Hello all, new member here.
After perusing this and a few other online forums for several days, I went out and bought a used DFX for $675. I hemmed and hawed about getting a used machine...and I debated between the DFX and a Minelab Explorer SE (with three coils and a bunch of goodies for $775) that was also available locally on Craigslist. My previous experience was with a mid-seventies Coinmaster when I was a kid, and a Fisher Impulse I bought for scuba diving ten years ago (I used it three times underwater, and off and on over the years around the house above water). I had wanted one of the "new fangled" digital/discriminating computerized machines for at least three or four years, and had looked at the MXT, XLT, and DFX along with other units seriously during that time.
I picked up the DFX from an attractive young woman this morning, and it is supposedly only 9 months old (She mumbled something about it being her Ex's...his loss/my gain). There were NO scratches on the underside of the coil, so I figured it might even be a true story. After briefly fiddling with it, and perusing the menu's and turning on a few features that seem to be defaulted off (but seemed pretty handy to me), I took a stroll in the back yard.
Let me just state that I obviously have a lot to learn about this machine, but it doesn't seem nearly as intimidating as the various online forums had led me to believe. I am no master at detecting, but this is an easy step up from the limited and basic usage I had previously had. Regardless, I am SOOOO impressed. I never thought I'd make a haul like this on my first day, which encompassed about two hours of searching. This machine ROCKS!
I will say, that after I calmed down a bit, I did recall that about five years ago my wife had some sort of birthday party for one of our kids where the children rooted for pennys on a tarp filled with hay in the area where about 65% of these were found, so that part of the mystery was explained. Regardless, it was a great familiarization exercise, and tought me how to use the graph and interpret (and trust) the readings. Most of the targets were 2.5" - 5" deep, and showed up clearly. I found the best technique for me at this point was to sweep with the "trigger forward", in all metal/depth finding mode, then, when I found a target, center the trigger and analyze the find with the discriminating Coin/Jewelry program to weed out nails. I did dig a few hunks of iron even after it told me that's what they were, just to build my trust in the machine, and verify its accuracy.
I haven't cleaned up these coins yet, but they all look recent. Some of the newer ones seem to have oxidized extensively. I was surprised to find this...must be the zinc.
I am very impressed with the DFX, and can't wait to try it again soon. I don't think I could have had a better first experiance.
Well, maybe if I had found a pot of gold, but they are rare up here in WA.
After perusing this and a few other online forums for several days, I went out and bought a used DFX for $675. I hemmed and hawed about getting a used machine...and I debated between the DFX and a Minelab Explorer SE (with three coils and a bunch of goodies for $775) that was also available locally on Craigslist. My previous experience was with a mid-seventies Coinmaster when I was a kid, and a Fisher Impulse I bought for scuba diving ten years ago (I used it three times underwater, and off and on over the years around the house above water). I had wanted one of the "new fangled" digital/discriminating computerized machines for at least three or four years, and had looked at the MXT, XLT, and DFX along with other units seriously during that time.
I picked up the DFX from an attractive young woman this morning, and it is supposedly only 9 months old (She mumbled something about it being her Ex's...his loss/my gain). There were NO scratches on the underside of the coil, so I figured it might even be a true story. After briefly fiddling with it, and perusing the menu's and turning on a few features that seem to be defaulted off (but seemed pretty handy to me), I took a stroll in the back yard.
Let me just state that I obviously have a lot to learn about this machine, but it doesn't seem nearly as intimidating as the various online forums had led me to believe. I am no master at detecting, but this is an easy step up from the limited and basic usage I had previously had. Regardless, I am SOOOO impressed. I never thought I'd make a haul like this on my first day, which encompassed about two hours of searching. This machine ROCKS!
I will say, that after I calmed down a bit, I did recall that about five years ago my wife had some sort of birthday party for one of our kids where the children rooted for pennys on a tarp filled with hay in the area where about 65% of these were found, so that part of the mystery was explained. Regardless, it was a great familiarization exercise, and tought me how to use the graph and interpret (and trust) the readings. Most of the targets were 2.5" - 5" deep, and showed up clearly. I found the best technique for me at this point was to sweep with the "trigger forward", in all metal/depth finding mode, then, when I found a target, center the trigger and analyze the find with the discriminating Coin/Jewelry program to weed out nails. I did dig a few hunks of iron even after it told me that's what they were, just to build my trust in the machine, and verify its accuracy.
I haven't cleaned up these coins yet, but they all look recent. Some of the newer ones seem to have oxidized extensively. I was surprised to find this...must be the zinc.
I am very impressed with the DFX, and can't wait to try it again soon. I don't think I could have had a better first experiance.
Well, maybe if I had found a pot of gold, but they are rare up here in WA.
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