I, like most folks new to this forum, have questions on the type of unit to purchase. I will do coin, jewelry and beach work. I think I have narrowed my choices to the Whites M6 or the Minelab X-Terra 50. If anyone has any input on these or other comparable units , I would love to hear it.
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Undecided on Unit to purchase
- Thread starter Old Chuck
- Start date
The M6 is well made coin detector with solid depth, easy to use, great ground tracking system and has a lot of coil choices.
Best of luck with your decision, my review below may or may not help you.
Take Care,
Bill G
My M6 REVIEW
I got in my new M6 machine, put it together, and did some quick air testing. There was a minor fix that needed to be done. The discriminator knob was off by a notch forward. I pulled it off and rolled it back one notch so that the nickels would drop out at nickel instead of past the nickel mark on the dial. Now the dial is right on the money at the nickel & coin markings.
I took the M6 out to an old oilfield lease house sight from the early 1900's. The homes are gone and there is a ton of iron trash in the ground.
I have to say the detector did a fine job over all. Every bit as good as other units I have had or used in this area; including the XLT, DFX, and the MXT.(The M6 unit was not as noisy as the MXT in the iron trash, which was to be expected being a silent search mode detector). The silent search mode was nice if you prefer a non threshold based detector. I found the trick was to ground balance in a good area then lock the track toggle, this kept the chatter down from the iron trash. There was a noticeable difference between auto ground tracking and the locked in tracking position in the iron trash. Every now and then I would lift the coil to waist height and toggle the pin point on, then place the coil above the ground and pump the coil to check balance, no problems in this area of function.
I used the 6x10DD and the 5.3 coil, they both did well. The DD was a little quieter in the iron trash. The detector ID'd well only being fooled by a few flat iron washers or larger pieces of decomposing iron. It also ID'd a zinc as a screw cap once and most of the old pop tops Id'd as penny/dime if they were flat, but they had a slightly different sound to them and the ID bar would only fill in half way most all of the time even though it locked penny/dime. On a good penny or dime the ID bar would fill in all the way with a good lock.
I feel the detector discriminates in iron trash well and will be a great coin machine with good solid depth.
My finds included: a 1917 wheat, 1881 Indian head, 1902 Indian head, 1907 silver dime an old brass tool tag from the 1950's, a 1965 quarter, an old Milk of Magnesia toothpaste tin tube with a metal lid, and the regular modern clad items.
Best of luck with your decision, my review below may or may not help you.
Take Care,
Bill G
My M6 REVIEW
I got in my new M6 machine, put it together, and did some quick air testing. There was a minor fix that needed to be done. The discriminator knob was off by a notch forward. I pulled it off and rolled it back one notch so that the nickels would drop out at nickel instead of past the nickel mark on the dial. Now the dial is right on the money at the nickel & coin markings.
I took the M6 out to an old oilfield lease house sight from the early 1900's. The homes are gone and there is a ton of iron trash in the ground.
I have to say the detector did a fine job over all. Every bit as good as other units I have had or used in this area; including the XLT, DFX, and the MXT.(The M6 unit was not as noisy as the MXT in the iron trash, which was to be expected being a silent search mode detector). The silent search mode was nice if you prefer a non threshold based detector. I found the trick was to ground balance in a good area then lock the track toggle, this kept the chatter down from the iron trash. There was a noticeable difference between auto ground tracking and the locked in tracking position in the iron trash. Every now and then I would lift the coil to waist height and toggle the pin point on, then place the coil above the ground and pump the coil to check balance, no problems in this area of function.
I used the 6x10DD and the 5.3 coil, they both did well. The DD was a little quieter in the iron trash. The detector ID'd well only being fooled by a few flat iron washers or larger pieces of decomposing iron. It also ID'd a zinc as a screw cap once and most of the old pop tops Id'd as penny/dime if they were flat, but they had a slightly different sound to them and the ID bar would only fill in half way most all of the time even though it locked penny/dime. On a good penny or dime the ID bar would fill in all the way with a good lock.
I feel the detector discriminates in iron trash well and will be a great coin machine with good solid depth.
My finds included: a 1917 wheat, 1881 Indian head, 1902 Indian head, 1907 silver dime an old brass tool tag from the 1950's, a 1965 quarter, an old Milk of Magnesia toothpaste tin tube with a metal lid, and the regular modern clad items.
Gunnar of bradford MN
New member
have you considered whight i think the mine lab weighs moor also i had a test done using a gerit and a prizim the whites went a bit deeper something to think about
jack in omaha
New member
Why don't you call a tech at White's I did they were very helpful and few people you can reach would be more frank and knowledgeable. It is a toll free call and they are very easy to reach and very engaging people. I had a list of questions that were on my mind and the guys went with me down the list answering and explaining every question I posed. After that I was sold. I knew I had the right people, and my faith has been sustained...
[quote Old Chuck]Thanks for the great input. I did see your review of the M6 and thought it well written. One further question: The M6 is not listed in the Whites catalog as a relic hunter. What keeps it from that capability?[/quote]
The M6 does not have the Relic or all metal mode like its big brother the MXT which is a threshold based detector, but that does not keep it from being able to hunt relics. The M6 is primarily a silent search coin and beach detector by design. But with that being said one can turn the discrimination down to 0 or at the lower range depending on your needs and how much iron a person wanted to knock out. This would pretty much put the M6 in an all metal mode making it more than capable for relic type hunting. I know some guys that hunt this way and do just fine looking for relic type items with the M6.
I hope this helps,
Bill G
The M6 does not have the Relic or all metal mode like its big brother the MXT which is a threshold based detector, but that does not keep it from being able to hunt relics. The M6 is primarily a silent search coin and beach detector by design. But with that being said one can turn the discrimination down to 0 or at the lower range depending on your needs and how much iron a person wanted to knock out. This would pretty much put the M6 in an all metal mode making it more than capable for relic type hunting. I know some guys that hunt this way and do just fine looking for relic type items with the M6.
I hope this helps,
Bill G
Hi Chuck,
I had an X-Terra 50 and been using an M6 about 9 months or so and the M6 produced much better for me at the trashy parks, schools, etc. due to the multiple choice of a smaller concentric and a few dd coils.
The X-Terra 50 lacks small coil options and that was perhaps my biggest gripe and it isn't a bad detector, just not for me.The X-Terra 70 would be the better choice based on reports i've read if you want an X-Terra.Still no small coils.
As Bill G mentioned, the MXT is threshold based and capable of detecting targets that will Null the threshold too deep to ID where the M6 will either beep or not beep. Not sure what the depth difference is.
For coin and jewelry the M6 is excellent and is capable of finding nonferrous objects considered relics but not described as a relic detector for appropriate reasons.
I always use 0 disc and rely on Tone ID at trashy sites and thoroughly enjoy the M6. HH Bill
I had an X-Terra 50 and been using an M6 about 9 months or so and the M6 produced much better for me at the trashy parks, schools, etc. due to the multiple choice of a smaller concentric and a few dd coils.
The X-Terra 50 lacks small coil options and that was perhaps my biggest gripe and it isn't a bad detector, just not for me.The X-Terra 70 would be the better choice based on reports i've read if you want an X-Terra.Still no small coils.
As Bill G mentioned, the MXT is threshold based and capable of detecting targets that will Null the threshold too deep to ID where the M6 will either beep or not beep. Not sure what the depth difference is.
For coin and jewelry the M6 is excellent and is capable of finding nonferrous objects considered relics but not described as a relic detector for appropriate reasons.
I always use 0 disc and rely on Tone ID at trashy sites and thoroughly enjoy the M6. HH Bill