question for the ace250 owners

[Goes4ever]

ok I am getting a LOT better with the pinpointing, I am praticing as much as I can. Most of the time when I hold down the pinpoint and pull the coil back towards me over the target the signal stops abrubtly and I know exactly where to dig, I can almost stab the coin. But sometimes the signal will NOT stop and it just gets weaker, why does it NOT stop quickly like most times? When that happens it seems like I have a hard time exactly pinpointing.

I tried detuning the target, I tried going from a different angle etc..... of the times I can remember, one time it was a chain that was about 5 inches long, one time it was a 12 inch copper pipe, but one time it was just a coin on edge. Give me some advice please!

 

[gware12]

I have just noticed the exact same thing. I also have noticed that if the sound dont end quickly it probably is trash. I am just thinking this and am trying to see if it holds true I have not got out much to experiment with this.

 

[Goes4ever]

ok just went out in my yard again and it happened again, this time my ace bounced back and forth between penny/dime and it said on the indicator it was 8" deep, I could not get the pinpoint signal to just "stop" but I had to dig. Anyhow what I found down about 7 inches was a strip of aluminum that was about 10-11 inches long

this is frustrating, any advice? why would this even register as penny/dime, and why can I NOT pinpoint larger objects?
and I want to add I found 2 more pennies in my yard and they pinpointed perfectly, should I just avoid signals that do not stop .....seeing how most have been junk, or am I missing out here on things like pocket spills etc?

 

[BigCatDaddy]

The dragging back thing only works well on shallow, small stuff. For deeper small stuff, you need to "X" the target. When you press pinpoint and the tone stays loud over a big area, it's large junk more than likely, move on. Just wait til you get over a crushed soda can, buried down about 10". It won't take you long before you learn the difference between a junk target and a coin target, just by the sound.

 

[treasurefiend]

Well the way I figure it, you can pinpoint small objects like coins because they are smaller than the search coil, I think the pin-pointer function finds the center of the object and centers it in the middle of the coil. But things larger than the coil cant find the center , and without the center you can't pinpoint. So what I'm trying to say, I think that if you can't pinpoint, its prolly something big and not a coin at all. Now I could be wrong, but you will never know unless you dig it up to see.

 

[flbowhunter]

My 2cents on what I have found is that the pinpoint signal will stop quickly on the pull back method on targets that register at the 2-4" mark for coins, that is my indication that it is possibly a coin and I compare that with what the display is telling me. On the targets that have a long pin point sound when you pull back, it is usually a deeper target and I usually will pull it back to where it will stop, while still holding the pin point button down, I move it forward to where the sound starts again and x the spot, keying in on where the strength meter is at it's highest and most times it is in the center of the coil, not the front part. As to the aluminum coming into the penny/dime range, remember the detector is telling you what it MIGHT be based on the conductivity of the metal. That's why I hate Aluminum slaw etc. When I use my GTP-1350, a handy feature on it is the profiling of the size, after digging a lot of cans and big junk targets, I can tell you that I love this feature, it saves a lot of time digging the same item over and over if it is common in an area where I am hunting. Hope this helps some and good hunting.

Mike

 

[khouse]

You have just found another feature of the PP mode. Usually a coin sized target of the same conductivity will give you the abrupt stop in the tone after detuning and pulling your coil back. But in most cases if you have detuned properly and the tone hangs on or really doesn't go away then it's most likely trash. It may be a large object, large rusty iron that gave you an edge beep, pull tab, pipe etc. Also if your running your sens at 5 or above you need to raise the coil off the ground about 12 inches and sweep the target. If you still get a beep then it's a large target. Like a large piece of iron or steel or aluminum can. Perform an air test on a aluminum can compared to a coin. Nothings perfect. This is why the beep diggers get it all.

 

[Neil in West Jersey]

This "profiling" is a feature of the ACE, as well as other Garrett detectors. What the detector is telling you is the size and the shape of the object. By using this feature you can determine whether or not the target is worth digging. Cans will typically have a much larger profile than a dime or quarter. You can even determine if the target is round or long and thin. The default on my (New) DFX is set to Ratchet Pinpoint, which is the same as the "detuning" feature of the ACE, and it drives me mad! I have to remember to turn off the ratchet feature each time I boot up using the preset programs, With the ratchet setting, it is impossible to gauge the size and shape of the target. I have been fooled, however by the "Halo Effect" on old copper coins that have interacted with the surrounding soil. Sometimes these coppers will have a larger profile than a silver coin.

ONE MORE NOTE ABOUT THE PINPOINT: I have done very well digging the large "non coin" type of signals. I have dug an old gold (filled )pocket watch that I was sure was a can before I dug. I also dug up an engraved "coin silver" spoon from the 1850's that sounded like "can slaw". In both cases, the area had been hit hard and I am sure these targets had been ignored as junk!

 

[khouse]

Neil,
Great post! When in doubt - dig it out.

 

[Dan-Pa.]

It was predicated for coin size objects and an experienced operator just knows its bigger as it cover more area..As far as tilted coins every unit usually is off on the pinpoint...As far as aluminum cans and large strips of aluminum top of the line Garrets will tell you by profiling or imaging. All in all working like it should and the old saying Rome wasn't built in a day probably is applicable.
In actuality might take a season or better with lots of time in the field before you can consider yourself a Detectorist and not someone who swings a coil so patience my friend and practice-practice and all will fall into place...

 

[NM5K]

Often you can pinpoint large items, but it can get a bit confusing
if it's real long, or a weird shape. Takes a while too, as you have to
check it from every side to get an idea the shape and size.
It ID'ed as a coin cuz the conductivity matched the penny/dime range.
The ID is never a sure thing.. I've been fooled by the rust on hot nails,
but found that you can usually tell those as they will bounce around the
ID range. IE: the steel content will bounce low, but the highly conductive
rust will bounce high like a coin. But when I see a coin hit, I dig it just
to make sure what it is.
Sometimes they can be relics, matchbox cars, etc...
As far as the pinpointing that doesn't want to end, I've seen hot ground
and changes in ground cause that too. It's not always junk.
Sometimes I've gotten that, and then came back later with a
different moisture level, and not get it..
Usually when that happens, I'll try to detune as much as I can, and
sometimes coming up off the ground a bit can help.
In normal conditions I usually detect and pinpoint pretty low to the ground.
I'm usually scrubbing the ground while pinpointing, unless something acts
weird.. One reason why I like to use coil covers...
MK

 

[Goes4ever]

thanks for the advice, you guys are great

 

[gordygroover]

Good question Goes4...The same thing happens to me in my test garden occasionally on coins and quite often in the field on big trash pieces. I sometimes just figure I failed to de-tune my Ace properly and am still in the original pinpoint mode. Wish the screen or audio signal would let me know if the Ace was in de-tune mode. Old and cold thumbs don't hit the pinpoint button fast enough at times.

 

[Neil in West Jersey]

[quote gordygroover]Good question Goes4...The same thing happens to me in my test garden occasionally on coins and quite often in the field on big trash pieces. I sometimes just figure I failed to de-tune my Ace properly and am still in the original pinpoint mode. Wish the screen or audio signal would let me know if the Ace was in de-tune mode. Old and cold thumbs don't hit the pinpoint button fast enough at times.[/quote]

When in doubt, hold the detector away from the target for about 3 seconds, and then resweep the target. You will be back in the original pinpoint mode!

 

[Leslie(nova scotia)]

n/t

 

[khouse]

Thanks Leslie. You are the man! I'm still looking for a Freedom Ace for you.

 

[gordygroover]

[quote Neil in West Jersey][quote gordygroover]Good question Goes4...The same thing happens to me in my test garden occasionally on coins and quite often in the field on big trash pieces. I sometimes just figure I failed to de-tune my Ace properly and am still in the original pinpoint mode. Wish the screen or audio signal would let me know if the Ace was in de-tune mode. Old and cold thumbs don't hit the pinpoint button fast enough at times.[/quote]

When in doubt, hold the detector away from the target for about 3 seconds, and then resweep the target. You will be back in the original pinpoint mode![/quote]

Very true but it is the detuning feature that I wish to confirm with just a glance at the screen or a signal from the control speaker.
As long as I have a target under my coil I don't let too much bother me though.