Vaquero Discrimination

[davezub]

I'm new to the hobby and have a used Vaquero and simply love it. I'm still learning and more comes each day. I've been cruising all MD forums and while I was researching what MD to buy I came across a great image of a Vaquero front panel with all the targets the user found highlighted around the discrimination knob. It was really cool, but I forgot to bookmark the image. I realize that there is no substitution for experience, but this would be a great cheat sheet for in the field. The 53silver videos are great but in the field I can't pull them up. I seem to learn better in the beginning with cheat sheets, then the experience usually negates the need. I'm in a dig all mode just to learn, but this would help a lot.

Anyone remember seeing this image, or know the link?

Thanks.

 

[sandtrout]

look me up at this posting:

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?17,1459186,1459821#msg-1459821

these were for my conditions in southern california. I've got a similar one for the ACE 250. I have this massive test garden but verifying it in the field is where is good enough to warrant a chart.

These are for "clean" finds meaning they weren't found masked with anything like coins, foil, or iron. I tend to turn the disc knob to see where the sound stops before I dig and make a note of it IF I find any jewelry. But if I'm "cherry picking" I turn the disc knob all the way to the right...I just can't seem to disc out copper pennies, dimes, and quarters and up, and silver rings/bracelets/chains. I know I'll lose some depth with the disc all the way up (or all the way to the right) but...most of my coins have been at 4" or less and ALL of my jewelry has been at 3" or less.

During the initial testing I borrowed all of my wife's jewelry and a neighbors and recorded my finds and then confirmed it, little by little out in the field. And out in the field (when my wife comes with me) if my detector hasn't sounded off I run it over my wife's hand or toes (she's wears rings on her toes...one silver and one gold).

The Vaquero will be a hard detector to grow out of. If you pay more for a ($$$) machine like an Etrac, or Spectra V3i, etc. you'll still be left with an AWESOME backup machine that you'll reluctantly let someone else borrow. You'll make a lot more decisions about digging with the expensive machines (time spent "interpreting" the readings) whereas with the Vaquero you'll get to know it so well you'll make quick learned ear decisions like: 1. that sounds shallow or... 2. probably a dime 3. probably a quarter 4. pulltab...but is it a nickel or maybe a ring...hmmmm...I'll find out in 5 seconds or 6. wow...that sounds deep. Every sound, the solid ones and the "chirps" or broken ones causes a QUICK decision to be made and just like that, you're on your knees digging....and moving on. And...I've NEVER found a ring or any jewelry that wasn't a complete SURPRISE!.

 

[davezub]

Outstanding. Thanks a lot for the link. I knew I saw this somewhere but started to doubt myself. Great tips.

 

[cal]

The problem I see is that the machines or knobs maybe a little different. On 53 silver's video it showed the nickel being disc out just past the nickel mark, which is different than the photo shown on find mall.

 

[GaryF]

each is a tad different yet close..test your detector and alter the pic for yourself

make a card and keep it in your wallet for field reference

 

[Rainyday101]

You can also loosen up the disc. knob and reset it so that when it is disc.ing out a nickel the knob is on nickel.