Another question from another new guy.

[JJLarkin39]

So, I'm brand new to this metal detecting thing. I am starting to get a little better about actually FINDING the targets I dig for. My question is.... How do you know which ones to dig for? I know about the whole VDI thing and figuring out what is what before you dig. I am talking about the faint tones that you get that don't register on the screen. I would assume that the faint tones are indicating that something is there but how do you know how deep to dig, the size of the target, etc...? Is it just by experience or should I be listening for something in particular. Thanks for your help. I have been to a lot of forums and this one is by far the friendliest. Nobody flames new guys, or anyone for that matter, just for the sake of flaming them. Thanks again.

 

[Jim McCulloch]

....that is the question." It is well to remember that the AUDIO discrimination GOES DEEPER then does the visual discrimination, so it is indeed possible to get audible signals WITHOUT a distinct visual ID. These are almost always REALLY tiny shallow "good" targets, OR, are really deep "good" targets too deep for the VDI to ID. At an OLD site, where the possiblity of DEEP "good" targets is plausible, those faint, NO VDI signals SHOULD BE DUG. Sure, some will be worthless, but then again, some might be the best finds you could make. "When in doubt, dig it out." Hope this helps; HH Jim

 

[George (MN)]

the depth reading would still work when you go to non-motion pinpoint. I seem to recall the deepest it reads is 12" & that is going by coin sized objects. When you go to all metal pinpoint, you get sound over an area that varies in size with the size of the target.

A coin beep would generally be less wide than the coil with the DD coil. With the standard 9.5" concentric coil, a coin that is very shallow could be almost as wide as the coil. But at the limit of detection depth, only the center of the coil is detecting the target, so the width of a coin beep could be almost as small as the coin itself. So you have to use the width of the beep in non-motion pinpoint, in combination with the depth reading, to guess if it is the right size for a coin or whatever you're searching for.

If you are looking for coin sized objects & get a depth reading of 11" or less, once you get to that depth, if it is still sounding off, you can assume it is something larger than a coin. A 12" depth reading could be a coin as deep as 16" or so, at a totally unmineralized area like some ocean beaches, but inland I don't recall anyone finding coins more than 12" deep with a MXT.

Some of those really weak/deep sounds could also be extremely tiny bits of metal that are shallow, so you might want to recheck the hole & check your dirt pile each time you dig some out. I was thinking tiny metal near the surface & a really deep coin when using the stock coil, could maybe have about the same depth reading & width. As someone said, experience is the best teacher & I admit I need more experience digging the iffy signals. HH, George (MN)

 

[JJLarkin39]

This is a great forum. No three word answers. It is so nice to get real information. Thanks alot. You guys are really helping me figure this stuff out. Thanks again.

 

[u238]

The three different size bars that are suppose to tell you what the detector thinks of the target, are just guess made by the programing. A small bar with a number such as a 53 for example could be a deep seated dime. I've found this to be so by digging one myself. The best thing i believe is to hunt in relic mode, dis very low, sweep slow and dig high tones.

 

[wolfman266]

Lately I have been digging iffy targets that I used to pass. I have been finding some silver, Big silver, 4 silver halfs in the last month. I have also been digging lots of wheats. When I swing and the Vdi indicates a good target on one pass and junk on another I pinpoint over the center of the object.I think it is easier to tell if there are multiple targets in pinpoint mode. Then I swing back over the the center of the object if the VDI is Positive number and deep ,I dig. After I cut the plug I rescan the hole if the VDI gets better or stays the same the target is usually good. Deep positive targets should always be dug. This happened to me today. Hit and old park with a tiny beach by a lake. The place is loaded with rusty screwcaps. Most of which all gave off a good vdi, deep. I dig screwcap after screwcap. I get a VDI indicating a screwcap reading. I thought here we go again. I dig and out pops an 1885 Indian Head, my first. I keep hunting get another good VDI signal out pops another screwcap. Rescan the hole get another good VDI reading, 3"under the cap out pops a 45 merc.
Another other point always( within reason of course) retrieve all targets don't give up until you find out what it is.The halves I found this year have all been around 10". The first one I just about gave up. Thought it was something rusty or a buried aluminum can top. The little voice inside says retrieve all targets. I keep digging and pull up a 40 Walking Liberty Half. The other two walkers must have had some iron near by I would get a iron reading mixed in with the half VDI. Kept digging and I found them. I found a 56 Franklin half at an old fairground. Another detectorist had been there prior. I notice a cut plug scanned it got a VDI indicating a Half dollar. The other guy stopped at about 7 inches. I went three more inches and there Ben was staring me in the face. I would like to thank that guy as he pinpointed it perfect but missed it. The MXT will find them deep. Its up to us to go get em. You never know for sure what you have until you can see and touch it. Hope this helps Happing Digging