I ordered myself a Minelab Equinox 800 metal detector. Anyone out there have any experience with the machine ?

I've detected before and have a friend that's got an identical machine. Anything special that I should know? Just to help my learning curve?

My machine should be here tomorrow, and my buddy is to give me a few pointers too. But starting out with a new machine is almost like starting from scratch.

I’ve heard nothing but good about that machine. Check out nuggetshooter journals and look up the instructional videos that the host has put out there.(you-tube)

That is what I have now that I am done fooling around in the Garrett minor leagues.

Until you really learn your machine dig everything. The numbers are different on this machine.

Buy the ear stiffeners.

Do air tests.

You are going to love it.

how much $ for that one I've always wanted to get one

I have owned many detectors and you just bought the best! I have the higher end Minelabs and the 800 is far superior. The machine is so fast that it will identify different coins very close to each other basically in the same hole. I spent a year in Puerto Rico and detected almost every day. I never found any gold until I got the 800. That machine is a gold magnet! 8 or 9 readings were usually gold rings but dig every thing. Nickels are 13 dimes 25 quarters 29 or30 anything higher is silver or deep iron. Penny's are all over depending on the zinc content. I spent countless hours with that machine submerged in salt water and never had a problem. I can't say enough about the machine. You will love it! It will pull good targets out of buried trash. I once had it reading 9 and 30 on the same target a high and low tone together and it turned out to be a gold and silver ring. The speed is amazing as the amount of gold was a very small heart on the ring. Sorry for rambling but I love that machine!

It's a high dollar, top of the line machine from what I've read and been told. Right at $950 bucks. I know I'll never find enough stuff to pay for it and all. Just a hobby, guess I got my first one back about 40 years ago. I still have it, it's big and bulky and heavy, but a good machine, it'sa White's 6000 DI.

Then I got myself a Fisher 1266-X. It's a good machine, or was. Pulled it out of the closet the other week, loaded it up with batteries and it was dead. Checked it out and I guess one of the battery packs leaked on the contacts. It's just dead. Took it to Radio Shack, nothing doing. So, what do you do? Send it back to the company and spend $200 to have a machine that's 25 years old fixed ? Or buy a new one?

All my Fisher needs is the battery box, when I get a chance I'm going to drill out the rivets and see what I can do. The way it always works, a $5 part will cost you as much as a new machine.

But I'm looking forward to playing with this Minelab. I've got some new places to go, and there should be some good junk up there someplace.

Give me a week or so and I'll have a sack full of pull-tabs and rusty nails and rifle brass and other "treasure".

Be sure to post when you hit the honey hole. I always enjoy seeing what others find and follow these post. I've also considered getting a Equinox myself. I run a Minelab Excalibur now, But would like a machine with a read out not just tones. Being retired a new machine may never be in the budget again unless I sell something else.

Mac

Morning guys. Mac I'm glad that you found this thread, we've talked about machines before, and I couldn't remember what you were running. You've found some good stuff and I agree $950 is a lot of money to spend on a toy.

The new machine wasn't delivered yesterday, hopefully today. Can't wait to play with it.

I've got access to a property that I'm itching to try, 300 acres, and I've been told there were 2 houses up there years ago. I was told that they both burnt down, way before our time, (I think back in the 1920's or so) but I think I know where the foundation was for one of them. So, if there is anything there, it should be good.

Talking about following along with other people's finds. My buddy Steven has a facebook page. Do a search " South Fork Relic Hunters". He's found some good junk, and he's new to the hobby.

I have a Minelab Excalibur which was top of the line at one time. But, from what I've heard this 800 is as good as it gets in a hand held detector. I've thought about selling my Excalibur and getting the 800.

Ive taken about a 6 year hiatus from detecting simply because I moved to a place with little or no History. My new location will have some History and I will be out there trying to find some of it.

Those are some pretty neat finds.

Spend time doing research in your local library about your area / State. Research, research, and do more research! It WILL PAYOFF if you put in the time and effort

Where there are, or have been humans, there is history and "treasures" to be found if you know where to look and identify them :-)

So gold machines and relic machine used to be different is that changed. My only experience is with a white’s gold master in 1991

How does the equinox 800 compare with the gold monster 1000? Strictly for gold in the mountains.

It's all about advanced technology in 30 years, machine's frequency, settings, and user knowledge and experience. :-)

Please pardon my ignorance . The areas I have in mind are undeveloped except maybe a shaft or tailing pile.
To totally undeveloped creek beds and erosion gulches. Near zero relics maybe a musket ball or a button.
So equinox 800 or gold monster 1000. I’ve read everything I can find and it looks like the main difference is the gm1000 operates at a higher frequency for small targets in highly mineralized ground? Whereas the 800 operates at multiple freqz simultaneously to detect the widest range of targets. With a gold mode at the end of the frequency spectrum?

good read guys thanks

Well, I got the machine today. I had my daughter order the thing and they delivered it 2 houses down the street. A thousand dollar machine, and nobody signs for it, that's just crazy. Throw it on the porch and go. But anyway, I've got it.

Put it together and was playing with it here at work today. Just messing with it, doing an air test, it'll pick up a silver quarter at 9 or 10 inches, and about the same for a silver dime. From what I can see, so far, I think I'll like it.

A friend was here, I could pick up the fillings in her teeth from about 6 inches. lol. She has good teeth but made me stop. Just trying to learn my new machine. lol

But I should have a break from work tomorrow, we've had some rain so the ground should be good. Think I'll take the dog, and cut her in the wind, we'll be a mile behind a locked gate. And see what happens.

If you can find one, get this book. West Virginia United States Treasure Atlas