First time out fnds

[Aegis]

I went out for the first time with my Excal II for about 4 hours yesterday. This was my first md-ing ever. My scoops have not arrived just yet so I was using a small trowel to dig targets in dry sand only. Trying to get educated as to the different tones per type of target, but hard to tell the difference. My first hit was the nickle and sure was a thrill lol. Overall, the time spent was pure fun and I can't wait to get my scoops!

Aegis

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Agony and Death on a Gold Rush Steamer: The Disastrous Sinking of the Side-Wheeler Yankee Blade - Grab it through Amazon!

[lookindown]

You did good and you are finding the right stuff...you hit plenty of targets...if your coil goes over gold or silver you will get it...look forward to seeing some great finds from you.

 

[donkarlos]

Yep you're digging the right range I'd say.

 

[Aegis]

Wow, great to hear I am heading in right direction and I am looking forward to going out again. Thank you for the encouragement!

 

[Roadrunner007]

Good digs....Keep it up!

 

[Rob071]

Wait till you find black bottle caps then you know you have come on ground that hasn't been done in a long time....
Also the closer you get to water the better it gets.

 

[Fitzwilk]

After awhile you will be able to distinguish the tones for common targets pretty accurately. I always try and guess what the target will be before it is exposed just for fun. After approximately 2,300 hours swing time with the Excalibur II, I now try and guess the brand of the bottle cap or the date of the coin to make it more interesting.

 

[Kevin in IN]

Your on your way to the good stuff. I dug a white gold wedding set that sounded just like a bottle top. Made me feel a little ill thinking of a few I passed thinking I knew what it was. Also dug a cluster diamond ring that had broken near the setting, sounded just like a foil ketchup pack. If in doubt, dig it. Good luck! Kevin

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Hello Aegis,

Welcome to the forum! You are digging the right stuff at the beach...Gold will come! Remember dig everything, you never know.

Regards,

 

[AgeofDiscovery]

Like everyone said, just keep digging!!! I hope you come to love this hobby as much as everyone on here, good luck and who knows, maybe one of us will see you on the beach.

 

[Peyton Manning]

wow your bottle caps are much nicer than the ones I find, I'm jealous

 

[TommyB]

When your scoops show up, your target recovery will be much faster. I always zip tie a magnet to the bottom of my scoop to keep the bobby pins from dropping thru.

 

[detectahead]

Welcome to T-net! Keep it up! You will find gold!

 

[CoilyGirl]

Keep up the good work and you'll start finding higher quality items.

 

[dewcon4414]

Of all the targets out there learn those shallow bottle caps because there isnt a target that BONGS/breaks up like them. Nor have i found a target worth digging that sounds like them..... everything else if you are hunting in disc you best check. Best way to learn your machine is to dig targets when starting out..... you did good.

 

[TheSleeper]

Welcome Aegis to the wonderful world of webbed feet and shriveled fingers. Your off to a great start, let er rip.

 

[Aegis]

Thanks everyone for all the encouraging comments! I have been out a few more times and I am still retrieving lots of similar targets, albeit much faster now that I have my dry sand scoop.

Via the suggestions here, I am playing the guessing game on the various Excal II tones before digging and that does seem to be tuning my ears to its tones. However, I am confused a little bit on how to handle all the nulls that I seem to getting. Some areas seem to have considerably more nulling out. In these areas I just keep moving until I hit a normal toned target because there is no way I could dig all the nulls. Thus far, the nulls that I have dug turned out to be blanks.

I also received my water scoop and will give the surf a shot soon. I want to move in that direction in small steps since I am little uncomfortable with the idea of both hands full while wading out in 2-3 foot breaks. I do not want to drop the detector in the rough breaks.

Aegis

 

[TheSleeper]

Aegis, A couple lil tweeks for you.
I chest mount, but you can accomplish the same thing. Attach a short length of 1/8 or 1/4 cord to both the excel and scoop, make them long enough to give you plenty of swing motion and attach the other end of both pieces to a (dang what are those snap climbing things called gamberlers or something like that) and hook them to you, that way if you loose your balance you can let go of both the scoop and excal save yourself then pull both back to you.

Second, once you get use to her, switch to PP and hunt in that, she hits a lil bit deeper, once a target is located switch to disc if you want or do like a lot of us do, if you hear it dig it.

 

[rainyday101]

Enjoy your new addiction!!! It's only gonna get worse!!!

 

[Aegis]

Aegis, A couple lil tweeks for you.
I chest mount, but you can accomplish the same thing. Attach a short length of 1/8 or 1/4 cord to both the excel and scoop, make them long enough to give you plenty of swing motion and attach the other end of both pieces to a (dang what are those snap climbing things called gamberlers or something like that) and hook them to you, that way if you loose your balance you can let go of both the scoop and excal save yourself then pull both back to you.

Second, once you get use to her, switch to PP and hunt in that, she hits a lil bit deeper, once a target is located switch to disc if you want or do like a lot of us do, if you hear it dig it.

Good tips! I went out this morning at low tide and gave the surf a try for few. Much more confident now. The big scoop worked great and I have more balance than I thought lol. Six pull tabs, six pennies and 3 nails and some assorted wire. Surprised by the nails since I am hunting in discriminate mode. I am going to try switching to PP soon. If in PP and in the surf will I have problems with falsing? Are signals just as obvious in PP, or are they more subtle?

rainyday101 - Yes, I can see this addiction getting way worse!

Aegis