2023...

[Deano]

There is one advantage of the Nf coil. It will last longer than the minelab 11" , my only gripe about the 11" coil, is I'm worried everytime I use it, it will clap out on me.

davent, I forgot about that when I mentioned above that the NF 12x7 Xceed coil was quieter with less chatter. Also “yes you are correct” that the NF coil will last longer than the GPX 11” coil which had trouble with “cracking” in the plastic around the “ears” and also “failing” (clap out) due to the wires on the inside of the coil that are “not” set (secured) properly being loose. On my GPX 11” coil the wires are loose and rattle inside when shook and I heard the wires shielding can wear off. While my NF coils internal wires are secured much stronger to last much longer, and also I have never heard of the plastic ears cracking on this NF coil. Yes it is good to have the NF coil for a secondary back-up just in case the GPX 11” coil “fails” (claps out).
~I was also looking at buying a Coiltec Goldhawk 10x5 but I do not have one yet.

 

[Moneybox]

There is one advantage of the Nf coil. It will last longer than the minelab 11" , my only gripe about the 11" coil, is I'm worried everytime I use it, it will clap out on me.

Yes Dave but this coil is definitely different to the three before it however I don't know if it's the coil or the detector. The new DD is running much more smoothly as well but whatever it is, the detector coil combination is what you'd expect from an $8000 detector even though it took two years to get there.

I'm hoping this is from a new batch of better quality machines. We might have got a container load of faulty machines, not suitable for sale in Africa or America. It makes my wonder how it would have affected my first trip out, with 800 nuggets and the following annual trip with 677 nuggets, if I'd got this detector to start with. First indications are that it's not just marginally better but clearly a more superior gold detector.

None of my coils have developed cracks but I've not worked amongst the shrubs an vines so that may be a factor.

 

[Davent]

Wonder if mine is one of the crap ones...

 

[Moneybox]

Wonder if mine is one of the crap ones...

John just dropped in and picked up his 12"x8" NF. His wife's forth 11" mono just died. This is the lady who can't trek too far so only detects near the car but she still doubles John's tally at the end of the trip. The chances of getting a good Minelab GPX6000 coil are slim. I don't know if mine's good but at the moment it's performing very well.

 

[Hippyty79]

I’m sure they make changes along the way I’ve open 2 14s for the 7000 the second coil had glue to stop the plastic bolt rattling lose, also more rubber stoppers, the real problem though is the loose paper shielding used.

 

[Moneybox]

 

[Deano]

I’m sure they make changes along the way I’ve open 2 14s for the 7000 the second coil had glue to stop the plastic bolt rattling lose, also more rubber stoppers, the real problem though is the loose paper shielding used.

Hippyty79
Yes that is what I mentioned in my post above:: …(GPX 11” coil for the GPX6000) “failing” (clap out) due to the wires on the inside of the coil that are “not” set (secured) properly being loose. On my GPX 11” coil the wires are loose and rattle inside when shook and >>I heard the wires shielding can wear off<<. While my NF (12x7 Xceed) coil internal wires are secured much stronger to last much longer,…

~The Nugget Finder coils are built with better quality design and components to last much longer. But do you know or not if the Coiltek Goldhawk coils are “also” buit better.??

~Minelab should stop sourcing out the detectors and coils to be made in Malaysia, and make them in Australia instead. How hard would it be to set up a Minelab manufacturing and assembly plant in South Australia.

 

[Moneybox]

Just look at the cost of wages now and the lack of willing workers. I’ve worked with some of those guys over there. They work like their life depends on it and it probably does.
The problem with Minelab is the lack of effective competition. They can supply poor quality and faulty products and we no choice to buy a similar product from somewhere else.

 

[Hippyty79]

Thanks Phil for the update, gives me something to work with.
I’ve got some 6mm brickies dowel I’ll try

 

[Moneybox]

Thanks Phil for the update, gives me something to work with.
I’ve got some 6mm brickies dowel I’ll try

It would be even easier to fit if you could just hinge the wire back further on the drawer.



No need for a covering facia.

 

[Deano]

Just look at the cost of wages now and the lack of willing workers. I’ve worked with some of those guys over there. They work like their life depends on it and it probably does.
The problem with Minelab is the lack of effective competition. They can supply poor quality and faulty products and we no choice to buy a similar product from somewhere else.

Moneybox
Yes lower cost dedicated workers in Malaysia, thus a lower cost of production and Minelab makes more money. Also the GPX6000 batteries are made in China.

~I see what you mean but there is one choice to buy a similar product from somewhere else, it is the Garrett Axiom detector with 3 different coil sizes with each size available in both Double-D and Mono, so 6 coils for it. The Axiom’s rechargeable battery lasts a lot longer than the GPX6000 and it can also run off of a secondary backup AA battery insert case. No faulty recall problems with coils or the machine, featherlight weight, suppose to be better at handling hot rocks, great on sub gram gold, and the performance is very close to the GPX6000 but not quite as good.

 

[Moneybox]

I got out to the shed this morning to find my silicone gun missing.



Of course, if your main suspect is a woman you check the kitchen first She's stuck all the lables on the bottle and a sample on the lid



Now I think all my rivets and nails have a future too



I've got this feeling, she thinks she's going to get me organised

HaHa.... Fat chance

 

[Hippyty79]

It would be even easier to fit if you could just hinge the wire back further on the drawer.

View attachment 10861

No need for a covering facia.

Thanks Phil, it’s just a prototype atm, I’m looking at getting a smaller fridge, the waecos playing up, I’ve got a large chopping board to go on top of the draw for prep and eating at, it’s a bit of a tight fit atm.

 

[Gold1hunter]

Yes Peter you're right but we all like new toys

I charged the GoPro and shot out to the lease this morning. I filmed everything but so far the videos have failed to open. I'll try fiddling around with them tonight.

The short of the story is that I wouldn't buy the 14"x9" Coiltek or the 12"x8" NF. In my opinion neither is as good as the original 11" mono.

That's a 12x7 NF awesome coil until late afternoon when it gets too hot for it.
Dug some really deep holes 50/60cm paid for itself 20 times over in a month.

 

[Gold1hunter]

Thanks Phil, it’s just a prototype atm, I’m looking at getting a smaller fridge, the waecos playing up, I’ve got a large chopping board to go on top of the draw for prep and eating at, it’s a bit of a tight fit atm.

Have a look at Bushman's heaps better than dometic/Waeco

 

[Moneybox]

That's a 12x7 NF awesome coil until late afternoon when it gets too hot for it.
Dug some really deep holes 50/60cm paid for itself 20 times over in a month.

I don't think all things are equal. I had a couple of coils on the GPX4500 that I couldn't stand to keep there however for others they worked brilliantly. The 11" Detech mono was a good example. It was the crappiest coil I've ever bought and that includes the 6000 coils. I sold it along with the GPX4500 and NF 12"x8". The guy fitted the Detech to his GP3000 and reckons it's the best thing since sliced bread.

Some coils work better with different detectors and each GPX6000 is not made the same even if they are meant to be.

 

[Deano]

That's a 12x7 NF awesome coil until late afternoon when it gets too hot for it.
Dug some really deep holes 50/60cm paid for itself 20 times over in a month.

Gold1hunter
”…until late afternoon when it gets too hot for it.” Even though it has a light grey top which is good, NF should not have used a ->black coloured<- skid plate (coil cover) for it even though it’s facing down because it absorbs too much heat.
~With my calculations that’s some 20”/24” deep holes and about 5 oz. in a month! Yes the NF 12x7 Xceed is an awesome coil! Quieter than the GPX 11” coil and much better built to last.

 

[Gold1hunter]

Gold1hunter
”…until late afternoon when it gets too hot for it.” Even though it has a light grey top which is good, NF should not have used a ->black coloured<- skid plate (coil cover) for it even though it’s facing down because it absorbs too much heat.
~With my calculations that’s some 20”/24” deep holes and about 5 oz. in a month! Yes the NF 12x7 Xceed is an awesome coil! Quieter than the GPX 11” coil and much better built to last.

Your calculations are about right unfortunately only 4.3 oz of gold though after specific gravity tests all that quartz DOH!

 

[Moneybox]

Mrs M has the local market on tomorrow and she reckons she's short of things to sell so I went looking for inspiration.



I found this tree that had been cut down, a Casuarina of a kind I think. I thought at first a Desert Oak but the wood was too soft.



I cut a chunk off the big end.




It's very easy to machine, much quicker to work with than the Gum I used to make the red bowls.



If somebody asks "What type of wood is it"?



We decided to tell them "It's Blonde Wood".

 

[Hippyty79]

Ever thought of making gidgee charcoal Phil, $50 a bag in Perth. Barbe-Cue charcoal.