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Help needed with removing a coil cover

D

DFX USER

Member
Can anyone give me a tip on an easy way to remove a coil cover on a White's DFX 950 coil? I have been prying on it with no success. I went beach Hunting and there is sand wedged inside and the thing actually seems like it is glued shut. Before I use brute force maybe someone has a trick to getting it off. I simply want to clean it up and then put it back together. Thanks in advance for your help.
 
I was able to get my coil covers off by using a small block of wood and a hammer... Tapped around the coil, on the cover itself, until it came off... Worked great...
 
You might try a small screwdriver to work between the cover and coil after letting the coil and cover sit in hot water for a few minutes. You might want to consider leaving the cover off in the future. Unless you do a LOT of beach hunting or hunt on rocky ground, there really is not a use for one IMHO. They collect dirt, sand and moisture all affecting proper operation of your detector. I have hunted a lot in the last 30 years and have never worn out a coil without a cover. If you do leave the cover on, clean often, I have purchased or taken on trade many coils that people complained didn't work for them......every one had a cover on them and full of dirt.
 
Larry are you saying that moisure or water between the cover and coil actually messes how the coil is reading or operates?:surprised:
 
DFX, you can use two DULL butter knives. Insert one between coil and the cover,gently start prying the cover away, insert the second close to the first,and continue with the prying with both knives. Work your way around on just one side of the cover, it should pry off enough for you to pull the cover off with your hand. I'm with LarryL on these coil covers, unless you are really in some super bad situation, they can be a real pain in the !@!#. Just my dos centavos TXquest
 
It can, it depends how your machine reacts around water, some single frequency detectors goes bananas around wet sand and water. The point is, moisture helps trap the dirt in the cover and a lot of the dirt is mineralized, it seems like carrying a small shield on your coil or something. Maybe the dirt just deflects some of the returning signal, don't know why for sure, just know it's not good and affects the ground balance.
 
I agree with Larry, The first thing I do when I get a new coil is take the cover off. I dont care if I damage the coil cover because I will never use it. I used the DFX for 8 years and never had a coil cover on my coils and I never even came close to wearing a coil out on the bottom and I try to hunt everyday. Also, I am a scubber meaning I let the coil reast on the ground when I sweep. I dont do it on rocky areas but I do in grass. Also, you get the benifit of the tiny 16th of an inch or so depth advantage.
 
Thanks folks. I used the combination of soaking the coil in very warm water for a couple minutes and then used the dual butter knives to pry them apart. Once I could get my fingers between the coil and the cover it snapped right off. There was sand inside and this was from just one beach hunt for about 2 hours. I have decided to follow the consensus and leave the cover off this coil for now.

Another question I have for the group has anyone noticed a difference with depth detection with a coil cover vs. no coil cover? It seems to me that the cover has to retard the sensitivity somewhat but maybe not. Please give me your thoughts on this as I still have a coil cover on my 5.3 coil. I do not use that coil in water so am not concerned about getting moisture or sand in between but I am concerned that it might cost me some depth detection.
 
So many guys around here have no need for a cover. Guess it's where I live but I've smoothed out more than one (smaller) coil cover and almost burned through a shooter coil in one day. Caught it and through a loop cover on it though. (All areas were volcanic in nature or sharp gold bearing gravel.) Since using my V3 (a year) no wear but I have only been hunting in kinder conditions too. Some hunting requires them and most don't I guess.
 
I use the handle of a large nail clipper. Its thin, narrow, and firm and it does not hurt the coil. I start at one end and begin to go around the coil like a can opener. Rooster
 
I have a new SEF 10x12 coil. I used it at the beach and may have sand inside the cover. My area is not real rough on a coil. Would you remove the coil cover from this model coil also?
 
I'm going against the grain here a bit. I DO prefer a cover. I've never been able to tell any difference in depth with or without. However, I very definitely agree that they should be removed and cleaned out from time to time. Some use sealer on them, but to me that could cause one to think that the cover should never need cleaning. Fine sand and dirt may git in through any flaw in the seal so I don't personally seal mine. My two bits.
BB
 
Yep, I don't have a cover on any of mine. Try it for a while and if you think you need one you can put it back on.

I agree with Barber Bill too if you do use a cover, sealant is a :nono:
 
Just picked up a mint cond. coil w/cover from another member on the classified forum. It looks brand new. I haven't had a chance to use it yet but I have every reason to believe it works fine. Just like Larry said though I pulled the cover off and ( big surprise ) there was sand underneath. Point is this coil is barely used at all but sand WILL get inside and quickly. Now I have always tried to keep covers on my coils but after this, and an incident where it took me 30 minutes to pry the cover off my 6x10 in the field, I'm rethinking that policy.
HH
Scott
 
The cover does not affect the operation of the unit as it is not metal. Like Larry said - water/dirt/sand that can get inside the cover is what can alter the performance.
 
Using a sealant doesn't have to be a mixed bag. I used to work in the boat industry and learned to do window gaskets Use black butyl, pre-mask, and use a push motion to caulk w/thinner wipe. In the end, this all is a moot point though. We all adjust to what our own requirements are.
 
My used MXT came with a cover on the stock coil. Its stuck too but I see no reason to take it off.
It's not hurting anything as far as I can tell so I'm leaving it.
Katz
 
SOME of the sand and dirt that was under a coil cover I pulled off an old machine.
HH
Scott
 
Yes
 
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