Observations on Using the M6

[okie-colin]

I have used my new M6 for about four days and around 11 hours so far and thought I would post some pros and cons. Some of my actual experience might lead some of you to make some suggestions to improve my methods.

What I Like:
1. Ease of use. Simple to learn and operate.
2. Auto Track ground balance works great.
3. Pinpointing is definite and accurate (depth indicator less so).
4. Three methods of target verification, audio (two tone or 7 tone), VDI, and signal strength bar; result in better id.
5. M6 seems light weight and balanced - I have much less back soreness.
6. Air test with coins and gold and silver jewelry was mostly right on the mark, although small silver ring id as a copper penny.
7. Discrimination works only on the audio, but does a great job of masking iron and nails, or Id-ing it if I want to dig relics.
8. I have only found clad so far, but this thing is a coin magnet and it will definitely keep me in Battery money.

What I Like Less:
1. While this seems to be true of all metal detectors, I am still looking for one that won't give a strong coin signal on a coin sized piece of popcan aluminum, bottle cap, or steel. I have cleaned out a lot of can slaw.
2. The stock coil is difficult to use in trashy areas to separate targets (I have an Eclipse 5.3 on the way)
3. Detecting near a large radio tower caused a background crackling that was annoying, but didn't seem to affect performance.
4. I have dug many pull tabs trying to find a nickel, ring, gold. I know, I know, everyone does, but I wish there was a way to pull nickels out of the catch all ID category. I have found a bunch of dimes, pennies and quarters, even a 1969 Mexican 20 Centavos piece the size of a US half dollar, but not one single nickel. Weird! I also have avoided digging screw caps at around 50 VDI, but wonder if I am missing something?

On the whole I am very satisified with the M6. If it proves to be reliable over time - I will be happy I bought it. Any suggestions on use based on my experience are always appreciated. Thanks.

 

[bill(de)]

Nickels other than war nickels usually won't read above VDI 20 unless next to a higher conductive target,usually 18-20 and perhaps 16 if deeper than 3" or so.

The 5.3 is a nice choice.

The one caveat about not digging any VDI# is that you'll never know what it was and most of us wonder what we passed over and the only true ID is visual.

I'm very happy with the M6 and just couldn't believe a detector with only 2 knobs and 2 toggles could perform so well.

Just wish we could have the choice of the 6"x10DD or the 950 coil when buying and feel The 6"x10" and a 4.5"x7" Excelerator coil is all thats needed for most hunting conditions IMHO HH Bill

 

[Gopher]

The only thing that I don't like about my M6 is the sound when pinpointing. Maybe it has to be that way, but it seems to me the VCO could be tuned to a more pleasant note. Otherwise I really like it.
Gopher

 

[robocoin]

For one thing fewer nickels are loss. Most nickels are VDI 16-20. Sounds like your doing fine with it. I think someone post 5ooo pulltabs for every 1 ring. I use the DD 1400 with the swingy-thing, 8" excel and 5" excel. I would love to have the bigfoot coil. I have found several rings, a gold wedding band iffy signal/pulltab range. The M6 is a good machine for a newbee. HH

 

[Monte]

"1. While this seems to be true of all metal detectors, I am still looking for one that won't give a strong coin signal on a coin sized piece of popcan aluminum, bottle cap, or steel. I have cleaned out a lot of can slaw."... That's just the way it is and will be.

"2. The stock coil is difficult to use in trashy areas to separate targets (I have an Eclipse 5.3 on the way)"... Excellent choice. matter of fact, I personally wish White's would drop the suggested retail of the M6 (a dedicated coin hunting detector) by $50 and offer it for $649.95 with only the 5.3 Eclipse. A much better all-around coil for most coin hunting applications.

"3. Detecting near a large radio tower caused a background crackling that was annoying, but didn't seem to affect performance."... That can happen with most detectors and isn't necessarily just an M6 issue. Also, it can sometimes be more noticeable with a larger coil, so try the site with your new 5.3 Eclipse.

"4. I have dug many pull tabs trying to find a nickel, ring, gold. I know, I know, everyone does, but I wish there was a way to pull nickels out of the catch all ID category. I have found a bunch of dimes, pennies and quarters, even a 1969 Mexican 20 Centavos piece the size of a US half dollar, but not one single nickel. Weird!"... Are you running with your Discriminate set at the lower factory preset marker? The M6, like many detectors, to be honest, will bang out on nickels quite well. Just make sure you're not using too much discrimination and ... as with all TID models ... do not always rely on the 'perfect' TOD to recover good targets.

"I also have avoided digging screw caps at around 50 VDI, but wonder if I am missing something?"... Only some early wheat-back cents, most Indian Head cents, possible a $10 gold coin and ???

I seldom ignore recovering targets i that range UNLESS I am working around a picnic site that is littered with a lot of screw caps, many in plain view. But, these are usually not the sites I would anticipate Indian Heads and gold coins so no big deal.

If I am working ANY site that has OLDER HISTORY OF HUMAN ACTIVITY, then I don't ignore any good signal above iron nails.

"On the whole I am very satisified with the M6. If it proves to be reliable over time - I will be happy I bought it."... I am sure you're be pleased you did, especially after you get that new coil mounted and put it to the test!

Monte

 

[okie-colin]

Thanks for all the comments. As I noted in an earlier post, I am not a newbie to metal detectors, or detecting, although the M6 is the first TID machine I have owned since I retired. The advice on digging nickels at 16 to 20 will help. I realized that I must not have swung over any as I haven't seen those numbers yet. As usual, Monte's organized remarks are very helpful. The comment I made about wishing for a metal detector that is smarter about can slaw is I know just wishful thinking. I will dig a few of those deeper screwcaps at 50 VDI as I don't want to miss any IHs. In a magazine review I read of the M6 it stated that deeper targets lose accuracy on the TID. Any comments on that? In general all successful metal detecting is intuitive to some extent and the M6 is no different. However, I think the learning curve will be shorter with this model than others I have used. Again thanks to all. When the Matrix M6 Zen kicks in and I find something exciting I'll post again.

Colin

 

[jerster]

The M6 is treating me well. I've been using it for several months now, with some pretty good success. I find that around here (Mich), nickels will consistently ping a repeatable 18 or 20 or 22. Trash will jump a lot more around the same range.

 

[Monte]

"In a magazine review I read of the M6 it stated that deeper targets lose accuracy on the TID. Any comments on that?"... Yes, that is true of ALL detectors. Some might do a little better than others, and even a change of coils will have an impact on the % of overall depth TID accuracy. The Minelab Explorer, from my experiences, will usually give a proper TID response to a greater percentage of it's detectable depth, but many makes and models, such as the M6, have a more responsive TID across a broader range of conductive targets, especially lower end objects such as gold jewelry and US nickels, etc.

"In general all successful metal detecting is intuitive to some extent and the M6 is no different."... You've got that right! All detectors take a little time to master, and some are just easier and/or better to learn and/or discern subtle differences.

Monte

 

[khouse]

I found it to me hot on nickels on par with my old CZ-5. In my ground if my number was 18 to 20 it was most likely a nickel. Even if it hit 22 or above it wasn't. You'll just have to dig it all and find out for a while.

 

[okie-colin]

Yes, you are right. As I have continued to use it a nickel will hit right on 20 and stick. I have dug several since this post. Thanks.