Has anybody taken the EXII gold detecting?

[Mick in Dubbo]

Hi all
It's a bit of an unusual question,but I'm looking for a second detector to compliment my X-terra30 and as I live near some gold
country I'd like a detector that can do that on the odd occasion.
As far as discrimination goes the EXII looks to be unbeatable.
One last question I have; how long does it blank out for when you pass over iron? Had a Sovereign for a short time and it used blank out for 3 seconds each time. Drove me nuts!
Thanks for any info that can be passed on
Cheers Mike Evans.

 

[Mike Bearden]

I wouldn't use the Explorer for a gold prospecting machine, at least it wouldn't be my first choice.
Maybe you should have gotten the X-Terra 50 instead with the optional 18.75 MHz coil, it's very hot on small gold rings and will hit a gold ear stud way better than the Explorer.
Unless you're wanting a DEDICATED gold machine instead of a all around detector then the X 50 will be hard to beat for the price. My next choice would be a Whites MXT as they are well known for finding gold nuggets.
H.H.
Mike

 

[GraveDiggerMax-VaBch-Va]

said, u really need a nugget machine............those boys really get the little tiny pieces

 

[Hard Nosed Dave]

Mike,

You asked about the Explorer 11:


"how long does it blank out for when you pass over iron?"

In my opinion:

This can depend on the size of the piece of iron and or the content of iron and the size and depth of the non ferrous object(a nugget)in the soil, as well many factors affecting that need to be considered.

It can sound "BLANKED OUT" by a drop in your background THRESHOLD and it's SOUNDS in FERROUS when you discriminate with IRONMASK starting at -15 or a pattern in SMARTFIND that excludes(black out most of the left hand side and some of the bottom right hand side of the SMARTFIND screen . What can happen is that you can tell where the piece's of IRON are by using IRON MASK -16 and the tones it produces , you pass over a piece of IRON you will know that you are doing so, mostly by the fact of its' mostly LOW TONE and the CROSSHAIR location.
If there is anything non-ferrous slightly under and around the edge of this piece of ferrous material, then depending on some other factors(coil size, proximity and location of the non ferrous target and MAYBE the level of iron in the soil),you should here it as a higher tone and with a bouncing cross hair. Again such reactions by the Explorer are dependent on detector settings(including RESPONSE and RECOVERY),soil conditions and soil types.

I am pretty sure you can depend on this being what what happens in most cases. I to will try the Explorer XS and EX 11 in the West Aussie gold Fields soon......well should I say,I hope to do so.

Based on what most non ferrous targets I have found to date in similar ground conditions though ,I think it should be okay for prospecting for nuggets( just not the real tiny ones). You have the Exterra 30(might try one myself)but just in case, I think I will bring a hired Minelab SD or GP along, so as the trip will not be a total waste for me if I the Explorer dose NOT work for me.


Cheers mate.

Hard Nosed Dave

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

thanks for all the replies guys.It's good to get some Aussie input Dave.Haven't seen much on the Findmall site so far(been reading the E-Terra and Garret forums mostly).I'd love to hear how it goes for you when you get back (if things work out for you).Who knows somebody else may have carried out that experiment for us and might post the results for us!
Mike and Max.I don't mind admitting that I might be drawing a bit of a long bow here, but at present despite the gold price rising(expecting to hit U.S$1100 over the next 2yrs)I don't expect to be doing enough gold detecting to warrant getting a dedicated gold machine(unless I get afflicted by an incurable bout of gold fever).
Your right about the X-Terra50 Mike, but at the time of purchase the 30 was the better choice for me (dictated by current funds and a need to have a simple solid performing machine.It's delivered that in spades;oh and did I say anything about a big increase in both confidence nd interest in the hobby as a result!).Very happy with this machine!So is my 10yr old son,hence the search for a second machine that can compliment the 30 and perform in areas that it can't.
as you know by now I also have the WhitesMXT in my sights(from post on findmall's MXT forum.Thanks for the reply there too.looking forward to reading that info!).
cheers all Mike Evans.