Some more Excal questions (please bear with me)

[Greg (E.Tn)]

I contacted Minelab Kellyco prior to sending my Excal 1000 in for mods and a checkup. I plan to have the machine modded with a pinpoint switch, coil replaced, and have them address the O-rings, and some issues I am having with it. I asked, but they no longer do the mod which allows the user to change coils--said they were just having too many problems with that.

All that being said, I am opting for a smaller coil than the standard 10" coil, and want to get some opinions from you guys.

And, Minelab told me that any sovereign coil I find will also work on the Excal. So, here are my options, so far:

8" Minelab Tornado Coil--supposed to still have decent depth, will be easier to sweep in river current, and should be easier to maneuver between rocks;

NEL Sharp 5" (Sovereign coil)--Don't know much about this one, and I am kinda afraid it might be TOO small.

NEL Sharpshooter 9.5"X5.5" (Sovereign coil)--I figure the depth should be better with this coil, also the pointed toe will allow me to get in between crevices better than a round coil.

Last question: the Sharpshooter can be modded with a 3' cable. I think I probably need this if I opt for this coil.

The guy I talked to at minelab was very nice and informative.

I need all the advice and feedback I can get on this. Also, if anyone has any coil suggestions I'm all ears.

Thanks;

Greg

 

[pasttom]

I have both an 800 & a 1000 Excal and have used both for years. I bought the 8 because I got a good deal and I figured it could run hotter, less EMI and faster sweep speed as well as less drag, etc. As I only beach hunt with them I found that the 10's greater depth and coverage seemed to trump and I grab the 10 inch almost every time. They are both great and about as good as you will find in their niche. IMHO

 

[ROBOCOP]

The SEF 12 x 10 might be small enough for the river. The DD design will help you pin point in the crevices.

If you get to a salt water beach you won't be "undersized" and at a disadvantage to other hunters.

It's probably a good compromise.

 

[OldBeechnut]

800 and the 1000, coils. All you will ever need if you get the PP modification. Also a good set of head phones...

 

[ROBOCOP]

Boy, now you tell me.

 

[Greg (E.Tn)]

The riverine environment I hunt in does not have a flat bottom--it is covered by rocks ranging in size from small 5-6" to boulders that are more than a foot thick, all jumbled together.

Swinging a large coil over the rocky bottom is limited to the depth potential of the coil; but being able to get a smaller coil or the toe of the coil in between rocks or crevices can be a plus.

So, I am trying to weigh detection depth vs shape of the coil itself.

A big 10" coil can be a hindrance in this type of riverine environment. I think I need something that I can wiggle into crevices, or between boulders.

 

[Greg (E.Tn)]

but a jumble of rocks, boulders, and crevices.

In some cases, the conglomeration of rocks and boulders is a foot thick or more, and it changes year by year, with the force of the current.

 

[Greg (E.Tn)]

I am leaning towards the 800 tornado and the NEL Sharpshooter right now.

 

[ROBOCOP]

Sounds like you won't need a scoop but some long needle nose pliers. You must have a lot of patience.

 

[Greg (E.Tn)]

The river bottom is boulder and rock strewn in most places, and once you get a signal, move a couple of rocks out of the way, it exposes the river bottom, which is mixture of smaller rocks, sand, pebbles, etc. There's a pretty decent current; rings hit the bottom and either get caught in a crevice between rocks, or what seems to be more likely, find their way to the river bottom and start working their way in.

Definitely can't use a scoop, or even a hand trowel or digger--the best thing is to start moving rocks, pinpoint, then start fanning. I wear a scuba mask/snorkel so I can see what I'm doing, and also use a waterproof pinpointer.

In certain areas where there are lots of big rocks and the current is too heavy to use a detector, my digging buddy uses his pinpointer only--he sticks it in between the rock crevices, and occasionally finds a good ring just doing that.

 

[OldBeechnut]

I was out Monday with the 800 xcal at a rocky beach, with about 10 inch's of sand on top..I got a few wheaties then I started moving rocks and got old silver and gold. I don't believe I could have done as well with anything bigger. I'll be back out Friday with the little 800 coil again..kicking sand and moving rocks. I had a scoop but most of the work was with my feet, I did break loose a few big boulders with the scoop but it is useless once you get into the rocks. The rocks where average 3 feet in diameter. You really can move some fairly big rocks with your feet once you get them moving. ...........I was thinking about taking a shovel next trip, amazing how many targets a rock can hide.

 

[sonnar28]

I contacted Minelab Kellyco prior to sending my Excal 1000 in for mods and a checkup. I plan to have the machine modded with a pinpoint switch, coil replaced, and have them address the O-rings, and some issues I am having with it. I asked, but they no longer do the mod which allows the user to change coils--said they were just having too many problems with that.

All that being said, I am opting for a smaller coil than the standard 10" coil, and want to get some opinions from you guys.

And, Minelab told me that any sovereign coil I find will also work on the Excal. So, here are my options, so far:

8" Minelab Tornado Coil--supposed to still have decent depth, will be easier to sweep in river current, and should be easier to maneuver between rocks;

NEL Sharp 5" (Sovereign coil)--Don't know much about this one, and I am kinda afraid it might be TOO small.

NEL Sharpshooter 9.5"X5.5" (Sovereign coil)--I figure the depth should be better with this coil, also the pointed toe will allow me to get in between crevices better than a round coil.

Last question: the Sharpshooter can be modded with a 3' cable. I think I probably need this if I opt for this coil.

The guy I talked to at minelab was very nice and informative.

I need all the advice and feedback I can get on this. Also, if anyone has any coil suggestions I'm all ears.

Thanks;

Greg

The 800 coil will definitely have the advantage on a rock strewn bottom, trying to use the 1000 coil in that situation will beat up the coil and frustrate you. There are some rocky areas in the Caribbean that I visit from time to time, I use the Excal with the 800 coil there as I could not really work it with the 1000 coil.

You won't lose much depth using the 800 coil (vs the 1000) as you can crank up the sensitivity on the 800. Also, you will cover rocky ground just as quick as target recovery will be much easier with the tighter pinpoint from the 800.

The elliptical coil is harder for me to maneuver as the toe gets stuck sometimes, a round coil seems to roll smoothly around rocks. The 5 inch coil does not have the depth that you will need for most sites.

Good luck!

Charles

 

[dewcon4414]

I agree with Joe....... id take a spade along. The question to me would be ...... is the Xcal the machine to use in fresh water situations? Pretty slow recover and tends to pick up reflections off iron first..... causing a null shut down.

 

[OldBeechnut]

I agree with Joe....... id take a spade along. The question to me would be ...... is the Xcal the machine to use in fresh water situations? Pretty slow recover and tends to pick up reflections off iron first..... causing a null shut down.

Small coil and the PP mod you can toggle quick. I hunt in pp..hear a double hit, single out each target in PP, wiggle..wiggle ..then quickly toggle over to disc and back..it will pick out the target under the Hot spot of the coil and give you a disc tone..the quick toggle between the two mods, pp to disc then back to pp will not give the machine time to see the other target...It is a slow going process but deadly when you know you have good targets mixed in with iron. I've even worked around larger pieces of iron..the problem does come when it's not iron and maybe a big aluminum sign

 

[ROBOCOP]

I like the wiggle, wiggle part.

With my big coils its more of a waggle, waggle.

ROBOCOP

 

[Greg (E.Tn)]

n/t

 

[Greg (E.Tn)]

n/t

 

[Greg (E.Tn)]

n/t