Whites MXT for the wet sand?

[ebike]

White's MXT for the wet sand?

Hi All,

I have an MXT and would like to use it in the wet sand lane on my local
beaches, does anyone have any experience using this detector for this purpose?

I won't use it in the water, as I value the detector too much, and being an electronics engineer know what damage salt water can do to circuit boards.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Upgraded Night Vision Monocular Digital Infrared Monocular Telescope for 100% Darkness with 8X Zoom - Grab it through Amazon!

[Glenn-RI]

Re: White's MXT for the wet sand?

ebike,

My MXT works great in the wet sand at salt water beaches here in New England. Just toggle to salt mode and adjust the dials as high as possible. The only thing that could cause a problem is black sand. I would dig anything above zero. Good luck.

Glenn

 

[Sandman]

Re: White's MXT for the wet sand?

It should work fine providing the wet sand doesn't have much black sand too. Be sure to use the saltmode and back off the sensitivity if you get any falsing. It will help too if you try to stick to the same amount of dampness in your sweeps. Wet sand has different amounts of salt to effect the circuits. Test the MXT on a couple targets laying on the wet sand also.

Suggest you slip a plastic baggie over the controls if the surf is rough or any spray could damage the unit.

Good Luck,

 

[Glenn-RI]

Re: White's MXT for the wet sand?

Oops....I usually set the DUAL control just below a nickel.

 

[dahut]

Can I interject?

I always get a kick out of it when someone says "Ill be careful." or "I wont use in the water."

I wish I had a dollar for everytime a detector has gotten fried due to those words and the false sense of confidence they instill. In the words of the famous poet: "Oh, the best laid plans of mice and men, oft go awry."

I know you mean well and are a pretty smart guy. But there is a reason why man has learned respect for the caprices of the Sea. Everything from rogue waves to unintended splashes, from unsure footing to the bikini-clad sirens call - all lie in wait to lure the unwary searcher at the waters edge.

Take the Sandmans advice and cover the housing and pod. Do it double, in fact. I would prefer that you use plenty of bubble wrap and duct tape to give your detector a nice "ratty" look, while still protecting it from the elements. See, there are other dangers at the shore than just the water. Other pirates are drawn there besides you and your fellows, mate. In this case, I mean those intent on felonious pursuit. No good can come of announcing your high-tech toy, sparkling in it's shiny black housing and emblazoned with bold white letters: "MXT."

High tech = quick cash in the mind of the felon.
Cover that thing well against the elements and the prying eyes of others.

In fact, fill your pouch with a goodly sum of trash and if anyone asks, tell them you don't think "your piece of junk detector" is even working right - then wave a fistful of the gnarly garbage under their nose and leer at them wild-eyed. Chances are folks will leave you alone after that, which is best.

"Aye matey, if you'ud be a pirate first, open your eyes and plan for the worst."

Remember well, my friend, The Sea is a hard mistress and she will surely test ye.

 

[ebike]

Re: White's MXT for the wet sand?

Thanks for all the replies. Sandman I will indeed cover the unit with a bag, I do that already
when detecting in a light rain.

Dahut ..... my class is half full .... your it seems is half empty!
I take "reasonable" care, no use going overboard with trying to control everything, life
just isn't like that ..... and Pirates lived on the "edge", not cocooned in bubble-wrap.

I guess my question was more to try and get a feeling for how well sealed the MXT is, and
if someone had used it for some time in the wet sand.

 

[Sandman]

Re: White's MXT for the wet sand?

Dehut's glass is over flowing with wise advice and you would be well advised to follow his warnings. I would also add to not ever do a "happy dance" when you find something good but to squirrel it away like it was another piece of junk.

Good Luck,
Sandman

 

[dahut]

Re: White's MXT for the wet sand?

Dahut ..... my class is half full .... your it seems is half empty!
I take "reasonable" care, no use going overboard with trying to control everything, life
just isn't like that ..... and Pirates lived on the "edge", not cocooned in bubble-wrap.

Its all in your perspective I suppose, as you allude to. Mine stems from the fact that I have stared down the hurtful end of a gun, for all the wrong reasons. While I escaped unscathed, I know a few folks who have gotten it worse than I while detecting - in seemingly innocent places. If you choose to be unconcerned, almost Pollyana-ish about your presence in a VERY public place, then so be it.

But, will you do me one favor before you head out? Conduct a few back searches here at TN. Read up on the more harrowing encounters almost ALL of the surf pirates recount about drunks, crackheads, thieves, wise kids, thugs and ruffians - these folks exist 'a plenty and they all have tricky ploys to separate you from your detector, your finds or more.
The beach is a magnet for all sorts of people, my friend.

If you truly wish to take 'reasonable precautions' as you say, then open your eyes to the fact that you are a standout on the beach. We're talking 'sore thumb' here, mate. People joke about the old geezer on the beach with a detector because it IS funny - but it's funny because people can relate. Everyone HAS seen them. While many folks SEEM oblivious to you, give it just a little time at the shore and you will soon realize that more folks than you imagine are indeed scrutinizing you. Unfortunately, they're not all hotties in bikinis.

There's a saying I like that goes like this:
"A Liberal is a conservative who has been arrested. A Conservative is a liberal who has been mugged."

Id hate to see you change your politics because you're groovin on good vibes and didnt think "it could happen to you." Please go an extra step beyond cautious and be aware, my friend, okay?

BTW, the whole pirate thing is a euphemism. It's just for fun.

 

[ebike]

Re: White's MXT for the wet sand?

I hear you Dahut, I appreciate your concern and the context is you are assuming I live in
the US ... well I don't .... and I acknowledge the crime that goes on in your country, and that
you have to be cautious and take active steps to be safe. (I know because I have lived and worked in the US)

I am fortunate in that I am blessed to live in a place where I don't have to keep one eye
on my back and one eye on what I am doing ... at least not to the extent that you have to in
the "good ol" US of A. The land of the free.

In this country, at least where I live, If I was mugged on the beach (which would be very rare)
1/2 doz folk around me would apprehend the mugger until the law came ... most folk look out for one another here to a large extent. Also I am a Christian, and as such have learned to not "worry" about what could happen, rather trust him in "all" things. You would be amazed at the situations and harm He has protected me from

Not sure what your reference to me being "Pollyana-ish" is, but if you mean I am running around like the Ostrich with his head in the sand .... well I am not, I just have a different
perspective on life than you .... that doesn't mean I have had it easy either, in fact just the opposite, as being a Christian brings opposition from a whole new dimension .... but I won't go there .....

But I appreciate that you are trying to help me out, so thanks for that.

Now back to the topic ... anyone else with any history on using an MXT in the wet?

 

[dahut]

Re: White's MXT for the wet sand?

Naturally, I figured you were a Yank. I suppose it could have helped in the direction we've gone to know you weren't, eh?

Along with freedom comes independent action. We Yanks think little of doing what we want and not checking with "authority" prior. Agreed, we tend to be an unruly lot in that regard. THe downside of this is that when people are accustomed to being "free," they very often assume that means they can do what they please. This lends itself to the criminal element nicely. It's a two edged sword.
I prefer that, however, to officious intervention, although it won't be long before we are "ruled" and watched over like elsewhere... in the name of security of course.

Oooops, we had better save political discussions for the proper forum.

As for the MXT on the beach. Simply put, it is a single freq VLF detector and every beach is different. It has a relatively high freq (14khz) which is a help in the salt, but it is designed to be very sensitive, with all functions performed in software regime. This means there will be a lot going on in that detector! Any where near the salt laden sand there will be a tendency towards erratic behavior.

My original comments werent concerned with performance, but some things are a given in that arena:

1. The MXT is designed to be an all-purpose instrument, so as such it won't excel at any one thing. This includes use at the salt beach. Even Whites alludes to this in their manual for the MXT.

2. Use the Salt Trac mode, but dont wander from dry to wet areas of the sand. If you do. the ground tracking will attempt to "track" back into the non-ferrous range of targets as you cross into the drier sands - the offshoot of this will be loss of targets in the low ranges of conductivity. You might want to try allowing the ground tracking to work then switch to Lock, then stay on a line down the beach.

3. Turn the sensitivity down as needed to overcome spurious audibles. This will reduce depth, but it give you a more usable instrument. It wont do you any good to have so much chatter that you cant tell good from bad. Constant overload warnings wont be any better.

4. Since the beach isnt normally littered with non ferrous trash, keep the large 9.5" coil on. This will help cover some ground.

5. Nearly every beach has pockets of ferrous material. On some beaches it is extreme and it can vary from place to place, even from yard to yard. This "black sand" is the result of mineral deposition, but very often from decomposed iron over many years of human activity. Attach a quarter sized magnet to the inside of your scoop and test the sand when you think there is a problem. When ferrous sands are present, they will affix themselves to your magnet and cause it to grow a fuzzy beard. Some people sling a "magnet on a stick" at their waist for this purpose, an old trick borrowed from prospectors.

Being an electronical type guy, I will assume you've read the engineering report on the MXT. If you havent, or its been a while, you may wish to revisit that before you head to the seashore, too.
Good luck and let us know how it goes, okay?

 

[ebike]

Re: White's MXT for the wet sand?

Good luck and let us know how it goes, okay?

Thanks, will do ....