Why are there 2 coil sizes with the Excalibur? Isn't bigger, better?

[beachdude]

This may be a dumb question, but I am wondering why anyone would buy the smaller coil size when they buy and Excalibur... For beaches and water, where you have to cover a lot of area, isn't the larger diameter preferable? It seems to me that the DD coil type would provide a lot better target separation for trashy beaches and water anyway (compared to a concentric coil like the Whites BHID for example), even with the larger coil size. Also, if you went with the smaller coil, wouldn't you be sacrificing depth?

I am looking at buying one at some point (perhaps) and would be interested in finding out why some of you chose the smaller coil over the larger one... Thanks.

 

[Critterhunter]

I have two friends who have both an 8" and the 10" coils on their Excaliburs. They both do well with them. The 8" coil is actually only 7 & 14" in size. A smaller coil can run smoother and see deeper in really badly mineralized ground or containing a lot of hot rocks. That's true on any machine. Less so on a Minelab but still true at some places. The bigger coil takes in too much ground signal and washes out the target at depth in some bad grounds. Also, if there is a lot of hot rocks or iron in the beach/water then the smaller coil will be less likely to null over that stuff and be able to see a ring or coin in between all of it. Another perk to a smaller coil is for working between rocks in the water.

Now, all that said, my 8" coil friend is going to pick up a second Excalibur this winter with a 10" coil so he can cover more ground faster while gridding in the water. In general a 10" coil is going to get more depth, but that little 8" coil is known for some outstanding depth for that small of a coil. I've heard of guys getting coins around a foot deep with it. I told my friend I'd hardware a waterproof plug on his current Excal so he could switch between both coils instead of buying a 2nd Excal with a 10" on it, but for some reason he'd rather have two machines with both coils. It's his money, but it seems sensless to me to spend over 1K when for about $200 and a few extra bucks for some waterproof plugs he could have both coils for his current machine.

Me? If I was to buy an Excal I'd get the one with the 10" coil for more coverage/depth, and in fact I'd probably end up throwing a S-12 on it. My #1 coil on land is my 12x10 but it's too much drag for my tastes in the water, but I suspect the S-12 is very little drag due to it's round shape, and I think that coil is either 12.5 or 12.25" in actual size, so it's got over 2" more coverage than the 10" coil for griding out the water or the dry sand faster.

I would bet that if you took a poll in the beach forum you might find most Excal guys are using the 10" Tornado. 2nd would be probably the S-12. And third would be the 8" coil. That's what I'd put my money on anyway. Oh, and the WOT would be probably right behind the S-12 in popularity. For most beaches the 8" is going to get less depth and of course has less coverage, and coverage is important at many beaches, more so than depth in some cases.

 

[dewcon4414]

Most i know use the 10 inch or a WOT if they modify it for larger coils. Larger coils cover more sand good separation and id on deep targets. Down side if you go to big is you cant run much sensitivity and they miss a lot more of the smaller gold. The DD works great.... covers like a scanner you arent useing a cone foot print. Some really likes the 8 inch because they swing easier, good depth and they choose to work an area. Where as someone with say a WOT dont care about stud earrings..... they are after the larger gold. Thou your beach may be a factor..... i believe your style of hunting is the best reason for choice. Go for depth and coverage or work an area picking up small items other miss. When its quite out there trust me you want to cover more beach or buy a PI.

Dew

 

[stumppass]

The best bet is to have one of each!!

HH

 

[beachdude]

Well I currently own a Dual Field and a Whites BHID, which are working well for me now, but the freshwater site I am currently hunting is littered with iron and any good targets are mixed in with it. My BHID's coil is so large that most times I get multiple IDs on a swing (iron, jewelry, gold) so I end up having to dig everything anyway, to find out which of the targets isn't the iron... I pretty much gave up using the target ID lights and switched to the Dual Field and I am digging it all. It is brutally hard, but I am finding gold. I am wondering if a DD coil would help me pic through a site like that better, but I am not too sure it would.... It is a lot of money to spend and a learning curve to see...

 

[dewcon4414]

I doubt you will find it much of a learning curve..... if it beeps you dig it, if it nulls its iron.... keep moving. Pricy yes..... but you would have a great combination with the DF. Also if you are water hunting..... unlike dirt hunt the Xcal will pay for its self faster than most machines.

Dew