Looking for small coil recommendations....

[Chris(SoCenWI)]

Howdy all,

Off to a slow start this year, Just a few barbers and mercs.

My XS came with the stock and 8" minelab coils when I bought in 2001. Well, the stock quit working a couple three years ago, and last month I put on the 8" and got the detector gone crazy sound even at low sensitivities that means you have an open wire. Usually this happens at the coil plug and I've resoldered connections several times over the years and got them back up and running. This time the plug connections were good but was still getting an open circuit. I cut the wire close to the coil and rechecked, coil was still good. Then checked the wire from the cut back to the plug and found that one of the shield wire had broken. Can't think of a sexy way to solder a new wire the coil...

So..

Time for a new small coil. I did real well with the 8" over the years. I had tried a 5" and gave it a fair trial but really did not like it. Looked online and the the 8x6 SEF caught my eye. Read Bryce's review and he seems very positive about it. Anybody with opinions they would like to share?

For some reason when I search the forums for "SEF" nothing is coming up.

Chris

 

[JJ]

If you have past experience with the minelab 8" coil, I would expect similar results with the 8x6 sef. I'm not sure there would be a night and day difference. I like the 8x6 SEF for yard hunting, good separation in trashy areas, and decent depth/pinpointing. The best depth I have had with the 8x6 was finding an old copper roof tack at maybe 7 or 8 inches. This coil has no problem weeding out silver up to that depth for me. I like the 8x6. I would also consider the sunray x-8, as the x-12 is usually my go-to coil. All of the above, in my opinion, separate better than the stock 1050 coil. JJ

 

[digginrebel]

I've heard good things about the SEF coils, but I prefer a "closed" coil so it will not get hung up as much in the brush. I use and love the "joey" coil. It is 10" X 5", so it can still cover some ground, yet still get good separation b/w targets. Happy Hunting

 

[stasys]

1050 or 1000 coils is best--separation, ground cover and etc. have small minelab 8 had sef 6x9 no different except price if you compare this two, had little Joe, not something special. minelab did nice job when they made explorer and they putted best coil 1000, everything ells works ok , but not better at all. make your self test garden and check if you dont believe. good luck

 

[surfman]

Chris, I just got the 8x6 sef and I really like it so far. Only used it twice but it is a hot little coil.

 

[onemore]

Chris... I have the 8" round and the 8x6 SEF. They both get about the same depth, but I like the 8x6 more because it really separates out the targets in trash the best. I have been returning to all my sites since I got the coil. Definitely impressed by this coil's ability.

 

[JJ]

1050 or 1000 coils is best--separation, ground cover and etc. have small minelab 8 had sef 6x9 no different except price if you compare this two, had little Joe, not something special. minelab did nice job when they made explorer and they putted best coil 1000, everything ells works ok , but not better at all. make your self test garden and check if you dont believe. good luck

The 1050 goes deeper than an 8" coil, but thats about it. My test garden is all the sites I have pulled silver from with the 8x6 that the stock coil was too bogged down by dense trash to be of any use. The 8x6 also handles EMI much better than the stock coil, enabling me to hunt sites which render the stock coil useless. To each their own, the debate continues. You know i'm not a big fan of bench tests and air tests. My testing ground is outside in heavily hunted sites, where it matters. JJ

 

[Bayrat76]

Had a Joey 5"x 10" it falsed a lot, and was not water proof. The SEF 6" is a great coil.

 

[stasys]

1050 or 1000 coils is best--separation, ground cover and etc. have small minelab 8 had sef 6x9 no different except price if you compare this two, had little Joe, not something special. minelab did nice job when they made explorer and they putted best coil 1000, everything ells works ok , but not better at all. make your self test garden and check if you dont believe. good luck

The 1050 goes deeper than an 8" coil, but thats about it. My test garden is all the sites I have pulled silver from with the 8x6 that the stock coil was too bogged down by dense trash to be of any use. The 8x6 also handles EMI much better than the stock coil, enabling me to hunt sites which render the stock coil useless. To each their own, the debate continues. You know i'm not a big fan of bench tests and air tests. My testing ground is outside in heavily hunted sites, where it matters. JJ[/quo


main mistake is to high sensitivity in trash or iron with original coils. in the same spot from different angle always possible to found again and again, this is how explorers works. had small sef and for me it was worst than original and not better like minelab 8. with the rest coils too -they works, works Ok, but with original and pro you can do more---its what I have learned. because all my best finds in Iron.

 

[BerntOut]

I use a Sunray X-8 with coil plugs...works good in the weeds!

 

[stasys]

I use a Sunray X-8 with coil plugs...works good in the weeds!

Yes can agree for weeds and narrow spaces where original cant go- no other way-just small coil

 

[amc rulz]

I really don't need it. Tried two of my trash spots, the best I could do was a wheaty and 20-30 clads. The 10x12 that I normally swing just has terrific seperation and depth, even in trash. The bigger coil is just as stable, or better, over garbage compared to the smaller coil. One advantage of the smaller coil is less weight, and my shoulder really appreciates that!

 

[TwoRivers]

I have the Minelab SE PRO with stock pro coil and the minelab 8 inch. The 8 inch works well in trash and has good depth, it is heavier than the larger pro coil. Several months ago I purchased a 4.5 x 7 excelerator coil and like it a lot, it has good depth and separates well in iron trash. I have found a lot of silver coinage with it in areas invested with nails and other trash. It's also very sensitive to small items.

My first experience with this small coil was in a fenced in area approximately 20 by 30 feet in an old carnival site. I had worked this area with the pro coil and the 8 inch. To my surprise I recovered 12 to 15 silver coins in a couple of hours in this same spot with the small 4.5 x7 coil. My hunting buddy was so impressed he ordered one that very same evening and still uses it religiously. I might also mention that it is light, which I like...

John

 

[sgoss66]

hey AMC -- wanna sell that 6x8?!

Steve

 

[Chris(SoCenWI)]

n/t

 

[amc rulz]

hey AMC -- wanna sell that 6x8?!

Steve

Steve, I had to wait a couple weeks to get that one from Bulgaria, I gotta give it some further testing before (if) I let it go. Will let ya know if I do!