Garrett Sea Hunter Coil protection

[urge]

Hi Guys

I am looking to proteced the underside of my NEW Garret Sea Hunter coils.

Garrett dont make a coil cover, I am guessing its better with out it seeing as its a sea/beach detector.

Never the less, the beach I detect on can in areas be quite stoney, the coil gets a right bashing.

I was thinking on the lines of an epoxy, BUT the epoxy dont have a grate shelf life once opened (not mixed) to buy in a small quantity is expensive,

the Sea Hunter coils are only £69 here in the UK so to spend £15 £20 pound on merine epoxy a few times a year does not make good sence.


DOES any one have any surgestions??????

[IBGold]

If you are into DIY buy yourself some ABS from your local plastic supplier then cut a former from 3/4" MDF or chip board this will be the same size as your coil and radius the bottom the same as your coil this is your inner former then you need an outer former if you are very carefull you can use what you cut the inner form from I use a band saw and Plastibond up the access saw cut up if not you can cut the outer with a jig saw the size is your inner +the thickness of your ABS + a small clearance all round I use .5mm clearance then route a small radius on the top inner of this former around 1/4" you now have your formers cut a piece of ABS about 1 1/4" bigger all round than your inner former lay it evenly on your outer former and either put it in the oven and heat it up to around 200 degrees then remove from the oven a quickly push your inner form into the outer until it is fully in you have now made your cover let it cool then pop it out and trim if you can not use the oven as is my case the wife will not allow it use a heat gun to heat up the 2" edge all round until the edge becomes pliable then form your shell either way you can now make a shell when ever you want one hope it helps .

Regards, Ian.

[6666]

Good info Ian
I went the elcheapo way with my SH
just wrapped black tape around the coils , works fine.

[urge]

Thanks ian

I will definitely try that.
How expensive are the abs sheets

[j71038]

Hi,

I know this is a very dormant topic but try a Frisbee with zip ties. Also I believe an ATX 8 " coil cover fits loosely.

[MartinB]

Hi Urge
I always use Bay Plastics who are up in Newcastle on Tyne., but there are alternative suppliers on that well known market site. If you are using the oven, you will need to clamp the sheet in a frame otherwise the sheet just softens and distorts. I find hot-air guns are less predictable. ABS takes a while to heat up to the right temperature, but cools very quickly. Be prepared for several failures before you get it right. If you have time and space, build yourself a simple vacuum former. Have a look around the internet for ideas. As j71038 says, a frisbee held on with tie wraps is the simplest and cheapest option.

[kac]

I have printed coil covers for my tesoros.
If you have a scanner, put the coil on it along with a nice ruler as reference. Scan the coil and bring the image into some cad software. MOI3d is a good easy program. Trace off the image and give your self just a hair of wiggle room if your printing in abs as it shrinks a little. PLA is more stable.

I have a SeaHunter and have chipped the smaller coil. Not hard to fix but better to avoid the damage. I repaired it by filling with epoxy and sanding it back to shape.