My Test Box project

DiggerinVA

Bronze Member
Sep 16, 2013
1,673
1,681
Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
Detector(s) used
GPX5000, AT Gold, AT Pro, Whites TDI, Bandido 2 umax, Tejon, Vaquero, Deus 2, ORX and Legend
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting

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Here is some pics of my test box....just waiting for the ground to thaw enough to get some dirt!

Neat! Go to HD and get a couple bags top soil or Potting soil! Then you can play while you wait!
 

The only problem is in real dirt, the moisture is in contact with the metal object and effects how the detector will see it.. Not sure adding dirt to this will do much compared to an air test as the metal object is insulated with air and not in contact with the soil. But a neat idea, interested to see how it turns out..

I am thinking if the pipes were split in half and you added your metal than filled with dirt that would be more realistic but harder to load and unload the items.
 

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The only problem is in real dirt, the moisture is in contact with the metal object and effects how the detector will see it.. Not sure adding dirt to this will do much compared to an air test as the metal object is insulated with air and not in contact with the soil. But a neat idea, interested to see how it turns out..

I am thinking if the pipes were split in half and you added your metal than filled with dirt that would be more realistic but harder to load and unload the items.

I bet if u fill it with highly mineralized VA dirt....you wont get near the depth with any detector thatt u will on a air test. Just dont know if i want to fill it with bad dirt or a happy medium of mineralization...
 

Just a question.are you able to get dirt from.say a home improvment place,potting soil,loam mayb make 2-3,of those ser ups with a highley mineralized soil,one with sand, & then mayb some out of ur own ground more the tests more info you would get
 

Are u saying split the box up....or make more boxes?
 

Make a couple others,so you would have more ground persay for the various tests but I mean doin the various ones would give you an idea say what your machine might do say in sand or regular soil or highly mineralized & youd be able yo make programs or setting for places so when you go to those spots ull know what to do or expect
 

Pure genius. You should patent this unless someone already has built something similar and has the rights.

I'd pay for one of these if it was sturdier than a storage tote. No kidding man, as big as the hobby is right now- you could sell the idea or rights/ patent to someone out there (a company) who could easily market this and make millions off it over the coming years-

Does any company make anything close to this already?
 

Pure genius. You should patent this unless someone already has built something similar and has the rights.

I'd pay for one of these if it was sturdier than a storage tote. No kidding man, as big as the hobby is right now- you could sell the idea or rights/ patent to someone out there (a company) who could easily market this and make millions off it over the coming years-

Does any company make anything close to this already?

Definetly could, portable test gardens & theres so many different types of soils you can do with it,not big so if ur in an apartment you'll still be able to do tests wheather there coil tests,program tests whatever the case may be
 

So you guys don't think that placing a coin inside a plastic pipe insulating it from the soil with at least an 1 inch+ of air and 1/8" of plastic won't screw the pooch compared to a more real world test garden where the coin is in contact with the soil, packed down like out in the wild? How would you stand a coin on end in this setup?
 

I dont think.myself it would throw it off that far if any. As of coin on its side since the tubes are on the sides of the unit I mean a simple bbq skewer or peice of wood just something with mayb a putty or simething similar to stick the coin to it & push it threw might just work
 

So you guys don't think that placing a coin inside a plastic pipe insulating it from the soil with at least an 1 inch+ of air and 1/8" of plastic won't screw the pooch compared to a more real world test garden where the coin is in contact with the soil, packed down like out in the wild? How would you stand a coin on end in this setup?

Just pack it in the pipe like a coin roll with dirt and it will be standing on end. It won't be the same as coins that have been in the ground because of no halo effect. But you will be able to test at different depths I guess. I buried all kinds of coins at different depths in my yard and got real bored detecting them in about 2 times out. Lol. if your testing a bunch of settings on your machine I could see a use for it until you figure out what it's telling you though.
 

you could:

fill with dirt, water & compact

cut 2" horizontal slits at desired depths

glue coin to flat wood (yardstick?)

pound yardstick into bin in the slits you cut
 

you could: fill with dirt, water & compact cut 2" horizontal slits at desired depths glue coin to flat wood (yardstick?) pound yardstick into bin in the slits you cut

He's already got it built in the picture above with PVC tubes at different depth levels through the bin.
 

I have wooden dowl rods with notches cut in the ends. You put the coin, or whatever in the notch and slide in the pipe. You just simply turn the rod to make the coin flat or on edge. And i dont beleive it will be as accurate as a real-world test garden. But definately better than an air test. Plus you can place a nail or pull tab at say 4 inches then a merc dime deeper and play with it that way. You cant do this with an air test or test garden. Its just something to play with and my main thing was to see how different machines react at depth with mineralized soil. Since this is my biggest problem at most of my older sites(mineralized soil)....i have dug good targets that sounded bad just because of bad soil and depth.
 

And this was the thickest, toughest tote i could find. Actually came with a lifetime warranty. probably voided that..lol. Bought it at lowes...once the pipes were all glued in place it really made it more solid and sturdy.
 

I have wooden dowl rods with notches cut in the ends. You put the coin, or whatever in the notch and slide in the pipe. You just simply turn the rod to make the coin flat or on edge. And i dont beleive it will be as accurate as a real-world test garden. But definately better than an air test. Plus you can place a nail or pull tab at say 4 inches then a merc dime deeper and play with it that way. You cant do this with an air test or test garden. Its just something to play with and my main thing was to see how different machines react at depth with mineralized soil. Since this is my biggest problem at most of my older sites(mineralized soil)....i have dug good targets that sounded bad just because of bad soil and depth.

I like that. Nice ideas bud
 

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