Question about target sizing... (sorry, kinda long)

[TobyH]

I just spent the day experimenting with my new Explorer II. First, I got a couple of examples of each type of coin (decimal & pre-decimal, early 92.5% and late 50% silver of each type) that I would most likely encounter here. I made up a list of the variations of signals for each coin. Some (most) of them would give a signal within a small range (i.e. early 92.5% silver sixpences read 02-28, 02-29, 03-28, 03-29).

Anyway, after spending some time getting acquainted with the different sounds each was making, I went to a park which I had hunted once before with my Garrett2500. It didn't seem to have much trash, but has the potential for some nice old stuff. It has been a park across from an old church (it's been the church's property, and vacant, since the 1840's).

Almost every signal I got which I could match up with something on my list (i.e. 00-28 with a nice high sound should = early shilling or florin) I would get a good feeling I was about to dig a nice old silver or copper coin. In EVERY case, it was a large (2" x 9" or so) strip of aluminum scrap, or a piece of copper pipe or something similar. They would nearly always give ferrous and cond numbers matching silver or copper coins. Evidently, there is more trash there than I thought.

After about 2 hours of this, I was starting to get a little flustered. My entire take for the day, other than trash, was a lone 5 cent coin.

On a good note, I found pinpointing with the Explorer II to be relatively easy. I actually didn't even use the pinpoint feature, just swipe an X over the target to determine the center and verify it by going around it and watching the depth. It would be centered under the coil when it was at it's shallowest. This should (and did) correspond to the center of my X.

I've spent the last 8 years using Garrett detectors which give an idea of target size and a measured depth. Is there a way to determine even an approximate size of the target using the Explorer? I haven't seen this mentioned in the manual or on any sites. There must be a way, since that's one of the bragging points of the Explorer is the ability to avoid trash and dig only the better targets.

I realize I'm really new to this, but there has to be some technique I can use. HELP!!! Anybody???
Thanks!
Toby

PS - I was using Quickstart factory pre-sets.

 

[Jim C (Mich)]

a quick answer would be not to dig anything less than 5 inches. I'm sure others will be far more indepth. No pun intended

 

[James N.D.]

If it is a can you can lift the coil up quite high off the ground unlike a coin. Also, use the pinpoint button and this will give you a signal the distance of the object. This will not work though when there is Iron under it so you will have to give it a try until you get the hang of it. If I think of anything else I will PM you and Good Luck and HH.

 

[kansasexp2]

I have found that using the pinpoint feature will give you a good idea of the size of the target. Once a target is located move the coil off to the side and push the pinpoint button. when you sweep the coil over the target you should get a qiuck blip from the detector. If you get a longer tone the target is likely too big to be a coin. Go over the target in an X pattern to be sure.

 

[James N.D.]

That will work for the most part but when you get Iron involved in the same area, or even trash than it will seem bigger. I dug coins today that I pinpointed and seemed too long but then I came from a different direction and then I could pinpoint the coin seperately from the other target. Just wanted to clear that up and let you all know to remember to circle around the larger items before you write them off as bigger junk item. And another way is to lift your coil off of the ground and if you can get a signal 8"+, than you know that it is too big to be a coin.