Ace 250 machine with net tornado coil - can someone please advise me

[rabert]

Hi,
I wonder if someone can advise me re the purchase of metal detectors.  I saw on You Tube that someone was beach detecting with an Ace 250 with net tornado coil (? whatever that is).    Is this just for beach detecting or can it be used on land too?   Do the little hand held 'pin pointer' come with machines, or are they bought separate?

Thanks in anticipation.

[Peter]

The Coil your referring to is a NEL tornado Coil its made in Russia or the Ukraine .One of those anyway..
The Ace 250 as far as I`m lead to believe, is not that good on wet salt Sand ,but does better on  dry sand.But if you ring up Regtons ,I`m sure some one there will confirm if its good on wet sand  as well as dry , but from my listening s they are not liking wet sand as they don`t like the salt.
 The coil can work better on dry land though, but don`t expect double the depth from it over the stock coil . You might get an extra couple of inches if you get an exceptional lucky break at some point. What the bigger coil will give you, is a bigger footprint of area coverage mainly. You undoubtedly will get some folk who`ll mesmerize you of tales of 6 "- 9 " extra depth, but its very often wishful thinking or its been in the side of the hole when digging and when they`ve missed it and gone deeper they very often through soil disturbance fall into the bottom of the now much deeper hole and are then seen , and the coin is then seen as it  has come from the depth they went eventually down to ,when in reality ,it was probably only two inches down at the side of the hole, in the first place .
Unless stated in the sale of a new or second hand Garrett Ace 250 as having one included, the Pinpoint probe you have to buy separate.

[Keith67]

Many Ace 250 owners have bought the Nel Tornado coil, it's what you might call a proven combination judging by the positive feedback. Nel are Ukranian, they have a very good reputation for making additional coils that you can add to your machine.  They make many different size coils for many machines.  The Tornado is a larger coil, usually bought because it is reputed to go deeper than the one that comes with the machine which is a smaller coil.  Most machines are supplied with what are usually referred to as a "regular search coil"  and you can add others for more specific search types.

There are several companies that specialise in making coils for various machines.

You can get pinpointers as part of special packages with machines, or "Pro Packages" as they are sometimes called.  Unless it's stated that the machine comes with a pinpointer then it won't, and most often they don't.  Some are just the machine only, some throw in a pair of headphones, maybe a control box cover.  It varies and you need to read the details and see what is included in the package you are thinking of buying.

[nailman]

http://www.treasurehunting.co.uk/uploads/fieldtests/Test_78.pdf

Here is a field test, the Garrett ace series are good performers but being what is called a VLF
Or very low frequency as are most detectors can be affected by heavy mineralisation in wet sand, meaning they will be "sparky" or unstable.
Be great on the dry.
I realise your new so the coil is the black round thing, it's made up of coils of wire hence the name, Nel make  aftermarket coils for various makes of detector, the Tornado is a popular aftermarket coil for the Garrett ace

MINELAB machines use something called FBS which copes better with the wet stuff
And then there is Pulse induction which are pure beach machines, you can use a PI in a field bur with no discrimination you will dig everything  small iron etc.
I believe the Minelab Safari is the base model with FBS.
Good luck

[nailman]

http://www.nel-coils.eu/en/

Her we go Nel coils one day I will work out how to put two links on the I Pad 

[Mike Hillis]

Why are you focused on the ACE?

HH
Mike

[rabert]

Hi everyone,
Many thanks for such useful information for me to read and digest.

Hi Mike,    Thanks for your post. It was just that when I looked on You Tube someone was using an Ace 250 and I got the idea it was one of the easier machines to use and handle for a complete novice , that the price was good to start off with and that it was light weight??      I just don't know anything whatsoever about metal detectors, names, companies etc., etc.,     So, after seeing the machine on You Tube and checking the price I thought I would ask for peoples comments as I realise you all 'know your stuff'!   I will of course check out the other details that people have suggested.      I don't even think there's a shop I could visit in the north east

I appreciate everyone's input/ help.

Regards.

[nailman]

http://www.treasurehunting.co.uk/uploads/fieldtests/Test_95.pdf

Hi rabert chosing your first detector is a nightmare, but you're going about the task in the right way by asking questions on this forum
Here is another test on the machines that both Mike and me have, both tried and trusted tech just without whistles and bells.
Both made by the same company just differant labels Tesro is mainly the American market and Laser for UK

[rabert]

Hi Nailman,
Many thanks for the info for me to check out.    I don't want to make a costly mistake and you chaps all seem ever so knowledgeable and helpful.   I really don't have a clue but it's just something I've wanted to do for such a long, long time.   It's a bit different to my other hobby (hobbies)!    I am interested in history too and read about it.    I'm obviously extremely ignorant, so thank you.

regards.

[Mike Hillis]

Rabert,
The beach detecting you are talking about wanting to do, is this salt water beach or a fresh water beach?   

If you are going to metal detect on salt water beaches you will need to up the game a little and use more specialized equipment.  None of these inexpensive units is going to hunt wet salt beaches very well at all.  However they will all hunt fresh water beaches and 'dry' salt water beach sand fine and the link nailman sent is a good read. 

So...if you are going to hunt wet salt water beaches with discrimination then you need to focus on units that can do that.   Whites DFX, V3, V3X.   Fisher CZ models.  Minelab Sovereigns, Excaliburs, Explorers.   There are not many that can do it well.   If money is an issue, the Whites DFX used market is very good right now and would be my first recomendation for you.   

Good luck.
HH
Mike

[rabert]

Hi Mike,
Thanks ever so for your detailed reply.   I guess I'm thinking of salt water beaches -  probably dry ish.  Do you know what a Minelab G0 40 would do for me?    I am told they sell them at Maplins??     I was just thinking,  that as I am totally new to  this, then I didn't want to spend too much on something  when I am not sure whether I would take to metal detecting or not, so I was thinking I should be sensible and err on the side of caution  ??

I shall certainly check out all the information etc., that you are sharing with me.

You've all been so helpful to me and it is appreciated.

[nailman]

The Minelab 40 are cheap and cheerful there are plenty of Garrett 250 on the second hand market and if you don't take up this fantastic hobby and decide to sell the Garrett or Whites or one of the better built Minelabs will hold its value

[gonzo]

Hi Rabert,
Don't start off with something that does'nt perform that well like the go40 or you will get frustrated pretty quickly.
Look on staffordshire metal detectors,they have an ex demo whites m6 on there for £275,for that price you are on to a winner.The m6 is one of the only single frequency detectors that do an excellent job on the wet sand,and it is brilliant inland too.There is a large selection of coils for the machine and it is about as simple to operate as you can get.
It would serve you well for as long as you wanted to keep it,the m6 performs the same as a lot of the top machines.

[Keith67]

I took a Go-Find 60 out of the box in Maplins out of pure curiosity.  It was extremely stiff to slide open and came apart in 2 exposing the wires.  Very flimsy units and the sand would get everywhere inside those plastic tubes IMHO.

[nailman]

Hi Rabert,
Don't start off with something that does'nt perform that well like the go40 or you will get frustrated pretty quickly.
Look on staffordshire metal detectors,they have an ex demo whites m6 on there for £275,for that price you are on to a winner.The m6 is one of the only single frequency detectors that do an excellent job on the wet sand,and it is brilliant inland too.There is a large selection of coils for the machine and it is about as simple to operate as you can get.
It would serve you well for as long as you wanted to keep it,the m6 performs the same as a lot of the top machines.

Good advice  Kev at Staffs is good to deal with.