First Prototype Axiom Cover- What Do You Think?

[Doc]

On 6/11/2023 at 2:20 PM, Gold Seeker said:

Here's a way to get the cover and make it your color.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Jacquard-Textile-Color-2-25-oz-Orange-Fabric-Dye/39107912?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=101193387&adid=22222222222000000000&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=o&wl2=c&wl3=10352200394&wl4=pla-1103028060075&wl5=&wl6=&wl7=&wl10=Walmart&wl11=Online&wl12=39107912_10001212748&wl14=blaze orange fabric dye&veh=sem&gclid=986cf590236d19de022091161a31f5bf&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=986cf590236d19de022091161a31f5bf

WOW that's interesting.  Thank you for sharing that.

Doc

[Doc]

On 6/11/2023 at 1:30 PM, Chase Goldman said:

 Frankly, if you made the cover blaze orange that would almost be functionally more useful to me than camo as my relic detecting activities sometimes overlap with local hunting seasons and I have to take precautions.

Agreed.  Not a hell of a lot of difference.  Just a personal preference as I am just a drab solids guy.  I don't try to make some kind of style statement with my gear, so  I avoid camo because it serves no useful functional purpose while detecting and can give some property owners the wrong impression that I'm into stealth detecting or nighthawking.  I'm will don blaze orange if needed for safety.   

I'm not a prospector, but I do relic detect often in wooded areas and sometimes hunker down and dig pits where CW encampments existed.  This is often a drawn out process and sometimes requires that I trek back forth to my vehicle for one thing or another.  So I leave the detector where it is if I plan on returning rather than lugging it back and forth.  Camo doesn't help in that regard, but I can easily deal with it, if needed, as you so thoughtfully pointed out.

For what its worth, I've purchased a number of Docs GPX accessories over the years including two Screamer modules, and various swing assist products for relic detecting not prospecting.  Love them functionally  and also loved their understated looks.

Glad the digital camo has juiced sales for you, Doc.  Just not my cup of tea.  I understand you have to pick one design and go with it in this situation.  Therefore, there's no way you can please all the people all the time.  So I'll probably be missing out on the fun this time around.  My loss.

Happy Hunting and good luck on the new product launches. ? 

I'm not a big fan of traditional CAMO, but the digital CAMO I think is understated..  I selected it because in the gold bearing desert areas in the U.S. as well as the Outback you have some green vegetation, a lot of browns, beige and rusty color soil.  It has been very popular in the Gold Monster cover.  We have it in the drab solid green and the Digital camo and the Cam outsells the drab green about 20 to 1.

We can't do just one offs because our production runs are usually 1200 to 1500 of one style of cover.

Chase I might have missed this but what detector are you using?

Doc

[Chase Goldman]

9 hours ago, Doc said:

I'm not a big fan of traditional CAMO, but the digital CAMO I think is understated..  I selected it because in the gold bearing desert areas in the U.S. as well as the Outback you have some green vegetation, a lot of browns, beige and rusty color soil.  It has been very popular in the Gold Monster cover.  We have it in the drab solid green and the Digital camo and the Cam outsells the drab green about 20 to 1.

We can't do just one offs because our production runs are usually 1200 to 1500 of one style of cover.

Chase I might have missed this but what detector are you using?

Doc

Doc - I totally get that you can’t do one offs and I understand how the Digital Camo can work in the desert. I probably just need to see it first hand rather than deciding purely based on the prototype pic.  Really like the design of the control head cover and shade and the base pad. I have the Axiom and it took a cosmetic beating in some rough terrain and red clay mud and in the back of the truck bed with my other buddies’ gear, so the cover set makes sense to me functionally to protect my investment. There’s always fabric paint as an after sale option too.  Like I said, it’s not about style, I just generally avoid camo for practical reasons and stick to drab solids (gray, coyote, green, or black) or blaze orange outerwear if needed for safety.

Will be looking for the release announcement once you get inventory and will decide.

Thanks

[Doc]

2 hours ago, Chase Goldman said:

Doc - I totally get that you can’t do one offs and I understand how the Digital Camo can work in the desert. I probably just need to see it first hand rather than deciding purely based on the prototype pic.  Really like the design of the control head cover and shade and the base pad. I have the Axiom and it took a cosmetic beating in some rough terrain and red clay mud and in the back of the truck bed with my other buddies’ gear, so the cover set makes sense to me functionally to protect my investment. There’s always fabric paint as an after sale option too.  Like I said, it’s not about style, I just generally avoid camo for practical reasons and stick to drab solids (gray, coyote, green, or black) or blaze orange outerwear if needed for safety.

Will be looking for the release announcement once you get inventory and will decide.

Thanks

Let me caution against black on a metal detector.  It's an absolute no no.  Black absorbs heat and can cause a screen blackout, so try to stay away from black.

Doc

[Chase Goldman]

Thanks for the reminder.  I was primarily talking apparel, pouch, pack, and outerwear color preferences.  As an electrical engineer and veteran working on military electronics systems designs for 40 years, I understand heat issues, especially as they relate to the detector electronics and the havoc that can be caused by dark colored control head covers in direct sunlight.  But you wouldn't necessarily know that based on the proliferation of third party black head covers being offered out there for Nox, etc.

[Doc]

On 6/14/2023 at 11:55 AM, Chase Goldman said:

Thanks for the reminder.  I was primarily talking apparel, pouch, pack, and outerwear color preferences.  As an electrical engineer and veteran working on military electronics systems designs for 40 years, I understand heat issues, especially as they relate to the detector electronics and the havoc that can be caused by dark colored control head covers in direct sunlight.  But you wouldn't necessarily know that based on the proliferation of third party black head covers being offered out there for Nox, etc.

This is also why all the covers I make have a very thin neoprene lining backing the material.  It helps insulate the machine from heat.  Very much like middle eastern countries where they wrap themselves head to toe in lightweight light colored garments to insulate themselves from the sun.

Additionally Minelab has told me they have already put the "NOT HAPPY" on several after market cover designs for the Xterra Pro, The Nox 900 and the Manticore, because they are not allowing an opening for the speaker.  This causes two problems.  It muffles the sound from the speaker as well as the fact that it traps heat inside the cover and makes over-heating worse.

All of my covers are designed in consultation and advice from Minelab to make sure I am designing something that enhances the protection of the machine instead of being detrimental.

Attached are a couple pictures of how we design the back of the Manticore and the Equinox 900 detector covers to make sure we get unimpeded sound and proper heat dissipation.

I also design the cover with a small elastic piece over the charging port.  This protects the gold plated contact charging points, while that elastic allows you to easily insert the charging cable and keep it in place.

Doc

[Bohemia Miner]

Doc, I don't suppose you'll be making any for the Garrett Goldmaster 24K.

I'd be interested in this.  Let us know when they're available!

Thanks!

Walt