TO DIG OR NOT TO DIG

[LTimedigger]

This is a MD theory question though its especially applicable to the ctx because of the TT screen option. I was digging an old park one day where I knew that old stuff could be found at very shallow depths. Its also very trashy. I marked off a little 10x10 spot and cleaned out as much of the trash I could. I went back and found several old pennys and a 1900V but only after I had removed 60 bud lite caps. One of the best videos I've seen posted on this forum is Sube's "diggin in heavy trash" where he shows that we can pick up silent multiple targets while observing the TT screen. Unfortunately the 800 lb gorilla are caps. Even though ML assigned them to a different field which makes them easier to reject, they will still totally mask anything smaller than a quarter so that you only hear one tone and only see one object on the screen. So this is my question. Given that your best finds in the heavily hunted spots are likely hiding here(but also that life is short-smile) do any of yall at least sometimes "clean out" a spot first to determine whats there? HH

 

[trojdor]

Yes.

If I've got a location that produces and/or has produced the goods, and it's heavily hunted...
...then the only things left are coins at the edge of detection depth-wise, co-located with trash, OR invisible because of masking.

Cleaning out the junk targets (especially iron) can help with all three scenarios.

You have to see just how effective a tiny piece of rusted iron is at making everything under it totally invisible.
(TT and PT are awesome tools, but they have to be able to see the target at least a little.)

I've lost count of how many times I've pulled a rusty nail, re-swept, and found deep coins.
(same thing with shallow coins masking deeper coins...always re-sweep your holes)

mike

 

[IDXMonster]

I have gotten a questionable signal that is being disrupted by a larger piece of a can or similar,so I remove the easily found offender to better deal with a possibly good item. But to purposely go dig every junk signal in hopes of finding something under it? No,it’s not feasible in the public properties I hunt. But an old homesite is a different matter,completely time dependent for me.
It has been suggested(not by me) that detecting with the coil tilted at around a 20 degree angle will help to “direct” the TX signal under the shallow trash to see any good targets beneath it. It is also purportedly a big help to detect coins on edge. How much of that is baloney is subjective,but I don’t hunt that way. Perhaps one day when I’m completely out of stuff to find then I’ll give it a try.
Are a great deal of coins/good items being masked by stuff you don’t want? Without question.

 

[LTimedigger]

You're right Mike. I did my test garden 2 weeks ago for the 1st time since we had put up a wood fence right behind it and I was stunned at how many of the items(15 buried objects) were masked by nails , ratchets etc. It took me 3 hours to find all the junk then I was easily able to find the good stuff. One of Dan Dankowski's essays show how even a small staple place over a dime will mask it.

 

[Toolman]

What is TT and PT mean.

 

[Ben Town]

Target Trace & Pinpoint Target

 

[CT Todd]

My version of what to do in your scenario has a couple of variables. It is very site specific. Digging all the trash just isn't possible in some places do to the damage you will do to the lawn public or private you shouldn't be making that kind of mess. Next is IS it worth it ? If I'm on a colonial cellar hole and in the woods or unplanted field then sure pull some big iron or other junk out and try for things that were missed.But if its been a poor site then I might pass. The last way to deal is expensive but proven Bring in another machine. A second machine will run at a different frequency and maybe has a quicker recovery rate and will separate better. I have cleaned up a lot of busy trashy sites by following my CTX with a Deus.

 

[LTimedigger]

Thanks Todd. I was strictly referring to site such as a modern(but old) park where both modern trash and iron is a problem and even there would not tackle this every time. But as a matter of fact I have been doing just that following the ctx with the deus. I know you've said this to but I would actually rather dig in a site thats trashy rather than one thats too clean. Silence is really boring.

 

[halfstep]

CTX does surprisingly well in moderate trash and can be tweaked to make it easier to unmask. But I also have the equinox 800 and it is really good in the trashy sites. The recovery speed and iron bias controls give the equinox great unmasking abilities. I do find things in the trashy sites that the CTX had missed but not a lot. But I am running the 17" coil on the CTX which is not the best choice in trashy sites. You can't get in a hurry with the CTX. You need to move slow and steady in those trashy sites and work from different directions.

If I was in a location where I found some old coins, I would remove some trash and see if I could find more coins. But one has to weigh the time and effort verses the reward. Would your be better off in another location that would produce more coins in the same amount of time?

Some of those iffy locations can be saved for those times when the weather is colder. The extra work will keep you warm.

 

[UtahRich]

YES.

I do this on occasion as I find areas that seem worthy of the time investment. I find that I am USUALLY successful on finding 'masked' keepers as I remove the non-ferrous and ferrous trash. I do this in stages.

I have found it helpful to START with smaller coils as they make the pinpointing and removal of shallow targets faster. I keep my selected area on the smaller side, like 15x15 or similar and adapt the shape to the situation. The area is easy to mark off with some white golf tee's that I pick up when I leave.

I try to keep things manageable. If I'm getting dozens of targets each sweep, start with the Discrimination a little higher and take out all of those targets and then lower it and go over it again. And Again.


Rich -