mn90403

How much 'more' will one of these detectors find than another? For those of you with test gardens I guess you can tell the difference. Thank you for your tests. When my beaches are producing (which has not been much lately) it is more important when and where you hunt than what detector you have at the time. I wait for wave energy to move things up on the shore or make cuts. Most of the good stuff is less than 15 inches deep. I occasionally find 20 inch cans and other stuff but the sand and waves defeat me on that before I can get it out. My rings and jewelry beaches produce quite well with the 15 inch coil it seems. Will one of these other detectors find stuff my Equinox will just not see? If I have a DII and an MDT and an Eq/15 which one do you use on the beach first and which one last? (I think I could not adjust to the MDT sound.)

Klunker, You live in a part of California (don't we all) where you are supposed to have a mask on if you are outdoors (and indoors too)! Just be a good guy and wear it ALL the time so that cold wind blowing down here from the North will be filtered. Mitchel PS You can't wear the mask over a Grocho or a mustache/beard as it doesn't fit.

When I took the class I remember Gerry looking at all of the detectors everyone had and he said we'll test with all of the detectors Except a VLF. He said that all of his gold on the table would be seen by a VLF. Gerry, did I remember correctly?

Well done. I've used a 5000 in the El Pasos, a 7000 and my 800. I've used the 800 the least but mostly with the 6 inch and all with limited success. I've known others who have found and worked patches with GBs and Monsters. On that piece that you show, what were the Nox Numbers? If Pat doesn't meet up with you and his 5000 I could meet you there sometime. Mitchel

This rings very true to someone like me who is now 'following the heard' to old pounded spots. As a matter of fact this was being said about 10 years ago on many of the patches I was using my first gold detector on which was the 5000. Back then I was unprepared for that reality and I thought I could overcome the odds of finding big gold by walking farther and detecting more. Just before I started this gold prospecting phase of my life I had been a marathon runner and I've run 21 marathons and many, many miles in hills that don't have a speck of gold. I read you had to extend a known area and that is what I tried to do. Between not knowing where to look and going too fast it took me over a year to find my first nugget. I've found a few pieces of nice gold with my method but now I'm in a quandry. Now I'm in the situation JP describes of having limited time and limited goldfields and getting home with only 'good views of the deserts' and no gold. haha Pulling the trigger on a 6000 for those infrequent trips could easily be done but for some reason I just can't give up the 'hope' of bigger gold if I just go to places where a 7000 or an Equinox has not been before.

I had one of the first 800s in the USA. It worked fine for something less than a year and then one day I turned it off and I felt something 'give.' When I went detecting the next time I could not get it back on. You could tell the switch was 'floating' under the on/off button. I sent the 'computer portion' of the detector in to Minelab USA and they replaced it. I was told that the switch had broken off the board. It was not my fault and it has not happened since but I don't press the on/off button very hard any more. You never know and when they give you a new replacement they don't extend the warranty. Mitchel

Thanks Jim, I'll never forget the day you and I spent out there. Mitchel

Africa: Nigeria Someone got a lot of nuggets and large ones out of a pit there! https://punchng.com/miners-versus-soldiers-gun-battle-and-matters-arising/

I had to get my Mojave 'fix' in yesterday out at a club claim. I didn't let not finding any gold make me feel too bad. It was a perfect day for the temperature, sun and no wind. There is a club outing next weekend at The Dale which is where I found my first nugget. These are pictures from yesterday. I was there for sunrise.

Mine was the first one also and the screw wore through the nylon strapping. I guess now I could have fixed it by getting some new nylon strapping but when I ordered a new one I got the solid fitting like you see in version 2.

I've experienced lost friendships for things unrelated to gold! 🙃 It hurts but sometimes you can't fix it.

I got a 'hip stick' replacement pack from Chris last summer I think. It did not include a rod. What it included was a solid plastic ring without the nylon little strap which wore out on mine thus the need for replacement. I used my old rod that was cut for me by Chris when I was at his house one day. The new one works just fine. Before you throw your old rod away save it and you might be able to buy the new hardware which will make it better than new. You can almost make one from the 'Bigg Lugg' type of tool carry when you get the ball and the socket which fits on your belt. You still have to do some work. It would be easier to get them from JP. https://www.toolmarts.com/superior-parts-bl2-1bm-original-bigg-lugg-2-rubber-belt-hook-tool-holder-system-with-1-bungee-strap

Are you buttering someone up for an invite? haha

Simon, Simon, Simon ... Santa only works one day a year my lad? Come on now. You must know that at least Santa makes a list and checks it twice ALL YEAR. Then he has to get that sleigh (surfboard for you and Hawaii and those neighbors you have downunder) ready. He only Delivers one day a year. I'm hoping Norvic sold a couple of his nuggets and is posting you one of those detectors. I think the strings attached to a Norvic detector are that you have to pay him back if you like it. If you get a new detector from Santa he doesn't need to be paid back. Have a Merry Christmas and go find some nuggets. Mitchel

So ... choices, choices ... do you buy an Arrow or a Deus II?

I haven't read all of this thread or most of the others. My question is ... do I detect in areas where all of this really makes any difference? I use an 800 on a tide beach with a 15 inch coil. I dig most things. I think the 17" CTX is its equal most of the time. Will any 11" coil be worth my time? I don't think so. Mitchel

Simon, Very nice of you to go out and find fresh drops and RETURN them to the locals. You will be their hero! haha

A gold nugget weighing almost ten kilograms was auctioned at high prices in the USA. The so-called “Alaska Centennial Gold Nugget” brought in 750,000 dollars (around 694,000 francs) at the auction on Wednesday, as the auction house Heritage Auctions in Dallas announced on Twitter.20 hours ago

Before you can do a project on BLM land you must submit a RECLAMATION PLAN. It was probably rejected! haha

I'm sure many of you have trailer horror stories. Please share a few to keep the rest of us safe!

We all think we are finding very little gold. Try dealing with these conditions! https://rtd.rt.com/films/diving-for-gold/#anchor_watch_video

More leads to more ... do it the English way except ... too many cooks spoil the sauce. English permissions for Roman artifacts are more organized. The property owners sometimes want extra people sharing in the hunt so it can all be searched. Just so long as they don't make a complete mess of the UK farm and go back and steal I guess it works out. A group of detectorists can find an activity area and it helps everyone. THEN you tell everyone to stay out. That is always the potential end to a good permission.

Chopping down a little tree! haha Amazing.

Good price. Buy it if it works.

Simon, I agree that Minelab has not listened to those of us who have had failures over the years. They would have abandoned this coil ear design long ago if they had listened. I think it is these issues that have piled up and added up to affect the Minelab stock price you were talking about in another thread. There is just not enough profit to replace coils, shafts, leaky control units and provide the shipping also under warranty. My CTX 17" and many others like me failed a couple of years after I bought mine new when they came out. I took pictures and sent them to Minelab showing how my coil ears broke and suggested a fix without any response. I think the coil ear material is just too brittle to handle the torque pressure near the coil from the big screws. Over the months and months of it just being tight in and out of use the base just has to give. It cracks just as you describe. Shims would help but are a pain to use if you change a coil. You have to have a neutral position for the ears or even a fraction of inward pressure will crack it. Minelab should have another system but I bet this is the least expensive way. Your fixes look good. Now where are you going to use it? haha