Joe Beechnut OBN

37 minutes ago, cjc said:

awfully small solders in those plugs--don't think I would try a build.  Thanks  for the specs though. 

Welcome....This might help if you ever change your mind... premade end/cable M8, 5 pin, B code, male. One meter cable or you can get it in 2 and 3 meters. It is a straight cable but can easily be heated/cooled and trained to be coiled or used as a straight cable. 

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Bulgin/PXPPVC08FIM05BCL010PVC?qs=%2Fha2pyFadujBLFQQGAl4nekyampvhvP24lBto9mvnvRNNDJ8dZ0tdbakkj6U45oq

Also comes in a 45.. 

https://www.mouser.com/datasheet/2/57/M8_Data_Sheets-1901337.pdf

On 12/16/2023 at 9:28 AM, The_Stalker said:

Why would you not buy or make a custom set of headphones?  Then you know there is no problem.

I agree!!

I seen the issue from the start with the AQ, even on the excalibur. In fact all waterproof headsets are weak in the audio department. To be 100% they must make them reliable, which can be very restrictive on the piezo bender.  So make your own, all they have to be is water resistant, taking a dunk once and awhile is no problem. And they are easy fix if something goes wrong, since you made them.

I have shared this before with others.. and had the same results as Alexandre 

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I like the 65mm but now only use the 50mm audio unlimit with the black plastic outer rim. As far as what I use, I only do this for myself, I use two different things. Restricting the piezo is the worst thing you can do, everything from the wire size you use to the covering. So the last 5 years I have used silicon grease, dow 111 and something else I love is 3m wound patch..each works great at protection, the dow does need cleaned about once every few months..... the 3m is  like a very thin skin ..and the wires I use are needle thin. Anything to keep the restriction down.

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For me, it's about being able to pull out every variation and vibration the AQ is sending to the the Piezo' s, than add a good set of ear muffs w/Gel Pads..that block as much ambient noise as possible. Making and testing does not require much either, just a test swing for Air Test.

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AB5027B-3-LW100-R 50 mm PUI Audio Unlimited
 PIEZO CERAMIC BENDER 2.7 KHZ 500 OHM

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/PUI-Audio/AB5027B-3-LW100-R?qs=Ad%2Bh9aq9FyX0t5%2B4gCIO8g%3D%3D

AB6505B 65 mm PUI Audio Unlimited
PIEZO CERAMIC BENDER  520 HZ  Impedance 1 kOhms

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/PUI-Audio/AB6505B?qs=Xc0V8bXuji5Q61LWJkv0Lw%3D%3D

 

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3M Tegaderm Transparent Dressing 

Provides a waterproof, sterile barrier to external contaminants including liquids, bacteria and viruses. 

This stuff is super thin and very easy to mess up, practice a few times before trying to cover the piezo.

https://www.amazon.com/3M-Tegaderm-Transparent-Film-Dressing/dp/B000PYP5R4/ref=pd_lpo_sccl_2/146-7411959-4394806?pd_rd_w=VPiIc&content-id=amzn1.sym.116f529c-aa4d-4763-b2b6-4d614ec7dc00&pf_rd_p=116f529c-aa4d-4763-b2b6-4d614ec7dc00&pf_rd_r=P5VXXTC8RF47J2222HHF&pd_rd_wg=pz53d&pd_rd_r=48033ebb-6254-42f5-8c15-876801da204a&pd_rd_i=B000PYP5R4&psc=1

Dow Corning 111 O-Ring Valve Silicone Lubricant

which I no longer use except on the headsets that I have made and still using. 

https://www.amazon.com/Dow-Corning-Silicone-Lubricant-Sealant/dp/B00V2KG3XU/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=dow%2B111%2Bo-ring%2Bsilicone%2Blubricant&qid=1702874474&sr=8-6&th=1

 

On 12/13/2023 at 9:20 AM, cjc said:

This is a great question.  He does give some specs.  I want to know the same thing .  

cjc

Very simple really...it's in the audio of this video ... If you go thru his Air testing video's before (and above) it can be the benchmark/numbers to match his results.

Think about it........if he is getting Maximum results, which he seems to be, matching his and you have the best it can be.. Make your own, and air test to match.

I can tell you what he uses for the test above for audio or Similar..a JBL Clip 2 which I used for my beach test.

On 12/12/2023 at 10:05 AM, bklein said:

I think they missed the boat on this detector by not having a generic mode that finds coins as well or better than other machines.

Who wants coins, unless they are gold? Give me Gold..🏴‍☠️

Looks like you sure get your exercise when you hunt!  Your 16 inch hole picture sure shows even 16 is crazy deep to be digging and is to the point of a struggle to do.

Congrads on all the Silver ....... and the AQ!! 

On 12/14/2023 at 11:03 AM, mn90403 said:

Some of us are challenged by the 'technology' of metal detecting and don't have a clear understanding of what happens when we swing a coil.  I'm in that category.  I'm a 'user' and respond to the detector without thorough understanding of what is happening.

I just read this description of how metal detectors work and it will probably change what I think about when I am now swinging a coil.

Is this an accurate, basic description of how we hear a detected object?

How Metal Detectors Work | HowStuffWorks 

Years ago there was some great reading and debates over on the Findmall PI forum, Wire Chief, Mr Bill, Eric, Reg, Carl and many others. I just checked there are still a few left but seems many were lost in time when they changed the name of the sub forum, than upgraded to the new look. I really enjoyed watching and reading all, And, Honestly I feel some did help me understand what was going on Around the coil. Maybe the biggest jump was BB Sailors post on the PP switch on his sovereign. As simple as it was, it turned out to be something that affected many and me. God Rest their Souls for sharing.

Thats a good chunk of change too. to the right person. I had some partials done about 6 years ago and it cost me 3500. And those look like a well done set of dentures. I would ebay those babies.. starting Bid 100.oo

When I do hunt, I still use the Dinosaur, Minelab Excalibur BBS.. And a PI, the Fisher AQ. At 71 I think I'm either to stub-born or just too old to change? All of my hunting is in the water, brackish/salt mix so weight is not a problem. It does seem from the few I hunt with that use the Noxs and Manticores, and one time the D2, (stock coils) say they are a little chatty. I know my excalibur with the stock 10 inch can also be a little chatty but with coil control and hunting in All metal, 99% of the time with 3/4 sensitivity I seem to do better on the deeper targets. The few times we have compared targets the excalibur can see deeper, large good targets (gold and coins) that read iron for them or they can't hear them at all.  One thing we all know the excalibur is very weak on the little gold and that goes for mine also. I'm almost convinced the Newer machine are deeper on the open beach but seem to lose that once they go into the saltwater? My bad is I do like to hunt alone, maybe this coming year I can change that habit. And get more time in with other machines.

My Excalibur's are stock other than the headphones, which our my own design, and the remote disc button.

Also one thing that does keep me from getting a new machine, not sure if I could take in all of the settings. If I hunted the open beach, I would have one because of the weight.

Clive did you get any of the 10 inch coils that Eric Foster made? The 8 has its place but I really like the 10 the best, the 12 can be on the sensitive side to the conditions, calm waters its fine but once it starts getting ruff it really takes some fine tuning and coil control to make it work.. For me the 10 seems to be right at the edge of perfect, for my conditions. 

Anyone message Alexandra lately? 

Great machine for me, never use disc... found my love in All Metal. I've spent many hours air testing just to learn the characteristics of the machine, which paid off once I hit the water. 

Hoping to see a digital model someday?

Clive took me a second to figure out "Clog", it's the "settings tab" you can set it to translate to english.

On 11/15/2023 at 9:32 PM, Black Crow said:

Black Crow here again. I went and bought a new coil and one of those water proof adaptors so I can change coils on my Excalibur 1000. Does anyone know which pin number the green wire from the Excalibur out to the plug in the adaptor should go to? When I bought the coil, they included detailed instructions on how to cut the old coil wire and prepair it for fitting to the new plug but they failed to include a plug pinout diagram. The new coil i bought, designed specifically for the Excalibur series, uses only 4 wires, red, orange, black and white. I can loosen the plug on the new coil and trace the wiring backwards and match the pins that way, no problem. But that still leaves me wondering which of the two remaining pins the green wire needs to go on. I'm assuming that other coils will require this wire to be attached to a paricular pin (for shielding or something) so as you can imagine, I need to get it on the right one. I better add that I picked up this excal real cheep because the original coil lead had been ripped out from deep inside the coil, so I can't even reference the original coil either. If any of you can help it would be greatly appreciated.

 

thanks, Black Crow

The Green wire is the ground and goes to the ground on the board, same as the white wire.. So in order..top to bottom..Red..Black ..White and than Yellow. Or if you have a coil with Blue and Green they connect to the ground #1 or #2 on the board..(as the white does also)  and the others are the same. The receive B is a ground.

Also I never liked those inline adaptors, always leaked once submerged. I came up with a much better setup.. which was as good as the factory hard wired.. 

After a few years and lots of hours still no leaks.

.And a old wiring chart I made many years ago..

On 10/29/2023 at 3:27 AM, Black Crow said:

Thanks for this thread guys. I’m currently working on an Excalibur 1000 as a project and thought I might throw in my 2 cents worth. I know this thread is a couple of years old and plenty of people may already know what I'm about to tell, but there is a guy in Ukraine who makes end caps to suit all excals. He goes by DDT, I first found him on YouTube and he has a eBay shop too. He seems to be keeping up with demand despite the troubles they have over there. The interesting thing about his products is that he can make end caps that allow all sorts of mods to the Excalibur e.g., end caps with the fitting ready to take the CTX3030 (underwater) headphones. all you do is plug and play. Anyway, I’m not his advertising agent, so I’ll leave it to you guys to look at what he has to offer. 

 

Sorry just seen your post.. 

Yes Alton is a good guy and a friend of mine, all he sells is stuff I came up with and made 10 years ago. I guided him along on the endcaps and his new head phones. I sold hundreds of endcaps (lathed myself), head phones, and the PP mode kits, (should have patented the whole lot) The PP kits I've tried to talk him into making but he had not taken on that yet. I stopped in 2016 since I enjoyed Treasure hunting more. And your right, how he gets anything done where he is at, has to be tuff. 

Few shots from the past.. 

2 hours ago, gopher said:

In 2023 I found a possible 10kt gold chain 2.75 grams and a for sure 18kt gold ring 4.72g

I bought a display case for my rings and I just have the gold ring sitting in there in my living room

Should I have it squirreled away in a safe somewhere or something? Instead of just having it sit in my living room

I'm not sure

 

 A few pieces setting out is fine if you trust everyone that comes into your home. Once it starts adding up you may want to have a safe to put it in or some where no one will look like this.. 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxsmoiLrkIu/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng%3D%3D

I have a few gold rings I keep out, some at the bank and some in the floor safe. I like the idea above, a secret drawer which I may do when I finish my kitchen to put my guns and ammo in..

Looks like you have been having Fun! Love the treasures!

You did Great! A real beauty!

Hunting in the rocks is a nightmare. I have seen a few NE hunters use shovel's.

Hard to tell going from a picture. Best take to the jewler. Not being marked is not a good sign but in today's world.. anything seems to go.

On 11/10/2023 at 1:06 PM, Steve Herschbach said:

So what sells metal detectors these days? A lot of the market now is driven by “influencers” on YouTube and other social media.

 I remember when the Nox line was to come out and it was only shown at the big Minelab rallies. They were allowing different hunters try it out, and as one hunter was holding it another took a gold ring and swiped it past the coil at a good distants, maybe 2 feet? WOW..it hit it..I was in shock!.... I'm thinking, there goes all the spots I hunt and maybe I should get one ASAP? Luckily, I set back and watched but never took the chance. How that machine hit that ring with a air swing, at that distances, I have no clue but I was ready to get one from that youtube video.

I did fall for the AQ thru the video's Alexandre posted on youtube, almost felt like I connected with the machine by the way the audio sounded?... it did work out for me, even got a second one and very happy with them. Now the other 98 AQ owners? 🙄 

SS? Hone marks are not a good sign of it being gold, which means more than likely the stones are glass. I could be wrong, Nice looking ring thought.

Beautiful! And don't let it rest.

I had a area like that I got close to 100 plus gold rings from in 9 months, half way thru that 8th month a storm messed up all. If I go there now it is impossible to find anything. Covered and moved, doubt I will ever see that there in my lifetime, again.

On 11/1/2023 at 8:12 PM, Dan(NM) said:

I was strictly a dirt guy until I started pulling gold and silver jewelry from around the watering holes, I'm hooked lol.   I used to only chase copper and silver coins, now........... I'm digging every piece of junk known to mankind 🙂

NOW I'm digging every piece of junk known to mankind .........That is Funny!!

Same happened to me as far as water n dirt..hunted the land for a year, got a excalibur ..took me 3 month to find gold but after that I wanted nothing to do with hunting the dirt.

Wow! That's some nice treasures! 

Me at 71 and having to walk a good distance with all my gear in a drysuit, I made a cart out of kayak cart with balloon wheels. What would be great if you could mount the electric air system on this with a couple batteries as backups. Seems like a lot extra but for me I'm beat by the time I come out of the water and carrying 20 pounds of weight, a excalibur, scoop, and sifter, than walking a mile back to my car wearing the drysuit.....the cart is the best thing I have used to make my hunting trips easier.

I got this idea from Carter Pennington (Detector comparison) who dives and carries all of his equipment to the beach using a beach cart..., he was kind enough to share this information.

That's a Nice Gold!! Looks like it may have some age on it by the design...👍

That's a NIce save! You have really Bloomed with the D2!! 

I almost went out today, tides were low..but the winds were brutal!

That's a Great return hunt! Good Luck on your next return and stay warm! Keep us informed on the history of the lost class ring, always enjoy hearing how it was lost and when.

And love hunting in calm waters, less noise from the detector and the place comes alive with faints.

Some fine looking treasures Clive!  Tell us how you got started ...