Anyone on here coat their coils?

[MarkCZ]

I just sealed the coil cover on a 3.5"X 6.5" Fisher coil and I think it turned out really well, I used the same epoxy as I did on the 11" DD coil. I cleaned all the sealing edges with Windex real good before I sealed it.

This one was hard to photograph and see anything.

My applicator is nothing but a wooden stick from a electronics cleaning Q-tip, which is about the same diameter of a wooden match stick, I dip it in the epoxy and lightly drag it across the seem, then go back over what I just laid out (drag the top back through it again) and then dip and repeat moving a little farther ahead. You need a little slower set epoxy than the normal 5 minute type, unless your sealing a very short seam. I also use a cheap headband magnifier that's like 4X if the seam seal looks really good at 4X while your putting it down then with no magnification it looks REALLY good.

Mark

 

[Mega]

The only coil that i use a cover on is the Deus one,the only reason is that they are alot more expensive to replace than a normal coil due to alot of the electronics being placed in the actual coil,but all the other that i have i take them off and never had any problems with them.

 

[MarkCZ]

I've been the same way over the years about coil covers except with the older box coils that had the thin bottoms and I always used a cover with them. For the more modern resin filled ones I normally just give up on the covers, but its been because they get sand and dirt and water in them and then that adds to false signals. So, getting them off and cleaning them out is more trouble then the cover has been worth seeing how the resin on the bottom of the coil is over a quarter inch thick.
But on certain coils (not open frame spider coils) the cover can save the cosmetics side of the actual coil and if it could be sealed and never fooled with then I have less issues in using the cover.
The good side to maintaining our metal detecting equipment is that it helps to make it a better bargain in the used detector market. Not that I'm going to wear out a coil in a few years and have to spend another $139.00 to replace it, I will never wear out a coil myself! although spending $139.00 on a coil is really a tuff thing to do at this point in my life for a hobby.

I'm not one that could spend a thousand dollars on a detector and then just beat it to death in a couple of years and toss it over the hill and go and spend another thousand dollars on another one either! I bought a new F2 awhile back because the price wasn't that bad, but with the past several detectors I couldn't buy NEW! because of the model line (the price range) so, I buy used, its away to keep me in somewhat of the mid to upper range of detectors but at a entry level price. So, keeping them in good shape while I have them gives me a good return on them in the used market.

And the coating job I did on the 11" DD coil was an experiment, the coil cover for them has so many gaps and corners that I didn't see it visible to try and seal it, so I opted for the coating. With coils like the little elliptical the cover seals up very nice and so I don't have a problem with the cover if it doesn't cause other problems.

Mark

 

[HaroldILL.]

Some detectors like Fisher CZ's the coil is basicley bullet proof. But others are not like my Bigfoot coil 6.59 kHz. I was lucky enough to find a cover for it which is rare. It is a rare and pricey coil and a little delicate so a cover is good insurance on this coil. My Etrac came with a coil cover on it like they all do so might as well leave it on.

 

[osgood]

i use Seal All, on my very old and well used 11dd, that had a few splits along the outer edges. It is available at hardware stores . I also used it at the heel plate connector when i had a moisture problem there. Apply outdoors, very strong smell when fresh but dries rock hard and very quickly. CO

 

[Hobo lobo]

Putting coil covers on a new coil is like putting seat covers on a new car. When the coil pastic gets thin and very worn( and that takes yrs, if ever) is the time to add a cover. I dont want the extra weight, and I don't like the crap that gets in it.

 

[5900_XL-1]

Putting coil covers on a new coil is like putting seat covers on a new car. When the coil pastic gets thin and very worn( and that takes yrs, if ever) is the time to add a cover. I dont want the extra weight, and I don't like the crap that gets in it.

We thing alike.