Hey guys need help in working old home sites

[maxxkatt]

I live in a large metro area that is now covered with office parks and neighborhoods. Using the www.historicalaerials.com I can easily find the old home sites from the 1950's and earlier times using www.historicalaerials.com new maps and old map overlays. That will give me the GPS coordinates that I speak into the iPhone app Commander Compass. I drive to the location and then Commander compass leads me to within about 3 - 6 feet of the old home center. Yes these old home sites are often in office parks but about half of them are in green spaces which I detect on the weekend.

But the problem comes in the searching of the old home sites with my Fisher ID Edge with an 8" coil. I also use the Garrett pin pointer which works as described all the time. The Fisher ID Edge is another story. It seems to not be able to discriminate between old beer cans and old or new coins.

I have been told to ignore any OL (overload) signals. But every time I get a +33, +34, +36 and dig up an old beer can or sardine tin. Even setting the discrimination to +22 or using the factory preset to only find old coins, the beer cans and tin cans still spoof me. I have searched five old home sites in the last month with zero results in finding any coins. I rather suspect these old sites have not been metal detected by others.

Am I doing something wrong with the Fisher ID Edge?
Or is the Fisher ID Edge not up to the challenge?
Should I sell the ID Edge and get another metal detector, if so which brand and model & coil size since I am only searching old home sites.

thanks for your help.

 

[sprchng]

You might want to read this thread
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?35,1307631

Cans are best eliminated with most detectors by raising your coil why you're swinging over the target. If the VDI and tone stay strong as you go up , chances are you have a can. If the signal drops away quickly , you probably have a good target. Cans will still get you occasionally , especially when they're smashed down into a tight disc. You can also tell by the size of the target when you pinpoint once you learn what the size of a good target is you will see a can will pinpoint much larger. I'm not at all familiar with that detector but it draws good praise from noted detectorists in the thread I provided so I'm sure you just need to practice with it.

The other thing you need to understand is that your site has probably seen many detectors before you. Very few virgin sites exist especially if they are in large cities as you imply. If you can find it , rest assured many others have as well.

 

[bootyhoundpa]

I am not experienced with the id edge but ive dug up enough coins and cans to have an idea what might be under the coil..i still get fooled on deep cans... most coins give tighter , smaller signal unless right on the surface... cans will often still give a good signal with the coil lifted 6 inches above the suface whereas coin signals often degrade quickly as you lift coil further from the ground surface.. also pinpointing should be tighter on a coin compared to a can... cans often crackle a little due to bent surface of the can.... i might suggest doing the old stab and grab method of target retrieval. .. i use a long thin staight edge screwdriver and poke it into the soil after pinpointing. .if the target is a coin the surface will feel smooth on the screwdriver tip ,if its a can the target will obviously be much bigger and the screwdriver can easily be pushed right thru it thus confirming the likelihood of aluminum can and at least saving the trouble of digging junk..however you run the risk of scratching coins but it should save some time till you get a better idea of what your machine is telling you...

 

[daddyflea]

Nobody can completely ignore cans especially crushed cans. As far as Detectors I have had them all seems like and right now I am an Etrac convert. I am not certain but I think an Etrac will pretty much take out cans. Of course you will also give up some good targets.

 

[Reef Runner]

Cans are best eliminated with most detectors by raising your coil why you're swinging over the target. If the VDI and tone stay strong as you go up , chances are you have a can. If the signal drops away quickly , you probably have a good target. Cans will still get you occasionally , especially when they're smashed down into a tight disc. You can also tell by the size of the target when you pinpoint once you learn what the size of a good target is you will see a can will pinpoint much larger.

I surely agree with this..............and I hate those cans too. They can sound just so good too.........

 

[squirrel1]

My Blisstool V6 can be run to not see cans, but still see silver coins.