Test Bed Questions..

[corpsman]

I just laid out a new test bed in my back yard. I buried several items at various depths, and kept a legend, so I wouldn't forget what items are where, and how deep they are. I know realize the targets will sound different than ones that have been in the ground since the civil war, but I'm wondering how much that will affect my reading. (sound and conductivity number) I checked immediately after burying the items, and some of them didn't sound too good. I wouldn't have dug them if I was on a hunt and got that signal. the ground is very dry right now, so obviously that affects it also. any help would be appreciated.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A History of Mining on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska - Grab it through Amazon!

[lastleg]

You do know you are supposed to water your 'test garden' with distilled water, right? Just don't
use commercial fertilizers. In the '80s all the treasure rags were high on test gardens. There
were elaborate diagrams of the ideal test garden. Never knew anyone who grew one though.
Back then everyone was too busy digging real silvers, rings and wheaties to bother practicing
metal detecting.

Then came the whiz bang breeds of detectors which were so hard to learn the magazines
started the test garden protocol to teach newcomers what goodies sounded like in the ground.
Don't mean to sound jaded, really. But to me it seems redundant to practice an art that is
better served at the actual dig site.

 

[corpsman]

yeah, I've been hunting for about 25 years, and I've never had a test bed. but I recently got a new detector, and I thought it might not be a bad idea to have kind of a standard to go by. I agree that the best practice comes from a real site, but on the other hand, I would like to make sure I have my settings optimized before hand, so I don't miss some goodies that might not give a great signal otherwise.

 

[CincinnatiKid]

When acquiring a new detector, I do a quick air test with various coinage/relics before heading out.
I've given up on the test bed/garden option. Too much trouble. Not enough infield info.
GL
Peace ✌

 

[Fletch88]

I only buried clad quarter, dime, nickel, Lincoln penny and a Zincoln in that order and with the quarter at 8" and the rest at 6". I only use this bed as a kind of guage to test various machines and coil combos.