Minelab GT Iron Mask Question

[pjroo33]

I know this is probably a novice question, but I'll ask anyways. I recently hit a very old homesite with incredible amounts of trash and iron. I was detecting with iron mask on and it seems like the detector was constantly nulling due to the iron. This being the case, am I missing targets as it is nulling? Should I have turned the iron mask off? What are your suggestions for extremely iron infested lands? I was moving at a snail's pace to try and let the GT recover between nulls, but it seems like it was nulling more than detecting? Is my only other option "all metal"? Would it be easier with display I.D.? I guess it's frustrating because I know there are great targets out there but I can't find them.

 

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[Sandman]

These very iron trashy sites are the pits. You can check how well your Sov it doing with the iron mask and still respond to targets by finding a clean piece of ground and laying down some good targets and cover others with iron nails, etc. Keep disc low and Iron Mask on while in Disc mode.

The only other option is to use a smaller sniper coil or if you have a inline probe to switch to it and move it between the trash. You won't get the full depth of a regular coil, but it's a start.

Searching in all metal will give you the same tone on all targets and without a meter you will mainly have to dig every one. Besides that, a meter can give different numbers from what you set it up for, but it's better than digging it all.

Good Luck,
Sandman

 

[Michigan Badger]

All detectors have their shortcomings. I wish the Minelab GT was lightening fast and had the target separation of Tesoro. I wish Tesoro could ignore large iron junks and ground minerals like the GT. And so it goes on and on.

This is what I do in mega iron locations. When I notice excessive nulling I pivot and work that spot from another direction and I forget about the usual 2-way signals.

But if the iron is too heavy I say "the heck with it" and break out the Tesoro and dig everything except the tiny pieces of iron.

I guess you could say that Minelabs are best for medium iron sites and bad soil but not so great for extremely trashy sites. You are correct, that lag time or nulling can miss targets. When it comes to pulling the goodies out from beside iron pieces you can't beat Tesoro. But Tesoro will give a good beep on lots of trash iron that the GT will null out on.

Like the Sandman has always said, no one machine does it all. This is why the Jeep had better carry at least two machines to every unfamiliar site.

Badger

 

[NeilinFR]

I know this is probably a novice question, but I'll ask anyways. I recently hit a very old homesite with incredible amounts of trash and iron. I was detecting with iron mask on and it seems like the detector was constantly nulling due to the iron. This being the case, am I missing targets as it is nulling? Should I have turned the iron mask off? What are your suggestions for extremely iron infested lands? I was moving at a snail's pace to try and let the GT recover between nulls, but it seems like it was nulling more than detecting? Is my only other option "all metal"? Would it be easier with display I.D.? I guess it's frustrating because I know there are great targets out there but I can't find them.

A couple of things to try would be to lower your sens (if your setting it high). Dont put it any higher than 1 oclock and more like 3oclock works best in heavy iron areas. Another thing would be to check your targets in all metal as you can size targets easily this way. Make sure and use the pinpoint setting in all metal for this. Sandman is correct, these type sites are the worst and hardest to hunt with the Sov.
Now it will still find stuff in the null. Consider the null an advantage as its telling you that your passing over something disced out. You wont hear that with a Tesoro or other silent search detector but the same thing is actually happening but you just not aware of it due to the lack of threshold based disc. Keep your iron mask on as this really helps in these situations and if you dont have a meter make sure and get one.
Im over on the coast in NJ and if you want to get together this spring in one of these spots let me know. Philly should have some great old coins hiding there
HH
Neil