Question about target sizing...(sorry, kinda long)

[TobyH]

I just spent the day experimenting with my new Explorer II. First, I got a couple of examples of each type of coin (decimal & pre-decimal, early 92.5% and late 50% silver of each type) that I would most likely encounter here. I made up a list of the variations of signals for each coin. Some (most) of them would give a signal within a small range (i.e. early 92.5% silver sixpences read 02-28, 02-29, 03-28, 03-29).

Anyway, after spending some time getting acquainted with the different sounds each was making, I went to a park which I had hunted once before with my Garrett2500. It didn't seem to have much trash, but has the potential for some nice old stuff. It has been a park across from an old church (it's been the church's property, and vacant, since the 1840's).

Almost every signal I got which I could match up with something on my list (i.e. 00-28 with a nice high sound should = early shilling or florin) I would get a good feeling I was about to dig a nice old silver or copper coin. In EVERY case, it was a large (2" x 9" or so) strip of aluminum scrap, or a piece of copper pipe or something similar. They would nearly always give ferrous and cond numbers matching silver or copper coins. Evidently, there is more trash there than I thought.

After about 2 hours of this, I was starting to get a little flustered. My entire take for the day, other than trash, was a lone 5 cent coin.

On a good note, I found pinpointing with the Explorer II to be relatively easy. I actually didn't even use the pinpoint feature, just swipe an X over the target to determine the center and verify it by going around it and watching the depth. It would be centered under the coil when it was at it's shallowest. This should (and did) correspond to the center of my X.

I've spent the last 8 years using Garrett detectors which give an idea of target size and a measured depth. Is there a way to determine even an approximate size of the target using the Explorer? I haven't seen this mentioned in the manual or on any sites. There must be a way, since that's one of the bragging points of the Explorer is the ability to avoid trash and dig only the better targets.

I realize I'm really new to this, but there has to be some technique I can use. HELP!!! Anybody???
Thanks!
Toby

PS - I was using Quickstart factory pre-sets.

 

[Dan-Pa.]

Although GTI units are not perfect when it comes to imaging it will certainly tell you a deep can and coins over 6 inches are indecisive I can certainly see where one can get spoiled or dependant...Basically with any unit if it covers a lot of area leave it lie as coins cover a small area. Of course if your relic or cache hunting might be a different story...Just pinpoint it and you should easily be able to tell the basic size. I realize it takes time to learn a new unit but do some digging and it will be clear in no time and if a coin shooter will know when to dig or not dig...Always felt when handling a new unit just be patient as all will fall into place..

 

[ED-NH]

I've been using my EXll for a couple of years now. I find that pinpoint will give you a pretty good idea of size. You will find that even a quarter will give you a pretty good sized area but a tin can will give you a much larger area. As you work the pinpoint over the object it will continue to narrow down the size so be careful. I've pinpointed large objects and had them appear fairly small. If you move your coil higher up off of the ground over the target (4-6") and still get a good signal and your depth does not change much, then it is probably a large object. I will do test quite often and it works pretty well. Just my two cents worth.

 

[Steve(MS)]

One way to tell size and it works with all detectors is to determine with
air tests how high a coin(s) can be detected in air tests. Lets say a quarter can be detected 13", so if you can a quarter signal and the target is shallow and after lifting the coil to about knee height and the
signal is still strong then it is a larger than coin target. Some experimenting and experience can cut down on digging the larger targets. This method is subjective but will work with practice,when in doubt, dig.

 

[Jay- oldcoins]

All the replies so far should work- it just takes time to learn your detector. You are looking for older coins it appears- which is my main interest also. I simply don't dig anything that is in the upper half of the "depth bar", assuming you are close to the ground and scrubbing right across the center of the target. The middle of that bar equates to around 4-5" deep with a normal coil, and with few exceptions, that means coins in the upper half are usually less than 40 years old, often much less. So- silver is usually in the bottom half. This alone may get rid of your larger junk pieces which will usually ID shallower than they really are. You can get a reasonable idea of the object size while still in discriminate- swing over the suspect going east and note on the ground where you first hear a good signal. Then repeat going west. If the two points of good signal coincide it is probably a coin-sized object. On a larger piece of junk they may be several inches apart. Try it north and south as well. This same technique works in all-metal pinpoint mode. The technique already mentioned of gradually swinging and raising the coil until the signal disappears (in discriminate, not pinpoint)also works well, but is a bit slow. Figure an average of 10 or 12 inches max depth on a signal, and see where the depth bar is- again, if halfway down, you are looking at an object 4 or 5 inches down- so your coil can be raised another 5" or so while (oops- whilst)swinging your detector before the signal disappears. If the suspect signal is shallow, you might get the coil 10" off the ground. More than that, it is a large object. Two things to remember- scrap copper and scrap aluminum bring good money, and that large object you successfully avoid may be a lost handful of coins spread over an area the size of a dinner plate. And as a final suggestion- don't get TOO wrapped up on numbers. They work reasonably well to 5" or so, depending on soil, below that they get iffier. At 8 or 9" you may get a different number every time you swing over the item, even more so when you do it from different directions. I go by sound only, occasionally looking at numbers- you will eventually learn the sounds (lots of past posts on this). If SOME of the numbers on a deep object are CLOSE to ones you like and the others not more than 8 numbers off it is worth digging. Example- on your normal 0-28 coin, you may get 05-25, then 03-28, then 06-19, then 05-28, then 12-19, then 04-27. These are close enough on a deep coin! And avoid any repeating 00-31 signals- it is not super silver, but usually a hot rock. Notice that number gives a single flat high tone- the coin signals warble like fluttering your fingers over flute holes, hence the commonly used term "fluty signal". This is not a "boinnggg" detector. A very shallow coin can also give what appears to be a mono-note signal, but the ones you want warble a bit. Happy hunting, and leave a few in the soil for me if I ever get over there.

 

[TobyH]

Thanks for the tips. It sounds like everyone has pretty much the same suggestions, which sound logical.
I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing the obvious "gee, just check the target-size meter on screen-x".

Most of the junk I was digging came from the 3"-5" range. Some was nearly the same depth I had dug up the old copper cartwheel the previous time at this park.

This hobby is really a mystery sometimes. I just can't figure how you can dig a coke can 5" deep, and then 3 feet away, dig a 70 or 80 year old coin that's 2" deep in the same type of soil.

I know it's just going to take some time getting accustomed to the particular sounds and tones. I also am sure things will improve once I customize the setup a bit to fit my situation and likes.
Thanks again,
Toby

 

[Steve(MS)]

I have dug IH's just barely covered, some clads deep.