The definition of "dig everything"?

[DugHoles]

The definition of "dig everything"?

Hello fellow hole diggers,

I'd like to know everyones definition of "dig everything". I own a XLT and was curious what exactly everyone meant.

All solid signals?​

All solid signals with a VDI number variation within (+ or -) 2 to 5?​

All soild signals regardless of VDI fluctuation?​

I want to make sure that I have the correct definition so I don't miss anything....

Thank you all in advance

GL & HH,

DugHoles

 

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[jeff of pa]

Re: The definition of "dig everything"?

My definition of "Dig Everything"

? ? ? Discrimination ON,
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? But the Disc. Knob Turned all the way down.

I then dig "ALL" Signals, even the Broken ones.

? And Especially the Very weak "Whispers"

Here are My Deep "IFFY" Signals from Today

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? JEFF

 

[1320]

Re: The definition of "dig everything"?

What Jeff said!

I dig every repeatable signal, especially the broken, choppy signals that repeat. The soil conditions in my area (dry, clay loam) create very erratic signals when we've gone without rain for a few weeks. Recently I dug a 1913 dime at three inches that sounded like "pop corn"....coin was laying flat (heads up)....in normal ground conditions, this dime would have sounded very solid. For what it's worth, the ID on my machine read the coin as "Iron"......go figure. Gotta have an "ear" for those targets....sometimes they just have the right tone in my ear and I know to dig.

 

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

Re: The definition of "dig everything"?

I agree, all signals on low Disc.

HH!!

 

[stoney56]

Re: The definition of "dig everything"?

Definirely low disc.depending on tolerance to trash,soil conditions, and location. It's nice to be able to look at meter and remember what VDI # the target read but don't get to depending on the meter although it is handy, it's not infallible. Till you get comfortable with your detector, just dig and keep track and learn.

 

[rvbvetter]

Re: The definition of "dig everything"?

Given patience, i can see how digging everything, would be the assured way of leaving no stone unturned. But before i go that far. I would like to be given an 8 hour demonstration first. Any takers? HH

 

[da Hobo]

Re: The definition of "dig everything"?

Rvbvetter, do you mean "an 8 hour demo . . ." that leaves no marks behind?? Count me in on that one also. I think I do a pretty fair job of digging a plug but if you dig enough of them, sooner or later you will leave a trace, especially when it's dry as a bone and the dirt just crumbles.

I try to be reasonably certain that a target is worth the dig before I do the deed. And if I find a lot of targets in an area I try to space out my visits so I don't overly stress an area and give previous holes a chance to recover.

Maybe it's my technique or lack there of but that's my method and also saves on my back and knees.

Hobo

 

[jeff of pa]

Re: The definition of "dig everything"?

Maby I should have Put more Details in,

So I'll add them Here.

? ? ? ? IF the spot is loaded with Trash, and clad, NO, I don't dig everything.
? I concentrate on the weak ones.

? ? ? ? IF the site is hunted To Death, I dig EVERYTHING the way I described above.

As for My Digging Habits, They Change with the weather,

Woods when everythings dry.
Open areas when the ground is moist.

? ?I seldom do spots where my Digging habits are Scrutinized.

? ?and in FACT, I'v never had Negative feedback on my digging.


And I havn't put in an 8 hour day in awhile

 

[jeff of pa]

Re: The definition of "dig everything"?

some signals that bounce from good to iron, are sometimes a coin next to an old nail. I found this to be so.

? Absolutely, More then once, I was convinced I was digging another Nail,
and in fact found it, only to re-check and get a Better find in the same hole.
only deeper. or off to the side within the nails halo

 

[Mental Granny]

Re: The definition of "dig everything"?

So just digging a hole, pulling out what you want and stuffing the rest is the way to go? I've seen techniques on probing, cutting a slit, slipping a finger or 2 in slit and pulling out the item, then pressing the slit together again.
If you dig a wide enought hole, then little chance of scratching a valuable coin but less chance of a neat recovery, whereas a probe would help pinpoint the item but a better chance of damage to coin. Which is better in the long run?

 

[rvbvetter]

Re: The definition of "dig everything"?

I'm a probe and popper, but plugging has its merits too. I've just never been comfortable, using the latter method. So i suppose it's just a matter of what method a person feels works best for them. I don't feel either one is a perfect solution.
But until they come out with a Dematerializer. I guess thats our choices.

If they do come out with a Dematerializer. I think i might pay my mother inlaw a little visit, before taking it out in the field. HH

 

[wmas1960]

Re: The definition of "dig everything"?

I have an XLT also. Simply put, If it beeps and I hear it, I will try and go for it. If, as I swing back over where it beeped, I get a hit again, in roughlythe same place, I will click the trigger and try to pinpoint it. If I do zero in on a signal, I will dig it.

I usually search out on some beaches along Lake Michigan, North of Chicago. Most of what I find is above 7". Not that big of a deal to drop my scoop and pull up a load of sand. Then, I sift it out to see what I find. I have searched, mostly, with Jewelry Beach and Coin and Jewlry. Recently, I switched to Relic to see what would happen but have only searched Relic once. I am pretty new to detecting so I just keep trying new things to see how it all works. Have to say, with Relic, I was getting more hits. Most were nails, bolts, wire and other chunks or shreds of sheetmetal...

 

[stoney56]

Re: The definition of "dig everything"?

Myself, I see some use the probe and pop method but I prefer the plug. I've lost track how many marbles have come out of the same hole as a coin-almost makes me wish there was a marble mode.

 

[wmas1960]

Re: The definition of "dig everything"?

As I finished reading these posts, I few good thoughts were presented. We are having troubles now with lack of rain. It does make sense to go out with a thought, not to dig everything you find. Especially if you are digging in grassy areas and have already dug several spots in a given area. Digging the more promising spots might seem logical here. Maybe take a GPS with you and write down waypoints of areas where you get other promising hits to go find another day. Then again, my GPS is one that might give me an accurate signal to about 24 or 42'. That could be a large area to find if you go back.

Also, the pointers about faint and broken signals is interesting. As a newbie here, I haven't had enough good finds to know the way my detector reacts to better targets. I have read such points before though. In discussions about using headphones. Being, somewhat, hearing impared, I am wondering what I might be missing by not using my headphones. I guess I will have to dig them out and give them a try.

As for the drought conditions, another reason I have been hitting the play lots and beaches more. Don't have to worry about digging my holes. Just kick the sand back in and smooth them over. I have been thinking of digging some hard ground. Think, until I can perfect some digging techniques, I will stick to areas where there isn't grass to be concerned of.

 

[stoney56]

Re: The definition of "dig everything"?

One other thing I do wih a plug is never cut a complete circle, use a handkerchief to put excess dirt in from hole, and try not to disturb the root system any more than necessary. The other thing is it also depends just where I'm digging at. A city park or yard a little more neat, an abandoned farm house or pasture-just put soil back in (no hole-neatness doesn't count). A city property with monuments-the smallest hole possible (surgical approach).

 

[Monty]

Re: The definition of "dig everything"?

I got a tone just this morning that was indicating a pull tab, but something in the way it rang up didn't sound right, so I dug it. I did find a pull tab but also a nickel right next to it! JIM

 

[wmas1960]

Re: The definition of "dig everything"?

Finally got back out again, for the first time in about 6 weeks. I think I need to pay more attention to what I am finding, the ID Numbers of the items and how they sound when I sweep over them. Also I should have noted the depth I was finding certain things at.

This evening, I went to a local Tot Lot, next to a local school, where I found a couple zipper pulls, some cut chain links, a few paper clips, a snap from a jacket or something and a few other assorted pieces of junk, including one Cherry Coke can about 5" in the sand. I also found a Barbie charm from a little girls necklace or bracelet and an assortment of coins. Will post a picture later when I get a chance to take one. Among the coins was a Sacagawea dollar and a large number of nickels. I found a couple pennies and one quarter. I thought it was a somewhat boreing set of finds until I got home and started going through things. As I went through the nickels, one looked a little odd. I wiped the sand from it and found it to be a Buffalo Nickel. With buffalo on back and indian on front. It was heavily worn and there is no date left on it. I guess it has been worn off. My first old coin find, so I thought. Then I decided to look more closely at all my other coins that I have found since getting going with the MDing, about 3 months ago. While not exceptionally old, I did find a couple of pennies from 1950 and 59.

Of all places to find this buffalo, the lot I was searching wasn't that old. All modern equipemnt. I do recall, though, going to that park as a kid with our nanny. I would have assumed that it was all torn up and redone in the nearly 40 years in question. Maybe they just compacted the old play lot and put some new sand over the top and put in new equipment? I did bend the edge of my scoop pushing it into the sand. It was a little soft on top but a bit compacted and denser underneath. About the top 4 inches was fairly loose but under that was pretty hard.

Something that, maybe some of the more experienced folk out there might address. I was using Coin and Jewelry on my XLT. There was a constant hum as I was searching. I assume that is normal. I have never noticed this before as I haven't used the headphones until tonight. While sweeping, One of three things would happen, I would either get a solid beep from the detector and an ID etc. , or a crackling kind of beep that would require some more sweeping to zero in on. Or, I would get a hit where there would be a quick silence. In other words, the hum would break. I hit the trigger on these breaks or silences, a couple times, and tried to do locate on a couple possible targets. I did find some items around 7.5" but for the life of me, I don't recall if one of those was the nickel or if the nickel was one of the broken signals I was getting. All I do recall, is that there were only, about 2 hits where I wasn't able to find the objects. As it got darker, I started to ignore those breaks in the hum. I wonder if I should try and search more of them. I think a few times, I was getting some solid bars on the lower ends of the spectrum About -10 to -95. I don't recall what they were but large iron comes to mind.

Like I said before, I think I need to pay more attention to what is going on and actually look closer at my finds. Rather than just putting them in my pocket. I note that sometimes I get into finding stuff and as time is running out, I just put things in my pocket and keep going. Trying to find more in the short time remaining. Maybe missing some opportunities for better finds. Or, by working like this, I might be finding more stuff of less quality than if I took a little more time or paid closer attention.

 

[rvbvetter]

Re: The definition of "dig everything"?

The constant hum (often refered to as Threshold) is normal.
There could be various reasons for the crackling beep. But i suppose the two most common, or basic causes are, your detector is trying to discriminate out the target, or there might be a good target and a bad target very near to each other.
The threshold going silent immediatly before and immediatly after the target, generally means your detector is, or is trying to discriminate out the target.
But i would suggest digging some of them, to better understand and to gain confidence in what your detector is telling you. HH

 

[stoney56]

Re: The definition of "dig everything"?

Also when you hear a very slight increase in pitch from the threshold pitch, dig. That's another good reason to wear headphones. A faint increase usually means a deeper target.

 

[wmas1960]

Re: The definition of "dig everything"?

I was kind of figuring that it had to do with the discrimination. ?Either that or that some of the signals might be near the max depth of the detector. ?

I searched some of the crackling tones and while I did find stuff, I didn't find multiple items in the hole. ?At least, when I swept the hole, after retreiving an item, it didn't sound again. ? I always do that. ? I will take a scoop of sand. then sweep the hole again. ? Then, I will sift the sand out, take the item out of my scoop, if there, and then sweep the sand that was sifted out. ? Just to make sure that something didn't fall through the holes on the scoop or that I didn't get multiple items etc. ?

This would raise another question. ?What kind fo sounds should I expect if the target is near the max depth of the detector. ? As I posted in my previous reply, I am having a suspicion that this play lot, in general, may date to when I was a child. ?But, instead of being completely removed and all, had just been improved with new sand on top of the old base and new equipment. ? Therefore, I am trying to evaluate or decide, whether there might be deeper older items there, and should I search these broken signals, whether the Buffalo got there through the sand that was brought in to replenish the playground, ?or maybe lost by some child, more recently, who might have taken it to school for show and tell or something. ?It just seemed a fairly odd item to find in such an, appearently, new area. ?

As I posted this I then noticed the suggestion of slight change in pitch. Will listen for that next time out. Thanks for the repllies so far....