MXT VDI Numbers for nickels??

[Gen. Breckinridge]

I have dug a LOT of trash and in some areas it is counter productive. Every nickel that I have dug, except one has had a VDI of 18 and I have dug a couple rolls worth. Only one registered a VDI of 20, all others have been 18. Never have I dug a nickel under 18 or over 20. I am hunting in a variety of places so is it that all the soil I'm hunting in is so similar OR do nickels always register an 18 on the VDI? Let me know your experiences with nickels and VDI numbers. Thanks!!

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Minelab PRO-FIND 35 Waterproof Pinpointer Metal Detector for Experts with Tone ID & Adjustable Sensitivity - Grab it through Amazon!

[BuckleBoy]

Those numbers sound right on. Kindafoundabuckle would be one person to ask. He has an XLT, but I recall him saying that's where the nickels peg.

Buckleboy

 

[Tin Nugget]

Almost always 18 but I have found some at 20. Once you hit 22 you are usually digging a pull tab.

 

[Dimeman]

On my M6 nickles are 18 or 20, on the numbers.

 

[mr007s]

Yes, 18-20 no matter which coil. The unusually happened last week. A reading of 50 something had me wondering. It sounded odd and never wavered no matter which way I swept the target. I pinpointed and dug it. It was a nickle and dime together on edge. Just more proof to dig it all, except that pesky 22-24!

 

[ICE ADDICT]

For me and my XLT the modern nickels register about a 22,I recently dug a 1899 V nickel that was bouncing from 22 to 80 then 50,it was all over the board.I dug two buffalo nickels so far that were 21,22 with 70 mixed in... I've only been using a whites for a couple months now but I took this as normal??

 

[luvsdux]

I seem to get numbers and ID all over when in trashy areas. However, a good percentage of the time, if the numbers come up CONSISTENTLY between 14 and 20 on mine, there's a good chance it's worth digging. It seems interesting to me that when we test over a known target (coin), they never ID as trash or foil even though foil, tabs etc. often confuse the display in the field. Also, my MXT and I assume most other target ID machines will ID the odd bits of melted aluminum raked out from campfires as coins nearly all the time. Of course many of these are similar in size to coins even if the shape varies. Enjoy your MXT. I think they are among the best out there currently.
HH
Bill

 

[DFX-SE Gregg]

On the dfx with my stock coil usually 18-20....22 a pulltab.....with my first 5.3 coil nickels would end up sitting on 18....with my new 5.3 coil seems to like 19-20 better...also with the nickels I usually get a nice solid response...with the pulltabs broken and usually bouncing on 22...

 

[robert roy]

Hummmm. From now on I'll dig the 18. I have not been doing so up till now because I was under the impression that most stuff from 18 to 30+ was more than likely trash. I'll dig all 18's from now on.

Robert Roy

 

[DFX-SE Gregg]

Hummmm. From now on I'll dig the 18. I have not been doing so up till now because I was under the impression that most stuff from 18 to 30+ was more than likely trash. I'll dig all 18's from now on.

Robert Roy

The nickels usually bounce from 16 to 21....I have also started to notice the surface newer nickels bouncing higher...think readings are the same hopefully on mxt.... But yes I would dig 18, 19, 20, 21...a couple of my gold rings this year were dead on no bounce...18.... Like I said figure out your most annoying pulltabs and watch the readings...broken... bouncing...then resting on a certain number...on dfx pulltabs 22... and swinging coils in different motions will usually uncover those numbers....good luck...

 

[Gen. Breckinridge]

Thanks to everyone for their input on this thread. I believe it has been a worthwhile discussion and may help others who may not be digging VIDs in this range. We have located an old fairgrounds that closed down about thirty years ago after fifty years of annual fairs so I hope that I'll be able to report some good finds after that hunt. My best to all those on the board!
Ken

 

[johnnycat]

My nickels finds have been at 16-18 on my MXT.

 

[Born Free]

It IS frustrating to constantly see that reading of 5 cents and it could be anything. But gold is consistently a 5 cents with VDI 22 so on a strong signal I'll dig anything in that range. My M6 is great but I'm waiting for that machine that can be more specific like, "14k gold ring with a ruby and two diamonds." In the meantime... lots of digging.

 

[ResearchandRecovery]

It IS frustrating to constantly see that reading of 5 cents and it could be anything. But gold is consistently a 5 cents with VDI 22 so on a strong signal I'll dig anything in that range. My M6 is great but I'm waiting for that machine that can be more specific like, "14k gold ring with a ruby and two diamonds." In the meantime... lots of digging.

Very true...


Unfortunately, Gold Jewelry ranges in the same as Foil/Pulltabs. I'd dig 1,000 pulltabs for one 10k baby ring. Wait. I think I have

One thing on the MXT:
In Coin and Jewelry Mode, when you get a VDI of a possible nickel, flick the trigger switch to forward. Now swing over the target. If it beeps, it's 90% a nickel. If the target disappears then it's probably a pulltab.

 

[trish76642]

thanks Gen for posting this questions, its helped me out alot in learning the VDI...good info here!

 

[robert roy]

Gen. Breckinridge:

Thats seems to be right on.

You the same Gen who sells car insurance on T.V?

Robert R

 

[Pipster]

ok so my nick i think i have about down. nicks ranged 14-20 a solid 18 always good, i just pulled a baby ring that bounced between 20-22 real loud. a trick i have tried is flip your switch into relic/listen or procpecting and look at the iron % if it goes higher than 20 it seems to be trash and i move on.

 

[seatedhalf]

OK here is my 5 cents.

Many nickels deeper than about 4 inches have tended to move higher on the VDI scale on my M6 and DFX. I have dug them from 30 to 52. The war nick's I have dug have all been 48-52 and been deeper than 4".

I too have dug them in the 16-22 range. It seems to happen when dry or wet. Not sure if the coin is on an angle or not.

Pesky pulltabs tend to be in the 24-26 range. But I have dug a nice 14KT ring that was a 26 at 3+ inches so I continue to dig them when I can stay motivated long enough.

I tend to dig most all VDI's when they are consistent.(trying to find gold)