Skid Plate or no Skid Plate... that is the question

[the Swede]

So how about it - am I better of removing the Skid Plate and put some "heavy-duty-marine-epoxy-glue" in its place; or is it better to leave it there and occasionally remove it and rinse out any foreign objects?

 

[Mirco]

So how about it - am I better of removing the Skid Plate and put some "heavy-duty-marine-epoxy-glue" in its place; or is it better to leave it there and occasionally remove it and rinse out any foreign objects?

I am very much comfortable with removing and washing the cover after each hunt. It is so easy! Why to risk alterating in any way a very delicate and sophisticated machine?

 

[bottlebum]

Plus, you will void the coils' warranty if you cover it with epoxy.

 

[cotton]

I agree ,how hard is it.

 

[willia in tex.]

I just sealed mine with silicon never had any problem after that. hh willia

 

[Mirco]

I just sealed mine with silicon never had any problem after that. hh willia

what silicon please specify. brand name. model or product name or number. I will do too.

 

[willia in tex.]

I think it was regular silicon It was years ago. can't remember. It might have been silicon glue, as many cars as I was working on at that time it could of been the silicon gasket sealer. any of them would probably work. I'm sorry I really can't remember. hh willia

 

[Sanddigger]

siliconed to the Excal 800. I wished I had never done it and just used a coil cover and removed it after each use. I am in the process of peeling that thick stuff off and hoping I don't hurt the coil. It's a mess.

 

[GraveDiggerMax-VaBch-Va]

n/t

 

[willia in tex.]

I first did it on a mine lab that I land hunted with and I used to every once is a while check it to see if any thing got in which it didn't, I was actually just cleaning up the machine. But when I had my cz-20 sand getting under the coil was a probles so I did it to my cz-20 also. I checked it twice over a 2 year period and it was clean inside the cover.I've since sold it and it may well have gotten sand in the coil cover since the last time I checked it. hh willia

 

[Gulf Hunter]

Well Swede, I ran the coil covers, from Jan. '06-June '08. They are a pain-in-the-arse! I used to shread one about once a quarter. Had a supply of them in the hunting closet. Of course, they kept the coil nice and clean and free of abrasions and kept my warranties validated. I usually had to remove them about once a hunt, to wash the black sand out of them and EVERYTIME I got home, I would remove them to wash out the coil and cover.

Now, since that time, I've gone the Loctite Marine Epoxy route. I have pretty much invalidated my coil warranties (not much left anyway). I NO longer have to keep a supply of coil covers, but DO need to keep some extra epoxy around. I wear through it, ESPECIALLY on the 800 in a couple of hunts, just enough where I can see black coming through on the edges. I no longer am worried about how much sand is trapped in the coil cover and whether it is wreaking havoc on my signal. I DO like the epoxy route better, even though it looks like I maybe in for a bit more maintenance, to make sure they stay coated. I think maybe I'm a bit harsher than most on coil bottoms, as I make contact with the bottom, to ensure that my coil control is good. I cannot see the bottom here, as my water is murky and that is the way I do it. Best of luck to ya mate!

 

[Mat in MA]

No skid plates or coil cover for me. Easy enough to clean and snap on, but too much of a pain to get off every time. I've gone the spray on bed liner route. I tried the epoxy, but for the price and how much you need I don't think it's worth it. Besides, it's messy applying it. The liner in a can I can do about 20 coils in 5 minutes. You can also buy them in colors so they match your coil. As you can see it's great looking and if you have a dark coil, it stays dark. Happy Hunting !!!

[attachment 100700 coil1.jpg]

[attachment 100701 coil2.jpg]

 

[the Swede]

Now THAT looks REALLY, REALLY neat. Could you please, Mat in MA, specify what type of liner you have used. I am from Sweden, so I guess I will have to find something similar. But I am sure I will find something useful in the local hard-ware store.

 

[bottlebum]

Now THAT looks REALLY, REALLY neat. Could you please, Mat in MA, specify what type of liner you have used. I am from Sweden, so I guess I will have to find something similar. But I am sure I will find something useful in the local hard-ware store.

Swede, you might want to use the skid plate until the warranty on the coil runs out. You'll void the warranty if you put anything else on it. Then again, if the warranty doesn't matter to you then spray away.....

 

[DukeOBass]

n/t

 

[Mat in MA]

Hey Swede - Bottlebum is correct. Be sure your warranty has expired on your coils before using this stuff in case you need to send your detector back for service. If that doesn't matter to you then ..... spray away.

My detectors are out of warranty and one I purchased 2nd hand, but in great shape. I've added a photo below of the liner that I used which you can purchase in different colors to match your coil. You can find more posts on this forum under "Brush on or Spray on" which I posted earlier. If you go there you'll see other comments and other photos as well.

Good Luck and Happy Hunting !!!

[attachment 100778 bedlinerspray.jpg]

 

[EARTHLINGX]

on my minelab excaliber i put it on and then seal it with 100% silicone that you would use to seal a bathtub with.... DO NOT use adhesive silicone that is different... I have never had a problem with it using the 100% silicone.....

 

[king-ghidorah]

No skid plates or coil cover for me. Easy enough to clean and snap on, but too much of a pain to get off every time. I've gone the spray on bed liner route. I tried the epoxy, but for the price and how much you need I don't think it's worth it. Besides, it's messy applying it. The liner in a can I can do about 20 coils in 5 minutes. You can also buy them in colors so they match your coil. As you can see it's great looking and if you have a dark coil, it stays dark. Happy Hunting !!!

Liner in a can. Now that is a great idea. How was it applying it as a spray? Is it messy?