Digging Iffy Signals

[zman365]

Hi folks,
I am new to detecting (about 3 months) and have gotten my share of coinage from as deep as 4 inches. the question I have is: how reliable are signals that indicate coins at a depth of 6 inches or more? I have dug a couple (100) and never found anything. I'm wondering whether it might be a training issue or am I not tuning the detector correctly for items this deep?

I realize this is a pretty vague question, and what I am looking for is guidance and maybe a place to look for more information on how to dig deeper signals. Any halp or comments are appreciated.

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[rockhound]

There is no special technique to finding deeper coins, although after many years doing it,there are some things that will help. Whatever speed you are using to swing your coil,slow down to half that speed.,you will need to go slow to detect deep coins. Overlap your swings,as the signal gets deeper so does the area covered.When I detect a target that is at or near the maximum depth of my machine,I try scanning it at different angles,East-west,then North South. Sometimes this will reveal a good target or trash targets signature. If using an ID machine,you can't rely on accurate ID at it's maximum depth so I use all metal and detune to determine size by raising my machine to see how far it will pick up the target. Knowing my detectors maximum depth on coin sized objects,I will get a better idea of how large the object is,if not able to determine it by scanning in all metal. If it is larger than a coin sized object,it is according to where I am detecting and what I am looking for determines whether or not I will attempt to dig it. You can bury coins at or near your detectors depth limit,make a coin garden,see what your detector claims they are if you have a TID detector.Some detectors will ID as smaller denomination coins,while others may ID as a higher denomination of coins. Knowing your detector and it's limitations seems to be the best advice I can give you. Hopes this helps. Good Luck. rockhound

[relichunters]

If its a solid signal and not a blip, then it's there. Dig 2 inches deeper than what it says, and it also might be in the side of the hole.

[DCMatt]

Practice. Practice. Practice. I suggest you dig nearly everything. After a while you'll get a feel for what your machine is telling you. Once you learn the "language" of your MD it will be much easier to decide.

Remember - When in doubt, dig it out. Last year a guy in my MD club got a big iron signal while hunting a "hunted out" civil war site. He couldn't decide whether to dig or not. He did... Colt revolver...

DCMatt

[Silver Slayer]

Very good info

[deepskyal]

If that 100 you're refering to is your VDI and it's loud and saying deep, on my detector it's 99.99% always deep iron. They say silver dollars or halves hit there but of all the times I've had something hit like that, it's been an old beer can a foot deep or some other hunk of trash.
Follow rockhounds advice, basic but good advice.

Al

[relichunters]

If that 100 you're refering to is your VDI and it's loud and saying deep, on my detector it's 99.99% always deep iron. They say silver dollars or halves hit there but of all the times I've had something hit like that, it's been an old beer can a foot deep or some other hunk of trash.
Follow rockhounds advice, basic but good advice.

Al

But the one you pass up, will be that silver cache!

[deepskyal]

If that 100 you're refering to is your VDI and it's loud and saying deep, on my detector it's 99.99% always deep iron. They say silver dollars or halves hit there but of all the times I've had something hit like that, it's been an old beer can a foot deep or some other hunk of trash.
Follow rockhounds advice, basic but good advice.

Al

But the one you pass up, will be that silver cache!

As you can see....I know they're beer cans cause I still dig em....lol

[DanRiverMan]

I dig lots of broken/cracked signals..Just dig a very shallow flap and if the signal clears up and gets stronger in the least bit I go ahead and recover the object..
Lots of time a rusted something another will halo and the signal will stay broken after you peel back and inch or so..Move on to the next one...

[suprdave]

practice practice practice

[Silver Searcher]

Many of my finds have come from iffy signals, there are a lot of factors that can mask a good target, like Matt says..if in doubt, dig it out. What a screen says means nothing, the most important tool is your ears

SS

[Woodland Detectors]

Nope. Keep digging my friend, one of hose iffies are going to be rockin