Skid Plate?

[Psubs579]

Just picked up an Excal 2...was wondering what the verdict was on the minelab skid plate? Any affect on general operations (depth etc)? Any lessons learned (side-effects caused from using it)?

Do any other Excal users around here bother with a skid plate?

 

[stasys]

do you mean coil cover? if its about coil cover no any depth loss, only some sand can stuck between coil and cover and make detector work noisy or unstable, but its only for some sand, some use silicon to cover gaps between coil and coil cover.
its possible to use coil without coil cover because coil have apoxy 5mm. layer which you have allot time detect to grind it. good luck

 

[Sandman]

Use of a coil cover is almost mandatory because the coil wears off easy at the edges and water gets inside. It is a simple matter to remove the coil occasionally to remove the black sand which sticks to a magnet and makes the detector unstable. After they are out of warranty many coat the bottom of the coil with marine epoxy to save it from wear. They don't remove any depth at all.

 

[John (Ma)]

Without the coil cover you could picture a heavy grit sand paper rubbing on the coil every time you swing. Coil cover is highly recommended and take it off every now and then to clean under it.

 

[Psubs579]

Yeah I'm talking about a coil cover...minelab calls them "skidplates" hence my reference: http://www.minelab.com/usa/products...tes/10-slimline-all-terrain-skidplate-yellow-

I'm going detecting this Saturday and won't have time to get it in...would you advise against using the new detector without one for one day?

 

[stasys]

you can use it very very safe-its at least 5mm. apoxi under for damage protection copper coils inside, all the coil apoxi basis is made for stabilase coil coils, you can step on coil and its will not brake because its made like this. usually people use coil covers and dont like to buy coils used without coil cover. believe me to sand it down you have to swing hole year without stop. I have grand some coils to make it lighter and I know what I say. good look

 

[Sandman]

You can just cover the coil with duct tape and that will protect it for awhile. Mainly you don't want to wear down the edge.