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 Replies: 7 / Views: 2,107 |
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Valued Member
United States
164 Posts |
This is a strange issue I have while I'm metal detecting, And it's more then likely because I use a cheap/outdated metal detector (The old thread I made about is actually a few threads below this one.) I've been using my metal detector at the beach, Along with a shovel built for it, But whenever my detector finds something, it starts to act weird. When it first picks up the singnal, I'll "X" it out and make sure I'm digging in the right spot, Then when I dig the first time and scan again, The detector starts getting a signal again, One or two feet to the left of the hole just made. So i'll dig again after "X"ing out the target, And again the signal would "travel", Once I dug seven or eight times before I finally gave up. (Though the same thing happened again after, but instead of changing targets I just dug deeper, And actually found something, well a bottle cap, but hey least I got it  ) Is this just because I'm using a cheap metal detector, or am I doing something wrong? Maybe instead of changing my dig location I should dig deeper each time, I'm not sure. Has anybody else experienced this? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2797 Posts |
JOE,
It could be a number of things. First, do you know how to set the threshold on your machine (ground balance/discrimination). If it isn't set properly you will get signals all over the place. Try to set it at the lowest level for the environment. If there isn't a lot of trash or iron you should be able to set it very low. Another factor could be wet sand. Salt water in sand is highly reactive to the signal. Some older, less expensive detectors may not be able to overcome this. Try just dry sand.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
Salt is really tough and wet salt in large amounts is even tougher for a metal detector especially the older machines that do not auto track " reset themselves for varying mineralisations in the ground " the beach may be a little tough with an older machine you would have to re balance the machine everytime the ground changes .
seated has given good advice , try just the dry sand if that does not get you any closer to success you may have to move to the dirt .
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5953 Posts |
Salt+Sand+Zincoln=Half a cent dug up on the beach
Mulch+Schoolyard=Spending cash.
Tried the beach a few times but in my area the closest on is Galveston and no matter how early I get there there are always signs of people before me....Parks and playgrounds are not a glamorous but they yield plenty of actual cash. Plus you don't have to keep changing your settings...
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New Member
United States
11 Posts |
I do not have any suggestions but there is one thing for sure--you now know how to dig.  I do hope your detector is working now, good luck. |
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Valued Member
United States
325 Posts |
Joe, I think you summed up the problem with your sentence, ".....outdated metal detector". Sadly, not all metal detectors are not made for salt water beaches, or even fresh water beaches. You didn't list the manufacturer, or model so it's very hard to give you any advice directly related to your problem.
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
Often after you find an item, there is a ghost signal from the particles of soil that contain residue from the coin.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1015 Posts |
I'm probably jumping to conclusions but are you using an early White's  |
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Replies: 7 / Views: 2,107 |
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Posted 01/18/2009 10:18 am
