New Member

[Ash047]

Hi all,
I’m new to detecting so I thought I’d join this forum to learn more about the hobby,
I’ve been out a few times in the Maryborough area with no luck yet. I’ve got a gpx 4500 and a coiltek 11” elite coil, not sure if my settings are right so hopefully I can find a thread or two on this subject.
Regards Ash047

 

[Hawkear]

You could do a lot worse than factory settings. There is a reason why Minelab designated them such. Also think about a smaller coil, say a 8” as that would be very sensitive to smaller gold. There are lots more small nuggets still out there than bigger ones so that raises your odds if you want to get on the board.
Practice your technique, on small lead sinkers, and I mean small eg 0.1 grams or even less, until you are confident you can hear it say at 2 to 3 inches In the ground. Not just hear it but likely to pull you up during a search. Then you are ready.
The rest is patience and some research as to where to go. Buy Tullys prospecting guide for the area you are going to. On each page there are probably on average 10 to 20 gullys to check. Remember also if using a small coil go for the shallower ground usually at the heads of the gullys.

 

[Ash047]

Thanks so much for your valuable feedback Hawkear I will definitely look into getting a smaller coil and Tullys prospecting guide for the areas that I intend to go to.

 

[Hawkear]

Thanks so much for your valuable feedback Hawkear I will definitely look into getting a smaller coil and Tullys prospecting guide for the areas that I intend to go to.

The Minelab issued commander round 8” is a much overlooked and undervalued coil and have seen them available second hand quite cheap.I often use one when carefully going over old ground with my 5000. Here are some bits I got a couple of days ago in ground that I had already covered with a 2300, depth around the 3” mark.

 

[Ash047]

The Minelab issued commander round 8” is a much overlooked and undervalued coil and have seen them available second hand quite cheap.I often use one when carefully going over old ground with my 5000. Here are some bits I got a couple of days ago in ground that I had already covered with a 2300, depth around the 3” mark.
View attachment 11572

The Minelab issued commander round 8” is a much overlooked and undervalued coil and have seen them available second hand quite cheap.I often use one when carefully going over old ground with my 5000. Here are some bits I got a couple of days ago in ground that I had already covered with a 2300, depth around the 3” mark.
View attachment 11572

Good job, I was going to ask you what you thought about the Minelab 8” Commander, and if you recommended that one over the Nugget Finder Sadie they seem to be about the same price new.

 

[Dave's Office]

Good job, I was going to ask you what you thought about the Minelab 8” Commander, and if you recommended that one over the Nugget Finder Sadie they seem to be about the same price new.

I'd get the Sadie if I was you, if you can find one second hand at the right price grab it, you don't see too many second hand Sadie's advertised on they're own. Nuggetfinder coils are superior to Minelab IMO.

 

[Ash047]

I'd get the Sadie if I was you, if you can find one second hand at the right price grab it, you don't see too many second hand Sadie's advertised on they're own. Nuggetfinder coils are superior to Minelab IMO.

Thanks Dave

 

[Hawkear]

You also need to realise that the NF Sadie (8 x 6 elliptical) and the Commander 8" full round (I think Coiltek also make an 8" round) are different sized and configured coils not just different makers.
That would give them different performance characteristics. The larger for depth and the smaller for sensitivity.
I have used both coils and it has been my experience that despite NF coils being generally recognised as being at the top level of performance, that does not equate to making its smaller Sadie coil equal the Commander 8" round in terms of depth. Nor would the Commander 8" equal the Sadie in terms of sensitivity.
It comes down to what experience you want. Both coils will find you lots of small sized nuggets. For me the ability of the 8' round to outperform the Sadie in depth and the odd larger nugget rather than the Sadie's ability to outperform the 8" round on tiny nuggets was what swayed me.
I have wondered why NF didn't produce a full round 8" as given their excellent performance reputation with their other coils I am sure it would have been a "killer" small coil and I may have been using one today.

 

[Ash047]

I’ll keep an eye out for a 8” Commander, thanks again for your valuable advice

 

[Ash047]

Thanks Dave

You also need to realise that the NF Sadie (8 x 6 elliptical) and the Commander 8" full round (I think Coiltek also make an 8" round) are different sized and configured coils not just different makers.
That would give them different performance characteristics. The larger for depth and the smaller for sensitivity.
I have used both coils and it has been my experience that despite NF coils being generally recognised as being at the top level of performance, that does not equate to making its smaller Sadie coil equal the Commander 8" round in terms of depth. Nor would the Commander 8" equal the Sadie in terms of sensitivity.
It comes down to what experience you want. Both coils will find you lots of small sized nuggets. For me the ability of the 8' round to outperform the Sadie in depth and the odd larger nugget rather than the Sadie's ability to outperform the 8" round on tiny nuggets was what swayed me.
I have wondered why NF didn't produce a full round 8" as given their excellent performance reputation with their other coils I am sure it would have been a "killer" small coil and I may have been using one today.

Thanks again for your valuable advice Hawkeye, I recently bought a nf 25” ddx coil and used it once with no luck except a bloody sore shoulder for 3 days afterwards so I’ve put it on classifieds for sale, once it sells I’ll buy a new 8” Commander.

 

[grubstake]

Thanks again for your valuable advice Hawkeye, I recently bought a nf 25” ddx coil and used it once with no luck except a bloody sore shoulder for 3 days afterwards so I’ve put it on classifieds for sale, once it sells I’ll buy a new 8” Commander.

Mate, you're a newbie detectorist who's started out with a great detector and an excellent coil. Now you need to concentrate on learning how to use that combination effectively in the Aussie goldfields. Please stop buying more gear while you do so - you can't spend your way to success in this game. It's experience, knowledge and skills that you need, not expensive, shiny new toys.

 

[Ash047]

Mate, you're a newbie detectorist who's started out with a great detector and an excellent coil. Now you need to concentrate on learning how to use that combination effectively in the Aussie goldfields. Please stop buying more gear while you do so - you can't spend your way to success in this game. It's experience, knowledge and skills that you need, not expensive, shiny new toys.

Thanks grubstake sounds like a good plan to me

 

[Hawkear]

Absolutely concur with Grubstake on this.
A story from my past was meeting a new prospector who lucked out at finding a 4 ounce nugget on a training day. He traded in the nugget for a range of larger coils thinking that was only the beginning. I think he had a giant 24” or similar in that lot. For the period I knew him I can’t recall him ever finding ANYTHING at all, always looking for the glory of a big nugget to repeat. Maybe he achieved some success after we lost touch but never saw him back in the GT again.
I think it reasonable to have three coils in your armory, a small, medium and large (not over large though), and possibly medium/large elliptical for patch hunting.
But you need to get started first and that will be best achieved at the small/medium end. Buy the larger or specialist coils only when you feel you have competency and feel the need.

 

[Ash047]

Sounds good thanks Hawkear I’m doing lots of reading and research, I’ve read the owners manual for the GPX a few times over the last couple of days, will stick to the basics for a long while until I get the hang of things, really appreciate all the advice I’m being given