Golden Mask Telescoping Shaft Rebuild

[Steve Herschbach]

The first aftermarket shaft I got for my Equinox was a Golden mask telescoping shaft. The early version took a lot of crude adapting to make work. Later versions had custom adapters made for a more finished product. I also ended up getting a TeleNox telescoping rod.

https://www.detectorprospector.com/forums/topic/6247-equinox-golden-mask-shaft-conversion/

https://www.detectorprospector.com/forums/topic/8628-new-minelab-micronox/

https://www.detectorprospector.com/forums/topic/10299-tele-nox-rods/

https://www.detectorprospector.com/forums/topic/10716-aftermarket-shafts-for-in-water-use/

Between the two they are both fine but I like the Golden Mask version a little more. A bit stouter, no flex, and less levers and other moving parts. The plus for the Telenox is it is directly compatible with the Equinox rod size and therefore the pod/handle swaps over with no fuss. The Golden Mask requires the adapter and its own armrest due to the larger rod diameter. The Telenox starts with the smaller rod and so the last section is thinner than with the Golden Mask, which starts with a larger diameter rod (a need for adapter) but then ends with a larger diameter rod section also.

There was a final Golden Mask kit you could buy that had everything you need, but now it seems to be no longer available. EDIT 8/14/22 - A new version of the Golden Mask rod appears to be available now, bolt on ready, no fuss, and a great price here! Here is the alternate non-folding version

So what did I do a while back? I know much better than to ever leave my detector leaning on the rear end of my truck. But I did it anyway and backed over the detector. Right over the pod. Crushed the handle completely! A testament to the Equinox is after I pried the pod out of the ground it still worked. I had to clamp and glue the lower part of the face back to the housing later but it is still working fine. But the rod was a total loss. All I scavenged was the adapter parts and the armrest.

With no more Golden Mast complete assembly available, after lots of Googling I found what looked like a possible replacement rod and took a gamble and ordered it. If nothing else I figured I would end up with a new walking stick. $46 delivered from Amazon.

 

I got lucky - seems to be the same rod, except if anything of higher quality. I peeled off the foam hand grip and removed the last rod section, which is too small and makes it too long anyway. I am lucky in that I have a lot of Equinox lower rods sitting around, because I had to cut and grind the part needed to bolt this rod to a coil from a spare lower rod. That could be a tad expensive otherwise. I glued it into the lower rod opening, drilled the new armrest holes and bolted it on, and used the adapter to add the Equinox pod/handle. Finished item is probably a little nicer than what I ran over, same exact length, etc. That worked out quite well and at $46 a lot cheaper than if I had been able to find a new Golden mask assembly. But like I said, I had all the other parts required. If you get this rod, the Equinox handle and armrest will not adapter directly to it without additional adapters.

Bonus is I have a nice case for the rod when not in use, and an adapter sticking out of the end that I am going to use to create a removable coil counterweight. Not needed at all for the 6" coil, but nice for the larger coils.

Custom carbon fiber telescoping rod for Minelab Equinox

2 lbs 10 oz x 20” long

Custom carbon fiber telescoping rod for Minelab Equinox

[relicmeister]

That’s a novel approach you took, Steve, and it came out fantastic.  What a bummer to run over your machine, but it took a flinging and still kept swinging!!!  Impressive.  
    I like the telescoping shaft but went with a folding arrangement early on. It has its benefits as well as its drawbacks. I recently upgraded the shaft sections with Steve’s carbon fiber. I screwed a lead weight ( a colonial relic) on The threaded end cap which helps when I’m using the 11” coil, but remove when I’m using the 6”. 
 

     Good luck with the new shaft 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Tom Slick]

That's a really clean, collapsible shaft! Nicely done!

[Joe D.]

 Hey Steve,

     I am just about finished with making my own counterweight!  It's an old brass hose nozzle i dug up last year!  With a solid steel drawer pull, and steel insert! Weights in right at 13oz.!  And moved the center of gravity back about 6 inches on the Nox! Feel's great! All i have left to do is wrap it with grip tape or paracord! 👍👍

Update: Done!👍👍

[2Valen]

Steve I love what you did with that, and I think I want one. So now I have a project to do.

Thanks for sharing with us and hope I can do it right.

[mn90403]

On 6/20/2020 at 10:16 AM, Steve Herschbach said:

So what did I do a while back? I know much better than to ever leave my detector leaning on the rear end of my truck. But I did it anyway and backed over the detector. Right over the pod. Crushed the handle completely!

Steve,

You are not alone in the 'backing over'  your metal detector category.  On one of my few nugget hunts earlier this year I forgot the 7000 was leaned up against my 4-Runner.  I was with a friend and he stopped me carrying my broken detector!  I had heard something but ... 

I was lucky, extremely lucky ... I broke the bottom lower shaft which is plastic.  Nothing else was damaged and I changed it with an extra I had and kept right on detecting for the trip.

Mitchel

[Gold Hound]

Hi Steve, guys.

Nice work on adapting the mono pod Steve!

I've been wanting to up grade the shaft to make my equinox more compact for hiking, car storage and travel. I only use mine for gold or treasure, no beach work for me so the colapsable telescope design is perfect. After looking around I ordered this Shaft:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Lightweight-Telescopic-Carbon-Fibre-Shaft-for-Minelab-Equinox-600-800-MD/353092024374?hash=item5235ecb836:g:RCwAAOSwztde0qvA

It looks ok to me, I'll report back on what its like.

And I figure if it is flimsy or I break it I will use the parts and adapt the same mono pod as you Steve.

[relicmeister]

This looks like a good one, Gold Hound. Be sure to post your impressions of it when it’s done and tried out

[Steve Herschbach]

Good find Goldhound. Looks similar to Golden Mask, and most importantly, has the needed rod adapter pieces. Would be interested in hearing a report back on this one for sure as it looks pretty good. 👍🏼

[Pealer]

Hi Steve,

First, thank you for showing this conversion and, of course, for having such a great website!

In the configuration you are showing in your pics, you have the coil mounted against the blue knurl nut.  I tried doing it this way but got the surprise of having the coil constantly detecting the nut assembly every time the coil was bumped slightly.  I'm thinking to remove the nut assembly and mount directly to the remaining carbon shaft ( I have a now modified coil mount from a spare minelab lower shaft).  This will leave just over twelve inches length, when fully extended, before the next knurl nut assembly.  Do you think that will be far enough away from the coil to prevent unwanted detection of the nut while swinging and bumping the coil around?