Question for cache hunters

[Timberwolf]

First of all I should say that I have never found a cache. I am currently working on two locations, but have yet to get on the property and hunt.

My question is for those of you that have found caches. I don't want to know any details of what you found or where. I understand the importance of keeping quiet about recovered treasure.

My question is: How deep was your deepest cache?

A lady who works for Garrett told me that a Garrett Groundhog should detect a cache up to three feet deep.

Can anyone shed any light on my depth question?

Thanks in advance,
Tom

 

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[TreasureTales]

Not familiar with Garrett Groundhog, but depth depends largely on the type of metal, the size of the target (cache), the soil conditions, and the settings of your detector. I've been lucky enough to find 3 small caches. (My house was burglarized several years ago and all the contents of the caches were stolen. ) Deepest was 18" - size of a beer can. I don't have the right equipment for deeper caches. Could luck with getting onto the properties you have been researching.

 

[U.K. Brian]

I had three caches in a few months last year. One in woodland at little more than six inches, one in a wall so brickwork 'depth' four inches or so and one buried in a garden (under a statue) which was at a greater depth but the top of the container was only eight or nine inches and the bulk of the gold at twelve inches.
All were found with standard detectors (VLF and P.I.'s used,and black light) but they were on/around properties that dated back many years and had a few hundred years of metallic junk around.
The hoards I've found in the past, all on open land, have all been at twelve inches plus. I don't think many hoards would be found if not for ploughing that damages the container and brings a few coins near surface where they can be found with a standard detector.
Problem is individual coins though in a bunch don't give the response that you would expect, far far worse and the container they are in has to be considered. A can or tin box of silver or gold sounds just the same as an empty paint can. So no discrimination can be used.
The Garrett would not get the depth you require unless the Depth Multiplier option was used. In Europe a high power P.I. is the tool you would use or perhaps a Nexus with a hoard coil.
For depth on coin hoards have a look at Gary's test at http://www.garysdetecting.co.uk

Brian

 

[Timberwolf]

TT,
Thanks for the reply. Your depth experience is about what a friend told me. His deepest cache was about 15". He found it with a White's Eagle Spectrum in the mixed-audio mode. Thank you.

Brian,
Thank you for your reply. And also thanks for the pic. You have done well my friend. Great finds!!!
I don't have a PI machine and frankly don't know anything about them. I sent off for some info on some German made detectors (they are PI). Hoping someone can shed some light on their quality & depth. I have a post about them, but no answers yet.
You mentioned a black light. Did you only use the black light on the brick wall cache? And Thanks for the link, I'll have look
Thanks,

Tom

 

[txkickergirl]

I have the 2500 and we have been burying various objects at diffrent depths to see how far it would reach. Example is 2 canning jars half full of silver coins in diffrent locations. One buried standing up at 20" and one buried laying on its side at 18". To cache hunt you have to dig all signals and that is what I am slowly getting in my thick brain! I am looking for my detector to start saying treasure treasure dig right here. Sadly the jar standing up rings as a screw top its only picking up the lid on the jar but it does tell me its size D. The one laying down I could only find in all metal mode and even then it was faint and iffy. This is with my 12" coil. I do have a 2 box and after the jars sit in the ground for several weeks we are going to practice with it. I have read to dig all iron when cache hunting because your detector is going to pick up the iron chest not the contents inside most of the time. So this is where RESEARCH RESEARCH comes in. I haven't stumbled on any caches yet, but I haven't tried to locate any yet. I am still researching the location. By the time I do go after the cache I will be in top form though, like last weekend I went to the lake and dug no joke over 100 older pull tabs, each one reading a nickle. Now after the 10th one most folks would just decide not to dig that signal any more...not me because that next one could be a ring or at least the nickle it promised to be. Then I thought if pulltabs came up as nickles than I will dig what comes up as pulltabs.......guess what I found MORE PULLTABS So now after digging so many pull tabs anything rusty coming out of the ground is a treat, because I probably don't know what it is and I can imagine that it is old.
I have no doubt that the Garrett machine will pick up 18" and probably deeper especially in all metal, the only question is that it probably won't tell you silver dollars, but it will pick up the metal pot that it is located in.

 

[Timberwolf]

Txkickergirl,

Thanks for your input. Research is the key, I agree. I have not tried finding these caches yet, but do intend to try soon. All metal mode does seem right if the coins are in a metal box, but if they were buried in a non-metal object like saddle bags, I'm thinking you wouldn't need to be in all metal mode. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
Thanks,

Tom

 

[txkickergirl]

true if not inside an object you might pick them up in disc mode, but depending how deep they are all metal gives you the extra depth. Make sure you email me when you ever do recover those caches, I would like to know how it goes.

 

[Timberwolf]

Txkickergirl,
Indeed I shall.

Tom

 

[U.K. Brian]

Hi Timberwolf

A 'Blacklight' will show any later change to a surface that has been altered in some way. It could just mean a patch of plaster has fallen off and been replaced or that a brick or stone has been removed so something can be hidden behind.
A good site to read as far as deep or cache hunting is concerned is the Deepers site. Bear in mind they are trying to sell you one of their detectors.
http://www.metaldetection.net/english/index.htm

The Bulgarians are producing many pulse machines that give the German models a run for their money at a fraction of the price. Do a web search for Deeptech or Notsi.

 

[Timberwolf]

Hey Brian,

Thanks for the link. I will have a look.
I am familiar with the use of the black light. I have one in my arsenal of TH tools. I asked that question because I was wondering if there were other instances where a BL could be used. You had mentioned a cache under a statue. Thought maybe there was a connection between that find & the BL.
Since I havn't gotten any feedback on the Ebinger Metal Detectors, I will hold off on buying one. I just ordered an old Garrett Groundhog VLF/TR detector and am looking forward to testing it!

Tom

 

[fredrico]

Bob Fitzberald's maxi-pulse is pretty hard to beat as far as depth and price also.

 

[Kentucky Kache]

Txkickergirl,

All metal mode does seem right if the coins are in a metal box, but if they were buried in a non-metal object like saddle bags, I'm thinking you wouldn't need to be in all metal mode. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
Thanks,

Tom

Saddle bags would have metal buckles, so all metal is what I would go with.

 

[ericwt]

The best Pulse induction units are Eric Fosters.
http://www.surfscanner.com/Surfscan3/EFoster.html

I have no doubt the Garrett Groundhog would detect a cache at 3 feet providing the size was "large" enough and that the operator did not assume the signal was just ground interference or assume it was a tin can. I think a more realistic goal would be a small cache at 2 feet for this unit.

I would get a better detector for a cache that deep. Forget about the Garrett Groundhog with the DD. Get yourself a 2 box or a Good (Eric Foster) PI machine, or a Nautilus Metal detector.

Like others have said, "Dig every signal"

Digging 3 feet is easier said than done.

Good luck, hope you strike it rich!

 

[Timberwolf]

The best Pulse induction units are Eric Fosters.
http://www.surfscanner.com/Surfscan3/EFoster.html

I have no doubt the Garrett Groundhog would detect a cache at 3 feet providing the size was "large" enough and that the operator did not assume the signal was just ground interference or assume it was a tin can. I think a more realistic goal would be a small cache at 2 feet for this unit.

I would get a better detector for a cache that deep. Forget about the Garrett Groundhog with the DD. Get yourself a 2 box or a Good (Eric Foster) PI machine, or a Nautilus Metal detector.

Like others have said, "Dig every signal"

Digging 3 feet is easier said than done.

Good luck, hope you strike it rich!

Thanks Ericwt,

I'll have a look at those links. I don't think what I am looking for is very deep. I do have other detectors to use in case the Ground Hog can't locate it.

I just read some of the articles on your website. Very informative 8)
I am new at cache hunting, but not research. I enjoy researching.

Thanks for you input to my question.

Timberwolf

 

[Timberwolf]

Bob Fitzberald's maxi-pulse is pretty hard to beat as far as depth and price also.

Thanks Fredrico,

Timberwolf

 

[alec]

Find a detector shop that sells used detectors or check on e-bay. You can buy a Tesoro Bandido or Bandido II and a 9 inch eleptical coil fairly cheap, maybe around $200. The Bandido will pick up a one quart mason jar (on it's side or standing straight up) in most soils at two and a half to three feet without any problem. If the soil has some moisture to it the depth will be greater. The Bandido will pick up a shovel head sized object at three to four feet. Watch out for soil with a lot of clay in it, this will make your detector go crasy and you will have to readjust the ground balance and loose some depth.

If you are hunting caches you have to dig every signal. There's no getting around it.

 

[Kentucky Kache]

The Bandido will pick up a one quart mason jar (on it's side or standing straight up) in most soils at two and a half to three feet without any problem.

Do you know this through testing or the company's ads? I'm asking 'cause I'd really like to know for sure.

 

[alec]

Through my own testing. I never believe what they say in the brochures. I keep several different things buried in my yard at several different depths and test any new detector I buy. I never go anywhere without my Bandido!! It's light (only one 9 volt battery), easy to use and works better than anything else I have. (I have two of them because I like to have a back up). I carry it sometimes instead of my two box because of what I am looking for and how deep I think it will be.

If it's a quart jar the Bandido will get it at those depths and sometime a little deeper depending on the soil. At 2.5 feet the Bandido will get it every time and my Garrett with a 12" coil will only get it sometimes and even then it's a light signal where as the Bandido is a strong signal everytime. Anything bigger than a quart jar and 3-4 feet is probably the max but it will read a rotted wooden box with metal straps (just a little bigger than a 50 cal. ammo can) with coins in it at 3.5 feet. Open air tests (which really don't do you any good) will give a reading at 4.5 feet.

The El Dorado that Tesoro makes is the new model of the Bandido. I've never tried the El Dorado because I have had such good results with the Bandidos and you can get them used a lot cheaper.

 

[Kentucky Kache]

Thanks, Alec. I didn't know they were that good.
There's a Bandido 2 on Ebay, currently at $150.00, $20.00 shipping.
I'm, not gonna put the link here 'cause it messes up the page. Just type in Bandido in the Ebay search engine.

 

[Timberwolf]

Find a detector shop that sells used detectors or check on e-bay. You can buy a Tesoro Bandido or Bandido II and a 9 inch eleptical coil fairly cheap, maybe around $200. The Bandido will pick up a one quart mason jar (on it's side or standing straight up) in most soils at two and a half to three feet without any problem. If the soil has some moisture to it the depth will be greater. The Bandido will pick up a shovel head sized object at three to four feet. Watch out for soil with a lot of clay in it, this will make your detector go crasy and you will have to readjust the ground balance and loose some depth.

If you are hunting caches you have to dig every signal. There's no getting around it.

Alec,

Thanks for that info on that detector. I hope to be cache hunting very soon

Timberwolf