Tall Grass

[nanovanman]

New to this forum and have a relatively new MXT. I got permission to detect on the site of an old boarding school (from the 1880's) that is completely gone now. Lots of berry briars and very tall grass. I really can't clean up acres and acres of this. Is there a way to set up the machine so that I can use it at a greater height, say 1 foot off the ground, any other ideas on how to go about detecting this site? Thanks much.

 

[Digger]

But, as they say.....you can't have your cake and eat it too. Look at it this way.....your MXT detector is one of the finest made. Goes as deep as most and deeper than many. But, there is no way you can expect to keep the coil a foot off the ground and still find coins buried. Especially those lost over 100 years ago. If the detector detects object that ten inches (or less) from the bottom of the coil, those coins would have to be hovering in the air to sound off. If that were the case, you wouldn't need a detector. Just a bucket to carry them home in. Having been a detectorist for over 30 years, I live for sites like you describe. If the owner won't let me clean off the brush, I hunt around it in the spring after winter kill. If you live where there is snow fall, that helps beat down the weeds too. If you don't live where seasons knock down the brush, then either you will have to be satisfied hunting around the shrubs, keeping the coil on the ground where you can, or putting forth the effort to clean the area to hunt. If it were easy, everyone would be successful at this hobby. HH Randy

 

[nanovanman]

Okay, that's what I thought. Think I'll try to get info on just where the buildings were so I can figure the best places to clean out. Waiting till winter will help. Thanks much.

 

[Dan MI]

You could take a piece of plywood about 3x3 or so. Place it on the ground and tramp it down and swing the coil over the board. When you cover that area just flip the board and do it again. If you get a good target move the board and go for it. I have done this with good success but it is a lot of work. Kind of looks silly too

 

[deathwind1]

sounds like it would be the only thing that would work--seems like you would need to wear shoes with no metal in them to do this because of the small area that you would be working

 

[Jeff in MI]

I just mash the coil down in there and use short swings. It takes a little longer, but it works for me. Also, when I do this, I use a small round concentric coil, like the 5.3 Eclipse.

Jeff

 

[deathwind1]

(WHITES)--there is times a smaller than small would be a Good tool to have--I know I have been in places where a smaller Loop than is made Now would have worked very well---It seems that every one is making larger than stock---I know I would buy a smaller than the smallest out now---Something like the shooter---size like--2x3

 

[Glenn(SD)]

Use a 4x8 piece of plywood with a hole cut in it for pinpointing and digging

 

[Digger]

What are the odds that the hole you had precut in the 4 X 8 foot sheet of plywood actually lined up with where you ended up wanting to dig a target in an open field? Randy

 

[u238]

For the long grass site, have you given any thought to a controled burn to clear away the brush. If possible you would have a large area to detect.

 

[nanovanman]

That would of course be ideal, unfortunately they aren't real enthusiastic about that, I think I'll use the "plywood method", and then maybe this winter things will go down enough to get a little more done also. Thanks,

 

[u238]

I got a site back home where i grew up like that too. Have picture of the old cabin that once sat there. All i remember in my life time was the chicken coop sat there. The cabin site location was the first built that my great grandfather put up. I've been told they came in covered wagon to the area to settle.

 

[Glenn(SD)]

n/t

 

[Glenn(SD)]

n/t

 

[rentasquid]

A board about as wide as your foot, and about three feet in length. Drill a hole in one end and put a rope through with a knot holding it in place. Take a step with your heel on one end of the board, and allow the board to crush the weeds down. Pull up the end with the rope, take a slide step with the board and just work your way around until the weeds are crushed down in the area you want to hunt in. And, who knows...maybe you will become famous for leaving intricate designs in the field, with people thinking that aliens did it!

J.