Bought an Excaliber, Thanks all for the help

[Narthoniel]

Update:
My new Excal2 just arrived today, and I am about to go take it out on its maiden voyage . Thanks very much to everyone for their input and time. I hope to have some good news to report soon, will keep you all updated. Tis a shame I will be out of towm from Friday til Wednsday . But hey, lots of time to explore after that!

Thanks a ton!!!! I really appreciate the friendly suggestions and help,
Anthony


Hello,

I am a newbie to metal detecting, and have been sringing a Whites Prism 3 for the last 2 weeks, and I am hooked. I live blocks from a busy beach, and have met many people swinging Excalibers in the water. Seems they do quite well there, and my Prism wont work in the wet stuff. So, I want to get an excal, but I have some holdbacks. I know I will use it 5-7 days a week, as I have been out there often with the prism.

I would have to go into debt to buy one, and I want to know if it is worth doing. Dont want a huge debt I cant repay with the detector itself. I just want to be sure the purchase will be justified.

I have found someone locally selling an Excaliber 1000. She says it is 3 years old, and has never been used, except to test it recently and be sure it works. Her brother had it and died apparently, and left 3 detectors behind, and this is the last one. She says it has all the things it comes with, a carry bag, pouch for items found, and a T shirt. She is asking $1000 for it. Is this a good deal, or should I ask her to go lower? I am in the dark about these detectors, and would appreciate any advice you can give.

Thank you,
Anthony

 

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[Dixie Digger]

Re: Considering buying an Excaliber, suggestions welcom

id go another $100 and buy the NEW Excal ll..its got a better battery and coil also good warranty! i just bought one last week and it is better than the old model .the coil is lighter and the NIMH battery will last much longer than the old NICAD.be careful,Minelab warranty's are NOT transferable.DD

 

[Narthoniel]

Re: Considering buying an Excaliber, suggestions welcom

Thanks for the tip. She did say the warranty would be expired by now, but i wasnt sure how important it would be to have it.

I will dig into this and do some research on the Excal 2.

Thanks,
Anthony

 

[Marc(NB)]

Re: Considering buying an Excaliber, suggestions welcom

well make her an offer.Start low and see what happens.Before you pay for it get it out in the water first to make sure the seals are still good.You have nothing to loose and all to gain,you never know you might be able to get it cheap.At the price shes asking for it,it wont sell!

 

[Narthoniel]

Re: Considering buying an Excaliber, suggestions welcom

Just did a little reading and read the manual for the Excal 2. Seems that since this will work on land as well as sea, it is more versatile, and a better detector. Thanks for the tip. Just to be sure, you say the Excal 2 is the upgraded version of the 1000 correct? I am new, and ashamed to ask that, but need to be sure.

Oh, and also, if i did go and but the excal 2, which coil would be preferable? They mention having an 8 inch and a 10 inch option. I plan to do mostly beach hunting, and perhaps some relic hunting in the winter. But my main focus is beach hunting for lost jewelry.
Is it worth getting the hipmount kit? does it make a difference in use?

Thanks for your time,
Anthony

 

[Foilman]

Re: Considering buying an Excaliber, suggestions welcom

Some people like the hip mount kit.
Or you can make your own for a lot less.
Also some people prefer a straight shaft. It is personal preference.
If you use it "as is" it is very heavy. especially out of the water.
I wouldn't pay more
than 5-700.on used one, depending on condition and I would try it first if they are local in the water to make sure it is OK. Service can be expensive and it has to be shipped to Vegas.

 

[Narthoniel]

Re: Considering buying an Excaliber, suggestions welcom

Thanks for the info. Based on what I am hearing, she wants too much, and its a bit risky to buy it without warranty. I am leaning torwards buying a new Excal2. Kellyco has one hell of a deal, and it looks very enticing.

Thanks,
Anthony

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Re: Considering buying an Excaliber, suggestions welcom

In my opinion she is asking to much for one that old, when for only a couple hundred m ore you could get one new with the warranty. I would offer her $600 to $700 to see what she says, remembering that you can get a new one for $1200......

If you can get it for $700 to $750 then you can use the $400+ to buy the other supplies you will need. A good scoop is a must, you do not want to skimp when it comes to a scoop. A good scoop will cost you $150 and up.

One of the big advantages to buying a GOOD used detector is you can recoop most of your investment if and when you decide to sell it, and when you take in to account your finds you will realize you lost nothing.

In my opinion a good detector is an investment, the money is not gone, it is just in a different investment that pays dividends in the form of gold, silver, diamonds, and more........................

If you decide to buy new, go with the 10 inch coil, and personally I would try to get the original coil off of the Excal vs the new coil.

There is a reason why so many water hunters use Excals.

Good luck and good hunting..................

 

[Narthoniel]

Re: Considering buying an Excaliber, suggestions welcom

Thanks for the input. Kellyco has a great offer on the new Excal - 1200 + almost 500 in accessories. Only thing i noticed not listed was a good sand scoop, which I would need to add of course. I appreciate the info on coil size. Really helps me home in on what I will wind up buying.

Thanks a ton,
Anthony

 

[Dixie Digger]

Re: Considering buying an Excaliber, suggestions welcom

Email sent!

 

[vondrewvious]

Re: Considering buying an Excaliber, suggestions welcom

Kellyco has good prices but dont be fooled by the free stuff. I have purchased detectors fro them and the free stuff is worth about what you pay for it.

Detector depot will ship for free. Kellyco will charge you to ship the free junk.

 

[Sandman]

Re: Considering buying an Excaliber, suggestions welcom

I am agreeing with what the rest say about buying new. Her detector might not have been used much, but the seals may leak. The new Excal II will have a thinner coil and supposed to have a upgraded circuit board & battery. Check that Detector Depot and others that will ship for free. Some of the stuff Kellyco says they are giving away for free is supplied by Minelab anyway, like the carry bag, pouch, etc.

A good scoop will last years. Check into the Diamond Head scoop by Nutall, pic below. Another good one is the Stealth by Sunspot. Most of us use a screen type scoop for the dry sand as it sifts faster.

You'll love the Excal 1000 as it is the top of the line. And don't worry about dumb questions, everyone of us started at one time.

 

[Narthoniel]

Re: Considering buying an Excaliber, suggestions welcom

Thanks for the encouragement and suggestions. I think I will be placing an order tonight for the Excal from the direct site. I will definatly look into the Scoops you mentioned, thank you for posting the information about them.

And I did not recieve any email, just to let you know Dixie.

Anthony

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Re: Considering buying an Excaliber, suggestions welcom

I'm still asking dumb questions...................

 

[JP]

Re: Considering buying an Excaliber, suggestions welcom

Thanks for the encouragement and suggestions. I think I will be placing an order tonight for the Excal from the direct site.

Hi. Did you end up ordering the new Excalibur? Everyone was right about buying new especially when a used one costs almost the same.

Most of the used ones go for around $700 to $800 on Ebay.

Go with the 10 inch coil. You'll thank yourself later. You cover more area per swing.

You won't go wrong with the Excalibur.

HH

 

[Narthoniel]

Re: Considering buying an Excaliber, suggestions welcom

My new excaliber is sitting in the living room, calling me to go use it! Waiting for someone to look at some sunglasses i found last week, and after that, im on the beach! I have the 10 inch coil, but no long handled scoop yet, ordering one tonight or tomorrow.

Anthony

 

[JOe L]

Good luck you will love it, like any fine machine, be patient with it... Learn, learn, learn...

 

[bucketofguts]

hope you have as much fun as i had with my GT the first time out. i laughed so hard at the sounds it made i cried. go slowly and listen carefully! best of luck! b