How do you run youre Explorer in high trash areas?

[Deadlift]

How do you run you're Explorer in high trash areas?

Picked up an Exp. II 2 weeks ago and am making some nice finds. She's deep and my body is acclimating to the weight/balance of the machine. I currently have the stock black coil, and am fully aware that a smaller coil is the better tool for the job in the real trashy areas. That said due to getting a few other detecting purchases, a new coil will have to wait a bit.

I am realizing the potential of running the machine "wide open" with minimal discrimination, maximum tones, the gain cranked as much as tolerable, and manual sensitivity as high as tolerable. That said, and I realize there are depth trade offs running disc. I just don't care for the barrage of tones in areas with targets all over.

What are you're settings for these environments? Does backing of the max sensitivity and perhaps running auto help? Is "fast" better than "deep"? Two specifics for me are an acre sized schoolyard that is absolutely covered it aluminum and bottle caps (Ive eyeballed Wheaties and a buffalo nickel on the top of the ground) and old house sites w/iron everywhere (not a major problem for me as I dig all non ferrous items here).

What say you?

Thanks


EDIT* FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOU'RE EXPERIENCE W/OTHER COILS

 

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[metalheadhorror]

My advice would be go very slow, like a snail pace, and dig anything with even a blip of a good tone. Once you get a smaller coil you should be able to sort through all the trash easier

 

[cudamark]

A small coil is the way I would go, but, if that's not in the cards at the moment, you're just going to have to work the area very slow. I'd start with the fast on and the deep off and then switch them after you've covered a given area. I'd work all metal and rely on sound, depth and display to determine if the target is worth digging. Sensitivity should be set at a level where the machine is stable regardless of what targets are in the ground. You may have to clear a small area of all targets to determine that. I'm not sure of all the options the Ex2 has but if it has an iron mask, I'd use that feature around the old house site to see if it helps any.

 

[Igyjastabay]

I have been using the exp 2 for 8 years. I feel I know it backwards and forwards. Best over all machine they every made in my opinion. If I could find another new explorer 2 I would buy it yesterday. Make it stable around the gain. Too much gain in trash is not good. Back off the gain to 7 or 8. Manual sense. @ 23. I like to use some iron mask @ -14. A lower gain alerts me to deepies without ever having to look at the screen, which I rarely do anyway.

 

[Deadlift]

Thx Igyjastabay. Got out at a very heavily trashed area yesterday and faired a bit better. Picking out 5 coins in an area Id hit before. It seems that running the machine slower than slow and moving around a target and checking it from different angles is the key. I forgot to cut back on the gain, leaving it at 10. Will definetely try that next time.

I have the stock exp. II coil on for know, a buddy has offered to sell me the 10x12 sef for a good price. I pick it up in 4 days, cant wait to try it out. Word is they seperate a bit better and hit harder on "borderline" targets.

 

[Iron Patch]

I have been using the exp 2 for 8 years. I feel I know it backwards and forwards. Best over all machine they every made in my opinion. If I could find another new explorer 2 I would buy it yesterday. Make it stable around the gain. Too much gain in trash is not good. Back off the gain to 7 or 8. Manual sense. @ 23. I like to use some iron mask @ -14. A lower gain alerts me to deepies without ever having to look at the screen, which I rarely do anyway.

I'd buy one the day before yesterday if I could! I too wish they would have quit at the Explorer II.

 

[Iron Patch]

Thx Igyjastabay. Got out at a very heavily trashed area yesterday and faired a bit better. Picking out 5 coins in an area Id hit before. It seems that running the machine slower than slow and moving around a target and checking it from different angles is the key. I forgot to cut back on the gain, leaving it at 10. Will definetely try that next time.

I have the stock exp. II coil on for know, a buddy has offered to sell me the 10x12 sef for a good price. I pick it up in 4 days, cant wait to try it out. Word is they seperate a bit better and hit harder on "borderline" targets.

Everyone always says slow is best, and that's right in a sense, but not usually the one they're talking about, which is the coil. You want to move your feet slow taking your time, but you will do much better in trash with very short sweeps at a moderate swing speed than you will with long slow sweeps. (similar to Pinpointing)

 

[fistfulladirt]

I agree w/IP and Igy...Exp 2 is the best! I use a 6x8" SEF coil, and it's almost too big for the trashy areas.
Upgraded to the Etrac and found I spent the money for nothing, except now I have a backup in case the Exp 2 goes down (hope not), but after all these years I can't kill it!

 

[Deadlift]

Thanks gents...I'm really liking this machine more and more. I love the responsiveness to brass and silver. Coming over from a whites, I always felt outgunned on Civil War sites especially on brass and lead. This is no longer the case with the EXP II. The depth is great obviously, but the target ID on deep objects via the tones is absolutely stellar. I also like the smoothness for such a "hot" machine. I'm only a little over a month in and learning a bit more each trip. I've found my first half dollar (SEATED!), a "eagle I" CW button, silver WW2 medal, and a silver necklace among other things.

 

[jhen999]

I use The se pro with a wide open screen, sen, around 26 to 28 auto. gain 10, limits 10 , var.10 and I use the ferrous tones, with the stock 11" coil and have found that I have been finding coins right next to trash...I find with the ferrous tones, most of the tones you hear are low or high and by looking at the fer-co numbers and where the curser is, you have a pretty good idea if you want to dig it....but thats me..i think you have to play with it, see what people have to say and find something that works for you..but I am moving on to an E-trac..so things will change for me and I,ll have to do the game of ask and play...

 

[TreasureGrabber]

First of all run with semiauto sensitivity your machine...When you clean the area from targets switch to manual sensitivity.

 

[BC1969]

I sure wish I could follow some of you Michigan guys around so I can figure my explorer out, just sits in the closet now.

Mike