minelab safari attachments

[dldavis79]

I'm thinking of getting the safari metal detector and I was wondering how deep will it pick whatever., is there attachments for the safari to help it go deeper.
I am a new to this all and it will be alittle while before I can get a metal detector and I was thinking of getting the safari but is there a better all around detector for around $1300 to $1500, give or take.

 

[Akita]

Define 'deep'. My Safari, even with a smaller coil often goes deeper than I care to dig. There are coils out there that make a backhoe necessary imo.
12" is nothing for a Safari, if that helps. What kind of objects are you particularly after?

 

[Akita]

Oh, the 2nd part of your question:
Yes, the Minelab Explorer SE Pro, Etrac, and 3030 are 'better' than the Safari in some ways, tho all use the same FBS technology. Its all about what level of what that is best for you vs your wallet. You wont go wrong with any of the machines named in this post.

 

[bigdad75]

everything Akita said,Ive had top of the line whites,Garrett's,there is just no comparison to the safari,once i got to know the safari ill never look back,easy to use and goes deeper and more stable than the v3i,I'm happy i made the change,i have the 11dd,6x8,12x15 and with the pro-pointer I'm good to go anyplace,I'm thinking of possible trying the e-trac or ctx3030 for the extras but I'm not in any hurry i like my safari

 

[Akita]

bigdad, what do you think of your 12x15dd vs the stock 11" Safari dd coil. I mostly use the 6x8SEF because of the trashy areas I hunt, but that large SEF coil for beach use has been calling my name......

 

[bigdad75]

I'm hooked on the 6x8 myself,but when i hit the open spaces like fields i like the 12x15 over the 11dd,the 11 seemed to unstable to me unless i have a bad one,i know its hard to believe, but Ive found dimes at 12" a 3-cent piece at 10"? i didn't measure it but a close guess,Ive made depths of about 14"+ with it on quarters or other stuff,one trick i noticed,start off with your safari in auto sens,find a clear area and switch to manual sensitivity i start off at 18 if it seems stable in that same area then i set the coil on the ground and do the noise cancel,the 11 i used on the beach once had no problems but Ive only been to the beach once this year so far(to far away)give it a shot i found my 12x15 for a $100.00,or try the manual sens setting with the 6x8 on the Beach and see what happens

 

[dldavis79]

@akita, what I mean about deep is I want to be able to fine stuff at least 2'-3' plus, I was thinking about the safari and the 18"x15" coil.

 

[Akita]

I think that would be a good size coil for you use but realize that I have no practical experience with a coil that large.

 

[dldavis79]

Thank you @Akita and everyone else.

 

[Mtnmn]

DiDavis: Could I ask what it is that you want to look for that you need a detector that will detect down to 2 or 3 ft. or more? Even a cheap detector will detect that deep, if the target is large enough.

 

[dldavis79]

Well @mtnmn I'm not looking for any certain thing, I just like to have the ability to search that deep. I figured I will have the money to get a good one and the safari so far is the one I'm liking the most.
I live in middle tennessee and I know of some places, I know no one has been metal detecting and I believe the safari will do great.

 

[dldavis79]

This is for anyone who wants to answer this, is there any attachments/accessories for the safari, other than different size coils, that helps protect or improves the safari.

 

[Akita]

PROTECTION

One thing you want to do for sure is to place something on your screen to protect it from scratches (like dirty fingers punching buttons). So use either a stick-on picece of plastic (ZAAG type) or use one of those fabric + plastic things that covers the whole control box (i use the latter).

Always use your coil cover (comes with it). (and keep it clean inside- falsing can occur otherwise, on any machine/coil)

Storing your MD securely when not in use will protect it was well. Some like a soft case for transport. I transport behind the seat of my truck where it is securely held. For long distance, I secure and transport in a large plastic toolbox that is dedicated to my MD gear.

Never Never NEVER bring your nonwaterproof detector above horizontal after having the coil in the water. Water running down that shaft to the control box can destroy the electronics.

IMPROVEMENT

Changing coils is it. The Safari is perfect other than that.


And let me just add: Depth is over rated. My machine goes wayWayWAY deeper than I have ever been motivated to dig. If I KNEW there was a silver cache down there, then YeahBaby bring on the heavy digging apparatus, but that kind of find is rare.

 

[Mtnmn]

The Safari is a great machine and very deep, but you might want to rein in your expectations a little, no matter how large a coil you plan on going with. A very "generalized" rule of thumb is that in good ground on a large coin size object a detector will go approximately as deep as the width of the coil and a lot of that depends on such things as the amount of ground mineralization, capabilities of the operator and his machine, not to mention the amount junk in the ground and any EMI that is around. Another thing to consider is that as you go up in coil size, separation abilities tend to decrease as the size of the coil increases and vice-versa. A small coil will almost always have much better separation abilities in trash (junk) than a much larger coil and a detector's separation abilities is probably much more important than its depth unless doing something such as relic hunting. The Safari's 11" Pro coil is a very good all around coil with both good depth and separation abilities, you might want to try it awhile before moving on to a larger coil and being disappointed. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if you find out your more in need of a smaller coil such as the 6x8" SEF, because of the amount of junk in your ground rather than needing the extra depth a larger coil would provide. Believe you will like how easy the Safari is to setup and operate, unlike many more expensive machines.

 

[Akita]

Memorize what Mtnmn just posted. Gold there.


DEFINATELY get a small coil with yout machine and start with it. Your area IS trashy. I highly recommend a 6x8DD like the SEF. And work a deal with the dealers; most all of them will wheel and deal on accessories when you buy a $1k machine.
You MUST get:
Safari
6x8 SEF coil
Andy Sabich's book on the Safari
Garrett or Minelab Pinpointer
good trowel diggin tool; Gator, Lesche, Predator are good brands. typical garden store tools will eventually snap
pouch for finds and trash (i use a tool belt from lowes)

If a dealer doesnt want to make a package deal on the above and want to send you a bunch of doodad crap, move on to another dealer. Dealers must hold firm on the machine price due to Minelab contracts, but they can throw in anything they want after that 999 price. And dont forget free shipping!

Seriously, I wouldnt let anyone start with less than all these items. With the exception of the book (which i have almost memorized), I use these tools on every hunt.

 

[dldavis79]

Thank y'all for the help, I will go with the 6x8 instead of the 18x15. @Akita I was thinking of getting the detector from kellyco, its suppose to come with a pinpointer and a digging tool, plus other stuff. What do you or any of y'all think about kellyco.

 

[Akita]

I bought my stuff from Kellyco, but I didnt just accept their 'deal'. The pinpointer that they offer is Crap (caps intended) and most of the rest was useless to me. Go with the list of stuff, especially including brands, that I posted. There's other brands that are good, but I doubt that anyone will dispute that those I listed arent among the best. If theres another accessory that you think you might use, post it here and we'll tell you what we think about it.

Oh, and KellyCo was great to work with. I somehow ended up talking with the CFO and emailed him an offer on a package that I dreamed up that included what I wanted and nothing else. He accepted it and the deal went extremely smoothly.

Last week, I saw that New England Detectors was running a contest here (be sure and enter, link at top of forum) and followed the link to see what they are about. I discovered that they have the Minelab pinpointer for 169 (like everyone else) and then they give you a free Lesch (which my wife has been after me to get her) + free shipping. I emailed KellyCo, noting that I had bought my machine from them and asking if they would match or better the offer and I STILL havent heard back from them. Shoulda emailed the CFO I guess.
Meanwhile, I ordered the stuff from NED and they shipped it within a couple of hours via priority mail with tracking. Should be here in a day or 2.
So definately see what those 2 companies can do for you when you are ready to buy.

And dont forget Andy Sabich's book. You will want to read it at least twice, then study it. It will help a lot.

 

[edjcox]

Anyone that thinks they need to MD down at the 3 ft dep level (other than rlic hunters) may want to consider another technolgy like GPR.

In most situations and soils coins will not be that deep unless deliberatly buried or covered after the fact....

My own experience is that if my Lesch is one and a half times it's length in the soil and my PP isn't seeing it.... Mother Earth can keep it unless it's a screamer...


Sounds like this three foot guy is going to be digging some holes out there someplace....


Ground Penetrating Radar is the way to go. Maybe he's been watching Meteorite men and that huge rig they used to check out cornfields and such....

Get a good detector, a good digging tool, a good PP and let the Metal Detecting Goddess smile at you for a while before you go into the deep subterranean mode....