Low KHz machine for silver???

[Herb Jones]

I have access to some honey holes that have not been pillaged by previous detectors... I am killing the old coins, but was thinking if I had a machine that had a lower frequency it would be possible and probably advisable to re-sweep the entire place, at a lower depth frequency to see if perhaps some silver lies deeper than my compadre can reach.

Can anyone recommend a simple machine (doesn't need the bells and whistles) that operates at such a frequency? I read the Garrett 250 runs at like 8KHz, but I am not sold on that machine...are there any other decent options? should re-scan at all

 

[REVIER]

Frequency is really important to some, not so important to others.
I have used a 5.9kHz F2, a 12kHz Compadre, a 14kHz Vaq and a 13kHZ F70.
Found silver and gold pretty easily with all of them.
Found the most gold with the lowest frequency F2, found the most deepest silver coins with the higher frequency F70...for a few reasons.
I hunted more sites where gold could be found when I used the F2, I hunted older sites with more deeper silver with the much more powerful F70 that can get shockingly deep more than any others.

Yes lower frequency is better on deeper silver is a scientific fact, it's physics, but exactly how much bearing does it have in the real world in most normal circumstances?
Many do great on deeper silver using the Minelab FBS systems or the low frequency coils on their other lines but plenty find a ton using high frequency coils on the 705 and Fisher guys don't seem to think they are all that handicapped...and other higher frequency brand owners either.

That Compadre, even with the biggest 8" coil, is not a super depth demon.
I would think any detector more powerful that can get deeper than that one will pretty easily find you silver coins deeper if they are there....doesn't matter much what frequency you are using.
Since you like Tesoros beg, borrow or steal a Vaq and try it at those same sites, bet you will be surprised on how much deeper you will get and what you will find when you do.

I never worried about frequency once in my entire career, I pick my tools using features and functions and according to ease of use.
Seemed to have found way more than my share despite that using all kinds of different frequencies.

 

[Herb Jones]

Thanks for the input... I read, and try to soak it all in, but nothing compares to first hand advice from some one who has spent their hard earned money and hours of digging to set you straight on a misconception... I have been thinking the way to populate a collection of detectors was to have the entire spectrum range covered to some degree.... If i owned a couple of detectors I would want them to run at different frequencies and not all 14KHz for instance... so in looking for a second/third machine I was thinking that perhaps it should be of a lower frequency configuration.... just because why not?

 

[REVIER]

If it is affordable to do, and you like using other tools with specific features you want then yes, choice can be a great thing when you can take advantage of it and it works out for you.
But what if you buy a CTX or an E Trac and hate swinging the extra weight, or get an Xterra 705 and 3kHZ coil and just don't get along with how it behaves, acts or sounds...no matter how much more they find for you?
Hobbies are supposed to be enjoyed, not suffered through.

If that Compadre was a much lower frequency I don't think you would find any deeper silver than you are now.
It is more of a matter of penetrating power than frequency, IMO.

If you are able to get another tool that is more powerful AND lower frequency AND was fun and easy to use go for it.
However one that just naturally goes deeper, any one of many out there, is the most important feature to concentrate on...or that is what I would do, anyway.

 

[still looking 52]

Herb, my f5 is low frequency and it does a good job on silver. I feel extremely confident that if there is silver under my coil my f5 will sound off nice and clear.
The one thing I've learned in the last year is to listen for the faint sound with steady readings, that takes slow steady swinging and really good listening for those deeper targets.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Dude, if you're getting lots of old coins with a "Compadre", and you think there's more there deeper than your Compadre can reach, then you'ds on the right track to re-sweep with different machines. Because you're right, the Compadre is not known for being a power-house deep-seeker. Instead it's good for ghost-townsy nail-see-through/around conditions. Thus if your site is not a carpet of nails and iron, and if there's likely to be deeper stuff, then I'd suggest an explorer (the II, or the Etrac, or the CTX, or the SE, etc...., all of the same ability/depth). No, don't get the ace 250. That is not a deep-seeker. No matter what the frequency rating on it may be, it's just a beginners machine.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Post-script: Show us some show & tell pix of your old coins !

 

[Mega]

Here in the UK we usually go for higher freq machines 15-19khz as we find this is best for our silver hammered coins,but when depth is required on say deep pasture sites then 8khz or even 4khz is used especially when using the Deus.

 

[Miser67]

If you want simple, The Detectorpro Pirate Pro runs at, I believe 2.4 or 2.5 kHz and runs in the $400.00 range. The ground balance is fixed and it is water resistant. I hope that helps.

There are other detectors, like the X-Terra series from Minlab and the Deus XP that both offer lower frequency hunting options, but they are considerably more expensive.

 

[Goldstrike]

Get yourself a M.L. Safari. Although it's a little more $$ than you want to spend on a machine, it literally screams when you sweep over a silver coin and it goes deep. It's multi frequency BTW. Maybe you can pick up a gently used one for around $600? You'll be happy you did!!

 

[Herb Jones]

If you want simple, The Detectorpro Pirate Pro runs at, I believe 2.4 or 2.5 kHz and runs in the $400.00 range. The ground balance is fixed and it is water resistant. I hope that helps.

There are other detectors, like the X-Terra series from Minlab and the Deus XP that both offer lower frequency hunting options, but they are considerably more expensive.

The Detectorpro Pirate Pro is interesting to say the least

 

[BillF]

n/t

 

[Nauti]

Many wise words in the above post.I would'nt get too wrapped up in frequencies either,most upper end machines will find deep silver no matter what frequency they run at.

 

[Herb Jones]

I don't think I can uplaod pictures, i took some and will post them, but as of now when i hit the upload button nothing happens... I found another 35 in a couple of hours the next day. mostly pennies and a war nickle.

 

[BillF]

Herb, to do pictures you'll have to reduce their size.

 

[M-scope]

Fisher 1265/1266X,,Plain and simple Old tech still blowing away most of the new in my experience(s),,,approx 300.00 bucks for a nice used one on the 'bay',,,,find a 10.5 inch coil,, Low freq, loves silver,, (and sometimes, lg rusty nails) workhorse,beep and dig,,DEEP

 

[Oldguy]

By the book, a low Khz machine hits harder on silver than a high Khz machine. With that said, I run a Tesoro Tejon, a High Khz machine, to find silver. The Tejon hits noticeably harder on low and mid range targets, it's designed as a relic hunter, it hits silver a little softer. Now, when I hear that soft beep, a smile comes to my face.

 

[hairymonsterman]

Low khz will hit well on your milled coins as there high conductors.
A larger coil running a low khz will also miss most of the very small shallow trash.

 

[still looking 52]

My f5 likes silver.

 

[marcomo]

Herb, most of the detectors you have listed as owning will sock deeper than the Compadre. That's not a knock on the Compadre which has specific strengths, but depth isn't one of them. A Compadre isn't going to pick up a silver dime much beyond about 5", and less in bad ground. A good percentage of silver coins I've found have been deeper than that. And who knows how many more lie deeper than whatever detector I was using could go?

Again looking at your list of detectors, I would think the T2 and the Vaquero would be your deepest options. They are detectors you already have, both are considered deeper than average detectors, and you no doubt have larger coils for them. They have the potential to find silver a good bit deeper than the Compadre.