Vaquero tot lot question

DigDugNY

Bronze Member
Aug 19, 2006
1,234
253
New York
Detector(s) used
Minelab Excalibur 2, Fisher F75, XP Deus
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
So i tried using my Vaquero in some woodchips today. The detector wasnt acting too well in it. Could it be because the ground under the chips was wet? it just started acting up and giving false signals, I got kind of confused cuz in other parts of the woodchips it acted fine
 

Who knows what is under those wood chips in the ground.
I had a similar problem With my Bandido II and it turned out to be EMI
From my cell phone or others in the area. Those smart phones put out plenty of power
as do WI-FI. This may not be your case though it might be something under those chips
A power cable or something
 

Sandman said:
This is the nature of the game now days with all the signals bouncing around from all the jazz we think we need. This might help you understand it better.
It was written by a Fisher engineer but applies to all detectors.
http://electrical-interference-essay-by-first-texas-lead-engineer-dave-johnson

The link doesnt seem to be working for me. I mean my detector wasnt just going off randomly..it woukld make it seem like there were multiple signals in the same spot, but none of them were consistent..then when i would dig, the signal would barely be there or disappear
 

Is there a big difference when air testing on a floor in a house even if there isnt a signal other than the coin...cuz i was tryin to detect a coin on my floor and it didnt detect it past like 5 inches..unless i had it supertuned
 

Bobby S said:
Sandman said:
This is the nature of the game now days with all the signals bouncing around from all the jazz we think we need. This might help you understand it better.
It was written by a Fisher engineer but applies to all detectors.
http://electrical-interference-essay-by-first-texas-lead-engineer-dave-johnson

The link doesnt seem to be working for me. I mean my detector wasnt just going off randomly..it woukld make it seem like there were multiple signals in the same spot, but none of them were consistent..then when i would dig, the signal would barely be there or disappear

Metal eyelets in you tennis shoes?
 

Bobby S said:
Is there a big difference when air testing on a floor in a house even if there isnt a signal other than the coin...cuz i was tryin to detect a coin on my floor and it didnt detect it past like 5 inches..unless i had it supertuned

Do you have CFL light bulbs?
And wireless internet?
I have to turn all of my stuff off in my place to get a decent air test.
It is just crazy.
 

I usually have the detector a good distance out in front of me....it was only in the wood chips that it happened...it was relle wet under the chips though. And for doing the air test in my house I have wireless and all that stuff.... I'm assuming that's why the depth on the air test sucked. I did notice though that when I put a 10k bracelet in front of it, it barely read it..why is that?
 

Bobby S said:
I usually have the detector a good distance out in front of me....it was only in the wood chips that it happened...it was relle wet under the chips though. And for doing the air test in my house I have wireless and all that stuff.... I'm assuming that's why the depth on the air test sucked. I did notice though that when I put a 10k bracelet in front of it, it barely read it..why is that?

Quick heads up on chipped wood totlots - every 2-feet or so, there is a big stainless steel ground bolt holding the cover under the wood chips down over the sand underneath. The Vaquero is a lot of machine for a totlot. I have to turn my sensitivity way down in totlots on the Lobo. Wet soil = better depth, it does not effect the machine. Air tests are not accurate for depth. You need to put a penny, dime, nickel and quarter at 10" in holes in the dirt and try your test again! :headbang:
 

Terry Soloman said:
Bobby S said:
I usually have the detector a good distance out in front of me....it was only in the wood chips that it happened...it was relle wet under the chips though. And for doing the air test in my house I have wireless and all that stuff.... I'm assuming that's why the depth on the air test sucked. I did notice though that when I put a 10k bracelet in front of it, it barely read it..why is that?

Quick heads up on chipped wood totlots - every 2-feet or so, there is a big stainless steel ground bolt holding the cover under the wood chips down over the sand underneath. The Vaquero is a lot of machine for a totlot. I have to turn my sensitivity way down in totlots on the Lobo. Wet soil = better depth, it does not effect the machine. Air tests are not accurate for depth. You need to put a penny, dime, nickel and quarter at 10" in holes in the dirt and try your test again! :headbang:

Haha thanks man, you are very reassuring!
 

Bobby

Wood chips do act a little funny. I have the best luck by ground balancing right out side of the woodchips. The detector sees through the woodchips and reads the minerals underneath (my philosophy). Ground balancing is an important key to quiet feedback from the machine unless over a good target as well as depth. In totlots disc at 10:00 or 11:00, so as not to miss any womans gold rings, sens around 8 and threshold at barely audible or audible. It's what works for me. I find myself continually digging through the woodchips to retrieve coins in the dirt underneath. I must add that it took me a couple weeks to get comfortable with it. Also when all-out supertuned airtesting the unit I have will pick up a quarter at 14" with a good repeatable dig signal, I will seldom if ever get that in the ground unless I'm at the beach or it rained for a day or 2. Good luck, I hope the unit works as well for you as it does for me.
 

Bobby S said:
So i tried using my Vaquero in some woodchips today. The detector wasnt acting too well in it. Could it be because the ground under the chips was wet? it just started acting up and giving false signals, I got kind of confused cuz in other parts of the woodchips it acted fine

Bobby,

Sometimes there are small-thin wire staples in the wood chips. Could be because there was a covering stapled over the stack of lumber before it was ground into chips. The staples become darkly stained from acids in the decomposing wood and are hard to see, especially if buried deeply in the wood.

If you have a pocket pinpointer it will be easier to isolate the exact chip giving off a signal. Then check it over closely on the outer surface and/or cut it open with a pocket knife to find the staple. That's the first thing I would do before assuming a "false signal".

Hope this is helpful. :dontknow:

ToddB64
 

"I did notice though that when I put a 10k bracelet in front of it, it barely read it..why is that?"

It's because the detector is only registering on one link at a time in the chain. That is assuming you're talking about a chain-linked bracelet. With a fine chain the current isn't passing continuously along the chain.
 

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