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Anonymous
Guest
Dry sand no problem, but due to a high amount of black sand and small iron chips there is an extreme amount of false signals near the water edge. I really don
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A
Anonymous
Guest
I tried the MXT on beaches but it drove me mad - false signals and unstable no matter how I used it. It became stable if I reduced the sensitivity to about 6 but then I lost depth. It will find things quite well if you can put up with it but was too noisy for me.
I bought a Quattro for my wife but stole it to use on the beach instead of the MXT..... it is absolutely superb. It is very, very stable with better depth. I have now tried an MXT, DFX, Sovereign Elite and Quattro on the beach and the Quattro is easily the best followed by the Elite and then the DFX. Much as I really love the MXT for its ease of use and flexibility it comes last in my experience for where I search. One thing though ...the Quattro is noticeably heavier !
I bought a Quattro for my wife but stole it to use on the beach instead of the MXT..... it is absolutely superb. It is very, very stable with better depth. I have now tried an MXT, DFX, Sovereign Elite and Quattro on the beach and the Quattro is easily the best followed by the Elite and then the DFX. Much as I really love the MXT for its ease of use and flexibility it comes last in my experience for where I search. One thing though ...the Quattro is noticeably heavier !
A
Anonymous
Guest
Thanks for the reply. Seems there is one vote for the Quattro.
I find the MXT is very sensitive to small objects, I find myself fanning the (Dry) sand to locate bits of foil because I hate not to dig if it has a solid sound. I run my discriminate on 2 so not to miss something small as an earring back. Guess I could up it some, just need to take a small ring to the beach and experiment. The surf line is the problem area for me. Have not used the detector anywhere but the beach, but guessing that it is a darn good machine in other areas. Have tried the DFX, and unless you set it up yourself you will lose a lot of gold in the factory presets. I have a friend with a Explorer and can't wait to see what it will do. As you said, like the Quattro its a little heavier or unbalance.
I am leaning toward maybe a Explorer, Quattro, or Fisher CZ70.
I find the MXT is very sensitive to small objects, I find myself fanning the (Dry) sand to locate bits of foil because I hate not to dig if it has a solid sound. I run my discriminate on 2 so not to miss something small as an earring back. Guess I could up it some, just need to take a small ring to the beach and experiment. The surf line is the problem area for me. Have not used the detector anywhere but the beach, but guessing that it is a darn good machine in other areas. Have tried the DFX, and unless you set it up yourself you will lose a lot of gold in the factory presets. I have a friend with a Explorer and can't wait to see what it will do. As you said, like the Quattro its a little heavier or unbalance.
I am leaning toward maybe a Explorer, Quattro, or Fisher CZ70.
A
Anonymous
Guest
Sandpiper,
I've had the same experience with my MXT--fantastic on dry sand, but total frustration in the wet sand. One thing that helps a bit is going with the DD coil. This provides a bit more stability. My real solution though: I broke down and bought a Detectorpro Wader. This machine is just a killer at the beach, in the water and out. It's also a great backup machine on land. I really enjoy having both machines. Highly recommended!
HH,
Dan
I've had the same experience with my MXT--fantastic on dry sand, but total frustration in the wet sand. One thing that helps a bit is going with the DD coil. This provides a bit more stability. My real solution though: I broke down and bought a Detectorpro Wader. This machine is just a killer at the beach, in the water and out. It's also a great backup machine on land. I really enjoy having both machines. Highly recommended!
HH,
Dan
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Anonymous
Guest
to properly hunt wet salt sand, you need multi frequencies. It's not just black sand or iron, that's the problem. Wet Salt looks like a conductive target to a metal detector. In fact, salt falls out after small gold rings in discrimination.
A
Anonymous
Guest
What beaches do you hunt on? I understand that generally, the MXT is not good on the west coast beaches but works good on most of the east coast beaches. Doesn't seem to be as much black sand on the east coast.
I used my MXT at Myrtle Beach, all the way from dry sand near the dunes right down into the low surf. There is a big tuning difference between dry sand and wet sand but it worked excellent in both.
For the wet sand I would set the sensitivity so that it would GB after about 10 - 15 pumps of the coil. More than that, it was too sensitive. If less, I would increase the sensitivity.
I used the stock 9.5 coil. I don't know if it is good or bad but I was getting hits 6 - 10" down. Most were 4 - 6. First time also, I used RELIC mode, 0 DISC, trigger forward.
If you are in the shallow surf with all the foam and it goes into overload just back off the sensitivity a little.
I did not have anyone else to compare to. All I can say is that I had fun and really learned to use my detector better than I had before. If another detector could have done better, I cannot say.
This was my first time on a salt water beach. I was there two weeks and found about $30 of change, some silver and other cheap rings and charms, one thin gold charm (showed as foil), sinkers bullets and lots and lots of beach junk.
About the only real satisfaction I had was walking back over a stretch I had already searched I passed another guy with a detector who complained about how poorly he was doing after hunting a couple of hours. I think he had about 6 coins in his pocket. <img src="/metal/html/biggrin.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt="
">
Would I do it again? You betcha!
I used my MXT at Myrtle Beach, all the way from dry sand near the dunes right down into the low surf. There is a big tuning difference between dry sand and wet sand but it worked excellent in both.
For the wet sand I would set the sensitivity so that it would GB after about 10 - 15 pumps of the coil. More than that, it was too sensitive. If less, I would increase the sensitivity.
I used the stock 9.5 coil. I don't know if it is good or bad but I was getting hits 6 - 10" down. Most were 4 - 6. First time also, I used RELIC mode, 0 DISC, trigger forward.
If you are in the shallow surf with all the foam and it goes into overload just back off the sensitivity a little.
I did not have anyone else to compare to. All I can say is that I had fun and really learned to use my detector better than I had before. If another detector could have done better, I cannot say.
This was my first time on a salt water beach. I was there two weeks and found about $30 of change, some silver and other cheap rings and charms, one thin gold charm (showed as foil), sinkers bullets and lots and lots of beach junk.
About the only real satisfaction I had was walking back over a stretch I had already searched I passed another guy with a detector who complained about how poorly he was doing after hunting a couple of hours. I think he had about 6 coins in his pocket. <img src="/metal/html/biggrin.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt="
">Would I do it again? You betcha!
A
Anonymous
Guest
Thanks. I'll give it a try. I am detecting the Gulf coast of Florida. Since the hurricane has unearthed a lot of iron particles, no idea where they came from. It makes for hard hunting with any metal detector I think. I have pick off good targets in iron infested areas of the dry sand with the MXT, just have to go slow.
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Anonymous
Guest
While at Myrtle Beach I found many small "flakes" of iron and some as large as 4 x 6". About 1/16" - 1/8" thick.
My primary theory is that they were forced off newer steel hulled ships that have been sunk in these waters. Whatever "newer" means in this case.
Point to ponder... They could have come off any iron down there. All the pieces I found were pretty flat so I don't think they were from any old cannons but could be from any flat iron ship parts or even cargo.
Look at the particles on your beach. Could they be rust from old iron or steel? I think steel would form larger flakes or plates and iron would be smaller and possibly more rectangular or wire like. Forged iron and steel will first start to corrode along the intergranular boundaries then widen the cracks and crevices leaving smaller and smaller pieces.
You can see this if you look closely at an old corroded anchor chain. Sometimes they almost look like wood grain.
My primary theory is that they were forced off newer steel hulled ships that have been sunk in these waters. Whatever "newer" means in this case.
Point to ponder... They could have come off any iron down there. All the pieces I found were pretty flat so I don't think they were from any old cannons but could be from any flat iron ship parts or even cargo.
Look at the particles on your beach. Could they be rust from old iron or steel? I think steel would form larger flakes or plates and iron would be smaller and possibly more rectangular or wire like. Forged iron and steel will first start to corrode along the intergranular boundaries then widen the cracks and crevices leaving smaller and smaller pieces.
You can see this if you look closely at an old corroded anchor chain. Sometimes they almost look like wood grain.
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Anonymous
Guest
Never thought about that, very good point. We do have lots of sunken ships, and who knows what sunk as man-made fishing reefs offshore. There is also an aircraft carrier that is to be sunk offshore very soon. With the recent hurricane, that would make very good sense. The particles are flat, layer flakes, up to dime size. Next time out I will collect some, maybe post them and try to Id them. Sounds very similar to what you described.
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Anonymous
Guest
I was charged to refurb our squadron work spaces when
I first reported to the USS Ranger in the 70's, we had to
re-tile the floors in most of them using eletric metal chippers kind of like a belt sander with teeth and no belt.
Well the floors were so rusty you could see through holes
in the 1/4"+ plating to the space below, the stuff would
come off in small to quarter size slices / chunks and we
would fill buckets and dump them over the sides. It could be done on any ship or bridge for repainting as well I would
think, just a thought..HH
I first reported to the USS Ranger in the 70's, we had to
re-tile the floors in most of them using eletric metal chippers kind of like a belt sander with teeth and no belt.
Well the floors were so rusty you could see through holes
in the 1/4"+ plating to the space below, the stuff would
come off in small to quarter size slices / chunks and we
would fill buckets and dump them over the sides. It could be done on any ship or bridge for repainting as well I would
think, just a thought..HH
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Anonymous
Guest
I enjoy viewing their post "and" there finds. These guys are spoiled and they get upset if they don't find gold everytime out...... <img src="/metal/html/lol.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":lol">
If you search on detector's or post a message you will find that none of them use an MXT for many of the reason's you have already mentioned.
I use the MXT when vacationing and put up with it's chatter when near the water. It does okay but only okay. I do pretty good with it in dry sand though.
When using inland the MXT reigns !!!!
HH,
Johnny B
If you search on detector's or post a message you will find that none of them use an MXT for many of the reason's you have already mentioned.
I use the MXT when vacationing and put up with it's chatter when near the water. It does okay but only okay. I do pretty good with it in dry sand though.
When using inland the MXT reigns !!!!
HH,
Johnny B
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Anonymous
Guest
Give lower gain a chance- since the MXT finds tiny objects quite well I have found that dropping the gain to 6 or 7 and-listening carefully- I have been able to find coin sized objects very well in iron infested areas. Have been pestering a 'hunted out' site that was bulldozed flat in 1915 and found many Indian heads and my best Barber dime but didn't find much 'til I "tweaked it lower". Also makes pinpointing easier.
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Anonymous
Guest
[No message]
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Anonymous
Guest
The Barber I found with the 4x6 and the Indians with the 6x10. I tried the 1400 DD but got no where as there was far too much large iron. My sweep speed was fairly slow due to the heavy brush. This place is out in the forest on one of my client's land and was once part of a town of 800 souls. Now only your detector lets you know that people once lived there.