Anyone every use a DD or butterfly coil? Do they pinpoint as well as a round?

[stevemc]

Thinking of getting a new to me/used ML Excal, and getting a larger than stock coil, and seeing the choices, wanted to know about the DD and butterfly coils. Do they pinpoint, or is the spot wider? I can pinpoint well with a round or oval coil, even a huge rectangular coil I can pinpoint with, but new to these. Never used one. Just wondering. This would be for wet saltwater sand and shallow saltwater wading. Thanks in advance, Steve.

 

[Sturgell]

I prefer a DD to a concentric on my land machines by a large margin. I haven't used one in the water enough to know, pinpointing is a snap once you realize how the coil works and where the hot spot begins/ends. For instance on my Explorer SE and Tesoro with the 3x18 I don't use the pinpoint function I wiggle the coil while pulling back, when the machine stops responding it is just off the toe/heel of the center of the coil.

 

[desertfox]

Have DDs on all my detectors (8 of them) don't think I could go back to an original coil any more. Good luck. I also use a Garrett pinpointer.

 

[Sandman]

I prefer a DD to a concentric on my land machines by a large margin. I haven't used one in the water enough to know, pinpointing is a snap once you realize how the coil works and where the hot spot begins/ends. For instance on my Explorer SE and Tesoro with the 3x18 I don't use the pinpoint function I wiggle the coil while pulling back, when the machine stops responding it is just off the toe/heel of the center of the coil.

This wiggle function works on all DD coils and the butterfly's too. Forget the center as that is to slow.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

I have 2 Excals, one has the WOT, the other has the S-12. I have a Sov GT that I use the SEF 15x18" Butterfly coil on. I have a custom waterproof Sov GT with a WOT that I also used in the water.

I have no problem pinpointing on any of them, most times I use the "X" or toe/heel method on the wetsand. In the water I pinpoint the target by using the toe/heel of the coil, and backing it up or moving it forward till the tone disappears on the front or back toe/heel, I then slide the coil forward or backward half way, mark the back of the coil with my toe, move the coil and start my scoop where my toe is.

 

[stevemc]

Thanks all, I get it. The hot spot or center of the coil is now a long line that runs down the center. Should be an easy learning to get used to it thing. Thanks for the explanation on how you do it too. I have been using a PI and it has a round, regular coil, and the center is where the pinpoint is, so I should be OK, knowing what you all said. Thanks. Now I have to get used to a whole new machine. Hope I can figure out all the different tones!

 

[Dave44]

I am getting to within 3 ft of target with my etrac with dd,, But I could get nearly perfect with my XLT, on the bright side I am getting closer, I used to start digging in the next county

 

[Sturgell]

I am getting to within 3 ft of target with my etrac with dd,, But I could get nearly perfect with my XLT, on the bright side I am getting closer, I used to start digging in the next county

I have found that pinpointing with the pinpoint button on my SE (pro coil) is quite difficult. I get within an inch or two by wiggling the coil over a good sounding target and when the sound just starts to change it is right in the v on the front of the coil even at 8-9 inches deep. Try it you may like it and if you don't then I won't charge you for the advice.

 

[Dave44]

I am getting to within 3 ft of target with my etrac with dd,, But I could get nearly perfect with my XLT, on the bright side I am getting closer, I used to start digging in the next county

I have found that pinpointing with the pinpoint button on my SE (pro coil) is quite difficult. I get within an inch or two by wiggling the coil over a good sounding target and when the sound just starts to change it is right in the v on the front of the coil even at 8-9 inches deep. Try it you may like it and if you don't then I won't charge you for the advice.

So, yesterday I went for a little bit and tried the Sturgell Wiggle method, And the wiggle is a very nice feature! Thank you very much,, who woulda thought it had that function. Also though I finally made the connection in my mind about big iron chirps and solid signals. All of a sudden I feel like a detectorist again,,, Man I was feelin LOW. I feel all warm and fuzzy now.

 

[Sturgell]

So, yesterday I went for a little bit and tried the Sturgell Wiggle method, And the wiggle is a very nice feature! Thank you very much,, who woulda thought it had that function. Also though I finally made the connection in my mind about big iron chirps and solid signals. All of a sudden I feel like a detectorist again,,, Man I was feelin LOW. I feel all warm and fuzzy now.

I learned it on my Tesoro machine with the 3x18 coil, they are by far the easiest coils to use once you figure out that the hotspot is about a 1 inch line from heel to toe and that using a non-motion VCO pinpointing function is much more difficult than it is on a concentric coil.

I should also mention that I went to a trashy homesite for the first hunt with my SE and I was really frustrated, then I went to a park and did a little coin shooting to figure it out. Now I am much more in tune with the machine when it comes to high conductors, and I will be working on the middle tones for gold and nickels.