Nugget Finder Coils

The History of Nugget Finder Coils

Nuggetfinder factory in Victoria’s Golden Triangle, Australia

Nuggetfinder continued to produce coils for the VLF series of Minelab detectors until the introduction of the Minelab SD2000 in 1994. The SD2000 had an overwhelming impact on electronic gold prospecting in Australia. This new generation of Pulse Induction machines quickly replaced the earlier VLF models as the pro’s choice for hunting nuggets. Barrie Johnson Detector Service began manufacturing a new range of add-on accessories for the SD series under the Nuggetfinder label, such as sound enhancers, external speakers, and battery packs.

Over the following years Barrie & Rohan Johnson received many enquires from prospectors eager for a new range of large, lightweight coils to suite the Minelab SD and GP series. Field testing of these prototype coils began in late 2002 with incredibly positive results. By mid 2003 Nuggetfinder coils were again in production, with demand quickly outstripping supply. To accommodate the increased demand, Nuggetfinder moved to a larger facility in nearby Bendigo, where all manufacturing continues to be done entirely by hand – no automated steps are involved at any stage of construction.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES?

Why use fiberglass? While considerably more costly to produce than plastic coils, fiberglass offers several distinct advantages. The basic design of the Nuggetfinder coil has changed very little since the early 1990’s. Essentially Nuggetfinder coils consist of a fiberglass sandwich design with a rigid, high density foam core. Fiberglass is a lightweight, yet strong material which is extremely resilient to the effects of UV, and fluctuations in temperature and moisture.

As the fiberglass is bonded directly to the surface of the foam there is no air cavity produced inside the coil, this greatly reduces any possible damage caused from moisture entering the coil. Should the fiberglass outer shell become damaged and exposed to moisture, this moisture will be contained to the site of damage unable to spread throughout the coil. Drying the affected area and applying silicon sealant will most times fix the damage without any long term effects. The solid bond created between the glass and the core eliminates the possibility of movement. Movement between the outer case and shielding on coils constructed of plastic often results in false signals and a general increase in noise during operation.

OTHER NUGGETFINDER DESIGN FEATURES!

Nuggetfinder use only the highest quality components, with every step being performed by a small number of skilled staff. All Nugetfinder coils are wound using Litz wire; a multi-strand wire in which every individual strand is insulated before being wrapped in a cotton or Rayon coating. The windings in Nuggetfinder coils are potted in a very strong resin which provides waterproofing and protects against damage and movement.

A constant problem with vacuum molded plastic coils is cracking of the plastic at the shaft mount caused by flexing during use. This flexing is more pronounced with larger sizes as the coil can wobble and tilt making it difficult to control in undulating terrain. To overcome this, Nuggetfinder use a separate Polyurethane shaft mount which is reinforced with a super strong fiberglass epoxy. This separate mount is bonded to the coil and is actually anchored through to the core using plastic clips set in resin. The result is a shaft mount that is very rigid and strong while removing all stress from the outer casing of the coil. By using a flexible urethane there is no need for a heavy-duty bolt and wing nut as the shaft can be tightened easily without the need for undue force to be applied.

Operators of Nuggetfinder coils will note the position of the cable close to the shaft greatly reduces the instances of sticks and bracken being caught by the cable. The skid plates on all Nuggetfinder coils are made from high quality ABS plastic. This plastic is very hard wearing and impact resistant, combined with rounded edges these plates will save the operator time and money with less frequent replacements required.

Nuggetfinder is constantly field testing and listening to customer feedback, they take pride in their work and aim at making only the finest search coils. ARIZONA OUTBACK is the sole North American Distributor of the Nuggetfinder line, and we encourage you to find out for yourself why more professional prospectors across the globe are making the switch to Nuggetfinder. For more information please email info@arizonaoutback.com, phone (928) 777-0267, or explore the rest of the AZO website – happy hunting!