DIY Control Box Cover

[ColonelDan]

I’ve been looking for ways to somewhat protect the control box from the elements and found what I believe to be a workable solution. I previously ordered some 3x5 ziplock bags off eBay which are 8 mils thick and fit the control box perfectly, I’ve simply cut out a piece of the back to conform to and shaped exactly like the area of the control box that fits onto the shaft. I then simply attached the box to the shaft with the bag over it and its protected even better than the silicon covers you see for sale at pretty high prices. I can even ziplock the bottom of the bag for greater protection. Granted, its not waterproof but neither is the silicon cover.

 

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[mtsheron]

Let me ask this Dan............if you had slipped on the control unit in the bag without cutting out the area that fits onto the shaft would it work and even be a little more air tight and protected? Is there enough play left in the bag to do this?

 

[ColonelDan]

Let me ask this Dan............if you had slipped on the control unit in the bag without cutting out the area that fits onto the shaft would it work and even be a little more air tight and protected? Is there enough play left in the bag to do this?

I don't believe so since the bag I used is 8 mils thick which prevents the attachment. Now if you would use a thinner bag, it might work but the normal fit of those two pieces without anything over them is really tight. Even if a thinner bag like a 2 mil thick sandwich bag would fit I think it would be prone to tearing. I used the 8 mil thickness to prevent tearing.

 

[Cross Potent]

great idea. i just ordered a bag of 25 of these on ebay for $4.85 shipped.

 

[ColonelDan]

I do 99.99% of my hunting in Florida and on the beaches. If on the beach and even if you never go INTO the water, you still have to contend with sand and salt spray getting on your equipment. When on land, we're subject to rapid showers that come up especially during the rainy season. This system protects the control box against all that. As I said, it's not waterPROOF because of the cut out in the back but I noticed the silicon cover is notched in the back even more so than the bag above and can't be closed off at the bottom like this simple solution can.

I also tried just making a slit in the back rather than cut a notch but that didn't work out as well....the sides of the slit interfered with the fit between the shaft and the control box.

If anyone has an idea for a modification to this, I'd really like to hear it.

 

[mtsheron]

Thanks for sharing this Dan. I need to get some for when I go to the beach this January to do some off season hunting!

 

[Cross Potent]

Got mine on just now. The remote is almost too big to get through the opening of the bags I got but once in it fits pretty well. Works great! Easy to press the buttons and SIMPLE. Thanks again.

 

[Ism]

Dan, I do the same thing but with 3x5 heatshrink PVC bags.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/deus/388726-screen-protector.html

 

[ColonelDan]

Ism, that too sounds like a very good idea!!!

 

[tnduke]

Dan, Thanks for the tip. Much appreciated.
Duke

 

[ColonelDan]

Got mine on just now. The remote is almost too big to get through the opening of the bags I got but once in it fits pretty well. Works great! Easy to press the buttons and SIMPLE. Thanks again.

A tight initial fit getting it in was my experience also but I really like the fact that those bags seem tailor made for the Deus control box and you have little or no excess plastic bag hanging off the whole thing. Compared to the silicon covers, you have better protection in my opinion at a fraction of the cost.

 

[Cross Potent]

A tight initial fit getting it in was my experience also but I really like the fact that those bags seem tailor made for the Deus control box and you have little or no excess plastic bag hanging off the whole thing. Compared to the silicon covers, you have better protection in my opinion at a fraction of the cost.

I used it for a few hours in the field this week and it really works great. Super easy fix and cheap. Thanks!

Unreal that I keep using this machine instead of the CTX. Never expected that!

 

[Bart@Big Boys Hobbies]

Nice improvisation! Looks good!

 

[Carolina Tom]

If you happen to have a Foodsaver (vacuum sealer), then you can make your own bags... to exact size no less. GL&HH.

 

[ColonelDan]

If you happen to have a Foodsaver (vacuum sealer), then you can make your own bags... to exact size no less. GL&HH.

Yet another good idea! Thanks.

 

[gene the machine]

great idea. thanks just ordered them off of eBay too. tried the custom sized vacuum bags but i don't like the texture of them and they aren't as clear.