Xterra DD coils? :detecting:

[khouse]

I have read the FAQFAQ a few times. I can't find a good answer to this question. Let me first say that the Headhunter's and Fisher 1280 runs at a very low frequency. I believe about 2.5 kHz? The Fisher CZ series is 5/15 kHz. It has been said that the HF DD coil is good on the salt. But wouldn't the 7.5 be better? Would a 3 kHz DD coil be even better if one was to be manufactured? Has anyone tried the MF and HF DD coils side by side on the salt? Since I hope to look for nuggets this year I know the 10.5 HF would be better. But I am also hoping to search some Florida beaches too. I really only want to buy one more coil. I already have a 6 inch HF DD coil. What would you do?

 

[BarnacleBill]

The HF will do better on the small gold, but the MF & LF do better on depth against the minerals. I don't have the MF DD so I haven't done any saltwater comparisons. On a moderate black sand beach I was able to run the 10.5 HF DD at sens=23. Not bad for a single freq VLF considering the size of the coil.

The HeadHunter and 1280 VLFs are NOT good saltwater machines. The HeadHunter PI is good on the beach, but no discrimination, bring a ready supply of Aleve, 'cause your gonna need it!

The CZ is a whole different matter, this is a dual frequency detector, and it is not so much that it is 5KHz but that it is dual frequency that makes it an excellent saltwater machine. This allows it to ground balance against the slat & against the sand. Minelab also makes many multi-freq detectors that will do well on saltwater beaches, Excaliburs, Explorers, Quattro, & Sovereigns. But in the dry sand with an HF coil looking for small gold, the X70 will crucify any of the above.

HH
BarnacleBill

 

[khouse]

BB,
I have been leaning towards the 10.5 HF coil. This way I can beach hunt and prospect with the same coil. I may loose some depth in the salt? What do you think?

 

[BarnacleBill]

You may, and I like data better than speculation, so I hate to give a definitive answer without the data to back it up. How mineralized the beach sand is, is going to be the major factor, as ocean water salinity doesn't vary as much as the magnetic component of the sand. The less black sand the better the HF will do, and there may be a tipping mineralization point where on a given low conductivity target they may be equal in depth.

HH
BarnacleBill

 

[khouse]

I will be hunting both sides of Florida. But mostly the Gulf side. I hunted there a few years back with a CZ5. I was pretty successful. I don't recall any or much black sand. I'm still leaning toward the 10.5 HF coil. One gold item is worth a ton of clad!

 

[Tinfoil]

This is one of the beaches I hunt over in Fl. : : Later Jerry aka Tinfoil

 

[Tinfoil]

n/t

 

[khouse]

I don't recall seeing anything like that in Destin. Where exactly was that?

 

[B.T]

You might want to have a squiz at the 6" 18.75 khz coil. Its a killer on gold. I went out a couple of days ago and for fun gave it a whirl on an area know for small stuff. I got 13 bits ofr just under 1/2 gram. A couple were around 1/30th to 1/40th of a gram. All but one was on the surface with most being about 1 to 1 1/2 inch deep. All were good signals and when dropped on the coil they screamed like they weighed ten times what they did. One bit though which is just under 1/10th of a gram came in from 2 inches down and had me thinking it was going to be a grammy piece. When I finally located it I couldnt believe how the 70 was smacking these little bits in from under the soils. Ok, the ground was good enought to run the sens at 30, there was some ground murmers and threshold rolls, but it was workable and the results amazed me. No great finds I know and only just paid for my petrol but a ton of fun and testement to how hot the 70 is on small gold and in the right enviroment. I'll post some pics of this "electronic panning" exercise up next week some time.

 

[Tinfoil]

Iron bits that drive you crazy. They pop high tone and ID high depending on the size. HH Jerry aka tinfoil

 

[khouse]

I have that coil and it works great. I was wanting a coil that can cover some ground and do pretty good in wet salt sand.