question from a newbie

[b1pw3ha]

Hi all. I got a question for you all. My coil is two circles with space between them. The question I have is when I get a hit is it the smaller inner circle of the coil or the larger outer circle showing something in the ground? I have been off on my pinpointing. Sometimes I have to keep widening the holes to find the target. I am in the right area but alot of the time I am off by acouple of inches on my digging. I try X patterns and think I am right on it only to find I was off a bit. An advice would be great.

 

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[Charles]

? ? ?
? ? ?
(======) <-- Your coil pointing toward the ground
? ?\? ? ? ? ?/
? ? \? ? ? ?/
? ? ?\? ? ?/?
? ? ? \? ?/
? ? ? ?\ / <-- Your coil will detect objects in the cone shaped area below your coil similar to this starting with the outer ring. The?signal will be the strongest when it is in the very center of the coil.(Right in the middle of the smaller ring) Using the x?method to pinpoint takes some Practice. Much easier if you have a pinpoint mode on your detector.

 

[alabamadan]

I'm having trouble pinpointing too. Must take LOTS of practice.

 

[dano91]

Just takes practice bud don't give up it will come to you!

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

I do this to pinpoint. I find the signal, then sweep backwards until I lose the signal. Then sweep forward slowly until I first get the hit and dig a plug around that. Also a handheld pinpointer helps a lot.

Try that, HH!!

 

[KevGA]

The outer circle is actually the "transmitter" that sends the signal into the ground, and the inner is the "reciever" that picks up the signal. (Thanks to my kids' 3rd grade science fair project for that info!)

When pinpointing be sure to move off of where you think the target is, hit and hold the pinpoint button (assuming you have one) and slowly sweep into the target location from left to right. When the signal gets strongest, switch your sweep to up/down (this gives you your "x"). This gives you two things: a real good idea of where your target is based on the strength of the signal at the center of your left/right, up/down "x" and also an idea of target size. If you can sweep out a direction and keep a strong signal for more than an inch or so, it's probably something big like a soda can. I generally will do this several times to be sure of the target, then set my coil down to make an imprint on the ground and dig the plug where the little circle is. For my machine (Ace 250) I find it pinpoints about an inch back from the tip of the inner coil.

I have also tried the above technique not using my poinpint mode, i.e. in normal operation, with pretty good success. It does take several passes to really get an accurate pinpoint, but with practice it's possible. I've had to resort to this when my batteries ran low and was able to dig good targets.

For some more info on how a MD works, look here:

http://home.howstuffworks.com/metal-detector.htm

 

[surfrat96]

Trust me, if I can learn to pinpoint, anyone can! LOL I pretty much can dig a 3" plug on most targets and get them! Just takes practice!

HH 8) surfrat

 

[Monty]

What kind of machines do you guys have and does it have a built in pinpoint feature? If so , the most common mistake made is to set the detector coil right on the spot where you are getting the strongest signal and then engaging the pinpoint mode. The correct way is to set the coil off to one side of the strongest signal, engage the pinpoint feature and move the coil toward the target. You will get an increasingly strong signal until it peaks and starats to fade. Move the coil back to where you got the strongest signal and then move the coil in all four directions, centering on the loudest tone. Whaen you have done this the target should be right in the middle of your search coil. JIM

 

[slow sweeper]

On shallow targets lift your coil off the ground 3 or 4 inches when pinpointing.

 

[b1pw3ha]

Thanks guys for the help. I bought my daughter a bounty hunter pioneer 202. This is the detector I am having problems pinpointing with.It doesn't have a pinpointing button like the ace250. I wish it did. Also it only beeps when over a target. The beep doesn't sustain or get louder the closer I get to the object. It has a high,mid and low tone for objects depending on their makeup. I will try your ideals and really appreciate all the input. Oh by the way yesterday was our 2nd time out and again we got another 1916 dime. This one is a merc though. So 2 times out and 2 dimes. Both the same year. I think I should play 1916 on the lottery. lol

 

[gregl01]

Hi, Does the 1916 Merc have a mint mark Check the reverse to the lower left of the staff.
Let us know!!!!!
HH
Greg

 

[b1pw3ha]

I haven't had a chance to look yet. I need to clean the dirt off of it. But I tell you now if it has a D on it I'll be sporting the ferrari of detectors. Oh and probably need to change my underwear also

 

[1320]

Varying your swing (sweep) speed will help too. Example: Swing your detector very fast and then very slow then back to fast, then try to take a mental snapshot of the spot that signaled loudest. Also tighten up your sweep as you lock in on the spot.

I practice pin pointing often by guessing what my potential target is before I dig. If I think I have a penny, I will focus on a penny sized spot on the ground and go for it, digging a plug only slightly larger than a penny. Challenge yourself in some way to perfect pin pointing...the results are worth it. Less time digging means more time finding the goods.

I never use all metal or the pin point feature on my machine as it "adds" potential targets as well as the intended one......

 

[Kent in AL]

Here's another thing that that might help if your detector has a pinpoint mode. Like Jimmileo mentioned, make sure you start your pinpointing sweep off to the side, for this example let's say one foot away from the target. After doing that and making the X, you have a pretty good idea of the target location. Now to further pinpoint, move your coil closer to the target (say 8" from the target) then engage the pinpoint mode and do the X. Now the "circle of sound" is smaller. Do it yet again 4" from the target and the duration of the sound is even shorter. However, keep in mind that the depth reading isn't accurate when doing this. Rely on your original 1 foot away (or whatever distance) pinpoint sweep.

Hope this helps,

Kent