New coil for Minelab Explorer SE

[DetectorBase]

I've been thinking it would be good to get a small coil for my Minelab. I have the stock 10.5" coil, and purchased a 8" Sun Ray coil, but I've been seeing the use of 5" or 4.5x7" coils. I do see myself working in trashy areas, and have read that the 10.5" doesn't do so hot in trashy areas (that's why I bought the 8"). Will the 8" cover me for the trashy areas, or should I 'down size'?

I also purchased extra upper and lower rod assemblies since the SE's cable is threaded through the rod. This will make switching coils a 'snap'.

Thanks
DB

[osros]

Im interested to know how you made out, if you got the smaller coil yet?

I will be ordering my SE in the next day or two and I know I will be in trashy areas. I just need to decide between the 5" round or the 4.5" X 7" coil. There is a nice deal on spare coils with the purchase of the SE so maybe a good time to get it with the unit.

Also not having the SE yet I dont know for myself but is swapping the coil only so much of a headache? Is the Coil and shaft combo a must have? Just wondering.

Thanks

[DetectorBase]

I was advised that the stock coil is little large for trash.. and I agree 100%. Not to mention that it adds weight to an already heavy machine. I went with a 8" SunRay coil.. and it is absolutely great! I've basically used that as the stock coil now. I'm thinking about going with the SunRay 5", but have looked a the 4.5x7. I like the shape of the 4.5x7, but I'm sold on SunRay products... and they don't make a 4.5x7 (yet).

My other suggestion is to pick up a SunRay X-1 inline probe. I thought they'd be good and would add to my metal detecting arsenal... but since I got one, I can't imagine never having one. I can't believe that I've been metal detecting as long as I have without one. They're a must have, but they're pricey.

Why I mention this.. is you mentioned swapping coils. If you want to keep you swapping smooth and simple, you should purchase an extra lower and upper rod assembly. That way swapping is a piece of cake. The issue is that the line goes through the rod (not wrapped), so you'll need to fish it through both rods.

Now, if you buy the X-1, they have a custom upper rod for the X-1, so all you need to do is wrap the line around the lower for quick swap out. (X-1 requires that the line is wrapped in the lower rod)

So.. I have a Minelab SE with X-1 probe, extra lower rod assembly. I have one lower rod attached to the stock coil, another lower rod attached to the 8" SunRay. For me to swap those out, I just have to dettach the lower rod from the upper (tension lever), wrap the line around the lower rod then plug it into the X-1. Change takes 2 minutes at the most

Hope this helps
DB

[osros]

So you seem to have good luck with the Sunray 8" for all around use even if trashy areas? What I was thinking was using the stock coil for most cases if I find myself in a trashy area switch to the smaller. But if the 8" works well as a replacement to the stock coil in both conditions I can save from needing to swap coils for now.

Well if you had to choose one coil for now when not using the stock coil which would it be the 8" or the 5"? Im still leaning toward the 5" myself.

Have you got good results from the stock coil under normal conditions.?

[DetectorBase]

Hello

Good questions.

I would get the 8" for stock coil replacement. You don't lose much depth, it's much easier to pinpoint than the original stock coil.. and you still get good coverage.

The 5" in my opinion is specific 'tool' for the job. You obviously lose depth and coverage with the 5". I think the usual plan of attack is to sweep the area with the 8" then come back and pick the area apart with the 5". You'll also need to consider your area. For instance, where I'm at, you don't find many coins past 6" in depth. If you're trying to nail targets 10+", you may want to stick with the stock coil.

When I purchase my 5" in the next few months, I'll be using if for specialized areas where trash is out of control.

I'm extremely happy with the 8". The weight and accuracy of the pinpoint were tough starting out on the stock coil. I should slip it back on to see it's more user operator error vs coil.

Hope this helps
DB

[osros]

Thanks for the help.

I do have a trashy area in mind but its more surface trash and Im sure its the same underneath as well. I found a old house in the woods but the area was also being used as the local dump site for everything you can imagine inside the house and out.

There are some clear spots to MD but the rest is littered with all sorts of
junk from small metal junk to cars. But the house itself is so promising it is worth trying.

That is where I hoping the 5" will prove useful.

If I can I will post pics let me know what you think.

[osros]

Just another thought if anyone can answer. I will be in a surface trashy area with the small 5" coil, Will that coil also respond to metal objects on the surface around the coil or does it just detect straight down? My present detector with standard coil responds to any metal nearby on the surface, just wondering if these small specialized coils will do the same or not.

Thanks

[DetectorBase]

Hello

I would assume that it will pick up the trash on the surface and items around the coil. My 8" definitely does... not 100% sure on the 5", but I'd assume so. If you're getting close to large metal objects, it helps to drop the sensitivity down.

HTH
DB

[osros]

Yeah I would thing it does as well. I will try it out. Tuesday is the big day new SE! :D.

Thanks for the help will be fun learning on a real detector!

[DetectorBase]

Nice. Spend your time with it. Go real slow.

I've received tons of advice.. and the best advice has been...

Go All Metal, choose Ferrous tone id and go slow. Today I went out for a bit, and pulled a Buffalo (no date). Someone also told me to devote 40 hours of quality time with the SE. I'm real close to that number since I got it.. and I can see why. There is a lot to take in.

Good luck.. and be sure to ask questions!!!

DB

[osros]

Well going the other way on coils, I read good things about 15" WOT coils finding nice finds deep with better target ID on deep targets when a standard coil would miss or if it sees it that deep may come back as iron/junk when truly it may be silver.

Seems to me this can only be useful in the most ideal clean sites only as well as nice open flat areas. Just wondering if anyone has one can share there experience with it. Whether its a MUST HAVE item or not.

[DetectorBase]

I'm curious about this coil as well. One thing that doesn't make me bite is my area. Coins aren't normally found deeper than 8".. so my coils should hit those fine. I'm also really interested on how the pinpointing is with these.

I'm sure you already came across this link, but I'll post it anyway.

http://groups.msn.com/MinelabExplorerXSusers/wotcoiltips.msnw

Thanks!
DB

[osros]

Good Link!

Looks good but I will hold off for now on this one. Will see how well I do with the stock coil and 5". I just dont think I have a open enough area or clean enough without trash for it to be useful right now.

Thanks!

[osros]

The more and more I read, it seems that the stock coil is pretty useless, kind of dissapointing to see. Anyway I will make my next purchase the 8" coil. I just wanted to get my head straight on coil swapping on the SE.

Whats the norm/best for swapping, Coil with extra lower shaft or coil with both lower & upper shafts?

[DetectorBase]

The more and more I read, it seems that the stock coil is pretty useless, kind of dissapointing to see. Anyway I will make my next purchase the 8" coil. I just wanted to get my head straight on coil swapping on the SE.

Whats the norm/best for swapping, Coil with extra lower shaft or coil with both lower & upper shafts?

Hello osros. I'll explain how do the coils swap for the fastest swap with AND without X-1 (becaue it makes a difference).

WITHOUT X-!
I would recommend buying upper and lower shafts. You would fish the cable through both shafts and have it hang over the top. This is a simple quick swap. Unmount control unit and rod, then unscrew coil cable nut... and attach new rod and coil, and you're good to go.

This way you don't need to fish cable up through the rods.

WITH X-1
The X-1 requires a modified top shaft, since the toggle switch is mounted on the top shaft and hole is drilled into the shaft to intercept the cable making it 'in line'. Since the X-1 switch is in the outside, and you need to attach the coil cable to the outside of the shaft into the X-1 control box. This means you need to wrap the coil around the lower shaft vs going in the inside of the shaft.

What I do is only use a new lower shaft attached to the coil. I keep the upper attached to the control unit at all times since I want the X-1 with all coils, and just swap the lower shaft + coil, but I have to wrap the coil cable around the lower shaft and attach to the X-1. It's slower swapping coils than the original way.


I agree on what you found out about the stock coil. I think it'll come in handy for low trash areas to get maximum coverage, but seems that the 8" SunRay or the 4.5x7 Ex. coil are the coils size of choice, with specialized 5" or larger coils for specific jobs.

I'm planning on picking up the 5" in the near future.. just waiting for the 'green light' from the wife!

DB

[osros]

Thanks for the info! Will go with the two shafts & 8" as soon as I can will play with the stock & 5" coils for now. TODAY IS THE DAY!! :D

Should I put out Milk and Cookies for the UPS person? :D

[DetectorBase]

Should I put out Milk and Cookies for the UPS person? :D

HA!

Make sure you return with any tips, knowledge nuggets, or questions etc. I'm very interested in your experience with it.

Good luck and happy hunting!

DB

[DetectorBase]

Hello

I received my 5", and only went out once with it. I had some 'issues' and wanted to make sure I wasn't using improperly.. and asked this question at the FindMall Minelab forum.

A gentle men by the name of Des Dunne wrote with some great advice for the 5"..

Personally, I prefer small coils over big coils.
Anything over 8" is a big coil!
Anybody can go out and make great finds with "a big coil", BUT, it takes real skill to winkle out great finds with a small coil!

Did you know that with a small coil your Explorer can show you when two targets are on top of each other (as in the case of a junk target a few inches above a coin/ring) or overlapping, as in the case of two coins buried together?
Watch the cursor for tiny minute movements after landing on a spot that the FER and COND cross references have selected.

Small coil technique:

1. Search slowly
2. Reduce Sensitivity (not increase)
3. Overlap sweeps
4. After hearing more than one target in a sweep search a "4" square" area around the targets very carefully in straight lines AND in circles as if cleaning windows!
5. Switch to pin point and "isolate" the targets.
6. Use All-Metal and if you have a meter ID system check it visually.
7. Slowly raise the coil up and detect "away and upwards" to check depth - if still loud = shallow etc.

On the sweep speed, with a coil as small as five or six inches and, if you just know that there are coins/rings to be found, search very slowly - 1 foot per 5 seconds and, as I indicated, with a lower sensitivity.
You can progressively increase Sensitivity as you go but with too high a sens level some false detections (which may be distracting) can occur.

Good Hunting

Des Dunne
Minelab

There is some great info right there. You can view the complete thread here:
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?19,498700

Thanks!
DB

[osros]

Thanks! Good Stuff!

[DetectorBase]

I've taken the 5" out for 3 hunts now.. and I'm really not having any good luck. My expectations might be alittle high for this, but I feel like I get much better performance with the 8".

I'm not giving up, since I said the same thing with the SE. I just have to learn how to work with this coil.. and use it for the right conditions. I'd just like to find something good with it.. so I can get some confidence.

DB

[osros]

As I said before Im using the 5" almost all the time now only because the 10" is alot worse in the trashy areas as we know. I think I will go get the 8" coil asap and the X-1 probe later.

[osros]

Well I finally ordered the 8" coil I hope to have it in a couple of days. I went with the Minelab 8" coil because of cost and I hear very good things about it also. Coil with cover and lower shaft $150 Im sure it is just as capable as the sunray. With the savings I was able to also order a proper digging shovel which I needed badly.

Will be ordering the X-1 by spring time for now will try and get the most out of the vibra 560.

[DetectorBase]

Excellent. I'm sure the 8" will treat you nice. The X-1 is a absolute must. The vibra is nice though.. but doesn't get the depth which is handy for quick pinpointing.

How were your finds from last season?

DB

[osros]

Excellent. I'm sure the 8" will treat you nice. The X-1 is a absolute must. The vibra is nice though.. but doesn't get the depth which is handy for quick pinpointing.

How were your finds from last season?

DB


Just some clad, I been out of it for most of the season been too busy with work, but Im jumping in with both feet now for 08. Still doing research some promising sites but coming up short on gaining access.

Ill be hitting my local parks more for practice than hoping to find anything good and old. Coming up with older caps and pull tabs so looks promising that
there may have been light MD in the parks or its been a while, maybe something interesting still there.

[osros]

Well I got the 8" Minelab coil I got to try it on my local park and I must say I notice right away the difference between it and the 5" Excelerator coil. The 8" seems alot more sensitive or deeper. Im starting to wonder if there is an issue with my 5". I finally found a deeper nice silver range target so I went for it, It turned out to be another flat screwcap but at about 7-8" which I feel good about it getting a signal that deep, I was never sure how deep I was getting with the 5" Excelerator.

I noticed the SE come to life with signals but also noticed the slighty larger size of the coil made for getting multiple signals/targets under the coil a bit more confusing.

This park is so trashy I just had to stop digging pull tabs and such it was impossible to get anywhere. The SE was so noisy I had to back track a bit and start using factory presets and descrim alot of the iron and go from there.

These last couple of hunts where really the first time im putting the SE to practice so still getting used to it. I also noticed how helpful the X-1 probe would have been on some holes. I like the Vibra Probe but sometimes you lose the target and its a pain to get up and use the detector again to estimate the location. So I ordered the X-1 Probe and waiting for that to come in.

Hopefully I will get better and faster at digging and retrieving with the X-1

[DetectorBase]

I have to say 8" is the coil to use for all purpose hunting. I LOVE my 8" coil, and will always start a hunt with that. I pull out the 5" for very worked out areas.. or very trashy areas... and after I've hit it already with the 8". The 5" takes a lot of work in my opinion. I noticed almost immediately that tones were different, and signal strength was different. I've been fortunate to pull some nice coins with it though.

Now the X-1.. is something I couldn't be without now. That is a fantastic tool. You're going to love it.

DB

[osros]

I finally got my X-1 Probe! Installed it right away, Cant wait to try it out should make life alot easier. Im glad its black seen all the pics showing a white probe.

[DetectorBase]

I finally got my X-1 Probe! Installed it right away, Cant wait to try it out should make life alot easier. Im glad its black seen all the pics showing a white probe.

Whoa! Black eh!?. I wish mine was black as well. Let me know how you like it. That unit definitely changed my detecting experiences to the positive. I couldn't imagine not having it!

DB

[osros]

Whoa! Black eh!?. I wish mine was black as well. Let me know how you like it. That unit definitely changed my detecting experiences to the positive. I couldn't imagine not having it!

DB

Yep looks good goes well with the SE. I did try it out and right away I noticed the difference. I know where the target is period no more hit or
miss with other probes. A big time saver, now if I can find some productive sites I can do some damage. :D