Modded Bounty Hunter Pinpointer

[brassmonkee]

Anyone who has used the bounty hunter pinpointer is aware of the irritation of having to turn the dial and then find the position next to the steady beep to set the sensitivity.. well, not even a week into using it, I was tempted to modify it with an on/off button and set the dial locked in the correct position(update: i've since learned that locking the dial is absurd, so I have just made the dial stiffer and the on/off switch allows me to quickly get to pinpointing without using two hands). here is before and after. works like a charm! the button is installed just above the battery in the battery compartment, with the switch run in line between the battery negative and the device.

P.S... those that have given this low priced ($40) pinpointer a bad review must not have known what they were doing, because it works GREAT in the field. while I would have preferred the Garrett pro pointer, this was a gift from my dad and I am making the best of it

[LoL]

Cool!

[Vethraxx]

It's the only pinpointer I have ever used. I like the long probe on it. You can just stick it right into wet lawns no problem.

I love the mod. I have been tempted to add an off/on stich myself and then move the sensitivity to a small dashpot that cannot be easily bumped out of it's sweet spot.

[brassmonkee]

Originally Posted by Vethraxx

It's the only pinpointer I have ever used. I like the long probe on it. You can just stick it right into wet lawns no problem.

I love the mod. I have been tempted to add an off/on stich myself and then move the sensitivity to a small dashpot that cannot be easily bumped out of it's sweet spot.

Thanks Vethraxx & LoL

I am about to set the sensitivity dial in a locked position.. I am considering what to use to hold it.. I have epoxy, super glue, and maybe something like liquid nails... Dad thinks that I wouldn't want to use something as permanent as epoxy, but to be honest, why would I ever want to adjust it after this mod? I think epoxy will be the route I go. I am also probably going to make a smooth layer of epoxy on the end of the pointer, to provide a harder, more durable tip, as some review suggested that the tip wears out after several hunts.

[HarveyH48]

Might consider holding off on the sensitivity. Mine seems to change as the battery is drained, which means that sweet spot will change over the life of the battery, and probably why the on/switch is part of the sensitivity adjustment, making sure set it for the best performance, each time you use it. The knob should just slip off, and it won't be so easy to bump it.

[pale rider]

Nice work. Definately an improvement. You gonna add a LED as well?

[brassmonkee]

LED, maybe, but maybe not... I realized that the sweet spot does change on it... I did put some epoxy in the groove but instead of locking it, it just made it stiffer, which is ok by me... it performed pretty well in the church field tonight .. found 2 wheaties (42 and 52) an old lipstick container, half a toy gun, the inner workings of another pocketwatch, a hair pin with 7 stars on it?? and some shotshell heads (among lots of trash).. this site is geting interesting

[jwebs]

On the F-Point that I used for a while, I noticed that I had to change the sens. based on the temperature a lot, with heat making it run too hot, and cold causing a decrease in sensitivity(there were a couple of times in the cold that I had the sens turned all of the way up, and I still only got reaction when i was *touching* the target).
:twocents:
Awesome mod, adding the toggle switch though.
GL, and HH!

[chopz54]

Definitely dont lock the sense adjuster...as mentioned--you will have problems with
Temperature changes,different battery voltages etc.

[brassmonkee]

Originally Posted by chopz54

Definitely dont lock the sense adjuster...as mentioned--you will have problems with
Temperature changes,different battery voltages etc.

Yep, learned that quick.. It is still loose, but not nearly as loose as factory. I can adjust it and it holds tight. It's proving to be a great tool.

[chopz54]

If it will do the job and your happy with it theres certainly no need to get a pro-pointer.

Anyway, theres bound to be a new "MK2 pro pointer" in the pipeline--even Garrett did not
get it right 1st time and make a waterproof model (perhaps on purpose!) Think how many
more they would have sold!!
Then there will be lots of cheap s/h ones & dealer discounts on old stock--as is the case when a "new model" detector comes out!

I carry a probe all the time (not a G-P-P) but very rarely use it.

Good Luck. Chop

[SandFisher]

brassmonkee;1048987 Thanks Vethraxx & LoL

I am about to set the sensitivity dial in a locked position.. I am considering what to use to hold it.. I have epoxy, super glue, and maybe something like liquid nails... Dad thinks that I wouldn't want to use something as permanent as epoxy, but to be honest, why would I ever want to adjust it after this mod? I think epoxy will be the route I go. I am also probably going to make a smooth layer of epoxy on the end of the pointer, to provide a harder, more durable tip, as some review suggested that the tip wears out after several hunts.

I can't believe for the life of me that anyone would consider locking shut a control with epoxy!


Whenever a tuning or control knob is too easily knocked out of adjustment because it moves too easily, you simply place the appropriate O-Ring under the knob to create some drag so the knob has to be intentionally turned to be adjusted and holds it's position post adjustment because it's under a bit of tension and tends to stay put.

This is a common fix that has been used to cure this type problem for as long as I remember.

As a bonus the O-Ring keeps dust and dirt from getting under the knob and making it's way to the pot and fouling up the works.

Of course this would be of most use in a dirty environment, like a unit that is used around and poked into the dirt.

Does this strike a cord with anyone here?

lol



Epoxy + a fine tuning control =








Now how do you wear one of these and swing a detector? that's the question.


LOL!

[foreverRich]

Nice modification job!! I love my Fisher (Bounty Hunter) pin pointer. Only problem I have ever had is the battery cover coming off while hunting. They could certainly improve on that.

[brassmonkee]

sandfisher, thanks for the straight jacket analogy, but as stated in more recent replies, i realized the importance of not locking the dial. keep in mind this is my 1st pinpointer and didnt know that the sweet spot would move. i did not lock the dial, but stiffened it up, which prevent it from gettin knocked in the holes.. the on off works great, and forever rich, i am thinking there is something we can do inside of the battery cover to make it more able to hang tihgt inside the handle.. i will let you know what i do, soon.

[SandFisher]

Originally Posted by brassmonkee

sandfisher, thanks for the straight jacket analogy, but as stated in more recent replies, i realized the importance of not locking the dial. keep in mind this is my 1st pinpointer and didnt know that the sweet spot would move. i did not lock the dial, but stiffened it up, which prevent it from gettin knocked in the holes.. the on off works great, and forever rich, i am thinking there is something we can do inside of the battery cover to make it more able to hang tihgt inside the handle.. i will let you know what i do, soon.

I was just teasing you and trying to get you to laugh.

That O-Ring trick is a good one, not dead dry, a tiny bit of lube, only what will stay on the skin of your fingertips.

Handle the O-Ring with your slicked fingertips and slide the knob down as you check for the draggy feel.

This works on walkie talkies, CB radios, metal detectors, pinpointers, those treasure finding machines that cost tons of dough.

It's a quick & low cost fix, just what the doctor ordered.
.

[SandFisher]

[QUOTE=brassmonkee;1054441]
this is my 1st pinpointer and didnt know that the sweet spot would move., i am thinking there is something we can do inside of the battery cover to make it more able to hang tihgt inside the handle.. i will let you know what i do, soon.[/QUOTE]


Yeah, that's why it's there.
Conditions change, the foothills of Kentucky, the beaches of the Gulf Coast, the rocky mountains of Colorado.

The companies that make gadgets like this can't balance them for every known condition, so the user has to "calibrate" the unit for the conditions present in their application.

That's why the knob is there.


On that piece that won't stay home, sometimes simple is best.

Clean both pieces where they contact each other and put two small dots of contact cement on one surface only and slide it home.

That should keep it in place if the cause is just a bit of a loose fit between the two.

Taking it off is no problem if all you put are two small dots on each side.
.