Help~ How to pinpoint targets

[ctweber98]

Hello everyone! I am proud to say I am new to the forum and this is my first post!

Now for my question. I have had a Prism X for about a year now and have mainly been doing beach metal detecting. However, since I live about an hour from the beach I have gotten into doing relics and coin hunting. The only problem with this is adjusting and learning how to dig plugs to pinpoint coins as on the beach I could just use a sand scoop. My problem with digging a target in dirt is that I always end up digging a large hole because I can not always tell where the exact location of the target is. I would love to use a screw driver or other tool to probe but I would not know where to probe. What would you recommend doing should I get a smaller coil like a 4.5" to pinpoint the target? Also I do have the Whites pinpointer but that does not help when I don't pull the target out in the plug.

Any advice would be great!

Chris

 

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[tabfinder]

I am somewhat new to this too; but here's what I know. When you hit a target; swing left and right a few times and then stop in the middle when it's not beeping. Then go forward and backward with the detector and stop in the middle when it's not beeping. That point should be the middle of your plug. I use a 12" phillips screwdriver to mark the location. Use a t shirt and lay it beside the plug you're going to dig; and put the plug on the t shirt. Use your detector to see if the target is still in the hole or in the plug. If it's still in the hole; use your pinpointer; that's why it has the long probe! My plugs have been almost dead on with this method. Good luck! It takes practice; but you'll get it!

 

[stoney56]

You might try this method. Although different coils pinpoint to a different spot depending on design, I think this will let you know exactly where the "sweet spot" is. 1st--since I can't draw worth a hoot, this pic gives you an idea how most coils see into the ground, sending a cone shaped image.

 

[stoney56]

2nd is to select an area where there is no trash under the coil. Now place a coin on the ground and swing over it. The loudest signal strength after "X" your coil is where the coin should be but now slowly raise the coil to a a heigth of a foot or so without moving the coil, you'll hear the signal disappear at some point. At that point, stop lifting and move the coil a bit as in Xing again and see if you can find the signal again. If not, then slowly lower the coil till the signal is reacquired. It will be very faint at this point as it's at the point of the cone shaped signal. Now lower the coil straight down again without moving it and when it comes in contact with the coin, that's where the very center of the coil's pintpoint spot is.

 

[stoney56]

To verify all this, get a large sheet of cardboard and have someone tape a coin to it and put it upside down on the ground. You can't see the coin or exactly where it is so now swing over it and when you think you have it pinpointed, stick a screwdriver or icepick through the spot. Now turn it over and see just how close you were. Try both "X" and the lift method and see what works for you. Best of luck and HH!