SEF coil on M6

[kybowhunter]

Love my M6 machine - but was looking at getting an additional machine to do some relic hunting since the stock M6 coil doesn't seem to have great depth.

Just wondering if any of you have used the SEF coils and would that give me the additional depth to make it a contender for relic hunting in open fields - was looking at the 15x12 SEF coil.

Thanks,
Dan

 

[Larry (IL)]

I haven't used that particular coil but from what I have read, it seems to get the same depth as the 10X12 but much heavier. Of course you will get a little better coverage.

 

[Monte]

Matter of fact, my oldest son is now set up with an as new M6 which replaces his IDX Pro. I've had 5 of the M6 units and have used all of the White's coils and many of the Detech/SEF coils as well. You asked about wanting a larger coil for "relic hunting" and wanting more depth in open fields than the stock 950 coil. The question I first have is what size and type of 'relic' are you looking for?

For large objects, such as cannon balls or other larger-size targets, the bigger search coils can work okay. They will, however, be much heavier and more difficult to control and work for long periods of time, and aren't the best pick if you're hunting inside the wooded areas. Also, they will start to lose performance and depth on responsiveness to smaller-size targets such as coins, tokens, bullets and buttons.

For best performance with the M6 I always make sure I do NOT use Tone ID, and once I get a good Ground Balance I lock the toggle to hold that GB setting. I have had good performance with the 950 coil in most settings, and I usually hunt with the Discrimination set at absolute minimum, unless it is very trashy, then I only go high enough to reject a common iron nail.

Other coils that worked OK for me have been the 10" DD Detech Excelerator and the 10" DD White's. I've also done OK with the SEF 10X12 coil and found it to work better than the 12X15, however, it is also a heavier coil than the White's 10" DD, and I think the 10" DD Excelerator is slightly lighter weight. Of these three I actually had the best results with the Excelerator followed by the White's, both 10" DD types, on both M6 and MXT units.

With all that stated which coil do I prefer when hunting more open areas and I want a little better depth than the 950? It's White's 12" concentric coil I like it better than the three DD's I mentioned for depth and especially for pinpointing. Usually the 950 works quite well, but I run the Discrimination very low and the Sensitivity very high, locking the GB setting. The 12" coil is also heavier than the 950, but I do use it from time-to-time.

95% of my detecting with an M6 and MXT is with the 6

 

[Nailbender]

Monte, why do you feel you get better performance by NOT using tones? I always use my tones, tones are the main reason I went with the M6. I also run very little disc and the sensitivity high but now I'm afraid I haven't been getting the full potential out of my unit. I also use the 5.3 most of the time but purchased a 6x8 SEF and really like it too, very sensitive coil.

 

[Monte]

Monte, why do you feel you get better performance by NOT using tones? I always use my tones, tones are the main reason I went with the M6.

I only use Tone ID, or I might only use Tone ID, when I am mainly workign a popular coin loss site, and where I anticipate most coins to be more recently lost modern coins. Places like a wood-chip filled playground, or working a private yard where I don't plan to be too aggressive on my recovery efforts, etc.

Most of the time I am using the 5.3 Eclipse search coil from White's because it fits well in and around trash, and the Discrimination is very good as is the depth of detection. And when I say I work in a trashy site, I am mainly hunting old vacant lots, old house tear-down sites, maybe some sidewalk or park renovation work, or around an old homestead, logging camp, mining camp, or ghost town. These places have a lot of non-coin targets that I like to find and that means I like to hear a clean audio 'hit.'

I just demonstrated why I do NOT like to use the Tone ID when I demonstrated with my own M6 last Saturday to our monthly metal detecting group. With coins, a trade token and a Chinese cash coin, target responses were mostly nice and proper and 'clean' sounding even when using the Tone ID function. Then I used a neat old metal toy car with the old rubber tires. It still retains most of its original yellow color but that's not the problem. The problem is a mix of size, shape, dimension, and the two tiny axles that are iron.

In the single-tone function it sounded great whether it was presented by passing it across the coil top first, bottom first, grill facing the coil or trunk towards the coil. Each had a different audio response when I used Tone ID, and it was quite terrible when I positioned the car 'on-edge' and I attribute that main cause to the position of the iron axles. One toy car, but 4 or more audio responses and they were not all interesting. Some sounded more inconsistent and 'junk-like.'

So, if I am mainly after coins, not anticipated to be deeper or in a trashy location and generally more modern, Tone ID is 'fun' to use and, at times, I do. but when I want to get serious and achieve the best depth with the cleanest audio response, I favor a single-tone audio.

I also run very little disc and the sensitivity high but now I'm afraid I haven't been getting the full potential out of my unit.

Learning when and how to use Tone ID is just as important as mastering Ground Balance or Sensitivity or Discrimination. They all serve a purpose and there are time to turn it up, turn it down, or in the case of Tone ID, turn it off.

I also use the 5.3 most of the time but purchased a 6x8 SEF and really like it too, very sensitive coil.

I know a couple of people who used and liked the 6X8 SEF coil. I thought it was okay, but I still prefer the 5.3 Eclipse.

Monte