Any Southern California Excalibur II Beach Users out there?

[labeachbum]

Just wondering on how it works on some of the black sand we have over here in southern cal.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

I'm in central CA, Monterey bay area, not southern CA. But I'll take a crack at your question, having used the excal for many years here in CA. The answer is: it depends on how "black" you are referring to. There are degrees of it. From lightly grey-ish, to more metallic greyish/black, to totally gunpowder black (as is found in the rain gully-washes, for instance).

And sometimes it can be one color on top, but another color a fraction of an inch below. Like, it can look moderate on top (cinimon colored), but kick it with your foot, will reveal that just under the surface, is a layer of jet black (or vice-versa).

Basically, the Excal starts to suffer as the black-ness and minerals increase. I've seen the conditions so bad (like where creeks/gully-washes enter out after storms) that you can put a coin right on top of the ground, and will not get a signal. I will just drift and clack everywhere d/t the minerals. In cases like that, you either have to move out of the black pocket, or reach for a pulse machine to cut it.

For moderately mineralized areas (you can tell because your machine will start to get non-repeatable signals and falses), you can turn down the disc, or go to auto-mode. To further help, hover the coil slightly higher than you normally would, and move the sweep speed slower, to allow the machine to compenstate and read the ground.

 

[Wet and Dry]

I've hunted with Gene. So he will be able to tell you alot about it.

 

[labeachbum]

Thanks for the info ..... will check the Black sand conditions This week............ as they expect beach erosion from the 3 storms forecast for this week.

 

[GENE EDWARDS]

Thanks Wet and Dry, put me on the spot.LOL, Well Tom is right on, it depends on how much there is in any given spot. I have found here in southern California, that the most black sand is up near the dry sand, the closer you get to the water the less black sand. I usually work from the water just up to the black sand line. with no problems. if I do detect the black sand I detect in all metal with the sens. turned down to 7, other wise I run it just past the click out of auto. and as Tom said raise the coil a bit. I've never did the coin test , but I will next trip out. I really don't fool with the heavy black sand areas, sooner or later whats hiding in there will be washed down closer to the water anyway. I just look for coins pockets and thats where I find my Jewelry. Good luck, Gene

 

[Gerry]

Thanks Wet and Dry, put me on the spot.LOL, Well Tom is right on, it depends on how much there is in any given spot. I have found here in southern California, that the most black sand is up near the dry sand, the closer you get to the water the less black sand. I usually work from the water just up to the black sand line. with no problems. if I do detect the black sand I detect in all metal with the sens. turned down to 7, other wise I run it just past the click out of auto. and as Tom said raise the coil a bit. I've never did the coin test , but I will next trip out. I really don't fool with the heavy black sand areas, sooner or later whats hiding in there will be washed down closer to the water anyway. I just look for coins pockets and thats where I find my Jewelry. Good luck, Gene

Gene, sens. turned down to 7, other wise I run it just past the click out of auto.

Am I reading this correctly that you run the sensitivity in auto or just out of auto? When you are working a beach that has no iron what sensitivity do you use. I have been hunting in # 4 & 5 range in none mineralised sand, do you think that is too low. I have been finding rings, should I move the sensitivity up to find more rings.

Gerry

 

[GENE EDWARDS]

Gerry, Most of the time I run in all metal with my sens, just out of auto, I have a little falsing but my ear can't hear those faint sounds anyway, thanks to the vietnam war. if the black sand is to heavy I turn my sens. to 7. I rarely used disc. and never use auto. Gene