Eu_citzen said:
Exellent idea, though as Monty I'd never to as there is a chance to screw up.
Personally, I would prefer a heavy detector, as extra weight = extra strength.
Hey I didn't know MD's could be used as sledge hammers!
Not a slegehammer, but a weapon against grizzly bears.......
I based my premise on the model of older cars vs. new cars today. A car I drove 30 years ago could easily handle a smack into a tree at 5 miles/hr, because of a greater thickness of metal and more structure in the frame, and again a greater thickness of metal. Fast-forward it to today.....cars are built so cheap. Hit one at 5 miles per hour in the right place, and it will be a write off. Yet, the market still thrives on cheaper built cars. Now of course the same can apply to metal detectors. Some are still built tough....however, there are some newer ones on the market which have split, handles cracked, housing cracked etc. and I am not talking about $100.00 detectors either. If you follow a lot of forums regularly, those particular faults show up often, on the same make of machines. They would not stand up to the abuse my Garretts have, hunting in ravines, areas ravaged with saplings, woods etc. The thickness of plastic and type of plastic is very thick and high grade. It can handle the abuse. It is also heavier, just like the older cars. Some of the newer non-Garrett models also available today are constructed of thin housing, thin plastics forming hand grips and foam which just falls apart quickly. Cosmetically, they look great and are very light to hold. Now there are also lots of non-Garrett detectors out there which are also built tough. But being that this a Garrett Forum, I am not going to start mentioning models, makes etc. which could easily turn into a war. I am strictly discussing Garrett and I have been using them for about 15 years.
I am like you and Monty...I have no interest in hip-mounting my GTI 2500. I am happy with the one I have, and using good body mechanics, allows me to hunt all day. I like to keep my machines for a long time, so how well they are constructed carries a lot of weight ( no pun intended) when deciding what to purchase.