Another Newbie with an Explorer,

[Tico]

Hello Guys & Girls
well, I'm going to give it another try, just bought a used XS with 2 coils. I had an explorer S & Quattro in the past but never gave them a chance. Have been hunting with a CZ for a few years and found some good stuff but I'm thinking the explorer may open some of my old spots back up. Hoping anyway.
I'll be reading your post over and over trying to cut into my learning curve as much as possible, but you can read until your blue in the face but nothing works like learning from digging holes.

My first question is that this machine is coming with the Standard Minelab 10" & 8" coils, I know I will eventually get the new pro coil but which of these coils do you reccomend I start learning with. I hunt old churches, homesteads and the like for mostly coins. I'm thinking the 8" is the best one to start with.

Thanks in advance for your opinions and any help will be appreciated.
Here's the 2 coils I'm getting with the XS

 

[go-rebels]

Spend 1/2 your time in the field at your favorite locations and 1/2 the time in a test bed. If you have a yard, bury a few different coins and at least one coin next to a nail. Then play in your test bed changing settings in a trial and error fashion.

 

[Tico]

Any recommendations on which of the 2 coils to start with?

 

[grumpyolman]

The Pro coil. Hunt the classifieds hard and you'll find a used one. Jim

 

[Hotcz70]

You would probably be better off learning the machine with the 8" coil to start off with.

As for the pro coil...it's a sweet coil...and I use one often.

Don't over look the 10 x 12 SEF coil though because in my IL soil it truthfully handles iron better than the pro coil for me.

Not sure why...but deep iffy iron sounds like just that...deep iffy iron on the 10 x 12. On the pro coil though....I dig a lot more nails because they sound much better at depth than they do on the 10 x 12 coil.

That's just my opinion...but I think DerrellD has similar thoughts...as does NealNoIN

 

[eppillus06]

hello mate,been on the explorer solid for 4 years,you are better off using the 10" as standard,7.5 in clutted area's around doors ,bit's of fence,12" depth max i would say,the 17".5" you should use on open land with harness,they are good for hammered half's,10" will do roman,celtic,strapend's crotal bells,coins,wont get a hoard off a 7.5 but will the 10,or 17.5.if your in the usa,your better off with the gpx 4500 for depth's of 6metre's,more expensive,longer to train with and the caseing's at the back of your arm.bit awkward if you ask me.i know people still on the the one before the se,and they never change the 10".all the best

 

[Tico]

Thanks for the info, I think I will start with the 8" coil and wait until I learn the machine before I invest in the different more higher performance coils.
I'm in South East Texas, I think our soil is pretty mild mostly. On my CZ it always ground balances around the middle if not a little lower. The CZ GB knob is from 1 to 10 and my CZ GB's around 4 or 5.
Being 60 yrs old, I might have trouble with the weight, may have to invest in a swingy thingy. Anybody use one of those?

 

[eppillus06]

the body harness is great,but dont wear it on bare skin as 1 it will chaff your body,2 it will look like you just got out of alcatraz,lightweight,gramm's,comes with plastic attachment,take that off,get a dog lead,take the fastner off,attach to harness,away you go.job done,go all day on it,without the need to feel wether you've got tennis elbow.

 

[dippodigger]

I learned my xs with the smaller coil. It really helps you learn signals better to start off with.