Help me...I'm starting to betray ML's great name!!!

[Anonymous]

I'm a "novice" detectorist - been using an XS for just about a year now. I believe I've gotten pretty good at using it and certainly have the basics down. I have a good variety of coils and I'm absolutely in love with the X-1 Probe.
The problem is I bought a White's DFX last year and it's finding a nice place in my heart too - if only I could get an X-1 probe for it <IMG SRC="/forums/images/smile.gif" BORDER=0 ALT="">
I do have a question - how do you ML "experts" identify the target. On the White's, I've gotten pretty comforatble "knowing" when it's a Quarter/Dime/Penny and have a good guess at nickels. I'm still too lazy to put the effort into digging for rings....or maybe I've been fishing in the wrong spot.
On the XS, I can easily spot a silver...Quarters/Dimes and most pennies don't throw me (well I'm a bit rusty after a winter off - but I was good w/ it last year). I have a real problem with Nickels though. I know where the cross-hairs should show up...but a lot fits that spot on my screen.
Also, with my first outing this year - I found myself digging a lot more junk w/ the XS then w/ my DFX.
I guess I'm just looking for a few pointers to boost my confidence w/ the XS again. I love the features and the toys..but just hate junk (picked a great hobby eh?)
Thanks,
Illinois-Tim

 

[Anonymous]

Nickels...
Air test a few so that you know about where they should appear. Once you are in the field, what you are looking for is a target in that general area that is STABLE. The target should not move very much on the screen.
Yeah, you will still dig pulltabs. But if you stick with the stable targets, the ratio of good to bad will be closer to acceptable.
I don't know if anyone will agree with me, but personally I don't think that nickels are the XS' strong suit. Don't get me wrong, it will find them, but the machine doesn't ever make me say, "That is a nickel." Most of the time, the best I can say is, "That might be a nickel."
Tim

 

[Anonymous]

One thing I often do is switch to digital nickels will show up as 5 most of the time. Some times 4 or 6 but never higher or lower. I find that nickels have a different sound for me. They just sound more solid and they don't change tones like pull tabs do. You'll still get some tabs but it works pretty good. Another trick is do the minelab wiggle and slide the coil back until you lose the target. The pulltabs will change tone as you come off them and the nickles will hold. Also when the tone stops the coin will be right at the front center of the coil. Saves having to pinpoint. This is my main way of pinpointing I seldom ever switch to pinpoint mode.

 

[Anonymous]

I agree with Tim, Nickel ID on the explorer is its worst point. Although when I do get over a nickel I generally an sure its a nickel, but so many junk targets read in the same general area that are too close to pass, I dig lots of crap when trying for nickels in trashier areas.. Now the Sovereign was the absolute best ID on nickels, not sure what happened in the transition. Onething you can do is use the pinpoint to help, the junk that reads in the same place ususally has a very small footprint as compared to a nickle, and a wad of foil that reads there is bigger

 

[Anonymous]

I hunt 95% of the time in Iron Mask 12 but the screen I have to switch to with a push of the IM button is a screen that I used the learn program to make. Carefully in the learn screen teach it the nickle then open up the upper right area then save ,when I find what I think is a nickle a push of the IM button brings up the smart screen that I saved and if it is a nickle with a steady repeated sweep, the crosshairs will be dead center in learned block, works everytime unless it is trash just like a nickle.
HH Garry