OK, considering an Explorer II...coil questions...

[sgoss66]

I'm thinking about getting a used Explorer II, as this is what will fit the budget the best. SE Pros, and Etracs, are out of range. Nonetheless, I guess from what I can tell so far from other users, the Explorer II is a pretty nice machine in its own right. Any additional information and opinions on the Explorer II would be welcome.

I would like to know about coils, also. I guess the Minelab 1000 coil that comes stock is a pretty nice coil, from what I hear -- and I may not gain much by switching it out for the Pro coil. However, if I want to eventually add a smaller coil, but not break the bank, what do some of you feel is a good match for this machine? I have some Etrac friends who use a 6" EXcelerator on them, but don't know if this is a good option for this machine or not. Also, same thing with a larger coil -- what would be the best larger coil? FWIW, I do hunt very trashy parks and such, and I primarily am an old coin hunter. So I'd want coils best for this application. Deep as possible, but good target separation would obviously be what I'd like in a coil for this type of hunting.

Thanks for any and all thoughts on the Explorer II -- coils, or the machine itself. I have never used a Minelab machine, so this is all new for me.

Steve

 

[Idaho PRB]

After you buy the Explorer II, maybe your friends will let you try out the different coils they have and then you can see which ones you like the best.

 

[stasys]

I think cheapest from small minelab 8, if you need second hand. all small coils very similar for depth. with original explorer1000 coil you can achieve all what you need , if its works properly . my suggestion start to use your explorer and you will see how its good. good luck Stasys

 

[utahshovelhead]

For trash the 8 inch Minelab for the least money, then the 6 inch excel orator, then the 6x8 SEF butterfly for the most $. I'm just giving my opinion but in my tests of the 3 coils I had a hard time telling the better of the last two. I know there are others but I have not used them. I ended up with the SEF. I just love that wicked mean look and it surprises me how deep and sensitive it is very stable.

On the big coils, I can tell you that the 10x12 sSEF is a fantastic coil the pro coil is sweat but the 10x12 SEF has a vacuum feel to it and pinpoints very accurately on the deeeeeep coins it hits, again very stable and sensitive. you would be hard pressed again to show that it is better than the pro coil but in use (for me) it has a style "wicked mean" and function that works very well for me. I have fairly consistent results with solid targets at the 8-9 inch range with great accuracy in the targeting information with the 10x12SEF and deeper with less accuracy but good and consistent enough to get me to dig some deep stuff. ( if decent ground) so in many of my areas this is my main coil.

I used the EX II for 5 years and kept the stock coil on most sites but used a 14 inch accelerator coil on one BIG site predominately. That is a really good deep seeking coil and easy it was for me to just slide the coil back and know that the target was just under the tip of the big coil. At first it was hard to get used to but after a while I got pretty good at it though the holes I dig would be 12 wide to get down to the 12in depth. I still really like using this big coil on beaches and big lawns that are old and hunted out or just mixed up by farm equipment. very deep. One silver dollar came up out of 18 inches +.

My ground is mineralized.
If you can test the coils yourself on YOUR soils that would be the best for you. This is just my personal experience and working style.

good luck to you.
utahshovelhead

 

[sgoss66]

Thanks for all the advice, folks. Yes, testing coils in my dirt would be wise, and I have a good test garden set up to do that. Borrowing friends' coils is a good idea, but I also appreciate the thoughts of experienced users. I think one of my friends with the 6" excelerator also has the 10x12 SEF, so I'm sure I could borrow them and run them through the test garden. Plus, it sounds like (and have heard from others) that the Minelab 1000/1050 coils are pretty good in their own right. Maybe the stock coil, plus a 10x12 SEF, and a small excelerator would have most of my bases covered. Is the 10x12 SEF substantially deeper than the stock coil? If not, maybe the small one (6" excelerator, 6x8 SEF, or 8" Minelab) should be the first I should get...

Steve

 

[stasys]

sef10x12,pro, 1050 is the same deep. at least for me. Stasys

 

[sgoss66]

So, stasys, what do you see the advantage being of the SEF 10x12 over the Minelab 1000/1050 -- anything? I assume the 1000/1050 coils are DD coils?

Steve