Beach detector

[Doug Watson]

I'd like to do some hunting, mainly for rings that I know were lost on the beach and was wondering what detector you guys might recommend. I've got a GB2 but it doesn't like the sand very well and it really hates the wet sand. I'm in washington on the coast. Thanks. Doug.

[JOE(USA)]

You need a detector that has a salt mode or that has a ground balance that will handle the salt. (I assume you mean a salt water beach?). Joe

[maui]

read and heard that the white's TDI works very well but they run around $1,500.
take care. ron

[Hoser John]

What settings are you runing that GB2 on at the beach?? No problems here-John

[Doug Watson]

Yes, I am talking about salt and I've been all over the board with the settings. There is so much background noise I can't hear a thing. If I get the noise calmed down I lose any sensitivity. It's not so bad in the dry sand but it really goes south in wet sand. I'm still learning the detector but haven't had this problem out looking for gold although I haven't found any yet. Lots of birdshot and everything else. Sorry about being sort of ignorant but we don't have any detector shops near and I'm still learning. Talked to the prospecting shop in Sweethome Oregon at a gold show and they said it is a problem for the GB2 and they recommended a Whites MXT for that type of hunting, but don't get rid of the GB2 as that's what he uses for gold even though he's a Whites dealer. The reason I was looking at another detector is that it would be nice to have some discrimination for coins, rings etc. in areas where I'm not looking for gold. Thanks again, Doug.

[JOE(USA)]

Doug Watson,

My guess is that you are not setting the detector up correctly. You said something about still learning. The GBII is a versatile machine. Have you tried the "high mineralization" mode? It should work quite well at the salt beach. Joe

[Doug Watson]

Yes, I've tried all 3 mineralization modes, been all over with the sensitivity, all over with the ground reject, and iron disc settings. I've had the detector for quite a few years and am still learning but I've spent quite a bit of time prospecting with it and don't have any problem ground balancing it or setting it up except at the beach where I can't get the background noise down without losing so much sensitivity that I can't pick up anything. We do have alot of iron staining on our beach so maybe thats the problem. Doug.

[JOE(USA)]

Doug,

O.K., sounds like it isn't you. I have heard that up in your neck of the woods some of the beaches are just not huntable due to the extremely high mineralization. If you have a local MD club or individuals in the area ask them. Nothing better than local knowledge. Joe

[Doug Watson]

Thanks, I guess I'll try before I buy if I get a different detector. Don't know of any clubs in my area. The bad part is I know of at least 3 rings lost in a very small area. Well, I'll think on this one some more and thanks again. Doug.

[dirt doctor]

If your present detector doesn't work out you might want to try a Minelab Sovereign
a lot of my friends who beach hunt here on the west coast say they are the best .I don't beach hunt a lot so when I do I use my White's M6 , works for me .

[Doug Watson]

Thanks. I've been thinking about a detector with disc. for other than gold hunting and seeing that the beach is 15 min. from my house I don't want to end up with one not suitable for hunting it. The problem is that I really want to buy from a local dealer but the closest one is about 4 or 5 hours away. I'll have to tink this one over for a while. I was thinking about a Whites MXT but I'm not sure now. I'll look and listen some more. Doug.

[Darshevo]

4-H here on Tnet has proven to be strait as an arrow for me. It may not be a 'local' guy to where you live, but its a local guy to where you hang out

-Lance

[TerryC]

You need a PI (pulse induction) machine for salt beaches. I have an old IMPULSE 8 (out of print) and a Garrett Sea Hunter. The Fischer Impulse 8 has paid for itself about 3 times over. PI's cost a bit more than VLF machines but are just what you need. TTC

[Hoser John]

Garrett Infinium pulse works in/out of the water and the tide line is where the REAL goodies lie-BUY AMERICAN-the job ya save may be your own OR Tesoro makes 2 great beach machines-1 vlf and 1 pulse and beleagered Arizona could use the biz at Tesoro-John

[Doug Watson]

I agree completely about buying american. Will look at the PI machines. Thanks again, Doug.