Kind of a Pathetic Beginning

[KPN]

I took my Whites MXT out for a test run, and I obviously have a lot to learn. I found (about four to five inches down, but in different locations) a pull tab, a metal lid, a rolled down metal tube (guessing it once held construction glue) and a small metal cylinder. So much for buried treasure! I used White's recommended ranges and all the trash registered as rings, dimes, pennies, and 25 cent pieces. I made a terrible mess digging the holes, so I'm glad I was playing behind the house on our rental property.

So here's my question: how do you guys know when to dig? My back can't take too much bending and poking around, so I'd like to limit digging to stuff that actually looks promising. Can I take the numeric read out on the White's MXT seriously? In other words, if the metal detector indicated the buried item comes in between a 60 and 70, which, according to my Whites detector, is supposedly a "ring," can that number be realistically trusted?

Also, does digging in wet soil mess with the detector? I was digging in fairly wet red clay, and though I found everything metal the detector indicated was there (all trash, boo-hoo), I wondered if perhaps the numbers or magnetic field might be skewed by all that water?

I will say I enjoyed digging and finding stuff, though it would be more fun to find items I'd actually like to keep. My husband got a pretty good chuckle out of it, but it was all in good fun. I can't wait to see his face when I find something of value!

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

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[matt092079]

Well, all I can say is your METAL detector works. lol The back of my truck is filled with trash. If you dug all treasure, everyone would do this hobby. The good stuff will come if you're in the right spot. You're right to dig those 60's and 70's items as they could be something great. Just keep at it and keep digging. Good luck!

 

[granthansen]

Welcome to the forum and to the hobby. However, the hobby comes with it's fair, or majority, share of trash! Even with the top machines, you have to take some chances. Get out there and you will learn the machine. Pull tabs shouldn't be ignored because then you may also ignore gold or nickels. You'll get familiar with the tones and numbers the more you use it, but soil conditions, depth and size will alter numbers. I say, if the signal is repeatable, dig. If not, it's most likely trash -- but not always.

If you're back is bothersome, get a long shovel with a foot pad. That'll help you.

As for digging holes, dig with precision! Here's a little video of a method my buddy and I use:
Fill Your Holes! | Relic Hunters

Don't cut a complete plug... always leave some grass and peal back. This will help it grow back since you haven't severed all the roots.

HH!

 

[granthansen]

Sorry, meant to embed:

[video]http://treasure-detectors.com/fill-your-holes/[/video]

 

[TCAWarriors]

Well it is all about learning the sounds of your machine. That only comes with practice and digging a bunch of trash. But when you learn the good solid sound it will click and you will have a little more of an idea. With all that being said, you will always dig trash. Even after years the beat of the hunters here still digs trash. (By the way, I am far, far, far away from being a good digger.)
Don't get discouraged just start listening, also plant some coins in the yard and practice on them.

Sent from my iPhone using TreasureNet

 

[CRUSADER]

If you like to limit & Disc then your good finds will suffer. There is no shortcuts, you need to dig more to get more keepers. Ignore the VDI/VDU, they are often wrong, learn the sounds, it may take a year, but we are trash diggers not treasure hunters

 

[bill from lachine]

Yep to what Crusader said....after 20 years or so of detecting.....I'd say about 50% of my targets are outright trash...

It's a bit of a numbers game....more targets dug more keepers....just knock out say iron and dig pretty much any solid 2 way signal.....and you shouldn't miss many keepers.

Remember it's a hobby and the finds are a bonus.

Regards + HH

Bill

If you like to limit & Disc then your good finds will suffer. There is no shortcuts, you need to dig more to get more keepers. Ignore the VDI/VDU, they are often wrong, learn the sounds, it may take a year, but we are trash diggers not treasure hunters

 

[KPN]

Well, it's nice to know I'm in good company! I need to get out there and get busy. Going to look at the video now...

 

[releventchair]

Good start! You are locating things you can,t see. Double check your holes before you fill them. Then swing on what you dug again to note your units response, when you get to where you can call what it is before you dig be real careful,we have great machines but part of the challenge is a ring can be a pull tab on a screen and good targets can rest under less desirable. Its up to you to choose to dig all or most targets or try to cherry pick. Well hunted areas require more digging of iffy targets for sure. Best to clean out a small area each hunt (if area can be revisited repeatedly) and stop before your personal physical limits are reached(good luck!)than get frustrated. Its your hunt,keep it fun! Surprises await. Happy hunting.

 

[iKonic]

KPN, sounds like an adventurous day with a nice new piece of equipment to me. Everyone has given great suggestions and advice about what to expect and the best methods to get past the trash you can (without tearing up the yard too bad!). As for the numeric read out, I would suggest looking at it as a suggestion, rather than a definitive ID. It seems some small gold coins and rings occasionally register as a pull tab for instance.

If in doubt - dig! It's better to dig trash, than leave behind gold.

I really wanted to address your question about soil. Digging in wet soil, though messy, can be rewarding. As the water saturates the ground, it raises it's conductivity. The result being your detector is able to read those deeper signals. In other words, wet soil makes for better hunting. I even enjoy hunting while it's raining - usually heading to places that are "hunted out". It's a great way to make some deep finds in a place that seems to be running short on good targets.

Keep diggin' and good luck!

 

[KPN]

Thanks for the good tip. I didn't consider increased conductivity would allow for a deeper hunt. Thanks a bunch!

 

[webatch]

we are trash diggers not treasure hunters

I love this! Think I'll have a bumper sticker made that just says "Trash Digger"

I don't mean to be pessimistic, just realistic! We all know we are going to dig a lot of stuff that has no real intrinsic value so by thinking in those terms, it makes the things we find of value - real treasures.

 

[CRUSADER]

I love this! Think I'll have a bumper sticker made that just says "Trash Digger"

I don't mean to be pessimistic, just realistic! We all know we are going to dig a lot of stuff that has no real intrinsic value so by thinking in those terms, it makes the things we find of value - real treasures.

I actually now enjoy clearing out all the trash

 

[Wldbil]

One of the first things I did when I got my White's was go out and bury some test targets. Coins and trash, just as everyone on here had stated you will hear a difference with some practice. But having a test garden really helps to know what you are hearing and what the machine is telling you.

Just keep after it!!!

 

[63bkpkr]

Hello KPN and welcome to Tnet! On this site there is a "brands" area and the White's MXT can be found there. On the White's forum there is also a model area and the MXT can be found there. At these locations you will find detailed information on your machine. Also in the white's forum you can post a question about your machine to "deoleslyfox" as he's quite a master with white's units. These detailed White's MXT areas could be of benefit to you in understanding/using your MXT.

Test gardens, already suggested to you, can be quite beneficial if one has the room/place/location for one. Various typical trash metal items at various depths are one approach with everything identified on a map or with labels on top of the ground. Then various coins laying flat, at some angle and on edge can be planted at various depths. Then typical trash items planted with coins at various depths but do not go to wild with all of the various combinations and permutations, a few are good enough to get you going. Keep them a good three feet apart or a coil swing apart so the signals do not cross over in the same swing, very frustrating! Learn what the trash items sound like and record their numbers. Compare the sounds and numbers to good items as some overlap depending on the settings of the machine, that is nickels/gold sound alike-pull tabs/gum wrapper foil and some coins sound similar. And of course make sure your batteries have a reasonable charge left in them.

Trash signals are everywhere, it is just a fact of life that anyone who detects must deal with. Learning one's machine is the biggest positive step anyone can take to limit the frustration of trash. Do all you can to learn your machine and then Ask Questions as there are answers. Welcome to digging trash and other things! Oh, I started the same way, knowing nothing and finding trash. Then the first simple coin. Then the first simple junk ring. Then the first tooth crown. Then the first gold ring/silver ring/silver coin/gold nugget and on and on. Target probes can be very helpful, either electronic or a simple metal probe/coin popper but electronics sure do simplify finding targets. Imagine probing with a metal probe for a gold crown in ground that has small gravel in it, not fun.........63bkpkr

 

[tyrooney]

I have dug so much trash I lost count. I have just kept believing eventually I will find something good because thats what everyone says. And I have. Every time i am in shock. Lol.

 

[SusanMN]

When I get a new machine, I always start at a playground - either in the wood chips or sand. Trash is minimal, it is easy to dig and usually there are enough coins to be found that you can start to learn the sound of a good target. I pay more attention to the sound than the video ID because I think it is more reliable.