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Why a Coil Cover?

C

cjw

New member
a Coil Cover?

Is it to protect the coil against 'bumps' against stumps, rocks etc as you maneuver through the 'hunt'?

are the covers necessary? are the coils easily damaged?

I appreciate any comments....thanks
 
Mostly they're to keep the coil face from getting scratched up. I often hunt in areas with a lot of gravel, so I use one.

John
 
Orion42 said:
Mostly they're to keep the coil face from getting scratched up. I often hunt in areas with a lot of gravel, so I use one.

John
Click to expand...

Thanks for your comment.

Will scratches on the coil alter its performance?

Can a coil have scratches ? nicks? dents? and still perform at 100% ?

I'm trying to decide how 'necessary' a cover is...Cosmetic? or Protection for coil performance?.
 
The biggest reason for covers is to protect the coil from scratches and for what they cost I use them. Some on here don't like them, some folks do. They protect your investment so I say why not. Garrett coils are built tougher than nails so one shouldn't need them. I think if you hit a rock or something else hard enough to crack your coil, the cover probably wouldn't have prevented it either, so, for me it's cosmetic, the coil cover keeps my coil looking new which helps retain the value (Not that I would ever sell my Garrett) but thats about it.:garrett:
 
I appreciate the comments.

To cover or not to cover?

I think I'll keep it 'naked" and see how it goes.

thanks again
 
Coil covers came about years ago to stop wear on the coils. If your coil wore through it would stop functioning.

However, coils today have tougher finishes. I don't know that covers are necessary with todays coils. Then again, it doesn't hurt to have them. HH
 
there is a very very slight loss of depth using a coil cover i've heard . a lot of old coils were made of softer material and could be slit by a sharp projection . i have seen old coils slit open from sharp rocks . so i guess it all depends on where your fishing . imoo .
 
In very cold weather they're helpful. Those hard coils will chip like ice if they're cold and bumped against a rock. I live in Maine and detect along rocky beaches in winter. I learned the hard way and now use the covers.
 
my friends ace 250's coil is so damaged i don't see how it keeps working. he doesn't believe in a coil cover. he says he will just buy a new coil when it quites working. i guess you can do that if you got the money. the coil on my ace still looks brand new and i have had my ace longer than him. i have never seen a loss in depth with a coil cover.
 
With me, it's sometimes on and sometimes off. Downside to me is on my 1500 the cover creates kind of a bowl or plate that gets full of leaves, dirt, etc. and I have to tip it up often to dump it out. If i am hunting in grass or loose dirt (I don't drag the coil on the ground but stuff happens) then I will leave the cover off. If I am in rocky areas or tight places where I might bump a tree or something, I use it.
Al
 
cjw said:
Orion42 said:
Mostly they're to keep the coil face from getting scratched up. I often hunt in areas with a lot of gravel, so I use one.

John
Click to expand...

Thanks for your comment.

Will scratches on the coil alter its performance?.....................

No.

Can a coil have scratches ? nicks? dents? and still perform at 100% ?..............

Scratches and nicks will not hurt the coil. But chipping and cracking can as it can
let moisture invade the windings.

I'm trying to decide how 'necessary' a cover is...Cosmetic? or Protection for coil performance?....

Dunno.. I use them on all my coils as I'm paranoid of chipping and cracking of the epoxy.
And although the coils are pretty tough, being they seem to be epoxy for the most part,
they can chip and crack fairly easy if one were to whack a rock or hard ground the wrong way.
They don't effect depth. Actually, being as you can safely scrub the ground closer with the covers,
you can actually gain depth.
So it's both cosmetic, and protection of coil performance. I've been using covers since day one,
and my coils still look like new on the bottoms. Also, I've had very little problems with dirt
getting under the covers and causing falsing. The covers fit so tight, there is not much room
for dirt to get in. But I'll still pull them off every once in a while and clean them just to be sure.
The sniper is the only one that really doesn't need a cover as it's sealed plastic. It basically
has the cover built in. But.. I still use an extra cover on the sniper too.. Overkill, but I bought it
when I got the coil so I might as well use it. So it's got double protection.
But I consider it fairly critical on the stock and 9x12 coil if you want to avoid general damage
or wear and tear after a period of years..
I hunt around rocks quite a bit and a hard rock whack can mess up a coil.
I consider the covers as cheap insurance against possible damage.
Click to expand...
 
I have coils covers for some of my coils, a few with no covers, and one where I sprayed the truck bed liner stuff on the bottom. The coils without cover - yeah scratches and such but I have never had any coil problems except for one years ago that had a manufacturer defect.
One coil I have, I had used it a good bit for about 20 years and the bottom looks rough. I had figured if I wear into it, I would maybe try to save it with coats of epoxy or better yet, just buy a new one. Wear of a coil is something I don't really try and prevent. I'll just continue scraping them in gravel, dirt, rock etc. when need to be. If I can get some good use out of them, then I figure I got my money worth.
Some places I prefer not to have a cover because the coils I do have, I don't seal them. It's amazing on how some get fine debris between the cover and coil, and when mineralization get in there (especially black sand), it can sure skew up the detector operation. Then a good cleaning brings things back to where life is better. Had this happen most though detecting for nuggets in hot dry conditions.
 
I usually use a coil cover EXCEPT WHILE NUGGET HUNTING!:detecting:Tiny nuggets can be missed if a coil cover is used. I've put match head sized/half gram nuggets ON the Scorpion search coil with coil cover on and IT WAS NOT DETECTED. However, without the coil cover on, the tiny nugget sounds off loud and clear. So, if nugget hunting I suggest that you do not use a coil cover. Even though you may be hunting in a particularly rocky, sandy and gravelly area, remember, a nice little nuggy or two can buy you a new search coil if needed.:biggrin:Happy Hunting!:)
 
Some people use them but I never do. They are a pain. If you don't keep them cleaned out your tector will false. Unless you use your coil to drive stakes with or as a hammer you don't need one. The new Garrett coils are all poured epoxy and tough as a tank.

Bill
 
It will continue to perform as long as any scratches or dents fail to reach the inside of the coil and you really have to abuse one for that to happen, especially the new ones that are poured epoxy.

Bill
 
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