Rain proofing minelab?

[Wilderness medic]

Should have realized it’s winter and gotten the next step up for a waterproof machine.

Can I wrap my 705 in bags and tape and detect in the rain or is it too risky?

If I can what need some to be covered- coil-display-wire-or just display?

 

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[Rookster]

Try a quart zip lock bag.

 

[Wilderness medic]

Try a quart zip lock bag.

Is it safe? What all needs to be bagged?

 

[RustyGold]

Probably only the display needs to be bagged. I believe the coil is waterproof as is the rest of the detector. Do more research like calling one of our sponsors to ask that question. Good luck!

 

[against the wind]

The right way to water proof a minelab is to buy an Excalibur or CTX 3030.
I got caught in the rain with my Etrac and found out that it really doesn't like water.

 

[cudamark]

They make rain hood kits for those machines. Just look on Ebay. The coils should be waterproof.

 

[Rookster]

Try a quart zip lock bag.

Just slip it over the control unit. Heck, if its pouring down rain I'm not hunting anyway.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

I have a control cover for my Minelab 705 for general detecting. If its raining out or I get caught in it; I place those quart zip lock bags, as rook3434 said over the control box and secure with a twist-tie. IMHO: If you hunt by tone and use the "DD wiggle method" to pin point, as I do, you need not have to worry about reading the screen or pressing buttons.

 

[phrunt]

Keep in mind a lot of X-terra coils are only water resistant, not waterproof, rain will be OK obviously but don't go dunking them in the water until you know if it's a waterproof coil

X-TERRA 10.5-inch Double-D - 7.5 kHz

This medium frequency (7.5 kHz) lightweight water resistant Double-D coil has excellent ground coverage and good depth on most targets. Being a Double-D makes it ideal in areas high in ground mineralisation.

Compatible with X-TERRA: 705, 705 Gold Pack, 505, 305, 70, 50. 30

Part No. 3011-0102

X-TERRA 10.5-inch Double-D - 18.75 kHz

This high frequency (18.75 kHz) lightweight water resistant Double-D coil is more sensitive to small gold nuggets and fine jewellery and has excellent ground coverage. Being a Double-D makes it ideal in areas high in ground mineralisation.

Compatible with X-TERRA: 705, 705 Gold Pack, 505, 305, 70, 50

Part No. 3011-0103

X-TERRA 10 x 5-inch Double-D Coil - 18.75 kHz

The standard X-TERRA 705 Gold Pack coil is high frequency (18.75 kHz) lightweight water resistant Double-D coil. It is very sensitive to small gold nuggets and fine jewellery and has excellent ground coverage. Being a Double-D makes it ideal in areas high in ground mineralisation.

Compatible with X-TERRA: 705, 705 Gold Pack, 505, 305, 70, 50

Part No. 3011-0101

 

[marjam]

Sandwich bags work great as long as you don't poke a hole in it accidentally. I used to slip one over my control box and hunt before i got my rain guard for mine. Never had an issue, but i hunt mostly in open areas where a stick/twig won't have a chance to snag on the bag.

 

[vferrari]

The right way to water proof a minelab is to buy an Excalibur or CTX 3030.
I got caught in the rain with my Etrac and found out that it really doesn't like water.

Or Equinox...

 

[A2coins]

yep

 

[lairmo]

I made one for my 705 out of one of these and some silicone...it worked ok. You just ground balanced and set it up/turned it on then shut the lid. (I never used the pinpointer button or looked at the display that much) I would show it to you but it melted in a house fire.

 

[against the wind]

Sandwich bags work great as long as you don't poke a hole in it accidentally. I used to slip one over my control box and hunt before i got my rain guard for mine. Never had an issue, but i hunt mostly in open areas where a stick/twig won't have a chance to snag on the bag.

Sandwich bags are made for sandwiches.

 

[marjam]

Sandwich bags are made for sandwiches.

you have to have a creative mind when you want to detect and don't have anything to keep the water out. And it works. Some fit like a glove. A sandwich bag fits over a whites dfx control box perfectly.

My etrac has the rain guard and the camo cover for the grip. I don't have to use the baggies anymore, but my father in law still has the dfx and uses sandwich bags when it is wet outside. He has never had any issues. Again, field hunting is what we do the most. The woods, i wouldn't recommend.

 

[haxor]

Billy Mays would suggest flex-seal

 

[Sandscoopdan]

You know, reading this thread I have been getting an idea. I use a CTX 3030 now but in the past I used a whites PI Dual Field and I always loved the box and thick oring that sealed perfect every time. I never had to worry if I got it sealed up. Never got a drop of water in the housing. I am thinking since I am never absolutely sure I got the battery pack on the CTX seated just right so I put 3 ziploc bags around the battery pack and over the housing of the CTX and then use electrical tape. Now I am thinking that there must be someone out there that can create a mold to fit the entire battery housing that I can snap into place with an oring so it will enclose the entire back of the CTX- something with the same style as the whites pi df housing or like the waterproof boxes that the GoPro goes in. I will talk to my wife and brother in law, they own a thermoplastic fabrication company so I bet they can mold something. I am thinking maybe a ring type snap where it grabs the back part of the CTX. I will have to run this idea by some other people and see. Well, once I get the equinox 800 and the excal it will get a little easier

 

[vferrari]

You know, reading this thread I have been getting an idea. I use a CTX 3030 now but in the past I used a whites PI Dual Field and I always loved the box and thick oring that sealed perfect every time. I never had to worry if I got it sealed up. Never got a drop of water in the housing. I am thinking since I am never absolutely sure I got the battery pack on the CTX seated just right so I put 3 ziploc bags around the battery pack and over the housing of the CTX and then use electrical tape. Now I am thinking that there must be someone out there that can create a mold to fit the entire battery housing that I can snap into place with an oring so it will enclose the entire back of the CTX- something with the same style as the whites pi df housing or like the waterproof boxes that the GoPro goes in. I will talk to my wife and brother in law, they own a thermoplastic fabrication company so I bet they can mold something. I am thinking maybe a ring type snap where it grabs the back part of the CTX. I will have to run this idea by some other people and see. Well, once I get the equinox 800 and the excal it will get a little easier

It's too bad that ML made the flawed design decision to require removal of the battery on the CTX for charging such that you have to constantly make and break the waterproof seal subjecting it to wear and tear or the possibility of improper seating. Either Equinox or Excal are good compliments for water hunting. IMO, though, unless you plan on doing any diving/snorkeling type detecting beyond 3M, the Excal is redundant to the Equinox. Otherwise, yeah, that makes sense.

 

[sprailroad]

Also don't forget about your headphones IF you want to detect in the rain with your X-Terra. Your head gets wet too.