Gaining a Measure of Confidence

[Anonymous]

Reluctantly, I took my <IMG SRC="/forums/images/ml.gif" BORDER=0 ALT="m~"> Explorer XS and traveled a few miles to see my old hunting buddy from many years ago. I say reluctantly, because I was pretty sure that once he heard this new machine, I was going to be laughed off the planet. (He can

 

[Anonymous]

Good job.Did you feel the depth meter was fairly accurate as far as how deep the coins were thought to be?
Would be interesting if you could have taken a probe to see how much those coins have sank over the years.That is one thing that always amazes me.I have found barber dimes in the bottom of the plug and walk 5 feet and find 1950's wheats about twice as deep.
If you can get a coin isolated from a close trash item,it will have that same good tone quality.It is just when there are items on top of each other that it will average them together,but you will catch on to that fairly quick.You get to a point where you dig and pull out a big chunk of crap and say to yourself,"that isn't right,I know I heard a coin in there"then dig a little more and find a coin.That is another benifit of the X-1 probe.But still do-able with out it.

 

[Anonymous]

We were running real short of daylight by the time we were reading coins, and I didn't bring my probe or my digger with me. <i>Mainly, cause I knew we would not be digging them up.</i>
Speaking of diggers... all I have is my favorite from years past, which started out as a 11 or 12" piece of 1/4" car spring. Many hours of heating, grinding, filing and polishing shaped it into something that resembles a knife and was excellent for cutting plugs of all sizes. You could sink that thing up to the hilt and stand on the handle and not begin to bend it.
But I'm thinking with all the places that have been <i>closed</i> due to careless diggers (and other reasons); I had better get (or make) a tool that is a little less massive, for hunting in those places where you might have a lot of watchful eyes.
I've heard about something called a Coinpopper. Anyone know anything about it?

 

[Anonymous]

Is basically a flattened screwdriver. You pinpoint the coin with a probe and then get the popper under it and lever it out of the ground. Works fine at 3" or less. Some cities won't let you use anything but a popper in public parks.
I'd stick with old faithful. There are still plenty of guys still carrying around WWII bayonets that have been cutting plugs since the 70's.
If you feel like the big digger is too intimidating or inappropriate for a site, I'd get a smaller digger with a sawblade for handling roots. Lesche makes a mean one, but it is somewhat expensive.
You can find cheap clones of the lesche - typically with orange or blue handles - for sale at a number of MD sites in the $12-18 price range. They are marked "INOXA ITALY" or something close to that on the blade. They do an ok job, but don't pry with them - I have already broken one.
Tim

 

[Anonymous]

Rosario,
The biggest thing is confidence with the Explorer, when you see what it can do I think you will feel better about it.
I realy had my doubts on mine for the first few time I used it and dug alot of junk and still do to this day, but would rather dig a little junk than miss some of the older and deeper coins.
As you see coins not mask by any junk sound good and the crosshairs show up where they are suppose to. Now those that are mask by junk is where we find you go by the tones and if they are repeatable in more than one way. Many of mine from these worked out parks have been with rusty nails and other junk and sound good, but the crosshair show iron.
The big thing now is using it and try differnt setting to use that will work for you. I am sure you will dig some junk too, but soon you will know what it sounds like and you wont be digging as much.
With some patience and some time with the Explorer I think it will surpise you. It has to me proven to get what the others miss.
BTW Like Jim said I am a dealer and a dealer in many differnt detectors that I find that are good, some better than others for differnt areas and people. My personal detectors I use and my freinds are the Minelab Sovereigns and Explorers as we find these with some patience and time will do the best for us in worked out parks and ballfeilds.
Good Luck
Rick

 

[Anonymous]

Believe me 6th time out grabbed four deep 8-9 inch wheaties and a small old locket at 6 inches
came in as a nickle. Again area has been pounded and am sure if I went over a silver coin would have gotten it...glad you have gained some confidence....