BigBeefy
Full Member
- Jan 19, 2010
- 100
- 22
- Detector(s) used
- Whites DFX, Fisher F2
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
After looking for hours trying to find someone who has converted a DFX from a land machine to a water machine, I concluded that no one has done it. Probably smart due to the cost of one of these things.
However, I cannot afford a water machine right now. So, I made my own amphibious DFX.
I started with my hip mount kit from Whites. ($54)
I found and purchased an old military surplus an/paq-4c weatherproof box. Perfect fit. ($15)
I removed the seal, added a bead of polyurethane weather sealant and reinstalled the stock seal. Submerged the box and it is now waterproof. At least to 3 feet. I don’t think I will be doing any diving with this set up. This set up is pretty heavy. Although with all the parts inside the box, it does float. It takes about 11lbs to sink the box. Neutral buoyancy it is not.
After obtaining the box I purchased one medium Blue Sea CableClam to run the headphone cable and coil cable thru the box. ($21)
To get the unit off of the handle, I simply removed the handle and unit from the shaft. I opened the DFX up, removed the speakers wires and loosened the ribbon wire connection. I put the cableclams between the hinges of the box. This way the cableclam is flush with the hinges and doesn't really get in the way.
I removed the screw that holds the control panel to the handle. Now, all I had to do was remove all the silicone from the handle and slowly pull the ribbon through the handle. Once that was done, I put the ribbon back into the connector, reattached the speaker leads and closed the box.
Now that it is all put together, I have both a strap to wear across my shoulder for when I am in deeper water and I also have straps to hold the box to the handle. It is a little heavy at times, but when I am in the water, I can let it float and let my arm relax.
For water hunting I don't care about the display. I dig it all anyway. I am usually on beach/jewelry or all metal mode.
For less than $100 I now have an amphibious DFX. I go the beach just a couple times per year and to the lakes about a dozen times a year, so this set up will do fine for how little I hunt in the water. If I hunt more and this begins to be a bother, I will look into a permanent water machine.
However, I cannot afford a water machine right now. So, I made my own amphibious DFX.
I started with my hip mount kit from Whites. ($54)
I found and purchased an old military surplus an/paq-4c weatherproof box. Perfect fit. ($15)
I removed the seal, added a bead of polyurethane weather sealant and reinstalled the stock seal. Submerged the box and it is now waterproof. At least to 3 feet. I don’t think I will be doing any diving with this set up. This set up is pretty heavy. Although with all the parts inside the box, it does float. It takes about 11lbs to sink the box. Neutral buoyancy it is not.
After obtaining the box I purchased one medium Blue Sea CableClam to run the headphone cable and coil cable thru the box. ($21)
To get the unit off of the handle, I simply removed the handle and unit from the shaft. I opened the DFX up, removed the speakers wires and loosened the ribbon wire connection. I put the cableclams between the hinges of the box. This way the cableclam is flush with the hinges and doesn't really get in the way.
I removed the screw that holds the control panel to the handle. Now, all I had to do was remove all the silicone from the handle and slowly pull the ribbon through the handle. Once that was done, I put the ribbon back into the connector, reattached the speaker leads and closed the box.
Now that it is all put together, I have both a strap to wear across my shoulder for when I am in deeper water and I also have straps to hold the box to the handle. It is a little heavy at times, but when I am in the water, I can let it float and let my arm relax.
For water hunting I don't care about the display. I dig it all anyway. I am usually on beach/jewelry or all metal mode.
For less than $100 I now have an amphibious DFX. I go the beach just a couple times per year and to the lakes about a dozen times a year, so this set up will do fine for how little I hunt in the water. If I hunt more and this begins to be a bother, I will look into a permanent water machine.
