karelian

BT-168D battery tester, again best found on Amazon or Ebay. Should be under $10.

Pelican 1050 case with aa insert. Amazon or Ebay should give you start. Like all Pelican cases it is weather sealed and solid. I like it because it holds 40 cells and it keeps the dust and dirt out. I can empty the box and wash it in the sink, then just leave it outside to dry. Karelian

The Garrett A2B was typical of machines available at the time. They had a meter, operated as VLF/TR, ten turn ground balance made it easier in hot ground. Solid metal construction, lots of batteries and a bit of weigh. Lucky if it balanced well and more often than not the handle blocked the meter. We have come a long way folks. I take the old girl out when I feel nostalgic and when I know other detectorists will be around. A great conversation piece and it does not go unnoticed.. It has brought back a lot of memories and made me new friends..

I used one of these when I was 17 years old. Rich pickings back then, way way back then... A lot of younger detectorists may not know what a Garrett A2B is or looks like. Goes back to the old Groundhog circuitry, 15khz, VLF/TR, adapted for hot ground with a ten turn ground balance, tone control for audio. A good reputation here in Australia for finding gold. Before Minelab became king and before Pulse Induction became the main game.. This was found nearly unused, a real 'Closet Queen'. Seller told me he lost the battery tray not long after he got it, sat in the closet for nearly three decades... Karelian Some images to answer the question..

Forgot to mention PM Coils also produced a limited number of coils for the Whites GMT, possibly other brands and models such as the Infinium , Scorpion Stinger etc. They were happy to experiment, that willingness to 'have a go' is sorely missed, since no current coil manufacturers have yet stepped into the possibly very profitable gap left by the Bigfoot. We can all dream can't we? Karelian

Sadly Pm Coils is out of the game, for a while they made a Scarab 18 x 14, Nuggeteer 18 x 6 in mono and AI, 12 x 4 mono and AI. There was also an 18 Tarantula, it's in the photo, two coils shown with funny shape. Jimmy's T-foot as an 18 x 5.5 duel field would be the ideal beach coil. Don't know how many Razorback Beach Hog's were made, a real beach sweeper. Only rarely spot Nuggeteer coils on the local Australian classifieds, very reasonably priced compared to the 'bigfoot' coils I sometimes see advertised in the USA. Paid $60 for the 12 x 4 AI and $175 delivered, for the 18 x 6 mono. (Australian dollar roughly US 70 cents.) I'm interested in how the big 18 x 6 mono balances on either the Pro or SL, it was classed as a 'patch finder' coil. These coils seem well put together, quality feel and solid. The coil cable is quality, also durable and the coil cover fits well. The Nuggeteer GPX coils already used Litz wire, so I'm looking forward to testing that 18 x 6. A bit wider than the genuine 'bigfoot' but the same length so on a pulse machine depth should be interesting. Karelian

Now what I really wanted from this style of coil is something like a 'bigfoot' for the beach. My current beach coil is the Jimmy Sierra Digger 14 x 8 mono coil made for him by Miner John. Well balance and light with a good footprint it is a winner. I've given up trying to find a bigfoot coil for either my MXT or XL PRO machines, too old and rare plus the prices are a bit high.. A nice Razorback Beach Hog would be great but again too rare and hard to find in Australia whilst perfect for my Tdi machines. As luck would have it I am waiting for a Nuggeteer 18 x 6 mono to arrive. Not my first choice but for this style of coil we have few options and opportunities are not to be missed.. Coverage is the key goal, decent depth but not too much... if nothing else it should just eat up large areas fast.. Full review to follow.. Karelian

I've had this coil for quite some time, but it was packed away and forgotten. It was purchased for A$60 because I was intrigued. It is the anti-interference version. Measures 12 x 4 and uses the MInelab lower rod. Weight is decent, build quality is good. Performance in the field still remains a mystery as I've yet to use it. I gave it a quick air test just to see how it behaved on the Tdi Pro. This version has a hot spot in the centre of the coil which appears very sensitive to small targets at shallow depth. Seems to hit fairly well at shallow depths but doesn't have much punch for the deeper targets. Test garden results on coins would give real world depth on coins between a solid hit around 15cm or 6 inches and fading fast past 20cm or 8 inches. Useless air test with ground balance off, gain at max, in ALL, frequency in the middle, pulse delay at 10. 1 grain was 7cm .5 gram gold coin 16cm 1/2 Sovereign 23cm Us Quarter 23cm Aussie Penny 25cm Whites Buckle 33cm So in summary it hits hard on small and shallow targets, the centre of the coil is a hot spot for sure.. Fades fast as depth increases, the big Whites buckle just managed 13 inches. Since I managed max gain on the Tdi Pro in an EMI hot zone, the Anti-interference feature seems to work ok.. One of the things I like about the Tdi machines is the ability to plug in all sorts of coils, never know if you don't have a go.. My Tdi SL is highly resistance to EMI and the Pro less so but still very good. This coil could make more sense mounted on a Minelab around electric fences and mobile phone towers.. etc. All the best, Karelian

I like the Whites battery tray system, but it requires me to 'test' each one of the eight AA cells as I load the tray. My father was an electronics technician and when gadgets failed his first question was always the same.. 'Did you check the batteries.?' In my experience he was on to something. Ok, the Pelican AA battery holder may be excessive, but the cheap tester is well worth it and I have a 'system' in place which means failures are rare. Cheaper ammo boxes keep AA cells well sorted, clean and protected whilst ready for use. Most of my machines run on AA cells, I also use them on GPS, radios, torches, battery banks etc. I buy 'bricks' of bulk AA cells, quality but cheap, new technology some with ten year cell life. Too many cheap and nasty cells out there so it pays to be a bit fussy about what we 'feed' our expensive toys.. All the best, Karelian

My MXT has given years of valuable service, the 24k and GMX have made a credible argument for an upgraded nugget hunting VLF. Must agree the new slimmer and flatter coil on the 24k is a big move in the right direction. Don't like to criticise the 'old girl' but the Shooter 6x4 and Eclipse 5.3 were always a bit 'chunky' and the move to the 'slimmer' design would be most welcome.. Every little bit helps when hunting for the specks.. The higher frequency in the GMT made it hard work in 'hot' Australian ground, so I found myself happy with the MXT. Looking at the images you can see the MXT has a practical limit when it comes to detecting small gold in hot ground. Smallest gold found was 0.15 grams, half of which was gold. Time and technology move on and the GMX Sport has sparked my interest as it opens new options. Looking forward to its release.

I've been able to exercise some restraint in regards to buying the 24k, the lack of 6x4 dd has helped a lot plus the ability of my MXT to fill the niche to a reasonable extent. The addition of waterproofing which doubles as weather and dust protection is a big bonus. The promised coils package would seal the deal... Pulse Induction technology dominates nugget hunting in Australia for many good reasons. Their remains in my view a credible argument for a capable VLF as part of my nugget hunting arsenal. A waterproof high frequency VLF would expand my crevicing and panning toolkit. Lot of smaller gold left, hard hit areas continue to produce the fly specks.. it is the bigger bits that are more elusive. The 24k looks good and all the reports are interesting. The GMX offers just that little bit more.. All the best, Karelian

Jesse the RNB HP3100 is a system using three 18650 cells, fully charged it peaks at roughly 12.5 volts. An excellent well made product that is ideal for many White's metal detectors. You are fortunate to have many excellent and cheaper options.. perhaps better ones when looking at the Tdi SL. The 'orange pack' uses three 18650 cells, but you have to remove them from the pack and use a charger. Good if you want to put fresh cells in out in the field or update the cells. Cheap and decent quality made in Ukraine, still on fleabay.. Equal performance to the RNB. The AW2200 is the older version of the RNB HP3100, well made and reliable. Ideal for my MXT and XL PRO, but I have explored other options on the Tdi SL.. There are battery packs and modifications to the White's pack online, 9 x aa, 10 x aaa, 4 x 18650. Again spoilt for choice, so I suggest going through this forum and others, research is key here. Good luck Jesse. Karelian

Yes EarnestRooster, when it comes to minimising ground noise and maintaining smooth operation there is only one rule. Whatever works... In theory 10 is optimal, but by advancing it a bit to 12 etc.. and reducing ground noise then why not? In my case as long as I can keep hitting that one grain ingot then I know I have all the sensitivity I need on small targets. We can run the machines 'hot' and pick up ground noise etc, makes for hard work trying to distinguish targets from background noise. Set it up to run quiet and enjoy a smooth and stable threshold, less tiring and you will more easily pick up faint targets. The smaller the coil then the less ground noise you will pick up. Also better sensitivity on smaller targets. So that 7.5 DF should be mounted on the detector and all it's capabilities fully investigated. A choice in coils is always a good thing. Making for a more flexible set up. Don't forget the conductivity switch. I run mine in ALL and LOW when prospecting. LOW conductivity setting will settle it down on hot ground, but generally stay in ALL depending on circumstances. A fun machine with many choices. As you gain experience your technique will develop and you will enjoy it even more. Again all the best, Karelian

EarnestRooster, thanks for the timely response. The 3 x lead shot is a good sign, shotgun pellets tell you that you have tuned the machine correctly and maybe some time soon when you go to dig up another pellet it turns out to be a pleasant surprise... When tuning the detector I always try to keep pulse delay at 10 when prospecting, but don't be shy to experiment. You will find that by changing the delay in does influence ground balance. Also the ground varies a lot in Victoria, I always carry a test nugget. To be more specific I carry a laminated card with a 1 grain ingot. This allows me to quickly test which settings give the best signal in that particular location. Very pleased to learn that the Hi-Q coil has no issues and works well. The very best of luck with it. Lots of good areas around Bendigo, fantastic location. Go to Earth Resources Vic Gov, free downloads of decent maps. I found the old Sandhurst Goldfield map download there, it's a beauty. Loaded it on a USB and printed a large hardcopy for myself. Bendigo is a great little city, cinemas, good accommodation, lots of history, great food etc. Then ten minutes drive into the middle of the goldfields. Compliments of the season and all the best in the new year. Thanks, Karelian

Does it matter what machine we swing, the brand or model, old or new. As long as it gives us pleasure to do what we do and we sometimes find something to excite the imagination.. My detectors and I have a catalogue of happy memories... Early mornings in summer, the colour in the sky, the sounds and smell of the ocean... very few people about in the early hours. When I'm old and frail I'll cast an eye over the Musky hanging on my display wall, many fond memories. Best wishes for the jolly season and a wonderful new year to you all. Karelian

Quick air test with ground balance off and gain near max. No EMI present. 2.5 cm equals an inch.. Us Buffalo coin 35cm 1/2 Soveriegn 40cm Australian Penny 40cm 1 OZ silver ingot 45cm Us Quarter 40cm .5 gram gold coin 30cm 1 grain gold ingot 4cm but only detectable in centre of coil. Not too bad for an old girl. We will share many more summer sunrises for years to come.

For a long time my Minelab Musketeer Advantage was my top dry sand beach detector. It ate up large areas of sandy beach quickly, key factors were speed combined with depth. Decent disc, mated with that strong good target signal compared with the 'spitty' disapproval of trash.. simple audio no meters etc, fast and efficient. An Explorer Se Pro handled the wet sand until the White's Tdi took over that role. The old Musky sat unused for a long time whilst the Xl Pro and MXT saw plenty of action. The purchase of a Ultimate 13 coil has rekindled an old love affair and breathed new life into the Musky. Good size and performance combined with light weight has turned into a winning combination. This rig balances beautifully and the coil feels as if it is floating in the air, the detector is weighty but the balance more than compensates. With the Musky mounted on a GPX upper and under the sheepskin cuff, balance is perfect. Switches have rubber boots to keep sand out and the machine is off the ground on a DIY stand. I only use it on the dry beach sand, sports fields, parks or other low to medium trash areas covering large areas. This setup just covers ground fast. Flexible fast, moderate or slow sweep speed, it doesn't care. Simple audio disc, when in doubt dig it out. Fast and deep. We have many modern digital lightweight detectors to choose from but this old analogue machine still performs and with a modest investment, that Ultimate 13 coil has breathed new life into the Musky. I'll get a few more years out of her yet. All the best, Karelian

EarnestRooster, please let us know how the Hi-Q coil performs, many of us are interested to know how it handles hot ground. My personal experience is that the Tdi SL likes the smaller mono coils when the ground gets really nasty. Your perspective would be most welcome and would give us all some user insight. Good luck with your new machine, I'll be out on the Victorian Goldfields myself for a day or two before Xmas looking for a big one.. or a little one.. Thanks, Karelian

A Chinese XL PRO, I think not. To copy is to flatter? Before you ask, paid $50 at a Sunday market, unstable, awkward controls and inconsistent performance. Can go deep and then overloads,, good for parts if building a kit... only. Highly not recommended... Karelian

Tony's machine has lived out most of it's life in a box, whilst mine has been 'out' in the elements. All my White's machines get an wax and polish once a year. Coils also, even cables and plastics. To assist in keeping the machines clean I use detector stands to keep them off the ground, protective covers whenever necessary. The MXT and XL PRO share Thesaurus covers for the body of the detector, factory meter cover for the MXT and a custom job for the Pro. Coil covers are used with tape to prevent dirty getting between the cover and coil. Some of my machines have seen heavy use and are ten years old plus, still look good to me. Must say White's machines are solid and well made, built to last. As the body ages and things start to ache etc, I may look at much lighter machines but for now I am content. I can see the Tdi Pro hip mount option being explored.. All the best, Karelian

Tony is waiting for the postman to bring him that 'package' he now owns.. should be there well before the big day. Hope you have room under your tree.. These machines deserve to be used and appreciated. Goodness knows I didn't need a 'spare'. Yes minty, closet queen now rescued by Tony. I wish you well with your new 'toy' and may it bring your much success and happiness. When I use mine I'll think of you out West doing the same. Possibly the only two near as new XL Pro machines in Australia..? Love that Royal 800 coil, push the gain and it will bring home the goods whilst running smooth and stable. All the best, Karelian

Not sure if I should classify this machine as an antique, perhaps classic analogue fits best. It seems to have some following in the USA, but in Australia it is a rare beast. My first Whites was a blue box 6000 series that swallowed a lot of batteries and was more than heavy. For better or worse I ran in on GEB MAX most of the time. It punched deep and performed well. Built to last, the 6000 series still show up here and there. The MInelab Pi revolution was well on its way when the XL Pro appeared and so it never gained many followers downunder. Years after getting an MXT I noticed the XL Pro online and researched it. After a few years I managed to buy one and found it an excellent all rounder to compliment the MXT. It's reputation seemed well founded and in my experience it performs very well. Not my first choice on the goldfields, but it can be made to work and the older blue box machines found a lot of gold in the early years. Excellent balance like all White's machines, good depth and stable performance make it a winner. I enjoy swinging this old classic and will continue to do so for many years to come. Love that meter, fantastic audio and good looks... Karelian

Hobo I did see a collapsible or portable kitchen sink that could be used for small scale panning when crevicing in dry areas. Basically just a collapsible bucket, clearly great minds think alike. All the best, Karelian.

There may be some confusion on just how this battery conversion was done. Some extra images just to make it much clearer. The original White's plus and minus tabs were modified and retained. A copper 'bridge' on the other end. A carbon fibre cover allows the use of the 18650 cells. The option of cutting gutters under the batteries and a spacer in the middle to secure the cells. A minimalist modification, cells are removed for charging which has some advantages. Hope the images make the process much clearer. Karelian.

It is a rare year I don't see a snake, often more than one. In Victoria's Golden Triangle it is the Eastern Brown snake that is most common. The Brown Snake family is responsible for the majority of deaths from snake bites in Australia. This species is known to have a 'bad attitude'. I'll admit that my arse twitches like a rabbit's nose every time I encounter one.. staying calm after a strike would be a challenge. I always wear boots, with snake gaiters during the warmer months. In bad years the flies and ants have driven me off the goldfields before the snakes are fully active. Usually in summer I switch to beach mode... Karelian