A
Anonymous
Guest
im looking for a pulse unit for prospecting in AZ ,what would you say is the best for that pupose? are you familiar with a pulse detector by GFINSTRUMENTS the:TM93 and the TMD? ARE THEY ANY GOOD? THANKS
Find's Treasure Forums
Welcome to Find's Treasure Forums, Guests!
You are viewing this forums as a guest which limits you to read only status.
Only registered members may post stories, questions, classifieds, reply to other posts, contact other members using built in messaging and use many other features found on these forums.
Why not register and join us today? It's free! (We don't share your email addresses with anyone.) We keep email addresses of our users to protect them and others from bad people posting things they shouldn't.
Click here to register!
Need Support Help?
Cannot log in?, click here to have new password emailed to you
A
Anonymous
Guest
The Goldscan that I used to make would seem to be OK, according to the reports of others. However, it would mean finding a second hand one. I'm not familiar with the detectors you mention, but I had a look at G F Instruments website. You might get some useful feedback by asking the question on The Nuggetshooters forum. Many AZ prospectors post there.
http://wwwboard.net/bbs1/NuggetShooter's/wwwboard.sht
Eric.
http://wwwboard.net/bbs1/NuggetShooter's/wwwboard.sht
Eric.
A
Anonymous
Guest
why wouldnt the aquapulse work for prospecting? i thought PI'S could handle the extreme mineralization?
A
Anonymous
Guest
Hi pickleweasel,
I am not an expert on PI's but I have built a couple PI's and have been testing an older unit of Eric Foster's, the Goldscan 4. I can say that this is one of the most sensitive units I have ever used, and I have used a lot of different gold detectors. Unfortunately, most of the detectors I have tested and used are VLF's so I cannot speak with any real authority about a lot of other PI's.
I ran a buried target test with the Goldscan against one of the big boys PI used for nugget hunting and sensitivity was about the same. The main problem with the Goldscan is it doesn't have autotuning per se. Retuning is done by a pushbutton, and this could be a pain for an inexperienced user expecting to have a simple turn on and go type of detector. This is not a big problem for me, but I am modifying mine so it does have an autotuning feature so other people who hunt with me can use it easily. During my buried target test I found the Goldscan does do a better job of ignoring many of the different types of hotrocks, in 3 of its 4 modes. It will not ignore all of them, but does do a great job on magnetite rocks. Also, it will easily find gold nuggets under them while truly ignoring the rock. The Goldscan is an older unit and was initially developed a few years ago. I forgot to mention that the Goldscan will detect the meteorites found in Gold Basin while rejecting magnetite hotrocks.
I hope to be checking one of Foster's other PI units very shortly and I am hoping to see some of the same results as I have on the Goldscan, namely, the hotrock rejection. Right now, I suspect the autotuning on his new units will be ok also, but I need hands on experience to be sure. As for depth capabilities, no problem, I think Foster makes some of the deepest seeking detectors around.
My motives are the same as yours, to find the best PI nugget hunting detector for hunting gold in AZ. I have been nugget hunting there for many years now.
As for your question about PI's ignoring mineralization, this is not true of very sensitive PI's. They are ground sensitive, and some PI's sound off on almost every hotrock just like it was a metal target. I did test a couple of other PI's a couple years back and found this to be the case. That is why I initially gave up on PI's as a nugget hunting detector. However, the Goldscan has changed my mind. Now,I am hoping that Eric's new machines also ignore hotrocks.
There are different techniques used in the design of a PI to enhance a PI's sensitivity to small gold besides just raising the sensitivity. Some manufacturers are better than others in this respect. Eric Foster is one of the best designers in enhancing the response to gold, and has done so on his detectors already.
I am planning on sending a couple of hotrocks to Mr. Bill for testing purposes. Hopefully, I will get them out to him in a few days, so he can check out how Eric's machines respond to them.
I hope this helps.
Reg
I am not an expert on PI's but I have built a couple PI's and have been testing an older unit of Eric Foster's, the Goldscan 4. I can say that this is one of the most sensitive units I have ever used, and I have used a lot of different gold detectors. Unfortunately, most of the detectors I have tested and used are VLF's so I cannot speak with any real authority about a lot of other PI's.
I ran a buried target test with the Goldscan against one of the big boys PI used for nugget hunting and sensitivity was about the same. The main problem with the Goldscan is it doesn't have autotuning per se. Retuning is done by a pushbutton, and this could be a pain for an inexperienced user expecting to have a simple turn on and go type of detector. This is not a big problem for me, but I am modifying mine so it does have an autotuning feature so other people who hunt with me can use it easily. During my buried target test I found the Goldscan does do a better job of ignoring many of the different types of hotrocks, in 3 of its 4 modes. It will not ignore all of them, but does do a great job on magnetite rocks. Also, it will easily find gold nuggets under them while truly ignoring the rock. The Goldscan is an older unit and was initially developed a few years ago. I forgot to mention that the Goldscan will detect the meteorites found in Gold Basin while rejecting magnetite hotrocks.
I hope to be checking one of Foster's other PI units very shortly and I am hoping to see some of the same results as I have on the Goldscan, namely, the hotrock rejection. Right now, I suspect the autotuning on his new units will be ok also, but I need hands on experience to be sure. As for depth capabilities, no problem, I think Foster makes some of the deepest seeking detectors around.
My motives are the same as yours, to find the best PI nugget hunting detector for hunting gold in AZ. I have been nugget hunting there for many years now.
As for your question about PI's ignoring mineralization, this is not true of very sensitive PI's. They are ground sensitive, and some PI's sound off on almost every hotrock just like it was a metal target. I did test a couple of other PI's a couple years back and found this to be the case. That is why I initially gave up on PI's as a nugget hunting detector. However, the Goldscan has changed my mind. Now,I am hoping that Eric's new machines also ignore hotrocks.
There are different techniques used in the design of a PI to enhance a PI's sensitivity to small gold besides just raising the sensitivity. Some manufacturers are better than others in this respect. Eric Foster is one of the best designers in enhancing the response to gold, and has done so on his detectors already.
I am planning on sending a couple of hotrocks to Mr. Bill for testing purposes. Hopefully, I will get them out to him in a few days, so he can check out how Eric's machines respond to them.
I hope this helps.
Reg
A
Anonymous
Guest
thanks reg you helped me out a lot.so eric is coming out with a new pulse unit for gold? this is the first ive heard about it. is it a goldscan 5 ? thanks
A
Anonymous
Guest
Hi Again,
Sorry if I left you with the wrong impression. I probably stated my remarks incorrectly. I hope to try one of the units he has in production at the present time to see how well it would work for nugget hunting now, and to see for myself what problems I think would need to be addressed to make a top notch detector for nugget hunting.
I am doing this for personal reasons, since, like you, I love to nugget hunt and would like to have a terrific detector that doesn't cost two arms and a leg, or that needs a wheelborrow to haul it around all day.
I am hoping he does develop a new metal detector designed for nugget hunting, but as far as I know it is still in the talk stage at this time. Only Eric has the answer to that question.
Maybe if we all gang up on him??? Anyway, I am hoping.
I can certainly see the difficulties involved in the development of a new pulse detector for nugget hunting. I have been experimenting by modifying a PI I built from a kit, and just about the time I think I have something figured out, I get blown out of the water by some other strange condition that has to be addressed. I am learning a lot from the experimenting that does help me to better understand the hidden problems, and to look at PI's from a more technical perspective.
I have been nugget hunting long enough to know most of the pitfalls in that arena. However, I just have training wheels on when it comes to PI technology and what quirks aid or hinder a unit from making a to notch nugget hunting machine.
As for purchasing one of his present units for the purpose of experimenting with it for nuggethunting, Eric has already designed in many features that I have to overcome on my kit. However, the kit has allowed me to see things that I would have never known existed otherwise.
I think having the two different units would compliment my thought process on the matter. At least it should help me from trying to put square pegs in round holes as often. As I eluded to earlier, there is a lot more to developing a sensitive PI than meets the eye. Anyway, the experimenting allows me to look at the problems from two different perspectives, one as an operator, and also from the technical aspect.
Eric needs to be complimented for the work he has already done in this field. We are also very lucky he is willing to share his knowledge in this forum.
Reg
Sorry if I left you with the wrong impression. I probably stated my remarks incorrectly. I hope to try one of the units he has in production at the present time to see how well it would work for nugget hunting now, and to see for myself what problems I think would need to be addressed to make a top notch detector for nugget hunting.
I am doing this for personal reasons, since, like you, I love to nugget hunt and would like to have a terrific detector that doesn't cost two arms and a leg, or that needs a wheelborrow to haul it around all day.
I am hoping he does develop a new metal detector designed for nugget hunting, but as far as I know it is still in the talk stage at this time. Only Eric has the answer to that question.
Maybe if we all gang up on him??? Anyway, I am hoping.
I can certainly see the difficulties involved in the development of a new pulse detector for nugget hunting. I have been experimenting by modifying a PI I built from a kit, and just about the time I think I have something figured out, I get blown out of the water by some other strange condition that has to be addressed. I am learning a lot from the experimenting that does help me to better understand the hidden problems, and to look at PI's from a more technical perspective.
I have been nugget hunting long enough to know most of the pitfalls in that arena. However, I just have training wheels on when it comes to PI technology and what quirks aid or hinder a unit from making a to notch nugget hunting machine.
As for purchasing one of his present units for the purpose of experimenting with it for nuggethunting, Eric has already designed in many features that I have to overcome on my kit. However, the kit has allowed me to see things that I would have never known existed otherwise.
I think having the two different units would compliment my thought process on the matter. At least it should help me from trying to put square pegs in round holes as often. As I eluded to earlier, there is a lot more to developing a sensitive PI than meets the eye. Anyway, the experimenting allows me to look at the problems from two different perspectives, one as an operator, and also from the technical aspect.
Eric needs to be complimented for the work he has already done in this field. We are also very lucky he is willing to share his knowledge in this forum.
Reg
A
Anonymous
Guest
SOUNDS LIKE YOUR HAVING FUN WITH THAT PI!
A
Anonymous
Guest
hi Bob,
Yep, I am having fun. More importantly, I am learning a lot about PI's. This new knowledge also helps explain some strange things I have encountered with VLF's in the past.
As I said earlier, this PI field is a lot more complicated than I had anticipated. Just about the time I think I have a handle on something, something else wacks me across the side of the head. At times I feel like half of the Dumb and Dumber duo, the dumbest half.
Get this, a few days ago I was showing my brother-in-law how I could switch modes on the Goldscan and ignore most of the hotrocks. I also showed him how in the OFF mode, hotrocks could be a problem because most of the rocks I was using for testing would give a nice strong response.
Well, today I tried to sort a few of those same rocks and none of the hotrocks would respond with any significant type of response in any mode, yet the detector would pick up the gold nuggets with the same sensitivity as before.
I am still scratching my head over that one. I am open to suggestions as to why this happened if somebody has any ideas.
Who knows, maybe the detector is just aging to perfection. If that is the case, I hope it also creates a shovel and digs the nuggets too.
Reg
Yep, I am having fun. More importantly, I am learning a lot about PI's. This new knowledge also helps explain some strange things I have encountered with VLF's in the past.
As I said earlier, this PI field is a lot more complicated than I had anticipated. Just about the time I think I have a handle on something, something else wacks me across the side of the head. At times I feel like half of the Dumb and Dumber duo, the dumbest half.
Get this, a few days ago I was showing my brother-in-law how I could switch modes on the Goldscan and ignore most of the hotrocks. I also showed him how in the OFF mode, hotrocks could be a problem because most of the rocks I was using for testing would give a nice strong response.
Well, today I tried to sort a few of those same rocks and none of the hotrocks would respond with any significant type of response in any mode, yet the detector would pick up the gold nuggets with the same sensitivity as before.
I am still scratching my head over that one. I am open to suggestions as to why this happened if somebody has any ideas.
Who knows, maybe the detector is just aging to perfection. If that is the case, I hope it also creates a shovel and digs the nuggets too.
Reg
A
Anonymous
Guest
REG: YES I WAS AMAZED AT THE WAY IT GOT RID OF MY HOT ROCKS THAT I GOT FROM AN AZ.SILVER MINE. I HAVE A BAD TIME HERE IN MO. WITH CINDERS (CLINKERS) FROM THE OLD COAL STOVES THAT ALL THE SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES USED! THE ONLY DETECTOR THAT WOULD GET RID OF THEM IS THE WHITE'S 4900DL MAX AND THE 5900- AND 6000. IT KNOCKS THE DEPTH DOWN A LITTLE BUT I GET A LOT OF COINS THE OTHERS PASS UP BECAUSE OF INTERFERENCE ETC. ONE OF THE BEST SLEEPERS THAT WHITES HAS. BEST OF LUCK WITH IT. BOB IN MO.
A
Anonymous
Guest
Ummm.... Reg...
I just had a flashback to a book that I read about 15 years ago called "The Practice Effect". It was SF/Fantasy, and I'm afraid I don't remember the author. What's scary is that it sounds like your detector is acting the way things did in that book!!! 8-S
Louis
<IMG SRC="/forums/images/wink.gif" BORDER=0 ALT="
">
I just had a flashback to a book that I read about 15 years ago called "The Practice Effect". It was SF/Fantasy, and I'm afraid I don't remember the author. What's scary is that it sounds like your detector is acting the way things did in that book!!! 8-S
Louis
<IMG SRC="/forums/images/wink.gif" BORDER=0 ALT="
">
A
Anonymous
Guest
Hi Louis,
I haven't read the book, but your mention of flashback, reminded me of an incident probably 16 or 17 years ago. I had been using the Technetic's 8500 VLF and just purchased their new Mark 1.
Well, my brother-in-law and I went out two new machines. After an hour or so, we compared what we had found. He had 3 old turn of the century coins and all I had were a few newer items. Talk about a kick to the ego, I was supposed to be the experienced one.
Well, I swallowed my pride and watched my brother-in-law hunt. He was moving extremely slow. That didn't make sense since all motion detectors took some swinging to get any depth.
Well, I tried his technique and it worked. I began finding old coins in the same place where I had just hunted. The Mark 1 was one of the first two filter machines that actually worked better when swept slowly. It took practice to change my old habits.
Now, I am into PI's and again, old habits are hard to break. However, I am experienced enough now to remember certain things like whether a detector gives a reasonable signal on a rock or not, especially since that is one of the key problems when nugget hunting. Oh well, practice, practice, practice are the three techniques I have found that provide the best training with a detector.
Fortunately, today there are websites like this one that provide key answers to unknowns that can help me expand and alter my techniques while practicing.
Reg
I haven't read the book, but your mention of flashback, reminded me of an incident probably 16 or 17 years ago. I had been using the Technetic's 8500 VLF and just purchased their new Mark 1.
Well, my brother-in-law and I went out two new machines. After an hour or so, we compared what we had found. He had 3 old turn of the century coins and all I had were a few newer items. Talk about a kick to the ego, I was supposed to be the experienced one.
Well, I swallowed my pride and watched my brother-in-law hunt. He was moving extremely slow. That didn't make sense since all motion detectors took some swinging to get any depth.
Well, I tried his technique and it worked. I began finding old coins in the same place where I had just hunted. The Mark 1 was one of the first two filter machines that actually worked better when swept slowly. It took practice to change my old habits.
Now, I am into PI's and again, old habits are hard to break. However, I am experienced enough now to remember certain things like whether a detector gives a reasonable signal on a rock or not, especially since that is one of the key problems when nugget hunting. Oh well, practice, practice, practice are the three techniques I have found that provide the best training with a detector.
Fortunately, today there are websites like this one that provide key answers to unknowns that can help me expand and alter my techniques while practicing.
Reg
A
Anonymous
Guest
Tek Mark 1... <IMG SRC="/forums/images/smile.gif" BORDER=0 ALT=""> <IMG SRC="/forums/images/smile.gif" BORDER=0 ALT=""> <IMG SRC="/forums/images/smile.gif" BORDER=0 ALT="">
I still have the 8x10 color glossy single page brochure that Tek put out advertising that machine. I got the brochure back when I was young and poor. Two years later, I finally decided that I HAD to have a Mark 1. Went to my dealer and discovered, to my horrer, that the company had cratered a couple of months earlier and there were none to be had.
About ten years later, I got one off of ebay. It's sitting in my car now, right beside my Explorer, waiting to go... for me, it still has it's uses!! <IMG SRC="/forums/images/smile.gif" BORDER=0 ALT="">
Louis
"> <IMG SRC="/forums/images/smile.gif" BORDER=0 ALT=""> <IMG SRC="/forums/images/smile.gif" BORDER=0 ALT="">I still have the 8x10 color glossy single page brochure that Tek put out advertising that machine. I got the brochure back when I was young and poor. Two years later, I finally decided that I HAD to have a Mark 1. Went to my dealer and discovered, to my horrer, that the company had cratered a couple of months earlier and there were none to be had.
About ten years later, I got one off of ebay. It's sitting in my car now, right beside my Explorer, waiting to go... for me, it still has it's uses!! <IMG SRC="/forums/images/smile.gif" BORDER=0 ALT="
">Louis
A
Anonymous
Guest
Hi Louis,
The Mark 1 was a great machine. George Payne built in features only he knew about. For example, you can check the relative ground mineralization with the Mark 1. To do this, you ground balance the machine, then turn the ground balance clockwise 1/4 of a turn. Retune the detector with the coil in the air, all metal mode, then lower the coil to the ground. The reading on the meter will indicate the intensity of the ground.
If I remember correctly, 0 to 74 on the scale is low mineralization. 74 to something like 85 is medium, 85 to 94 is high mineralization, and above 94 is extremely high.
This was a little trick he showed me many years ago.
George Payne is a great engineer. Too bad the Technetic's Company went out of business. Would you believe, I was told their demise started as a result of a dispute over a leaky roof.
The Mark 1 was a 2 filter/1 filter machine. When the ground mineralization is low, the detector switches to a single filter for added depth.
These are a couple of things I remember about the machne. It is still one of the best VLF's. Too bad it is so bulky.
Reg
The Mark 1 was a great machine. George Payne built in features only he knew about. For example, you can check the relative ground mineralization with the Mark 1. To do this, you ground balance the machine, then turn the ground balance clockwise 1/4 of a turn. Retune the detector with the coil in the air, all metal mode, then lower the coil to the ground. The reading on the meter will indicate the intensity of the ground.
If I remember correctly, 0 to 74 on the scale is low mineralization. 74 to something like 85 is medium, 85 to 94 is high mineralization, and above 94 is extremely high.
This was a little trick he showed me many years ago.
George Payne is a great engineer. Too bad the Technetic's Company went out of business. Would you believe, I was told their demise started as a result of a dispute over a leaky roof.
The Mark 1 was a 2 filter/1 filter machine. When the ground mineralization is low, the detector switches to a single filter for added depth.
These are a couple of things I remember about the machne. It is still one of the best VLF's. Too bad it is so bulky.
Reg
A
Anonymous
Guest
It's the audio target ID on the Tek that makes it useful to us Canadians. The tone will "ladder" up in pitch as you approach a Canadian "clad" coin... does it on the dimes as well, which means you can tell the dimes from the pennies!! Bottle caps also ladder, but the pitch doesn't go as high as the coins. Other machines with ATI will give multiple frequency beeps, but so far the Tek is the only one I've run into where they're organized in a useful fashion.
What's George up to these days?
Louis
What's George up to these days?
Louis
A
Anonymous
Guest
I wondered how you guys up there distinguished the coins. It wasn't until a few years ago I found out your coins were magnetic. That sure makes them respond differently. Lay them flat and they respond one way, turn them at an angle and get a different response. That must be frustrating trying to figure out what's what.
As for George, I haven't talked to him in well over a year. I did talk to the guys over at Discovery a few months back and they told me George was still working for them. There were some rumors floating around he went back to Whites, so I called Discovery to see if there was any truth to it, since I had lost George's phone number. Again, that was a few months back so who knows now.
As for George, I haven't talked to him in well over a year. I did talk to the guys over at Discovery a few months back and they told me George was still working for them. There were some rumors floating around he went back to Whites, so I called Discovery to see if there was any truth to it, since I had lost George's phone number. Again, that was a few months back so who knows now.
A
Anonymous
Guest
Yeah, our coins are quite a bit different than yours...
Our dimes and quarters (post 196 are pure nickle. Same with the 50 cent pieces. Our dollar coin is a pure nickle core plated with aureate bronze. The two dollar coin is a pure nickle outer ring with an aureate bronze center.
Our nickle is really fun... up until 1982 they were pure nickle. Since that time they've been minted from the same cupro-nickle alloy that you folks use as the outer coating on your coins.
Our coins give a lot of machines fits... Whites, some Garretts, the Fisher CZ series, Minelabs to some degree... other machines handle them just fine: the non-metered Fishers, Tesoro, Tek, Bounty Hunter, the newer Garretts (although the Garrets do take a bit of attention).
How are those Discovery machines? I haven't heard much about them.
Our dimes and quarters (post 196
are pure nickle. Same with the 50 cent pieces. Our dollar coin is a pure nickle core plated with aureate bronze. The two dollar coin is a pure nickle outer ring with an aureate bronze center.Our nickle is really fun... up until 1982 they were pure nickle. Since that time they've been minted from the same cupro-nickle alloy that you folks use as the outer coating on your coins.
Our coins give a lot of machines fits... Whites, some Garretts, the Fisher CZ series, Minelabs to some degree... other machines handle them just fine: the non-metered Fishers, Tesoro, Tek, Bounty Hunter, the newer Garretts (although the Garrets do take a bit of attention).
How are those Discovery machines? I haven't heard much about them.
A
Anonymous
Guest
Hi Louis,
Sorry it took so long to get back to you, my local ATT cable company turned of my internet connection by accident and I couldn't get them to move for about 3 days to reconnect it. Local DSL is looking better and I will probably go to it instead. I don't need the lack of consideration or concern the local CO displayed.
The discovery machines are pretty good units. They are a little more complex for a beginner to change from factory preset, but once a person has done it a few times it is pretty simple. Unfortunately, when power is turned off, everything resets to factory preset.
Their latest, the Millenium, is lighter than its predecessor due to the plastic case. Sensitivity is about the same, or it appears that way. What little I have used it lately, the target ID is very good, and the auto ground balance is one of the best and quickest. Like so many other auto ground balance units, it will track off some when a target is under the coil. I normally let it auto ground balance and then turn off the auto feature.
Reg
Sorry it took so long to get back to you, my local ATT cable company turned of my internet connection by accident and I couldn't get them to move for about 3 days to reconnect it. Local DSL is looking better and I will probably go to it instead. I don't need the lack of consideration or concern the local CO displayed.
The discovery machines are pretty good units. They are a little more complex for a beginner to change from factory preset, but once a person has done it a few times it is pretty simple. Unfortunately, when power is turned off, everything resets to factory preset.
Their latest, the Millenium, is lighter than its predecessor due to the plastic case. Sensitivity is about the same, or it appears that way. What little I have used it lately, the target ID is very good, and the auto ground balance is one of the best and quickest. Like so many other auto ground balance units, it will track off some when a target is under the coil. I normally let it auto ground balance and then turn off the auto feature.
Reg
A
Anonymous
Guest
Da nada, Reg... I know how it goes with the cable co.'s... There are times when I find myself wondering if I could figger out a way to afford a T1...;-)
Speaking of out of touch, I'm heading for the hills on Thursday to do a bit of prospecting. I expect to be gone until the end of the month, so if ya don't hear from me, that's where I am!!
Louis
Speaking of out of touch, I'm heading for the hills on Thursday to do a bit of prospecting. I expect to be gone until the end of the month, so if ya don't hear from me, that's where I am!!
Louis
A
Anonymous
Guest
Hey, I envy you,
Hope you find enough so you don't have to work at all any more.
I am going up for a day of recreational prospecting tomorrow. I don't expect to find anything, but plan on just having fun. Besides, I have three young dogs that haven't been to the high altitude where I am going, so it should be fun watching them try to play. If someone would have told me a year ago I would have three dogs, I would have told them they were nuts.
Now I wouldn't part with them. They are more fun than kids. Each has their own personality.
Now if I can just get them to dig where I need them to dig I will have it made.
Good luck and happy hunting.
Reg
Hope you find enough so you don't have to work at all any more.
I am going up for a day of recreational prospecting tomorrow. I don't expect to find anything, but plan on just having fun. Besides, I have three young dogs that haven't been to the high altitude where I am going, so it should be fun watching them try to play. If someone would have told me a year ago I would have three dogs, I would have told them they were nuts.
Now I wouldn't part with them. They are more fun than kids. Each has their own personality.
Now if I can just get them to dig where I need them to dig I will have it made.
Good luck and happy hunting.
Reg
A
Anonymous
Guest
Thanks, Reg!
Talk to y'all next month!!
Louis
Talk to y'all next month!!
Louis