F4 down at the beach

[Kiwi218]

Hi every one I need some advice. I am looking for a detector for the wife and was thinking of something like the F4. I use the goldbug Dp but when we are not out hunting nuggets I like to hunt the local beaches. The gold bug ground balance let's me work right down to the water's edge will the F4 work in wet sand

 

[stilpony]

Hi Kiwi,

I've used my F5 and my F2 not only in the wet sand, but I've CAREFULLY waded in shallow water (12 inches max) with both, and they work fine. This was done in freshwater sand, though, not salt. I have no clue how they'll handle the salt water, if that is what you will be hunting. Whatever you do, don't drop 'em in the water, or it will be a very sad day!

HH
Jake

 

[rick in mi]

I hunted with my F4 in and around fresh water with no problems,great little machine!!! .......hh rick in mi

 

[Kiwi218]

Thanks guys for your answers it was salt water beach I was looking at

 

[autopilot42]

I remember reading a post about the F4 and salt water beaches and Dave J. chimed in and said the F4 will not ground balance to salt, the detector doesn't have the range. I believe he said to lower the balance as far as it goes and if you get false signals turn down sensitivity when in the wet sand.

Take care
Bob

 

[tvr]

I remember reading a post about the F4 and salt water beaches and Dave J. chimed in and said the F4 will not ground balance to salt, the detector doesn't have the range. I believe he said to lower the balance as far as it goes and if you get false signals turn down sensitivity when in the wet sand.

And use a little discrimination; like just below foil.

If you go next level up from the F4; the F5 data sheet says it does ground balance all the way to wet salt. And I believe the F5 uses the same series coils as the Gold Bug DP.
Cheers,
tvr

 

[stilpony]

Confirmed, the Gold Bug coils work great on the F5.

 

[Kiwi218]

Thanks bob and tvr for the info looks like the f5 is the way to go

 

[Skwerly]

beat me to it! yea, for stuff like that i think you'd want the f5 or better.

 

[bxlarry]

Hi, I'm new to this forum, but not to MD. I have an F4 and I can tell you it is
very very noisy on wet salty sand. The only thing that helps a little is turning the sensitivity way down
and discriminate iron 1 and 2. This may help a bit. The machine is not made for salty sand. Also
I have never been able to ground balance the machine on wet sand. I don't want you to think the F4
is a bad machine, far from it, it's excellent on soft sand and any ground cover. Good depth and sensitivity.
I hope this helps
bxlarry