Joe D.

   But just to clarify, if not for the coil tabs issues, I would probably go for ML's 12x15 due to a better shape, lighter weight(as I recall), and most likely cheaper price!!👍👍

  My three broken stock 11" coils had barely a wear mark on them! And I keep up on washers, and overtightening, as recommended! And no, I don't use the detector like a crutch either!! That's what my crutches are for!!😁

  None of the three broke like the pictures posted! Mine all split on, or near, one of the bolt holes, more or less along the mold line! 

  And while I've always given cudos👌👌 to ML's warranty service, I waited for the Coiltek's to come out, before buying any more coils!👍👍

   I bought the 15" Coiltek a few months ago used, for the beaches this winter! Only tried it out in the hot weather twice, and it is heavier! But I only had the stock 11" and didn't want any more coil tab issues🤞🤞, so I waited for a used Coiltek to come up! I've since built my counterweight to compensate for it, so we will see in a month or two, how it does on extended hunts!

    But so far, I like it's coverage! And it also gets tiny targets, the same as the stock 11"! Had i more trust with ML's coil tabs, I would have had their 12x15 already! Also, got a 5x10 Coiltek on backorder, as I don't expect any used ones turning up for a long time!!👍👍

GL,

   I think they call that 'Noassatall"! Most with this "malody" just wear suspenders! But you found a great alternative to overcome your "disability"!😂👍👍

   Great bit of backstory Reg! Thanks!!👌

   Is it me, or does it look like the "kid" on the right may have become an "Andre the Giant" sized adult! Or is the photo's perspective just wonky!!??😂👍👍

Simon,

    You've said exactly what I, others, and probably you, have said before!👍

   ML is a business, and is doing the "right" thing for their shareholders; like it or not!! The warranty is "saving" their bacon; and ours, for now!! But they had better address the problem, (if not already, with recent detector releases) or it may end up affecting sales on future models! Not unlike the huge shift to Coiltek coils by users!!

   But then again, maybe that was a genius move on their part, and it's actually more profitable to just sell their coil "chips" to Coiltek, and not have to continue infinitely with their "problem" design/material issues for their own coils!? Time will tell!!

   But a word of caution, to those new to the problem! As we have said before, It's a crapshoot, if you permanently attach anything to an "under warranty" coil,(or Pod) that cannot be removed, if it still breaks!

   ML has given me several warranty replacements of various parts on two different Noxes! One was a tab l had too repair, just before a trip! Luckily, they replaced that coil, when I got back! But I called, and explained first, to get an OK! But they could have very well said no, due to it being altered! 👍👍

Wow again,

    You must have a huge finds pouch! Or are you dragging a trash bag behind you! In any case, great job on your finds, and great job cleaning up the beach!! Your a fine example for metal detecting!!👍👍

Fantastic haul💍🥇,

 "Larry from the Golden state"!!🤣👍👍

1 hour ago, Steve Herschbach said:

The vast majority of nugget detector owners in the U.S. are hobbyists, and most find little gold. Out of all the people in the U.S. who own nuggets detectors right now, the number who find more than an ounce of gold a year is a very small percentage. The people doing very well are the rare exceptions. That’s not speculation, it’s a fact.

    In my view of gold hunting (and the little I know from your forum👌), the time and effort it takes to do this type of detecting; not to mention the cost, is what makes it even more rare for those doing it, to be successful!

    Having family, home, work obligations, and/or age or physical disabilities, further narrows down the field of those who can spend a large amount of time to perfect their craft! Of course there are other factors, but I think those mentioned are the primary ones!

   The same can be said about water detecting! There are very few we know of, that are really successful at it!

    Time and equipment intensive pursuits; unless done for a living, are "generally" not tolerated well by significant others! Having to compete for time, with a significant other's "hobby", generally doesn't end well!! But ultimately, may end up with that hobbyist having more time to become very successful!

   A Classic "Catch 22" situation, which one may find themselves in; especially detectorists!!😂👍👍

Very nice cleanup Compass! Can we see the flip side?👍👍

Welcome Melano,

   Your English is fine, my French is much worse!😂  Glad you made it onto the forum! It's always nice to hear from people on the other side of the "Pond"! We would like to hear more about the family farm property, and what you have been finding there!! Post some pics for us, with some stories, and general locations!! And good luck!🍀👍👍

   For the gold; Right Now!!, if I could!!

   For the cane toads; we have those in Florida already!!🐸  Like every other invasive species we have, they love it here!!🤣👍👍

    Just to state up front, this may belong in a different category!  I'm not a nugget or dink hunter, due mostly to my location in Florida!

   That being said, I like the questions asked for two reasons!

   **Firstly, I find all you nugget hunters experiences interesting, and feel like I learn alot from you all!

   **And secondly; and more applicable to me, and others here, I think there are some parallels in the questions asked, with other types of detecting!

   Are any places where people have congregated ever played out? Like gold; do coins, jewelry, artifacts, etc... every really run out in an area, or are they just waiting to be exposed by various events, or more sophisticated equipment and/or techniques?

    Being that many of you may also hunt other items in the same areas, I just thought some of the answers here may serve us all in that respect!!👍👍

Stop licking cane toads, and you will be fine!!🤣👍👍

39 minutes ago, midalake said:

For the record.  I had a coil break, and I put a coil ear and epoxy repair on it so I could finish my trip. Minelab did have pictures before the repair. They did send me a new coil

    About the same here! Broke one just before a trip! JB Welded it! Upon return, sent ML pics, and they said send it, and replaced it, no problem! 👌

   They may not fix the "flaw" with the coils, but they are Great at honoring their warranty!👍👍

   Which Garrett headphones are you using? And can you use a flash for those pictures; they are dark and hard to see!! Thanks!!👍👍

   Got one on order yesterday, Thanks Bob!!👍👍

   Same in our lakes here guys! The hydrogen sulfide (and high temps) does a number on silver, and any other older coins! My oldest in fresh, tannin colored water, was a barely readable, 1935 Walking Half that was about half the weight and thickness of a regular one, and had a heavy black crust on it!👍👍

   I always try and find pouches where I can use my own heavy duty nylon belt! The sewed-in belts are always flimsy, and I can't adjust where my stuff sits on the belt! Look's like the belt is separate on this model! ( in Video)!👌 

   I can tell you that my grey nylon MineLab pouch had a "waterproof" coating inside, that is falling apart! Not old either! Not worth returning, I just won't buy one again!👍👍 

   Gerry,

  Case in point; the video you posted today for your nugget find!!! I hope you never loose that kind of excitement!! And may it be contagious for others!!👍👍

   I'm glad I'm the first person to comment on your find!! 

Great Job Gerry!!🥳🥇🍀

   Your friggin' hilarious!!🤣  Love seeing you sooo excited; after all the other stuff you have found over the years!!!😂  Make sure you post a pic or two of it all cleaned up, and ready for presentation!!👍👍

Love the Merc!!,

   That's a beauty! Almost has a sandblasted sheen to it! But the details are sharp!! Glad your on the silver train too! Toot,Toot!!👍👍

Yep, you just jinxed yourself!!🤣👍👍

    I think alot comes down to each companies motivation for the detectors they make! (Other than just profit)! Most of the companies currently producing have a relatively "easy" to see reason that they make their products! Even if that idea varies! 

   I really don't see that in Fisher products right now! Hopefully that is changing! But they really need to make up some ground soon! Or going the way of the Dodo is imininate!!🦤 👍👍

    I haven't heard of any of the Nox Coilteks breaking yet! Nor have I seen any tab supports made for them!

   A coil support is a different device to keep the coil in a more fixed position(s)!👍👍