Average 2 rings each hunt

[HawaiiTreasure]

Here are just my rings found in 9 trips hunting Hawaii waters. I am averaging 2 rings per hunt. Haven't found the one that will pay for the detector, but I'm having a blast hunting. On 3 of those trips, I have had giant sea turtles swim up to me. I took pics, but haven't developed them yet (still to come). If you take a trip to Hawaii, bring the detector with you.
[attachment 37849 OahuBeachrings.JPG]

 

[Mike (Virginia Beach)]

You're doing well for just having started. As for your comment in your other post that you might be passing up the diamond rings, you could be. Based on the large number of silver items and the items that would come in with conductivity of "nickel or above", it seems like you might be running some discrimination. Which on your machine is called "Elimination". You should have your Elimination control on "0" for getting the small gold rings...the ones with the big diamonds.
[attachment 37853 SeahunterControls.jpg]

Based on looking at the manual for your machine (I use a Minelab Excalibur) I would recommend Elimination at "0", threshold to slightly audible, and "Standard Trash Elimination" mode. And forget what the Garret manual says about "most successful detectorists accept all targets of conductivity of US Nickel or better" because that's just a load of camel poop. If you're going by that, there's your problem. MOST of your killer diamond rings come in at somewhere around the FOIL zone...way below nickels and pulltabs. So if you're not running Elimination at "0" and Standard Trash Elimination, I think you should try it for a while. I believe you will be finding a lot more gold. If you are, then keep swinging and maybe slow down a tad because you're missing the smaller gold. Hope some of that helps...

Here's the manual for anybody that wants to have a look:
http://www.garrett.com/manuals/Sea-Hunter-Mark-ll.pdf

 

[HawaiiTreasure]

Thanks Mike. I was wondering why I was only finding silver. I usually run with the discrimination set at 3. When I go lower I have a continuous crackling sound. It makes it difficult to discern the target. At 3 I only get sound when I am passing over a target. Is it normal to have constant noise at zero? I will try it on my next hunt.

 

[Mike (Virginia Beach)]

Try playing with the threshold a little to work on that constant noise...maybe can make it more stable. The threshold can be a valuable tool because it can tip you off to a "near miss" when the trheshold "breaks" momentarily...like on DEEP stuff and small gold...then you go back and take a closer look. If it's not the threshold it could just be like little iron stuff or mineralization at that low elimination setting. And perhaps you could run it up to say somepalce over zero to get rid of that, but make sure you test your machine on some small gold rings and other jewelry at whatever setting you're going to hunt at. Try it on some slim diamond rings. If it hits on them, good deal. If it doesn't, BAD DEAL...back off the elim.

 

[HawaiiTreasure]

So that's what that knob does. Now I'm anxious to go out and try it, but it's 3:40 in the morning here in Hawaii. Bed time, but I will definatly head out today and try all of your suggestions. This is a good forum, I'll be back, Thanks - Charlie

 

[Gulf Hunter]

That's just how I ran the unit. Standard Trash Elimination, 0 on discrimination and barely audible Threshold. IT WORKS VERY WELL! There is no other way to run the unit effectively, in my opinion.

 

[Gulf Hunter]

Yes, the unit's threshold noise will increase whenever a wave passes over the coil. If you have static, then look at the bottom of your coil, you may have already worn through the epoxy. The headphone wire could be stressed as well. I would absolutely not recommend hip mounting the unit. The coil wire will overstress and fail. You will be down for the count!

 

[BEACH HUNTER]

n/t

 

[Mike (Virginia Beach)]

Awesome...to hear that from somebody that has actually used and mastered one. I believe that if one understands the basic theory of detectors and detecting that they can quickly learn any new machine and be as effective with it as that machine will allow.

 

[newtohunting]

look at it this way. Finding the GOLD itself adds up and you probably already paid for the detector or at least a trip with what you found. Gold adds up. As for what Charles Garret said "you will someday find the one that will pay for the detector" I agree with that because everyhting else is BONUS BONUS BONUS. That gold you have there allready paid for your Sea Hunter. The diamond will buy your next vacation.

Keep it swinging!

G