Smithobx

Like some others I have zero interest in the Vanquish as it does nothing my Equinox 800 cannot do. If I were going to add a Vanquish type detector, it would be a Equinox 600 in light of the sale prices I’m seeing for those. 

You might want to take a look at the Root Slayer Nomad. It’s available on Amazon for $39.00, lifetime warranty and very tough. A bit longer so you don’t need to bend as much while digging and doubles as a walking staff if that’s important to you.

20 hours ago, phrunt said:

yes, their design looks slightly better

They make the bent little pipe that holds the shovel to the handle shorter, less chance of bending that way.  It also means their weld is more effective at holding it straight.

Either way, my one will be just as strong as that if not stronger now with it's mod, I sent it to hell and back testing it yesterday and it's still going strong, I basically tried to break it 🙂

I emailed them to show them what happened on a shovel only a couple of weeks old, they have yet to reply.

 

Your mod does look rock solid, should last. I have the Predator Tools model and it’s still going strong after 12+ years of use. Mr. Lesche is the owner of the company and still manufactures his original and iconic hand digger in addition to a variety quality shovels. He did start the company you bought from many years ago but has not been associated with them for years. I have a couple of his products and they are all very well made. 

On 11/25/2019 at 3:37 AM, phrunt said:

Lesche Sampson T-handle by WW manufacturing, made in the US of A, under a month old, bent badly in soft loamy soils.... big fail, ,piece of junk.

http://www.wwmfg.com/default.asp?contentID=1227

Not the real deal, just a knockoff. The real thing is made by Predator Tools. www.predatortools.com  

Many here in the USA do not publish finds because of the Antiquities Act. 

8 hours ago, cjc said:

I think that the 40 scale acts to limit the amount of incoming information.  It's worth noting that the Anfibio has a "VDI Sensitivity" type control--but lower settings can limit  your ability to spot good targets amongst junk.  "Stacking" is more of a mid range (gold hunter's) problem as well.  cjc

I do agree with your basic assertion and I also agree that as you stated in one of your manuals, the upper range of the scale on the Equinox is a wasted part of the scale. If the VID for silver (high conductors) was moved to 35-38, that would allow a more definitive differentiation of lower conductors by simply allowing a more finite definition of the properties of a target. Adding seven or eight more areas (TID numbers) of classification would serve to greatly reduce the stacking of targets. If you are going to stack targets why not stack the good ones and try to classify the bad ones as much as possible?  Even so, the Equinox is still a very advanced detector, but nothing is perfect. 

On 11/15/2019 at 10:28 PM, phrunt said:

You may want to come down off null to enhance your small target detection, most gold is small, I run as low off null as I can, usually around 44 to 46 with the X-coils with my null sitting low to mid 50's on most coils, even a little bias lower will help

That is very good advice to enhance sensitivity to smaller targets in my somewhat limited experience with the QED. As phrunt said, only two or three clicks below null can make a surprising difference in sensitivity. This should also allow you to lower TH. A. 

1 hour ago, phrunt said:

You must be one of the first in the USA with one.

Maybe one of the first detectors tuned for our power grid ( thanks to a post you made Simon) and with the new update. I believe there might be a QED or two out west.  

22 hours ago, Steve Herschbach said:

QED is looking good and more advances being hinted at there.

I have had my QED a few weeks now. I am not a expert by any means but I have been detecting since 1980 and with minelab detectors almost exclusively since 2004. This is not a comparison,  only my impressions of the QED. In short I am very pleased with the detector. I spent quite a bit of time with it on the coast where I live and had an opportunity to compare it with a 4500 belonging to a friend on 4 different afternoon hunts. We compared the two on real targets in the field and in his test garden in Virginia red clay and on relics in that same soil. I cannot say one or the other is better, but I can say on the literally dozens of targets we ran both machines over, the QED could detect all the 4500 could but 2. This could have been my lack of experience with the QED. In one area with a major power transmission line running through it the QED handled the EMI without a problem while the 4500 struggled a bit.  Not counting the coils,  I have less than $1250.00 in the QED. It is simple to navigate and set up. It’s lite and uses cheap batteries. For the money, the performance is remarkable. It is a deep detector by my standards. The 5 year warranty is another plus and it only costs about $30.00 to ship the control box back if necessary for repair or update.  Would I buy another one?  I absolutely would. Were it not for my Equinox 800, I would say it is the best bang for the buck in detectors .

23 minutes ago, Johnno481 said:

I use a Whites TRX and find it excellent. If you put a 5 cent piece just below the handle the depth capability which is already impressive, approximately doubles. You can just hold it there but I stuck one on with a dab of silicone.

More details please, not sure I understand exactly what you mean. Photo would be helpful if you can. 

21 hours ago, phrunt said:

I have to either use it how it is and accept it works but isn't as good as my Carrot, or throw it out.  I'll just use it as a backup unit.  I quite like the tip is sensitive for finding coins,

I believe you can replace the internal electronics by removing two screws, pulling out the old unit and dropping in a new one. Might be worth an email to the service center, they might send you the replacement unit under warranty. 

I think the TRX often gets a bad rap due to the horrible users manual that does not mention how to set and use its features. Yes it does react to highly mineralized soils but it has a ground balance feature. I used it for 2 months before I found out about it. It has 4 power settings but you have to go to Whites website or YouTube to find out how to set them. It also performs better if you use the rectangular 9v battery as opposed to AA batteries. Still, overall it is the best performing pointer I have used. I like it so much I just ordered another to have as a spare. 

9 hours ago, phrunt said:

I have a Garrett Carrot AT and love it, I bought a Whites TRX as reviews claimed it to be great so I thought it might be even better than my Carrot and was disappointed with it. It's not near as sensitive as my Carrot and less depth on coins too.   The Carrot will pinpoint reasonable size gold, 0.5 of a gram and above it does reasonable on getting better the bigger.

 

 

 

That’s really odd Phrunt. I found my TRX so sensitive I have to run it on power setting three. Also air tests deeper than my carrot. You might want to have it checked at White’s service center. 

I read both your earlier manuals before I bought the Equinox. I felt well prepared when the detector arrived. Looking forward to this read. 

“Not doubting the posters credibility just unable to duplicate his experience. “. As per original post. 

I sure could not. Thanks Steve. 

I was reading a post on another forum and the poster stated that the VDI on deep silver dimes in Park 2 came in much lower than in Park 1. He was saying down in the single digits. I do not dig single digits or low double digits unless I am relic hunting or in an area where gold jewelry is a possibility. I have tested a 10 inch silver dime in Park 2, and although the VDI was more jumpy than a shallower target, it ranged between 19 to 27 with the primary numbers being 23 to 25. Has anyone experienced single digits on silver dimes or any silver coins? Not doubting the posters credibility just unable to duplicate his experience. 

With the handle perpendicular to the blade, how do you carry it? Looks like an interesting tool otherwise.

You may want to explore the QED from Australia. If you only order  the control boxes and furnish the rod, speaker and coil yourself  the purchase price and shipping is greatly reduced. The detector is very light and of course it is a PI. Also has a 5 year warranty. This would also cut the customs cost drastically.  Other wise the reports on the Equinox are good for a VLF on gold. 

8 minutes ago, Chase Goldman said:

Should have happened by now if it was going to happen.

Good point, but one can always hope. 

With the popularity of the Equinox series, do you not think there will be third party (aftermarket) coils available eventually?

To be fair, I just received notice my coil has shipped from the service center. So all is good. I just hope minelab has addressed the problem.   

Still waiting for my coil replacement. It’s been over 3 weeks since I sent the coil to the service center. I don’t mind the 6 inch coil but it does make for slow going when trying to cover a large area. Oh well, I did get my new QED PL2 from Australia yesterday all modified and tuned for our power grid. That should keep me occupied for a week or so. 

If you check the dates of the OP, you can see how long I’ve been waiting. Got an email today from the service center that the coils are still on backorder and are expected in one or two weeks. If the coil tabs have been upgraded then I’m good with the wait. I probably would not have spent so much time with the 6 in. coil had this not happened so time well spent. 

Still waiting for the coil replacement. Been over a week now.