all metal versus coins mode

[fongu]

I finally got to do some metal detecting in my yard late Saturday and Sunday afternoon. I ran into these problems. One of the areas I searched was where I used to burn my trash in a metal barrel. I had hid something in an old pickle jar in 1997 and then forgot where I put it. There were two brass tools in this jar and due to all the metal fragments from the old burn barrel, I could not find it. The pickle jar lid probably rusted by now, but those brass tools should have gave me a signal. Even tho I tried to use surface elimination to a depth of 4 inches, it would not go any further, I still picked up the metal fragments. They should not be over 4 inches deep. Any advice. I probed the area with a long screwdriver, but no luck.

I put my maching in custom mode and scanned a brass punch similar to the tools I was looking for and notched out all the other items except the brass tool
where I scanned it, but due to metal trash interfering, I could not find them.

Then I decided to walk around the yard and look for coins. I was using the 12 or 12 1/2 inch coil with the GTI-2500 and I noticed it would not pick up the five pennies I found in coin mode, but nailed them everytime when in all metal mode. Most of them registered from 4.5 to 7.5 in the conductive range. What's up with that. I would have never found them in the coins mode. Most of them were at the 1-2 inch depth. I was using the large coil because I buried the tools in the pickle jar about 12-14 inches deep. I don't remember why I his them so many years ago, just crazy I guess.

The warranty runs out on this machine in December of this year. Should I be concerned about mailing it in to Garrett before the warranty runs out. I bet it's just my ignorance and not the machine, but I thought I would seek out expert advice from you more experienced operators. Shipping costs a bundle.

 

[metalhead]

Wow! Okay, let me begin by asking you which searchcoil you were using to look for these buried brass tools amongst all this trash metal. I would use the smallest search coil that I had, so I could weed out the brass signals amongst all the debris. I wouldn't bother with the surface elimination, but notching everything else out like you did isn't a bad idea. Good luck with that.

Alright then, you say that you were searching around your yard for coins with the 12.5" imaging coil. You mention how you were unable to find the pennies with it in discriminate mode. Did you have the surface elimination on. If so, and you had it set at four inches, it would not sound off on the pennies at one to two inches. There is no surface elimination in all metal mode, which is probably why the coins were easily detected in all metal mode. The 12.5 imaging search coil will most definately detect any coin(dollar to dime size).

If you are genually concerned about the functionality of your machine, now is the time to send it in for a check up BEFORE your warranty expires, regardless of postage.

Best of luck to ya'!Happy Hunting!

 

[dahut]

I finally got to do some metal detecting in my yard late Saturday and Sunday afternoon. I ran into these problems. One of the areas I searched was where I used to burn my trash in a metal barrel. I had hid something in an old pickle jar in 1997 and then forgot where I put it. There were two brass tools in this jar and due to all the metal fragments from the old burn barrel, I could not find it. The pickle jar lid probably rusted by now, but those brass tools should have gave me a signal. Even tho I tried to use surface elimination to a depth of 4 inches, it would not go any further, I still picked up the metal fragments. They should not be over 4 inches deep. Any advice. I probed the area with a long screwdriver, but no luck.

I put my maching in custom mode and scanned a brass punch similar to the tools I was looking for and notched out all the other items except the brass tool
where I scanned it, but due to metal trash interfering, I could not find them.

Then I decided to walk around the yard and look for coins. I was using the 12 or 12 1/2 inch coil with the GTI-2500 and I noticed it would not pick up the five pennies I found in coin mode, but nailed them everytime when in all metal mode. Most of them registered from 4.5 to 7.5 in the conductive range. What's up with that. I would have never found them in the coins mode. Most of them were at the 1-2 inch depth. I was using the large coil because I buried the tools in the pickle jar about 12-14 inches deep. I don't remember why I his them so many years ago, just crazy I guess.

The warranty runs out on this machine in December of this year. Should I be concerned about mailing it in to Garrett before the warranty runs out. I bet it's just my ignorance and not the machine, but I thought I would seek out expert advice from you more experienced operators. Shipping costs a bundle.

You've answered your own question on the brass tools:
"... due to all the metal fragments from the old burn barrel, I could not find it."
" ... I was using the 12 or 12 1/2 inch coil with the GTI-2500"
... I was using the large coil because I buried the tools in the pickle jar about 12-14 inches deep."

The large coil "sees" too much of the matrix for precise hunting in trash. You'll need a shovel and sifter to remove all the clutter in that fire pit. Then try the large coil.

Again, I think your problem may be the large coil on the pennies. In discriminate modes, the big loops see all the ground and clutter that is beneath them. They try to track or discriminate things out, based on this. You might tray it in the Jewelry or Relic mode and see what happens, but a smaller coil is a better way to go. The large loops are better suited to open, clean hunting sites where extreme depth is important, like fields and woods.

As for the warranty, I wouldn't worry about it. It only costs $15 to ship a detector, insured, with UPS. If you are wanting to send it in for a checkup, that isn't bad. But if there is nothing wrong with it, then why do it?

Besides, Garrett is one of the best. I had them rebuild a CXIII last spring, the only thing not replaced being the detector body. Literally everything from the circuit board to the battery box was new. It cost me $91. If you sent it in for some problem, chances are good you're gonna come out good.

 

[bearkat4160]

Yeh make sure that the surface elimination is off before you use that big coil. I would clean it out with the smaller coil before looking for the deeper stuff..OR... use the IMAGING for larger deep targets and dig only that to find your buried loot. Doesn't sound like anything is wrong with your 2500. Ive had mine not detect crappy zinc copper pennies before at 1"-2". Was weird to me but real copper the disc mode hit nicely. Seems the hotter the ground the more you could see this happen sometimes.

Dahut, do you still have that CX III? I am trying to find one because I like that VCO option. The CX plus doesnt have it from what I can tells so far.

Alan

 

[dahut]

Yeh make sure that the surface elimenation is off before you use that big coil. I would clean it out with the smaller coil before looing for the deeper stuff..OR... use the IMAGING for larger deep targets and dig only that to find your buried loot. Doesnt sound like anything is wrong with your 2500. Ive had mine not detect crappy zinc copper pennies before at 1"-2". Was weird to me but real copper the disc mode hit nicely. Seems the hotter the ground the more you could see this happen sometimes.

Dahut, do you still have that CX III? I am trying to find one because I like that VCO option. The CX plus doesnt have it from what I can tells o far.

Alan

Sorry Alan, I don't have it. It was sold shortly after I got it back. I do see thm crop from time to time, though. Be diligent and patient and one will come.

 

[fongu]

You guys are right! I did have the surface elimination on when I found the pennies. DuH! It sure helps to run things by people with experience. Thanks. I will try my 9.5 coil, but did not much have much luck with it either in regard to the brass items. Found 4 more pennies today. There is no safety for a penny when I am in the yard. ha, ha. I may get the 5 x 10 or sniper coil in the future. I am trying to get out for about an hour or two daily now that it is cool. I sure am sore from digging in the dirt. found two nice pieces of copper. thanks again for the help. I figured it was me and not the GTI-2500.