-shaft design. For point 3 -- a control box mount would have to be custom-designed -- one that would both A.) fit onto my S-handle, and B.) mate properly with the Deus control box. Then, for point 4 -- customers would have to be willing to forego the "collapsibility" offered by the Deus shaft design, as my S-shaft does not allow the tubes to "slide through the handle" for the easy collapsibility offered by the Deus. I have been thinking alot about this, and trying to find solutions to these issues, but there's really no way to get around the fact that no matter how I slice it, this would be a very expensive shaft to produce (in terms of purchase price), as production would require substantial up-front investment. The Deus shaft is a much more "proprietary" shaft than many others, making a proper, high-quality replacement shaft a very high hurdle to overcome. I will continue pondering it... Thanks all! Steve

John's email address is johnsmith55@bellsouth.net. He was slow to respond; I'm hoping he's not semi-retiring, what with the website being down, and all... Steve

Chuck -- THANK YOU for your business. Your coil will be shipping soon. THANKS! Steve