LRM

Does not sound like it will help anyone here but the connector for the Gold Bug 2 coils is a Switchcraft SL405MX which will run you about $15 from any electronics part retailer.

I have no plans to use the detector or really any detector on the wet beach sand. Plenty of more valuable target rich areas in the dry sand areas here in Southern California than down near the water's edge.

Think I may have an account on there from a few years ago...will have to see if I can remember the username. Totally agree that it is not the best choice but I am not buying a new detector when I plan to be leaving the area for good in the next year or two. The majority of where I have used it on beaches in the past is on the dry sand areas near high end hotels and resorts with beach seating areas far from the water's edge. I was concerned about the salt in the sand even with it being dry but it did not cause me too much trouble. Would not even consider using that detector down near the water at all for obvious reasons.

Has anyone on this forum gone about the process of designing their own custom coils to go with some of the more popular detector models on the market? I only have a Gold Bug 2 at the moment and it does alright for what I purchased it for but I was wondering if I might be able to get some more coverage and detection ability out of it when I take it down to the beach I live near to see if the rich people have lost anything. It does just fine out in the desert with the stock 6" coil and I have never felt the need to buy one of the larger coils as I just do not think those would really fit how I most use the detector out in the desert. Anyway I obviously am considering trying to build a couple different sizes and geometry coils to use with my GB2 but also would love to hear about what other people have done with other detectors. Would love to get a little more guidance than my sorta basic electronics knowledge, intuition, and searching the web.

Anyone happen to know what the values of the resistor and capacitor that are inside the GB2 coils? Can't bring myself to sacrifice a coil just to find out but I would really love to know! These xray images are incredible.