Sensitivity and small targets?

[Hunting_Dad]

Another newbie question...
Im still trying to learn the finer points of the hobby. Ive logged in 20hrs or so on local saltwater beaches and find tgat i am spending a lot of time digging small targets... tiny copper nails, little pieces of pull tabs etc. I know tge key to finding gold is to dig the lower tones, but should i turn my sensitivity down to avoid these targets? Or would i miss too much small gold like earings etc? Its not like the beaches are super trashy, im just trying to become a little more efficient. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
Nox800, Beach1, recovery 5, sensitivity 20

 

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[CASPER-2]

you want to be efficient ? dig it all ...nuff said

 

[Hunting_Dad]

Guess I will be buying a better scoop...

 

[Irishgoldhound]

Don’t turn down your sensitivity, you will comprise depth. When you eliminate unwanted targets you eliminate wanted targets. Like Casper said.. dig it all, you will get rewarded.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Learn to notch out certain targets/numbers. "Small" gold is a fool's errand. I want rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces, forget about studs. Continue to learn the machine's language.

 

[1KBlueTuber]

Most of that small stuff is just below the surface and gives a shorter duration signal. If your in the wet sand just give it a quick dig/kick with your foot and smooth it out. Usually if I can’t see it I move on. With a little more time you’ll realize what your really after lies deeper and has a more robust audio tone. Like Casper says though any doubt dig it all!

 

[CASPER-2]

Come Terry ...you dont want to look for gold earring backs all day? ...they're out there

Learn to notch out certain targets/numbers. "Small" gold is a fool's errand. I want rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces, forget about studs. Continue to learn the machine's language.

 

[smokeythecat]

I would just dig it all. One of those "iffy" signals for me was a small gold coin once at a salt water beach. I do not notch. On my machine I can generally tell aluminum from gold, but I still dig it all. So far I haven't "lost" any gold targets, but there's a first time.

 

[CASPER-2]

you get a weird signal or real iffy one - just take a few seconds like Ron says - give it a kick or a quick scoop
how much time does it take - a few seconds ...a minute ..it can be worth it - ive gotten iffy ones and was gonna
walk on by and gave a quick scoop and gotten small chains or pieces of broken gold jewelry or other odd keepers
I wont dwell on an iffy target but worth a quick check - even large items - Ive seen guys say "its got to be a can"
and move on and ive gone over and gotten phones, cameras, toy cars and even a few huge silver medallions and chains
you never know

Most of that small stuff is just below the surface and gives a shorter duration signal. If your in the wet sand just give it a quick dig/kick with your foot and smooth it out. Usually if I can’t see it I move on. With a little more time you’ll realize what your really after lies deeper and has a more robust audio tone. Like Casper says though any doubt dig it all!

 

[claire]

Dig it all! Especially in the wet sand. Gold chains often read 1-3 on the Nox, same as foil. Dry sand you can learn to discriminate, especially in trashy areas

 

[Professor of Engineering]

If you want to find gold, you must dig it all at the beach. I believe it to be the only way.

 

[cudamark]

Another newbie question...
Im still trying to learn the finer points of the hobby. Ive logged in 20hrs or so on local saltwater beaches and find tgat i am spending a lot of time digging small targets... tiny copper nails, little pieces of pull tabs etc. I know tge key to finding gold is to dig the lower tones, but should i turn my sensitivity down to avoid these targets? Or would i miss too much small gold like earings etc? Its not like the beaches are super trashy, im just trying to become a little more efficient. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
Nox800, Beach1, recovery 5, sensitivity 20

That's my typical initial settings too, although I usually use Park 1 in the dry. If you don't want to miss ANY gold or platinum, you need to dig all non-ferrous readings. In the dry, it really doesn't take much effort to make a recovery.

 

[LawrencetheMDer]

On the Nox, gold can range from 3 to 24 or so from personal experience. Also heard of small gold finds in the 1-2 range using Beach 1. Generally speaking, the larger the gold weight the larger the VID number (positive correlation). AND, it is not at all easy to find gold on the beach regardless of what you see or read on sites like this one. To work a beach you have to have a sand scoop and dig all targets. Don't be surprised if it takes 60 - 120 hrs of beach hunting to find your first piece of gold, if your lucky! Experience holds the key to success. I have meet plenty of MDers on the beach who have never found a gold ring! Ya know you're getting close when you find silver.

2020
Gold - 21
Silver 34