Newbie/Rookie

[Tony66]

Hi all. I just signed up a few days ago and haven't had a chance to write in and say hi. I've wanted a machine since i was a kid. I always thought they were just really cool. This last x-mas my wife surprised me with a BH Quick Draw. I was really tickled. I haven't been able to get out anywhere near as much as would like. When i have gone out, I don't do very well. it's not that I mind finding trash right now it's just that I haven't quite got the hang of it or feel for it yet. It'll beep, I'll dig half way to china and not find anything. I know its me and it'll take time but it's frustrating just the same. I joined another forum besides this and the little I've learned so far has been from the forum. I found this site by accident, there seemed like there might be some good information here about what I need to learn and about my machine. I'll cut this short now since I've babbled on too long already. Thanks

 

[Cherokeefan68]

Welcome to the forum. there is a lot of great info to be had here. If you read through some of the recent posts you should be able to pick up some real good info. Also if you ever have any questions, just ask.

 

[BH-LandStar]

Just remember that when your first starting out, to keep your Sensitivity at around 10 o'clock, your DISC/NOTCH knob fully CCW, and keep the coil about 1" off the ground...swing in an arc in front of you and always keep the height constant and the swing level with the ground. swing slow (about 2 foot per second). Dig all signals at first. Learn the tones for each metal type. Practice your pin-pointing skills, then practice some more...The object is in the center of the inner coil when you hear the tone (or it is supposed to be)...learn to seee that spot on the ground...move your coil from side to side over the target noting the location where the tone is heard, then move the coil straight forward and back, and not the spot where the 2 lines intersect from your "Crossing"...This is where the object should be...Lastly, do NOT wear steal toed shoes/boots, and keep the coil away from any metal eyelets on your shoes...Remove any metal from your hands (watches, rings, etc.) while hunting...Put em in your pocket, or leave em in your car or at home...
I hope this has helped you some...

Happy Hunting,

BH-LandStar

 

[nugget]

Hi Tony, welcome to the forum. All your questions can be answered here, simply go back over the recent pages to find what your looking for. If you can't find what you need, don't hesitate to ask your questions. There are a lot of experienced guys and gals here always willing to help. It sounds from your description that you are getting false signals due to your sensitivity being too high, lower it back and sweep the coil low and slow! Also the centre circle in the coil is where the target will be, so slow your swing, watch and listen carefully to where the signal starts and stops. I would swing across the target and mark the loudest area with your shoe, then turn at 90 degrees and do the same, this is called the criss cross method and works well, your scuff marks will make a cross on the ground and the target will be pretty much under the X. Hope this helps HH regards Nugget.

 

[BH-LandStar]

We musta been typing at the same time there nugget...

BH-LandStar

 

[GRAY GHOST]

hey tony66, it's sage advice you've recieved from nugget and bh landstar. they can always be counted on for good advice, and good ol' huntin' techniques. i must agree with them, turn your sens. down, and nearly all the way ccw on disc. as time goes on, you'll learn to turn things up a bit as ground conditions dictate. it sounds like your're near saltwater or on warm or hot ground. sure, you'll dig more iron in low disc. for now. keep the coil low and slow, and the great finds will come. do you still have the dvd/video that came with the machine? hh,

 

[veezafo]

hey tony66 welcome to the forum, the best thing to do when you get a signal is try to pin point it, go over the spot in different directions and when the center of the coil passes keep a close eyeon the target,when you sweep your detector back and forth and you hit the target try going forward and backwards with the detector.
HH

 

[Tony66]

Thanks for the info folks, it really is a big help. I knew I was swinging it to fast and I'm not keeping it as level as should. That part really does take practice. As far as the sens and the disc, I was doing the opposite of that. I was thinking that's what I should do until I really got to know the different tones. Thanks nugget and bh landstar for the tip. As for Gray Ghost's reference to the dvd/video that came with the machine, I completely forgot that it came with one. I didn't remember it until you mentioned it. I said I would check it out later but wanted to play with my new "toy", kids, go figure. I guess I should mention that the "66" on my user name is the year I was born. There's some parks, schools and a beach near me so I have places to practice. I also need to learn how to dig in a park like area and be able to leave it pretty much how I found it. I did jump in and read some of the pages, that's what prompted me to join. I liked what I read and the fact that there were a bunch of people using the same kind of machine as I am. Another forum I'm in has some good info also but most of them have whites or garrets and such. Here, there's people who are familiar with my machine so I figured I would be able to get help with my machine as opposed to how the machines work in general.You guys have already been a lot of help.

 

[BH-LandStar]

Your only a year younger than I Tony...I was born in June '65.
It is great being a Gemini...It gives me a reason for changing my mind every 2 seconds, running around trying to do 10 jobs at the same time, and being moody...


HH,

BH-LandStar

 

[JP the Digger]

Welcome! You'll get the hang of it in no time.