Metal detecto
Elite Member
I will be watching this thread, I'm also considering CF. I just want it as light as possible.
Josh
Josh
On the fence with carbon fiber shaft.
- Thread starter Dan B.
- Start date
AirmetTango
Forum Supporter
I love my counterweighted CF shaft from Steve’s, but everyone’s individual ergonomics are a little different. Best bet is to try it for yourself - we can meet up at some point and you can swing mine for awhile to see what you think. Trouble is, you’ll need to wait a bit - I’m out of town until after the 4th.
Sounds like a plan. Enjoy the time with your family!
cellrdwellr
Elite Member
Its noticeably lighter than the stock shaft, but the ergonomics of the EQ are so mediocre, an aftermarket shaft only remedied some of the fatigue in my case. Your results may vary though.
TorqueMaster
Elite Member
Depends on your son's skill level -- pretty sure a stock shaft is tempered aluminum. And very thin walled. From what I read, even if it was untempered, it is very difficult to bend cleanly.
I investigated doing a test run bending an upper, or an upper/middle with thin walled electrical conduit, but the standard benders don't do a radius small enough. Also investigated a thin walled copper pipe and 90s or 45s. Both types of tubing were surprisingly close to the needed tube dimensions for testing. Both would be heavier, but the test was more for the ergonomics than the weight. Unfortunately I don't recall the details of the exact dimensions.
steveg
Elite Member
To everyone who commented on my shafts, and counterweights, thank you! I appreciate the very kind words, and it's great to hear that I've been able to offer at least a bit of help, to so many of you!
Dan, if wrist/arm pain is your primary issue right now, simply lightening your shaft by a few ounces is likely not the "cure." While lighter is always better (and is why carbon-fiber is such a good choice for shafts), the specific fatigue/pain that most folks feel, when swinging the Equinox, is due to the IMBALANCE of the machine, not the overall WEIGHT of the unit. Yes, it's "weight" that is the problem, but it's more the DISTRIBUTION of the weight, not the overall weight itself. In other words, just reducing the overall weight, doesn't fix the imbalance.
The issue with the Equinox is that it is NOSE-HEAVY. In other words, nearly ALL of the weight of this particular machine is at the "coil end" of the unit. And the fact is that you simply can't put a pound of weight (the coil) at the end of a long lever (the "coil end" of your shaft), with essentially ZERO corresponding weight at the other end of the shaft (the butt-end), and expect folks not to have issues. It's the equivalent of placing one child at one end of a teeter-totter/see-saw, but NO child on the other end. What is the result of that? COMPLETE imbalance, of course -- one end of the teeter-totter up, and the other end down. And it doesn't matter if that child weighs 10 pounds, or 100, the teeter-totter is out of balance, when there is weight on only one side.
THIS is what counterweighting "fixes," and I have literally hundreds of customers that will attest to the difference it makes. Yes, as someone said in the thread here, everyone is a bit different, and so there will occasionally be a few (based on their unique physiology or their particular "swing style") who may not see as much benefit from counterweighting. But I can tell you that roughly 95% of my customers notice a difference, and a majority notice a SUBSTANTIAL difference. From all you have said, I really believe that you will find some relief from counterweighting your shaft.
HOWEVER, in your specific case, the one issue that makes things more tricky, is that once you have progressed all the way to tendonitis, it's more difficult. At that point, REST is the real cure, so even with a well-balanced shaft, your existing tendonitis may still be aggravated by repetitive swinging of the machine. One solution is to "switch hands" for awhile. Yes, swinging with your "off hand" will feel weird at first, but you'll get used to it, I can tell you from experience. This, then, gives the "injured" side of your body some time to rest -- and thus heal. And then, afterward, you can switch back to your dominant hand, and -- with a properly balanced shaft -- you should be good to go. The bottom line is that counterweighting ABSOLUTELY improves the ergonomics of the nose-heavy Equinox, to the point that a vast majority of folks find it MUCH more comfortable to swing.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at [email protected].
THANKS!
Steve
Dan, if wrist/arm pain is your primary issue right now, simply lightening your shaft by a few ounces is likely not the "cure." While lighter is always better (and is why carbon-fiber is such a good choice for shafts), the specific fatigue/pain that most folks feel, when swinging the Equinox, is due to the IMBALANCE of the machine, not the overall WEIGHT of the unit. Yes, it's "weight" that is the problem, but it's more the DISTRIBUTION of the weight, not the overall weight itself. In other words, just reducing the overall weight, doesn't fix the imbalance.
The issue with the Equinox is that it is NOSE-HEAVY. In other words, nearly ALL of the weight of this particular machine is at the "coil end" of the unit. And the fact is that you simply can't put a pound of weight (the coil) at the end of a long lever (the "coil end" of your shaft), with essentially ZERO corresponding weight at the other end of the shaft (the butt-end), and expect folks not to have issues. It's the equivalent of placing one child at one end of a teeter-totter/see-saw, but NO child on the other end. What is the result of that? COMPLETE imbalance, of course -- one end of the teeter-totter up, and the other end down. And it doesn't matter if that child weighs 10 pounds, or 100, the teeter-totter is out of balance, when there is weight on only one side.
THIS is what counterweighting "fixes," and I have literally hundreds of customers that will attest to the difference it makes. Yes, as someone said in the thread here, everyone is a bit different, and so there will occasionally be a few (based on their unique physiology or their particular "swing style") who may not see as much benefit from counterweighting. But I can tell you that roughly 95% of my customers notice a difference, and a majority notice a SUBSTANTIAL difference. From all you have said, I really believe that you will find some relief from counterweighting your shaft.
HOWEVER, in your specific case, the one issue that makes things more tricky, is that once you have progressed all the way to tendonitis, it's more difficult. At that point, REST is the real cure, so even with a well-balanced shaft, your existing tendonitis may still be aggravated by repetitive swinging of the machine. One solution is to "switch hands" for awhile. Yes, swinging with your "off hand" will feel weird at first, but you'll get used to it, I can tell you from experience. This, then, gives the "injured" side of your body some time to rest -- and thus heal. And then, afterward, you can switch back to your dominant hand, and -- with a properly balanced shaft -- you should be good to go. The bottom line is that counterweighting ABSOLUTELY improves the ergonomics of the nose-heavy Equinox, to the point that a vast majority of folks find it MUCH more comfortable to swing.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at [email protected].
THANKS!
Steve
Beachhunter
Elite Member
Same here. Steve’s carbon fiber rods are the best. The counterweight on the backend is very helpful. The CF Rod is extremely helpful when one has arthritis.
Thank you Steve for your comments and insight. With 37 years of hard work and repetitiveness lots of joints in my body are just worn out. Too many years left to be able to retire
. As soon as I can meet up with AirmetTango I will give his machine with the counterweight a try I will also try shortening up my shaft and maybe even try the physical therapy exercises I have been supposed to do for years. Thanks again I do appreciate you tagging in.
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steveg
Elite Member
Dan, you are quite welcome. I hear you, and understand, about too many years of hard work, and still too many years ahead of you to retire yet.
Yes, do try AirmetTango's shaft, and see what you think. If you think it will help you, I'd be glad to get you set up. Meanwhile, YES -- shortening up your shaft should definitely help; the more "vertical" you keep the shaft, the less nose-heavy the machine will be. And yes, you might even try those exercises, LOL! The older we get, the more effort it takes to keep reasonably fit and functioning, no doubt about it.
And again, thanks to ALL of you who have spoken so favorably of my shafts, in this thread! I really appreciate each of you!
Thanks!
Steve
Yes, do try AirmetTango's shaft, and see what you think. If you think it will help you, I'd be glad to get you set up. Meanwhile, YES -- shortening up your shaft should definitely help; the more "vertical" you keep the shaft, the less nose-heavy the machine will be. And yes, you might even try those exercises, LOL! The older we get, the more effort it takes to keep reasonably fit and functioning, no doubt about it.
And again, thanks to ALL of you who have spoken so favorably of my shafts, in this thread! I really appreciate each of you!
Thanks!
Steve
Diabolik
Elite Member
I actually just received my counterweight from Steve yesterday. The fit and finish is just as impressive as the shafts themselves.
I am hoping to get out tomorrow and give it a swing to see how it feels. We’ve been hunting a lot of woods with uneven ground and I like to use the stock coil as much as I can. Hoping this will balance things out a bit more in those areas.
I am hoping to get out tomorrow and give it a swing to see how it feels. We’ve been hunting a lot of woods with uneven ground and I like to use the stock coil as much as I can. Hoping this will balance things out a bit more in those areas.
