Pinpointing tips

[paulvenez]

Just got my Etrac last week and due to the crappy Illinois weather i finally made it out today to see what i got myself into..found some clad and pull tabs but i wasn't expecting much for a 1st day. my problem is pinpointing..i came from a DFX and could drop he coil on the target in about 2 seconds but with this DD coil i am missing targets by a mile.. any info would be appreciated

thanks

 

[Digger]

Some folks will X over the target in detect mode, and dig where the two "lines" integrate. Some will sweep back and forth over the target, slowly pulling the coil toward their feet, until the signal drops off.......at that point, the target is under the front tip of the coil. Still other will detect the target, then using Pinpoint, X back and forth from various directions, digging (under the center of the coil) when the signal is the loudest. I'd recommend burying a target and practicing each of these methods until you feel comfortable with them. Any of them work well. But you may find that you like one better than the other. HH Randy

 

[Ohio Digger]

I use the pinpoint button and X over the target. If the target is really shallow sometimes I get thrown off and miss a little. And for some reason when I first got my Etrac in April I miss pinpointed quarters all the time. Luckily I was only digging clad ones at that time because I scratched probably the first dozen I dug. I've also used the sweeping method and gradually pulling back toward me. It seems to help me best in trashy areas where PP will pick up an item right next to it. You can isolate the tone and just sweep back and forth until the tone stops, then it should be right at the front tip of the coil.

 

[roygpa]

I do the "sweep back and forth over the target, slowly pulling the coil toward their feet, until the signal drops off.......at that point, the target is under the front tip of the coil."

Seems to work best for me. I rarely use the pinpoint function.

BUT... I've only had my E-trac for about two months.

 

[Nick A]

I've used the pinpoint feature for a long time, but recently went back to X-ing the target and I'm finding, for me, that it's a lot more accurate. But depending on the signal I use a combination of all three common methods. Each has their place and usefulness.

1. Pinpoint function
2. X-ing
3. Sweeping and inching coil backwards until the signal drops off

 

[Goes4ever]

I made an excellent video showing how to pinpoint doing the wiggle method, in my opinion is is the most accurate as you HEAR the signal your pinpointing, when you use the PP button the etrac locks onto the strongest signal which could be a nail close by, by using the wiggle back method you can be SURE u are going after the correct target, my video is on here if you search, or probably easier to go to youtube, my user name on there is the same

 

[Prep1957]

Learn Goes4ever method,I am from Illinois started using minelabs about 4 years ago was using Fishers before that almost wrapped my first Minelab around a tree after first week.Bought my first pin-pointer because of Minelab did not need it with Fisher.Once you learn it will be like second nature.I ran Whites for about 15 years.Good Luck you will love your ETrac.

 

[bethisa2j]

I think I use the same method Goes4ever uses. I am usually spot on with pinpointing but get thrown off occasionally.

1. Once you have a general idea where the strongest tone of your target is go off to the right side of it and hit pinpoint button.
2. Then bring it back to where you heard the strong tone - when those two black lines come together, you should be right on it.
3. I then try it from a couple different angles just to be sure.
4. Also, if you are getting the right numbers...that's kind of a secondary confirmation you are on the right spot.

This method works very well for me. Of course if there are a lot of metal objects around your target...#3 will be important.

Good luck and give us some feedback.

 

[Goes4ever]

I think I use the same method Goes4ever uses. I am usually spot on with pinpointing but get thrown off occasionally.

1. Once you have a general idea where the strongest tone of your target is go off to the right side of it and hit pinpoint button.
2. Then bring it back to where you heard the strong tone - when those two black lines come together, you should be right on it.
3. I then try it from a couple different angles just to be sure.
4. Also, if you are getting the right numbers...that's kind of a secondary confirmation you are on the right spot.

This method works very well for me. Of course if there are a lot of metal objects around your target...#3 will be important.

Good luck and give us some feedback.

no, this is not how I do it, I NEVER touch the pinpoint button EVER.......I use the wiggle back method, MUCH more accurate, way faster, takes only a couple seconds. And you can HEAR the target your after instead of the machine just locking on to the strongest target

 

[pulltab68]

Goes4evers method is the best way for me.

 

[shawnIN]

I have used the minelab wiggle for years. Started back on the Explorer. Very easy once you get used to it. I think it is faster for pin pointing and with a little practice, deadly accurate.