jjbond Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 Hi all... I'm prepping for my yearly trip down to the Australian gold fields and am thinking of taking down some extended carbon fiber shafts with me for my GPX and those of a couple friends....I'm familiar with Doc's shafts (never owned but have seen the video etc)... I'm seeking input on those who have purchased these or others and the best prices you've found..Thanks allJennifer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridge Runner Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 Hi Jennifer This has nothing to do with shafts. I'd like to know if your going to have a SDC 2300 to hunt with too ?Hope you have a great time and finding a lot of gold will make it even better. The Best on Your Trip. Chuck Anders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjbond Posted November 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 Hi Ridge Runner.... yes sir I believe I'll get a chance to at least see how one works.I'll be spending time with my "Aussie Nugget Finding Mentor" Greckie from Golden Triangle Tours, (see my review located on this forum, of my last time with him and the tours he offers in gold rich Bendigo) and he keeps telling me how much he loves the 2300 so I'm looking forward to seeing one in a master's hands. Here's a link to his site: http://www.goldentriangletours.com.auMy review: http://forums.nuggethunting.com/index.php?/topic/10956-review-golden-triangle-tours-bendigo-australiaPS: Anyone wanna meet up in LA and fly over together? I'll be down there for a while so you may fly home alone (other than the pockets full of gold you'll find I mean). I'm hoping to possibly bring Greckie here to do some seminars on some of my claims in the Canadian gold fields..... stay tuned.If anyone is serious about wanting to meet up and go down together..... let me know..... I'm sure Greckie would love to have another foreign accent on board to make fun of..... In all seriousness, it's an experience you'll not soon forget.CheersJennifer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Herschbach Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 Hi Jennifer,I have a few of Doc's shafts, and on every one the plastic pins that hold the coil connector on the end to the shaft itself, the pins want to work out. After the first one I just wrapped them all with electrical tape before using, no issues since. These are several years old, new ones may be improved. Good otherwise and not really complaining, just something to be aware of.For some off reason the aftermarket guys make stuff slightly off of Minelab standard so some coil and rod combinations are too tight, some too sloppy. The end on Docs rod is larger than some and so a snug fit with some coils, too big for others.Have a great trip - hope you score a monster nugget! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjbond Posted November 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 Thanks Steve, always value your opinion... sounds like as long as you're aware of it going in, they're ok... maybe I'll see if the Coiltek ones are still available.Does anyone on the board have any experience with the Coiltek shafts/have a source?CheersJen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shep Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 Check w/ Herb; he's made shafts for a few years. I have factory long shafts on all my coils (for easy switch). I try to follow Doc's 'Detecting naked' but still noisy. Herb was selling upper shafts and I talked him into making me a 36-38?" custom upper shaft. Excellent, Love it! Have had no issues with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjbond Posted November 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 Thanks Shep.Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvchris Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 I thought the Coiltek shafts were (past-tense) made by Doc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjbond Posted November 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 I thought the Coiltek shafts were (past-tense) made by Doc.Not sure..... that's kinda why I'm asking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredm Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 I have coiltec shafts, minelab stock shafts and Doc's...as Steve said the pin wants to back out of Doc's and they are a little large for NF mounts....The minelab shaft is new, the coiltec is pretty old now and Docs were bought when he first made them ...I just use Doc's shafts on any other coil than NF...fred Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank c Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 Also Doc's shafts have a tendency to split from the pin area down the length of the shaft when using large diameter coils.Ive had a few that I had to repair with epoxy to strengthen and use again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Ron Posted November 24, 2014 Report Share Posted November 24, 2014 I got one of Doc's longest shafts, forget the measure, but the longest ...I figured I could put either my CT 6" M Round or my Joey m on it and get way back into the catsclaw without getting snake bit ... Well, it turns out that only the shortest hole will accommodate my ML upper shaft because the coils have limited cable lengths ... I like the idea, but it didn't work out for me very well ... I did get a little extra length but not what I hoped ... The shorter lengths are great, just don't bother with the really long one ... Cheers, Unc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shep Posted November 25, 2014 Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 Ron, kind of was in same situation. As said, have long shafts on all coils and have custom long shaft on upper. Crazy thing found, seems like larger coils have less cable length. I just extend as long as cable allows. Don't know why the discussion on others; Herbs shafts don't fail! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scuba Steve Posted July 14, 2022 Report Share Posted July 14, 2022 IMO, Doc's carbon fiber shaft for the Gold monster 1000 is not worth the $. It weighs 11oz when the original shaft weighs 12.2oz, you can't notice any weight difference. The lower half is not carbon fiber, it's thick walled fiberglass, much heavier than carbon fiber and the plastic ends that fit onto the coil are thick heavy plastic. The original lower shaft is lighter than the upgrade due to the plastic end. Had they used carbon fiber for the lower shaft, it would be lighter and worth the upgrade. There's a reason why they never disclose the weight of the shaft. I feel like I wasted $100. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin nuggethunting Posted August 30, 2022 Admin Report Share Posted August 30, 2022 Hey Steve, Doc's Essential Shaft Kit was designed for the user to have the ability to at least adjust the length. I don't think Doc or anyone has claimed it's lighter, just the fact the upper is Carbon Fiber and the Lowers are Fiberglass. The lowers are the same shafts that Doc's designs for the SD/GP or GPX series. The only other option is the Detect Ed shafts, which are designed for the Minelab Equinox series, but do fit on the GM 1000. I'm trying to get more in, but they are very hard to get right now. They are a bit pricey at $129 - 169 range depending on the color and style. Minelab states their lower shaft is "Collapsible," but it IS NOT. It's really a 3 piece shaft that you have to unscrew, so Doc's Essential Rod Kit that we sell is the next best option. Hope this helps a bit, Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZNuggetBob Posted September 30, 2022 Report Share Posted September 30, 2022 Rob I don't know if you remember this but back around 2008 when I lived on ghost town you stopped by to deliver a new coil on your way out hunting. Do you remember we discussed the carbon fiber coil shafts and upper handles I was building. I was doing alot of experimenting with them and discovered that not all metal detectors work well with carbon fiber lower shafts. Upper shafts are ok but not always lower. as I recall It seems that on some detectors primarily VLF’s it dumbs down the coils. So this may be why Doc is not using carbon fiber on his lower shafts. AzNuggetBob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZNuggetBob Posted October 5, 2022 Report Share Posted October 5, 2022 Rob When I first built the carbon fiber detector handles it wasn't to lighten them up, it had nothing to do with weight. It was to get rid of the upper metal mass (aluminum) in the older Minelab detector handles. I also made them longer to get the coil out further away from my body. I made jokes in the past about carrying to much metal on my body while nugget hunting, you know guns, knives, big belt buckels, to many gold fillings etc. 🤣 AzNuggetBob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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