5 cent or pop top?

[apush]

I recently purchased a Garrett Ace 250. I had a good signal under the 5 cent sign. I dug a clad nickle. A bit later, I had another signal under the 5 cent sign--except this time it was a foil lid from a pop bottle. Any way to determine the difference between the two? Did I set the sensitivity wrong? Or is this just the way it is--live and learn? I have always heard, "Dig it all." Should I go with this philosopy? I am thrilled to have the Ace, just want to know what I am doing wrong!
apush

 

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[favored papa]

nothing wrong, you can notch out the nickels and avoid a lot of junk, and any gold, I know, I did all summer. you are doing great.

 

[MR----B]

Pull tabs nickles some screw tops and Gold, all ring in around the same area. That's why you dig all the signals that show nickle, pull tab. That is with almost all machines.

 

[John-Edmonton]

If any one ever comes out with a metal detector which can easily tell the difference between a pulltab, nickel and gold ring, it will be the biggest seller by far. If someone tells you that they have a current metal detector which can easily tell the differences, run as fast as you can.

 

[trapper]

You can try the MDer stomp method, I find it to be a quick way to distinguish between junk and a find, when you locate a target just stomp the ground above it and rescan if it is junk it will register as such if it is a coin it will register as one, although the best advice is still "DIG IT ALL!!!".

 

[CWnut]

Some say that you can increase the swing speed of your coil and if it is a coin your ID will not fluctuate as it will with trash. This was a method used with the older detectors and others say it is out of date with today's modern detectors. Might give it a try and let us know how it works...

 

[apush]

Thanks! I will try all the wisdom found here. Hitting a 1950s football stadium this weekend--weather permitting. I will let you know if I find any finds!
apush

 

[Joe(TX)]

.....I would dig all Nickel signals ...even if you wind up digging a lot of junk........one gold ring could pay for your detector........and John-Edmunton has paid for his detector many times.....LOL....Joe

 

[Swartzie]

The size and shape of an object can also affect the signal the detector gets. A piece of a pull tab that is curled up may make the detector signal a dime or penny. Same thing with a tiny piece of foil. Sometimes a large deep iron object will make the detector think there's a silver coin. Iron harness/saddle rings will almost always make the detector signal a dime. Something to do with the ring shape. Nails will also have a similar effect. Something to do with their round surface, I believe. Nails usually will make the detector signal iron then silver. Back and forth. You want to dig a consistent good solid signal, but if the object is deeper it may not have consistent signal. Usually if I get three or four swings with a consistent signal and a junk signal mixed in here and there I will dig; especially if the detector shows it is deeper like 4-6 inches. It helps to walk around the object while swinging the coil also if you find some inconsistencies with the signal. If I'm in a park I will put it in jewelry mode and dig decent coin signals including nickels. The parks I hunt I'm only looking for older coins. If I get a good steady signal around a pull tab, sometimes I'll dig hoping for gold. But if the signal is broken around pull tab I will ignore. Now if I'm relic hunting in the woods I will dig everything and anything. This does have it's rewards, but you'll dig lots of junk. Research is the name of the game with relic hunting. You have to be pretty sure some event happened in the the area you're searching. If something has happened and you search long enough you'll hopefully find something related to the event. If I'm around a cellar hole I'll dig everything above iron and then sometimes I get curious and will start digging iron.

-Swartzie