New member from Western Maryland

[mdben]

I just retired and thought I would pick up metal detecting after 35+ years away from it. As part of that plan, I joined this site. So in a bit of an introduction, here is where I am in my jump back into detecting:

I dug my old White's Coinmaster 6/DB out of the garage and cleaned it up. I found time and lack of attention from me had not been kind to it. All 4 potentiometers were stuck & the batteries I foolish left in it had swollen up and split.

I ordered new battery holders & 1 new connector to fix the damage. Luckily there was no corrosion from the battery acid. I have been working on the pots with contact cleaner and have 2 of them back to full movement. I am still working on the other 2 pots. They now move a little but not back to full movement yet. It won't be long though.

Once I get the connector installed and the pots back to full movement, I'll reassemble it, put in fresh batteries and try turning it on. With a little luck it will work again.

Whether it does or not, I plan to buy a modern new/used detector before warm weather returns to western Maryland. I'll probably by another White's detector, maybe an MX5, M6 or MXT. The wife has approved the purchase so actual detector will all depend on what I can find. I plan to travel to some local White dealers just look & touch and maybe see what the availability of used detectors is like.

Between my own land which lies on land used as a wood lot back in the early 20th century and my in-laws farms in WV, I should have fun trying to find some buried "treasure". I can also head out to the Atlantic shore for a little beach combing. I hope for some older coins and maybe a few relics of days gone by.

 

[MattBullSummerville]

You may want to keep an eye out for the new model, the MX Sport coming out soon. 750 to 800 range and water proof to 10 feet. A good used MXT MXT pro can be had for a little less money. If I pick up the MX Sport might give you a real sweet deal on a MX 5. Love my MX5. MX5 and MXT Pro are multi tone. The MXT Tracker E series is single tone in discrimanate and 2 tone in relic. All are very good detectors. Used most likely in the 300-500 range. MXT Pro may run a little more depending on what kind of deal you can get.

If you are any where near South Carolina drop me a note. We will go dig some dirt together.
Happy Hunting
Matt Bullock.
Charleston SC

 

[mdben]

You may want to keep an eye out for the new model, the MX Sport coming out soon. 750 to 800 range and water proof to 10 feet. A good used MXT MXT pro can be had for a little less money. If I pick up the MX Sport might give you a real sweet deal on a MX 5. Love my MX5. MX5 and MXT Pro are multi tone. The MXT Tracker E series is single tone in discrimanate and 2 tone in relic. All are very good detectors. Used most likely in the 300-500 range. MXT Pro may run a little more depending on what kind of deal you can get.

If you are any where near South Carolina drop me a note. We will go dig some dirt together.
Happy Hunting
Matt Bullock.
Charleston SC

The MX Sport surely looks good in the video comparing it with the M5 & MXT Pro. But, it may be a little expensive for my budget. The wife has OK'd a new detector but we have not discussed the upper limit yet

A good used MX5 is more likely to fall within the budget. What do you think of the MX5 as a first modern MD?
As I said I did some detecting with the 6DB but have been away from it since then. I am doing a lot of reading trying to catch up on modern detectors. I have downloaded the manuals for the MX5, M6, MXT and think I can handle one of them. Of course I could be overly optimistic.

I spent a fun-filled 2 years in SC back in 1969-1971. I am probably one of the few Viet Nam era USMC veterans who spent most of his enlistment on Parris Island running computers for the Corps. The funny/sad thing is that the guys who were destined for Viet Nam as grunts felt sorry for me being stationed at PI. If my home was closer, I would take you up on the offer. But 9.5 hours one way from MD to Charleston is just too far.

Ben

 

[MattBullSummerville]

My experience with the MXT Tracker E series and the MX5 is that they are real close. I prefer multi tone machine like the MX5 and the MXT Pro, not sure about the M6 because i have never ran that one. The MX5 and MXT Pro I believe are just a little deeper the the MXT. The MXT is real stable though and has the mixed relic mode, it is like running all metal and discriminate at the same time. If there is any chance that you may do some prospecting for nuggets consider either of the MXT models. If you are going to be mostly coin shooting and relics then you will love the MX5. The MX5 has all metal mode that I hunt in some time and then switch to discriminate to check the target. When you want to dig, just push the suspend mode button, very handy while digging and pin pointing. The back light comes in real handy too late in the evening while its cool. The MX5 is really easy to use, true turn on and go machine. You can do very well with just two coils, the stock coil and then pick up a small coil, like the 5.3 concentric or the 4x6 DD Shooter coil. Same thing for the MXT machines. Of course there are a bunch of coils to choose from and everyone has their favorite, but two will get you through about any situation you hunt in. This is just my opinions and what I have found that works for me.
HH
Matt Bullock

 

[MattBullSummerville]

You may even want to take a hard look at at the Treasure Pro and see what the forums are saying about it. Seems like a lot of options for the price.