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The Great Coil Exchange: From Tiny to Gigantic on the Equinox 800



 Alright, so here’s the deal—I’ve always been a stock coil kinda guy. My Minelab Equinox 800 came with the standard coil, and I happily swung it around for years, digging up everything from silver coins to… deeply disappointing aluminum can shards.

Then, two seasons ago, I thought, Hey, what if I go smaller? So, I slapped on the 6” coil, hoping it would help me snipe out coins and relics in trashy areas. And guess what? It totally worked. That little thing was like a surgical tool—weaving between bottle caps, iron nails, and whatever else people have been littering since 1884. I was pulling better finds, but… not necessarily more finds. Depth? Meh. Coverage? Laughable. I basically had to grid an area like I was mowing a lawn with nail clippers.

Go Big or Go Home (or Just Keep Digging Forever)

So this season, I’m flipping the script. Goodbye, tiny sniper coil. Hello, absolute monster. I went out and picked up the Minelab 15” Coil (3011-0464)—which is roughly the size of a pizza and just as exciting. The plan? DEEPER TARGETS. I’m talking about those elusive, whispery signals that the stock coil thought about but gave up on.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “But Paul, isn’t that thing going to weigh as much as a cinder block?” Yes. Probably. By the end of this season, I might have one ridiculously jacked arm from swinging it. But hey, if it means pulling up some deep silver or lost relics, it’s worth the extra effort.

The Big vs. Small Showdown

Here’s how the 6” coil and the 15” coil compare so far:


-> 6” Coil – Absolute legend in trashy spots. Picks through junk like a pro, but let’s be real—it’s not exactly reaching the deep buried treasure layer. Also, covering large areas with this thing? Hope you’ve got a few hours to spare.


-> 15” Coil – Big, bold, and ready to dig. It should be perfect for open fields and deep signals, but will it struggle with target separation? Will it find me a lost gold hoard? Will it single-handedly give me back problems? Only time will tell.

Stay Tuned for Chaos

This is just the beginning of The Great Coil Experiment of 2024. I’ll be updating the blog throughout the season with all the juicy detecting drama—the good, the bad, and the “I swear this signal was deeper, where is it?!” moments.

If you’ve ever thought about switching coils or just want to watch me struggle with my life choices, stick around. It’s gonna be a wild ride. You can also follow my instagram @windydigger for in the moment updates. If I find something cool, you will see it!!!

Thanks for reading and Happy Hunting!

– Windy Digger

(Oh, and if you need a new coil for your own Equinox, check out OK John Metal Detectors—we’ve got you covered.)

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