Let's try this from a different angle: How many people here have test gardens? :shrug:

[Erik in NJ]

n/t

 

[ron_c]

Until this year, I had one planted since 1974. Silver dimes starting at 3" to 10". These things not only sunk deeper over time but also moved lateral. I let a guy use my garden early this year and he dug up the 3", 4", 5" and 6" dimes before I checked on him. Moved about 2 months later and dug up the rest. I never found the 10" dime. The black soil in my area cracks during the summer and I believe the 10" dime just fell into one of these cracks and went who knows how deep.

 

[dirt doctor]

Never took the time to plant one and never cared for "seeded" hunts either .I just like trying my luck harvesting in " The Land of the lost " and seeing what happens .

H H ,
George

 

[TokenDigger]

We put one in last year where we hold our detecting club monthly meeting. We buried some silver coins and pennies and nickels at various depths as well as a small gold ring and some trash like pull tabs, foil, etc. We devoted a whole meeting to trying the test garden.It was real helpful to those new to the hobby since they not only got to hear the signals on their own machines but also on other people's machines. It wasn't too helpful for the more experienced hunters. It was well worth it though. (We removed most of the valuable stuff but left a few coins and trashy items for people to practice on at later meetings).

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Erik,I have a coin garden but I keep mowing over the golf tees and have to remark.I keep things simple.My garden consists of seven targets in a straight line about a foot apart zinc, silver dimes, silver quarter, a half and a nickle.The deepest target probably 7-8 inches.Usually my new detectors have to make a trip to this proving ground.I have gotten rid of some detectors that did poor in this garden. HH Ron

 

[Bobby Moyers]

Erik, My coin test garden is about three years old. It contains 8 targets, my deepest being a silver Washington at 7". I marked my targets by driving an 8" long piece of 1/2" white pvc plastic pipe flush with the ground about 6 inches behind each target. I keep the grass trimmed even with the ground and spray it with Roundup herbicide a couple of times a year. I have a map of the garden in my wallet. It really comes in handy. Regards, Bobby.

 

[Goes4ever]

I put large plastic lids under my coins in my test garden to prevent or severely slow down sinking so I know the depths will stay fairly accurate

 

[Hotcz70]

the 6" Excelerator coil

I don't know why..but out of all the coils I use...the 6" Excelerator pounds the dime clearly..and repeats nearly each and every pass.

The pro coil...SEF...and all my other coils do hit it...but nowhere near as good as the 6".

They give me iffy high pitched chirps which I would stop to investigate in the field..but the 6" nails it clearly.

My test garden is set up a lot like Ron from Michigan...nothing fancy...but it serves it's purpose.

always test a new coil there...settings...etc.

 

[go-rebels]

Bryce, what is your opinion of the 6x8 SEF vs. the 6" Excelerator?