DIG5050 Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 Bob, I read your interview “Bob Stickler-the detectorist”, and chuckled to myself regarding your first detector, the BFO project described in a Radio Electronics Magazine. I read the same story in that magazine many years ago, and had to build one. My coil was wound on a plywood blank with hole saw cutouts to reduce its weight. My dad affixed a broom handle as the shaft. Its performance was meager, but it did work if the metal object was large enough.. The industry has come a long way since. I enjoy using my Apex with the 5x8 coil, too. It’s super light, and I do well with it. It’s been a good detector for me and my 70 yr. old arm for the last 3 years. You're a real treasure to the detecting community for all your contributions over the years. Keep swinging, Bob. 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Sickler Posted April 12 Author Share Posted April 12 1 minute ago, DIG5050 said: Bob, I read your interview “Bob Stickler-the detectorist”, and chuckled to myself regarding your first detector, the BFO project described in a Radio Electronics Magazine. I read the same story in that magazine many years ago, and had to build one. My coil was wound on a plywood blank with hole saw cutouts to reduce its weight. My dad affixed a broom handle as the shaft. Its performance was meager, but it did work if the metal object was large enough.. The industry has come a long way since. I enjoy using my Apex with the 5x8 coil, too. It’s super light, and I do well with it. It’s been a good detector for me and my 70 yr. old arm for the last 3 years. You're a real treasure to the detecting community for all your contributions over the years. Keep swinging, Bob. 🙂 Thank you for the nice compliment! We are around the same age, I turn 72 in June, so we definitely have the same experiences. My BFO coil was soft copper tubing wrapped around a 10" garbage pail with only the outside edge sawed through with a hacksaw, just enough to pass magnet wire through after deburring. I used thin plywood to attach and secure the final potted assembly. I bought my electronic parts at Lafayette Radio and breadboarded them. I dug up "tons" of huge iron around an old barn foundation behind my grandfather's property... I was hooked! Later on I bought my first commercially made detector, a 1977-78 Garrett Deepseeker and really got things going! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Sickler Posted April 13 Author Share Posted April 13 Thank you everyone, I feel very welcomed here. I apologize for the thread going off topic and pointing to me, I tend be a "little" verbose answering questions and commenting if you haven't noticed 🙂... But that's the writer in me I guess. I hope I can live up to all your high praise. To be honest, I just want to be among friends, make new ones, and relive some good times I've had in a hobby I love and helping anyone when I am able. I'm sure all of you out there are very knowledgeable and talented in your own right. I will be away for a couple of days and I didn't want anyone to think I am ignoring your post. I look forward to participating in this forum. What a great bunch of people and a nice to place to be. Thank you again.....Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rvpopeye Posted April 13 Share Posted April 13 It's great to have you on the crew Bob . Your experiences cover a lot of ground , literally as well as figuratively ! The stories so far were also impressive . 👍 We have a lot in common besides detecting and prospecting . We'll have to start a chit chat thread in meet and greet or a PM and talk other gear addictions . My 2nd axe was a Mosrite bass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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