New guy... new detector... need advice

[Jono]

Hi all. Just getting into this hobby and got a metal detector (Teknetics Delta 4000). I went out today on my first outing to the rocky beach causeway in Dunedin near me. I found a couple cans... I'm getting real good at finding old beer cans... LOL. I set the discrimination higher to begin ignoring any zinc or aluminium... I think this was the right way to focus on more coins and jewelry? So I started watching the target reading numbers on the display. I think higher numbers are indicative of more quality metals 80-99, does that sound right or am I misinterpreting this? Finally, my last question is this... I ran into a couple of seemingly good targets... reading 94 - 97 on the display about 4-5 inches deep. I dug on three spots and I didn't find anything... . I then re-scanned the hole and the small pile I had along side of the small hole... Nothing this time - no targets reading. What might I be doing wrong - or is this a common occurrence?

Thanks All!
Jon

 

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[vpnavy]

1st - I noticed this was your very first post - so, Welcome Aboard Jono! You didn't list your state (or country) in your profile. So, you might consider jumping over to Sub-Forum: Select Your Area.... and selecting location information (i.e., clubs, hunts, finds, legends, maps, etc.) directly related to your state (or country).

2nd - While waiting for member help - you might consider browsing Brands > Teknetics.

 

[Komzoom]

I think you put a very high level of discrimination. After digging, the target changed the ID value to a lower one. After digging, the target changed the ID value to a lower one. The first step in learning is to dig out all the signals. If you leave the discriminator sector in foil, then you have abandoned small gold items.

 

[Loco-Digger]

I recommend you gather some common coins of different denominations, scan a patch of ground and find a quiet patch with you only discriminating out iron. Place the coins and maybe a few rings in this area and swing over each one. Make note of the target ID. Then take some trash items i.e. pull tab, foil, soda can, bottle cap, and a few others and do the same. Many of these trash items will not ring in as a tight target ID like the coins. These trash items will probably have target IDs that vary by 4 or more digits. Like other have stated, dig everything for a time until you feel like you can better understand the tone and target IDs.

Good Luck & Happy Hunting.

 

[GopherDaGold]

Same detector here. You may want to notch out the .50 in iron-heavy areas. For some reason larger iron will give me readings in the 90's. In my experience, higher numbers are generally good; my 1853 Seated dime read in the 80's.

 

[sprailroad]

Hang in there Jono, there is always a learning curve in the beginning, be it new to detecting in general or with any new machine you might have in the future, and do follow up on what vpnavy said about going to "Brands" on the Forum, then click onto "Teknetics", there will be good information there with fella's always willing to help. Just be aware that, when you find your first "Good" target, you may just end up like sooooo many of us, "Hooked" on the hobby. 30 yrs. for me, and I still love it.

 

[BLK HOLE]

Welcome to the forum from Northern Virginia there is great advice here so don’t be afraid to ask, in the submarine world we had a saying “ the only dumb question is the one not asked” so keep asking. And be patient, there is more trash in the ground than there is treasure, and lastly have fun this is a great hobby!

 

[Raider19962]

I recommend you gather some common coins of different denominations, scan a patch of ground and find a quiet patch with you only discriminating out iron. Place the coins and maybe a few rings in this area and swing over each one. Make note of the target ID. Then take some trash items i.e. pull tab, foil, soda can, bottle cap, and a few others and do the same. Many of these trash items will not ring in as a tight target ID like the coins. These trash items will probably have target IDs that vary by 4 or more digits. Like other have stated, dig everything for a time until you feel like you can better understand the tone and target IDs.

Good Luck & Happy Hunting.

Good advice, Loco.

 

[RTR]

I recommend you gather some common coins of different denominations, scan a patch of ground and find a quiet patch with you only discriminating out iron. Place the coins and maybe a few rings in this area and swing over each one. Make note of the target ID. Then take some trash items i.e. pull tab, foil, soda can, bottle cap, and a few others and do the same. Many of these trash items will not ring in as a tight target ID like the coins. These trash items will probably have target IDs that vary by 4 or more digits. Like other have stated, dig everything for a time until you feel like you can better understand the tone and target IDs.

Good Luck & Happy Hunting.

Perfect advice !

 

[Dardariel]

Tampa, eh? Grew up out near TIA...welcome aboard.

Do what Loco said - it helps TONS!

Also, something I found with my detector - keep digging and also have a pin-pointer on-hand. I have had coins turn up in the excess that was dug up as well as broken pieces of necklaces that get set aside as well. You never know!

 

[tahomatom]

Welcome to the site. Many good ideas here some of which were given. After setting out coins in a clean area play with the settings and you'll learn how far to go.
Look in old year books on the Web for aerial pics of of schools with old sports fields. It's always the trill of finding old stuff that has been in the ground for years that amazes me every time.
Good luck and every machine has a learning curve.

 

[HighVDI]

Try lowering your sensitivity down some as some of those ghost signals were probably falsing. On the beach you really need to dig anything above iron as many types of gold and other older coins and even some silver will beep LOW! Remember that gold is a low conductor usually ringing in like foil up to zinc.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Hello Jono,

IMHO: You being new to the hobby, I would lower the discrimination to just above iron and dig everything for a week or two. This will help you learn the Tones, VID's and what comes out of the ground! You also need a hand held Pin Pointer. This will making finding the target and extracting without damage.

Take your time and learn the machine, probably takes +/- 100+hours in the field.

Enjoy the new hobby and journey...Good Luck in 2019

Regards,

Doc

 

[Hawks88]

I agree with everything that has already been said. Welcome to tnet from Niagara Falls.

 

[Rookster]

Welcome to Tnet from Mississippi.