The Powerhouse Partnership of Minelab and Coiltek
As a seasoned Minelab Detexpert, I've spent the last few months putting the new 18" Coiltek coil through its paces, both on land and at the beach. My experience with this coil has been a deep dive—quite literally—into what's possible when size and technology converge in metal detecting.
Minelab has always been a leader in the field, and their partnership with Coiltek has only expanded the horizons for detectorists. This new coil is impressive; it's large, certainly, and at just over 1kg, it's heftier than your standard coils. But what it brings to the table in weight, it more than makes up for in depth. We're talking about a coil that surpasses even the already deep-reaching 15" coils.
Now, this isn't the kind of coil you'd swing for an entire weekend rally—it's for targeted, calculated searches. When you have a site in mind where you suspect treasures are waiting deeper than most have ventured, that's when the 18" Coiltek coil shines. And shine it does—on all Minelab Equinox models, including the 600, 700, 800, and 900, and on the new XTERRA Pro metal detector.
The Strategic Choice for Targeted Searches
Although the 18” wouldn’t suit most detectorists for an entire weekend rally due to the weight, some may want to utilise it for its quick ground covering properties. It’s large diameter means that you will cover ground very quickly. Some detectorists favour covering area quickly if they have limited access to the permission/land. This could be if on a rally with a large acreage and you want to cover as much as possible before your time runs out. This technique has its pros and cons, as you will cover a large area, but it will be hard going and you’ll probably only pick up the ‘easy targets’.
Enhancing Comfort with the Minelab Pro Swing
If you want the depth, and the coverage but are worried about the weight, you could consider combining your detector with a harness like the Minelab Pro Swing. The Pro swing attaches to the body like a vest and it connects to the detector to spread the weight across the body, rather than just on the arm. Once the Pro Swing is set-up it can be really helpful.
The XTERRA Pro's Remarkable Compatibility
The XTERRA Pro, a more wallet-friendly option with its 'Pro Switch' single-frequency technology, really steps up its game with this coil. It's a beautiful thing to see performance typically expected from higher-end models being achieved by a lower-priced machine. With the Equinox range, the coil operates in multi-frequency mode, but even in a single-frequency capacity on the XTERRA, it doesn't fail to impress.
Finds with the Coiltek 18” and XTERRA PRO
I’ve been predominantly using the Coiltek 18” with the XTERRA Pro, mainly just because I wanted to experiment with this combination. I’ve been doing some beach detecting, but predominantly using it on club digs.
I didn’t find anything on my first day with this set-up, just bits and bobs, but I wasn’t too deterred as I was still, ‘finding’. My first good find was on day 2 when I pulled up this lovely, 1925, silver sixpence. It was at about 8 inches deep and gave a great tone. You can’t beat a sixpence!
Less than an hour later and I’m on the hammered. I found this coin very easily, as it was at a particularly shallow depth, probably about an inch! Great signal again, one of those that you’d dig all day.
I think the first two nice finds with the 18” and XTERRA Pro could have been found with most machines to be honest. They are nice, complete targets and weren’t at significantly large depths. The Georgian half-penny I found on my 3rd time out with the machine was more impressive. The copper of the coin is fairly conductive and the ground conditions were moist, ideal for detecting, but I’m still impressed to have found this coin somewhere in the region of 12-14 inches down. The signal was good, and I’m impressed at the combination of this machine and coil. This is very good detecting technology for the price of just over £600.
Minelab, hailing from Australia since 1985, has built a reputation on innovation and depth, while Coiltek, since 1995, has been creating coils that push detectors to new limits and provide new options for detectorists. Together, they've equipped us with tools that not only search but discover.
From my field tests, it's clear this coil isn't just an accessory; it's a significant upgrade. It's a specialist's tool for the serious detectorist focused on uncovering what lies beyond the usual scope. It's for those few hours when you're not just searching, but seeking—seeking the deep-hidden stories that the ground beneath our feet holds.
Ready for Deeper Discoveries?
For fellow enthusiasts eager to explore the depths with Coiltek's new 18" search coil, remember that this tool requires a strategic approach to detecting. It's not for every outing, but when you're ready to challenge the depths, this coil could be the key to unlocking history's deeper secrets. You might find this, on well-maintained pasture sites where Minelab machines typically excel. In places like this you haven’t got to worry about stubble from arable locations, or rocks from certain types of beaches and so can swing the coil easily without interruption. This is not to say this coil doesn’t work on beaches, quite the contrary, but just keep it away from anything that might obstruct it.
If you have questions or want to know more about this game-changing coil, get in touch with Crawfords Metal Detectors. They are here to help you on your journey to deeper discoveries.
