Question for those who have test plots/beds...

[abcoin]

I planted a test bed with about a dozen different targets this past March. As a part the test bed, I burried bronze (pre-1982) pennies at various depths (1,3,5,7, and 9 inches). Now, three months later, I took my Lone Star out to see what it could do. Currently, only the 1 inch penny gives off a solid coin tone, the one at 3 inches responds with mostly iron signals, and the other three don't show up at all. What I'm wondering is whether I need to give the deeper coins some more time to develop a halo, or is this as deep as I'll be able to detect these targets? How long do those of you who maintain test beds give the coins to develop this halo? If three months is long enough, could ground mineralization be keeping the deeper coins hidden? Thanks in advance, abcoin.

 

[Furious T]

My idea of having a test plot is to emulate conditions which prevail in your own area. So, if you want to see how your detector reacts to coins which have been in the ground long enough to sink 3", then you need to leave enough time for the soil to at least settle and harden to some degree around the coins you have buried. This may involve the coins developing a "halo" due to the mineralisation in the soil. A really important thing to do when you start your test plot is to go over the area very thoroughly before you plant your coins to make sure there is nothing already there to which your detector may react. Make sure your coins or buried items are far enough apart so that you can test coils of different sizes, should you decide to buy more coils or different detectors in the future. Make sure as far as possible that the area of your plot has not been used to dump coals or ashes from the fireplace. All the best, Sapper

 

[Hombre]

When you plant the "garden" make sure the ground is moist enough to get a solid plug out of the ground. If the plug crumbles and falls apart, it will be like looking thru a shattered winshield. the plug must be solid and holding together for the detector to see through it. Plus don't get carried away with burying the coins too deep. I planted mine about 12 years ago and it works perfect. Good luck with yours.............Hombre