One maker. 46 SKUs. Built by hand.
Steve's Detector Rods started in a one-car garage in Norman, Oklahoma in 2018. A detectorist, frustrated with factory shafts that flexed under a heavy coil, started building his own from 3K carbon fiber pulled from the racing-bike industry.
Eight years later, the shop is still a one-maker operation. Every shaft, every lower, every scoop handle is cut, fit, torqued, and inspected by Steve before it ships. No contract assemblers. No overseas line. No mystery stock.
We've grown to 46 SKUs across 14 detector models because buyers kept asking — “do you build for the CTX?” “can you do a Tall Man?” “what about the Tarsacci?” We said yes, then we figured it out.
STEVE, THE SHOP
WORKBENCH
Why carbon fiber?
3K carbon fiber in a twill weave is stiffer pound-for-pound than 6061 aluminum and has near-zero thermal expansion. Factory shafts are built to a price, not a standard. Aluminum flexes under load. Plastic locks loosen and slip.
We use 3K carbon-fiber twill, injection-molded nylon cam locks, and stainless hardware — because the coil is where the signal lives, and flex is where your target disappears. A typical complete shaft drops from 14oz factory to 8oz in our builds, while eliminating the wobble that kills detection depth.
For the serious detectorist, we also offer glass-fiber lowers — completely non-conductive, which eliminates the phantom signals aluminum and carbon-fiber rods can introduce in saltwater or over mineralized soil.
Also available at these shops.
You can buy direct here or through any of our authorized retailers. Direct orders get custom-build options; retailers stock our standard configurations.