Disappointed with my NEW Safari

[Iron Patch]

I had a book on the Safari that may have had all the answers, but unfortunately I can't pass them along because it had this cheap looking cover with no real info.... so I never opened it, and returned it.

 

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[ClodChopper]

Gunsil: It's not that protective film. I know what your talking about, this is different. You have the face of the unit, with the LCD in the middle. The LCD is recessed into the face apx .25 inch. You would expect a rigid lenses type material, but it's not. It's more like shrink wrap. If the LCD was to get raked by a branch, it would undoubtedly puncture.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Gunsil: It's not that protective film. I know what your talking about, this is different. You have the face of the unit, with the LCD in the middle. The LCD is recessed into the face apx .25 inch. You would expect a rigid lenses type material, but it's not. It's more like shrink wrap. If the LCD was to get raked by a branch, it would undoubtedly puncture.

I put a protective film on mine to resist scratches like is on phone screens.






American by birth, Patriot by choice.

I would rather die standing on my two feet defending our Constitution than live a lifetime on my knees......

 

[ClodChopper]

I have an extra screen protector, for my tablet. I seriously considered cutting it down and putting it on.

 

[ClodChopper]

As expected, the cat litter idea didn't work to well, but wasn't a complete failure. I only tested it with some clad. The ID's still read high, but I can hear a slight difference in tone, that I couldn't before. You guys are right, I need some thawed ground...and that elusive book. I'm going to hit the web and find it.

 

[Fletch88]

I have an extra screen protector, for my tablet. I seriously considered cutting it down and putting it on.

By all means do that. Sand will scratch the face plate. Cut a protector down to fit as best you can and hunt away. Any test in a building, air, cat litter or freshly buried really don't do FBS machines justice.

 

[ChampFerguson/TN]

-soak the kitty liter with water. You can dry it out and reuse it as cat litter later. This will give a much better test than air. good moist soil gives better readings than dry soil is the theory behind this advice.

-you guys need to quit obsessing over the screen. put on a protective film as suggested above like you would do for any Nook or iPad; you Never want just the factory screen on any of your electronics anyway!

-if your machine isnt waterproof, get the rain cover and use it (which also negates the screen gripe). or get caught out once in the rain without a plastic bag in your back pocket and bad things may happen to your money.

-bottom line: take your time, keep your options open and decide what the best machine is for YOUR hunting enjoyment.

(-good idea above #1: see if you can get Sabisch's book on interlibrary loan)

(-good idea above #2: friend with a barn so that the ground isn't frozen)

 

[recondigger]

-soak the kitty liter with water. You can dry it out and reuse it as cat litter later. This will give a much better test than air. good moist soil gives better readings than dry soil is the theory behind this advice. -you guys need to quit obsessing over the screen. put on a protective film as suggested above like you would do for any Nook or iPad; you Never want just the factory screen on any of your electronics anyway! -if your machine isnt waterproof, get the rain cover and use it (which also negates the screen gripe). or get caught out once in the rain without a plastic bag in your back pocket and bad things may happen to your money. -bottom line: take your time, keep your options open and decide what the best machine is for YOUR hunting enjoyment. (-good idea above #1: see if you can get Sabisch's book on interlibrary loan) (-good idea above #2: friend with a barn so that the ground isn't frozen)

I agree and to add to this if you really don't like the machine and can't wait to really give it a good run because of weather conditions then I would send it back and get an Etrac you can pick up a used Etrac for around the same price it's a fantastic machine and from the sounds of it would fit your style and hunting better. Good luck

Dig until your arm falls off

 

[ClodChopper]

Through a friend of mine, I was put in touch with another person, who has a Safari. He's a pretty nice guy, he offered to let me borrow that book ya' all are talking about. When the glaciers melt, he's willing to teach me how to hunt with an FBS machine. I never would have thought it was so 'different', apparently I was wrong. Nice contact to make! Anyway, I cut down a screen protector and fit it, plus I found a web site that makes 3pc covers for about $26.

 

[wildherre]

The screens on the FBS machines are pretty delicate. Ive owned about a dozen of them over the past 10 years or so. I gouged up a Explorer II screen in the back of my car on the way to a hunting spot, it fell over & got against a digger or something.. I dropped a whatzit on one of my Etracs and put a hundred dollar scratch on it... The best protector is the Zagg, it costs a little over 20 bucks but is very durable and has a lifetime warranty.. You would want the one for the Etrac.. wildherre Minelab E-Trac Screen Protector | ZAGG

 

[ClodChopper]

Thanks Wildherre. When I get done here, I'll take a good look at that link. Looks pretty decent. I was accused of obsessing over this, but I don't see it that way. I take good care of my equipment, and I got a good scratch on my F70. I think it happened in transport, but I can't be sure. No matter how careful you are, these thing hit the ground, get raked by branches and other nasty stuff. For the price, I'll pick one up. If your interested, check out my link. The do 3pc covers for minelabs and a few others. I ordered one today, so I can't speak about quality. But it seems okay, with a fair price.

http://metaldetectorcover.com/category/products/minelab-covers/

 

[atomicscott]

I've only been detecting for a couple years. I know I have more to learn, but I do have a fairly solid understanding of what I'm doing. I just unboxed my new Safari today. I did my homework. Watched every video on the net. Read every review I could find. Downloaded the owners manual. Even picked all your brains about quality and functionality. I wasn't expecting the surprises I found. First, the face covering over the LCD is a THIN stretch type film!? I have the same crappy membrane over the face of my ACE350. Honestly, I did not expect that from a $1000 machine. The cheap build quality of the ACE350 is what inspired me to by my second detector, a Fisher F70. My second disappointment is target ID. Where I live, the world is currently frozen solid. You couldn't dig a hole with C4! I know air testing is not reliable, however, It's all I got right now. I wasn't so much concerned with depth, as much as target ID and audio feedback. I put the Safari into Coin Mode, auto sensitivity, and noise cancelled. I air tested all my silver coins, both US and Canadian. They all read 38. I thought, Okay...they're all silver? Then I broke out the clad. Much to my surprise, a clad dime also ID's at 38. Same with a clad quarter. Even the Canadian clad reads the same. I repeated this test in all 3 programs, including 'all metal' and got exactly the same results! I even define my own settings and descrim patterns, but to no avail. A wheatie looks like a silver dime, and clad quarter. I went a step further and pulled out my F70. Put her on the bench next to the Safari, and did the whole thing again. My F70 can properly ID a dime, a sliver dime, a silver quarter and a clad quarter. Each has a separate ID. Each makes a distinct sound. Through experience with my F70, I was very successful in ID'ing targets by sound alone. I don't see this with my Safari. Sure, it 'says' coin, but it lumps everything together!?!? I don't like that. I have 30 days to make a decision on this unit. There is no possible way, the ground will thaw before then, so a legitimate field test is out of the question. These numbers I'm getting....is it a result of poor air testing? Or is this the way a Safari operates? Because if it is...I don't want it. Any knowledge you could share would be greatly appreciated!

Wow, that's pretty cool about the F70 Id'ing clad differently than silver. I know with the X-Terra series, the silver coins ring up the same as their clad counterparts. I really believe that the ID is based more on size (at least on the X-Terra) than conductivity as I found a Canadian dime (made of nickel) and it rang up like a US dime. I don't like to leave money (other than zincolns) laying in the ground, so I dig them anyway regardless. The conductivity of silver and copper are not far off, so I dig any high tones for sure.

 

[ClodChopper]

I'm finding, this was my biggest error, when comparing these two units. I've only used a couple detectors, so I'm not sure of all their features and how they act.

But, yes...the F70 can accurately ID all clad coins by type. Silver dimes and quarters come up as silver, but on different ends of the silver scale. It's very accurate too. When it ID's a zincoln, it's dead nuts on. Same for copper penny's, dimes and quarters. Nickels are different. It took me a long time to hear them. Once I learned the dp (delta pitch) sound setting, I found more.

Bad thing about the F70 is chatter. If your on a beach, or out in the country, you can run her wide open. But in the city, you'll need to dial it back.

 

[Lifes A Garden...Dig IT]

I have a Minelab Safari as well as the Garrett AT Pro. I have no complaints with the Safari with the exception that I work for a living and just don't get to detect as often as my heart desires, which has nothing to do with the machine. The Safari has not yet let me down. I have found a variety of finds ranging from a late 1700's Tombac button to a early 1800's Large Copper Cent to a numerous amount of clad and other interesting odds and ends. If VDI displays is all you pay attention too, then you will be disappointed. The "Minelab" scream as I call it is much more important to me than a number display. The Safari is not shy in telling you there is a good target under coil. Depending on what your wanting to hunt with the Safari, notch out and custom set her for the hunt you desire. I love the thick, rugged design of the shaft, hidden coil wire, and overall design of the Safari, but maybe that's just me. I feel like your growing impatient with the Winter weather and taking it out on the Safari. Give it a chance and you won't regret it. In the end it's your choice though. Good luck with whatever decision you make and Happy Hunting!

 

[ClodChopper]

I boxed this thing up and was going to return it....but I'm not going to. Honesty, I hate the face plate. That cheap shrink wrap coating is the chink in her armor. However, I do believe in the overall power of the Safari.

My F70 is a coin magnet. So, when I'm coin shooting, I'll take the Fisher. But I have realized that the Safari is a far better, deep seeking unit. Once I get some time with it, I'm sure she will reward me handsomely.

Fortunately, I learned to hunt by tone over ID. Hopefully, that will shave time off the learning curve.

 

[dholland02]

I boxed this thing up and was going to return it....but I'm not going to. Honesty, I hate the face plate. That cheap shrink wrap coating is the chink in her armor. However, I do believe in the overall power of the Safari.

My F70 is a coin magnet. So, when I'm coin shooting, I'll take the Fisher. But I have realized that the Safari is a far better, deep seeking unit. Once I get some time with it, I'm sure she will reward me handsomely.

Fortunately, I learned to hunt by tone over ID. Hopefully, that will shave time off the learning curve.

That cover that came on the screen is ment to come off, its just to protect in the box.

 

[gunsil]

Any of this type of cover work well, fairly complete protection against scratches for the whole head. Yeah, if you don't use something the dirt from your hands will eventually scratch the screen/control areas, cheap enough insurance.

 

[ChampFerguson/TN]

The cover gunsil is using is the same one I use fwiw.

 

[marjam]

Stick with the minelab. Dont trust the air tests. Wait until you take her out in the dirt before you pass judgement. I had an f70 and it is a great machine. You have to swing this minelab much slower and it doesn't have as near a fast recovery speed as the fishers but for me the minelab goes deeper, and that's where the good stuff usually is. I love my etrac. It has found things in areas I thought were hunted out. The safari uses the same fbs technology.

 

[ClodChopper]

I've decided to keep it. Looking forward to doing exactly what you said, rehunting old areas. One place is a small park that produced tons of clad, but no silver...I know it's there! The other produced a few mercs and I know there's more. Both places were high in EMF, made my F70 squeal. I'm hoping the Safari will get the job done.