Minelab GPX 4500 Is Back?

[TheDeepseeker]

4 hours ago, phrunt said:

I'd personally rather it be cheaper with no coils included as most won't want those three Commander coils anyway.

Even better, the choice of buying just the control box on its own. The only Minelab part left on my 5000 other than the control box is the handle, and that's only because when it broke on me I needed a replacement in a hurry and I didn't have time to wait for a hardwood after-market one. 

I'm sure it's all fine chasing shallow stuff, but once you start looking in the deep areas with a 25"DD or bigger, everything else on the unit just disintegrates. I used to rail against Minelab for the poor quality of the shaft,camlock, etc., etc., after replacing it all multiple times, but I'm resigned to the fact now that the original 4500's & 5000 were designed around a 12" coil. Pity you can't buy Sandy Shafts anymore.

[phrunt]

1 hour ago, TheDeepseeker said:

Even better, the choice of buying just the control box on its own. The only Minelab part left on my 5000 other than the control box is the handle, and that's only because when it broke on me I needed a replacement in a hurry and I didn't have time to wait for a hardwood after-market one. 

Yep, I've broken 2 handles now, one on my 4500 and now my 5000's one broke, they seem incredibly weak, I've hardly used my 5000 and still broke the handle.  It snapped right down the middle, you can see the line where the glue went into the crack, I've just filled the whole thing trying to toughen it up.

I put a heap of glue on it last night hoping to get it so I can use it until the new handle arrives, I ended up buying an aftermarket one from China, can't be any worse than the original and a fraction of the price.  The originals are made in China anyway.

I've love one of those wooden ones, I should look into that.

[Aureous]

2 hours ago, phrunt said:

I've love one of those wooden ones, I should look into that.

'Solid Swinger' handles, made in Tasmania. Best thing I bought for my modded 4500. 

[phrunt]

16 minutes ago, Aureous said:

'Solid Swinger' handles, made in Tasmania. Best thing I bought for my modded 4500. 

Thanks, around half the price of a genuine plastic one too.

[Alexnov]

11 hours ago, TheDeepseeker said:

Еще лучше, если вы решите купить только блок управления отдельно. Единственная деталь Minelab, оставшаяся на моем 5000-м, кроме блока управления, - это ручка, и это только потому, что, когда она у меня сломалась, мне срочно понадобилась замена, и у меня не было времени ждать, пока она поступит в продажу из твердых пород дерева.

Я уверен, что все это прекрасно для поиска мелких деталей, но как только вы начинаете искать в глубоких областях с разрешением 25 дюймов или больше, все остальное на устройстве просто рассыпается. Раньше я ругал Minelab за низкое качество вала, замка и т. д. и т. п., после того как несколько раз его менял, но теперь я смирился с тем фактом, что оригинальные модели 4500 и 5000 были разработаны под катушку диаметром 12 дюймов. Жаль, что больше нельзя купить вал Sandy.

the strongest rod is the native minelab ,...all homemade products cannot withstand the onslaught of large coils.

[TheDeepseeker]

13 hours ago, Alexnov said:

the strongest rod is the native minelab ,...all homemade products cannot withstand the onslaught of large coils.

Eau contraire, the minelab shaft once you go beyond minelabs largest coil that it is made for (which was the 18" Commander DD) is useless on a heavy coil. Flipperty Flop all over the place until either the shaft splits, the bolt lug in the end falls out, or the shaft cam lock in the center breaks because it can't stop the shaft from twisting while the big heavy coil flipperty flops.

I replaced the lower shaft and the camlock a number of times to no avail. I bought a coiltek after market lower shaft and it split down the full length after a couple of outings. Then I bought a Sandy Shafts upper and lower and I never looked back. Compression screw fitting in the middle, solid as a rock but also light.

Unfortunately the guy who made them went out of business. Apparently part of the manufacturing was done in New Zealand and part in Australia. They weren't cheap, but then nothing worthwhile is. I don't blame Minelab like I once did. If you want to put a chevy V8 in your Hyundai Excel you don't complain when your gearbox blows up or your brakes don't work.

[GotAU?]

Does anyone use a chest mount or camera-type strap for the control box, while using the coil, especially if it’s a small one like a Sadie, on a rod separately?