well tried it really for the 2nd time ever.

steve71 · Jan 5, 2008

first time about 10 min this time about 1 hour.i just cant get addicted yet :'(

.so i went fishing.we just need to figure how to just put this on silver and gold only.there is just to much stuff to sift thru.is this MD any good or are there better?hey check my mickey mouse pole it broke on another fish guess the pole was week havent went fishing lately,lol.i still used it and got another 3 about the same size.we had about 14 largemouth bass in 2 hours.not big but fun.

The Beep Goes On · Jan 5, 2008

Once you start finding some good stuff, it might bite you. Looks like you found quite a few odds and ends for just an hour. BTW - you have one of the best detectors available - you might want to read up on it - Jeff Foster and others have written some great books on how to get the most out of it.

HH!
TBGO

wwwtimmcp · Jan 5, 2008

nice fish. remember the first really big fish you hauled in ? once you hit a good coin or artifact you'll know exactly how that felt for the second time around. if you try to zero out the trash you'll miss good targets.

imagine a mason jar full of silver coins. if you reject the metal lid you'll miss the target. I've had as many as 5 targets in 1 hole. so always recheck the hole. my 1280 x aquanaut will give me different tones, depending on what is in the hole, but if one of those targets is iron, that is what I hear.

some of the guys use whites and can tell you much more about your machine but those are good basics. keep at it the more you do the better you get at it.

hope this helps.

RELICDUDE07 · Jan 5, 2008

I think its all about the location of the hunt..You know where to catch the bass..Now you have to find the old homesteads ,that had the gold and silver in use back in the day..Try and find some old homes 1800s or 1700s even better.. and look for some vacant lots around them,you may do better.. It's fun ,but takes a little time to zoom in on the good stuff... Goodluck--- relicdude

steve71 · Jan 6, 2008

plehbah said:
If you are impatient after 70 minutes, then this hobby will be very frustrating at times. If you set your detector to find "silver and gold only", good luck finding silver and gold only.

Know what I mean?

impatient,yes frustrated yes,this area it full of metal and it goes off about every 3ft.

xlt nh · Jan 6, 2008

Most of us can vouch for the fact that you will dig 95% Trash and 5% treasure...I've been at it for 20yrs..many hunts that lasted 4hrs or more with nothing to show... $:-\$

THEN...there's the hunts that may last less than an hour and yield Colonial coins and Relics...it's the thrill of the hunt.

Keep at it...there's bound to be something good hiding amongst all the trash.

HH, Hank 8)

Kentucky Kache · Jan 6, 2008

That machine will also give different tones for different metals. Your manual will show you how to set it.

TooManyHobbies · Jan 8, 2008

You're probably right, the machine is junk. I'll give you $50 for it.

MR----B · Jan 8, 2008

Just try to have fun with it , without expectations. I was really happy to find a crusted up silver ring with a broken stone, While someone like CRACKBADGER, comes out with a gold ring, or ten, and each of which would make me wet myself if I was to find. The trash pile that I have would make scrooge envious. I just do it because I love it.

Highwater · Jan 8, 2008

Steve,
Did you ever go fishing and not caught something? Do you still like to fish? If you aren't catching fish in one spot do you stay where you are, or do you move on to another spot? Do you ever ask or does anyone ever tell you about a good place to fish?
It is exactly the same with searching with a metal detector. Time and location. You need to take your time and also research for potential good places to hunt. First you have to decide what it is you want to find, then figure out the best place to find that kind of item.
This is a great hobby. It takes the patience of a fisherman. Since you fish then that shouldn't be a problem for you. Study the hobby, read the forum, read books, research and ask friends and neighbors about locations that have the potential to find the kind of items you would enjoy finding. It is there for the taking and you can find your share if you want to and are willing to give it some time. Read your detector manual and learn how it works to the best of your ability.
I would hate to see you park your detector and give up. If you stay at it you will be doing just as good or better than other members here on TN.
If you do decide to park your detector I will be glad to offer $51.00 for it and I will pay the shipping....
Here is a link to a post that might give you some ideas. Good luck and please give it a good chance. The best to you, Highwater

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,120170.msg882262.html#msg882262

topdog · Jan 8, 2008

You definitely have a excellent detector, hang in there the keepers will come over time. Some sites may only yield trash and very few coins or jewelry or none at all. You'll hit more productive sites than bad ones as you continue to research new areas to hunt.

nc-joe · Jan 8, 2008

TooManyHobbies said:
You're probably right, the machine is junk. I'll give you $50 for it.

Cheap skate, I'll give ya $60 and I pay the shipping! Just kidding, that is an excellent machine. I just got done reading "Understanding the DFX" I strongly recommend it.

http://www.whiteselectronics.com/dfxbook.php

civilman1 · Jan 8, 2008

Highwater said:
Steve,
Did you ever go fishing and not caught something? Do you still like to fish? If you aren't catching fish in one spot do you stay where you are, or do you move on to another spot? Do you ever ask or does anyone ever tell you about a good place to fish?
It is exactly the same with searching with a metal detector. Time and location. You need to take your time and also research for potential good places to hunt. First you have to decide what it is you want to find, then figure out the best place to find that kind of item.
This is a great hobby. It takes the patience of a fisherman. Since you fish then that shouldn't be a problem for you. Study the hobby, read the forum, read books, research and ask friends and neighbors about locations that have the potential to find the kind of items you would enjoy finding. It is there for the taking and you can find your share if you want to and are willing to give it some time. Read your detector manual and learn how it works to the best of your ability.
I would hate to see you park your detector and give up. If you stay at it you will be doing just as good or better than other members here on TN.
If you do decide to park your detector I will be glad to offer $51.00 for it and I will pay the shipping....
Here is a link to a post that might give you some ideas. Good luck and please give it a good chance. The best to you, Highwater

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,120170.msg882262.html#msg882262

Well said Highwater......Try the 6" Culprit.....June bug....Carolina rig.Stick with it buddy,It WILL come.......

Bridge End Farm · Jan 8, 2008

If your not finding trash your not detecting, I could fill up a few 55 gallon drums with the stuff I have dug that was worthless with my DFX. I have had to go back to my truck and unload the trash from my bag getting stuffed full. The more trash you remove the more you chances are of hitting good stuff. Don't forget most stuff was stashed in metal cans or boxes when buried.

Wish I could tell you the times my DFX told me it was something and wasn't. Or the opposite, I once found a 24 ct necklace chain only because the slight tone went silent in my headset everytime I passed over it and I was mmmmm so I dug it. Keep your batteries hot for it will get a little squirrelly when they get low, a smaller diameter coil will help and you can program it to only hit on a certain scale of VDIs. The whites website has some videos you can watch for free online that go all over the DFX uses, etc. And as others mentioned there are some great books on it.

As you use it you will get better with it, you will just from the slight changes in tones it makes be "pretty sure" what it is as far as if it is trash or of value. But the only way to know "for sure" is to dig it and see exactly what it is. I can assure you you are going to find trash during every hunt.

The only problem I have with mine is it isn't waterproof where I can take it underwater with me. I will buy it from you if you wish to depart with it.

JerV3 · Jan 10, 2008

Yes it is a good machine. One of the best out there. Maybe the best if in the right hands. It's a ton of unit for a beginer.

If you don't have a ton of patience put it on e-bay right away. Get your self something more simplified. You'll always have to dig trash in this hobby. It is a very rewarding hobby if you have the time and patience to learn everything.

HH Jer

possumheaded · Jan 10, 2008

Just gotta keep on diggin!

Or so I've been told. Like misterbeee said, "Just try to have fun with it , without expectations."
Happy Hunting,
Ed

BuckleBoy · Jan 10, 2008

I don't wish to part with my detector. I wish to Depart with it.

CRUSADER · Jan 10, 2008

WELCOME TO THE HOBBIE OF TRASH DIGGING (with a little treasure here & there).

patpall22 · Jan 10, 2008

hey Steve,

I see allot of iron in your finds. Unless you are looking for relics, you should edit out all of those #'es out of the program you are using. After you do that, the DFX will not make any sound ( maybe broken interference ) when your coil goes over Iron. That would be a good start to digging only silver and gold. Step two would be to use as much discrimination as you can. you do loose some depth but you will only hear the tones associated with gold ( +13 to +39 or so) and silver ( +70 to +80,s ). remember that gold is hard to find no matter what when digging in solid ground and you will definitely find LOTS of pull tabs in the gold range but unfortunately the only way to find gold is to dig all targets in the "gold" range. silver is a bit easier because for the most part, you will be digging coins and if in the right place, they will be silver. also with silver the most common junk that is mistaken for a good silver target is a deep crushed can that will most likely be deeper in the ground than your pinpointer tell you it is. I know how you feel and when I get too frustrated I only dig quarter signals in lawns. I think 25 cents is worth taking the appropriate measures for lawn excavation. Also I would like to suggest that you try and find either sand or woodchips as they are easier to retrieve targets and you can find more with less effort. The DFX is a great machine, I have found little rivets off jeans that were seven inches deep in the sand with a strong signal. hang in there and dig only the targets you want to dig in the ranges for silver and gold and you will at least find more coins. I almost never dig Iron unless i CHOOSE TO PROGRAM THAT INTO MY DFX. good luck and hope to see you first silver or gold posts here on T-NET.

Pat Pall