maxxkatt
Forum Supporter
Welcome to a great hobby. I hope to be able to save you some time in learning your new machine.
The make and model of your machine has little to do with learning how to use a metal detector effectively. I will not even begin to compare different makes and models. This has been and always will be covered quite well by others on this forum.
Sorry for the misleading title, but I did this to make a point that you should focus on the below regardless of which detector you buy.
1. Read your manual carefully.
2. Have the following treasure test items: a gold or silver ring and a silver dime, quarter, 50 cent piece and a wheat penny, Indian Head Penny.
3. Have the following trash items: modern penny, square pop tab, older ring pull tab, beaver tail part of old ring pull tab, ring part of old pull tab, can slaw, foil, rusty nail, aluminum screw cap, big piece of iron, tin can and of course a modern and rusted bottle cap (where do you get these items? In an old trashy park by finding them with your detector).
4. Lay these out on the ground (where you have cleared the area of any other targets) and get used to the VDI and audio signals that the good treasures produce and the junk trash produce.
5. After you get good at this mix the good target with a couple of trash items in an areas the size of the width of your coil. Get used to picking good stuff out among trash. Like rusty nail and pop top on either side of a silver dime.
6. If there is a book on your detector by an independent author, then purchase the book and read it.
7. View Youtube videos of detectorists using your make and model detector. Look for the videos where the detectorist will show you the display readings and have good audio so you can hear the tones.
8. If you are specializing in ocean beach hunting, then look for books and videos specifically about ocean beach hunting. Same goes for relic hunting and coin hunting.
9. Don’t give up too easy. Not finding any good targets after 30 – 50 hours? Then you should change your hunting locations.
10. Learn to do research to hunt places which actually have a better chance of having good treasures in the dirt.
11. Re-read your manual carefully.
Other hints:
1. Adjust your detector settings for the type of hunting you will be doing.
2. If you really want to take the time bury these items in a test garden and remember to mark the location of each separate item.
3. Start hitting local parks for testing what you have learned.
Which detector to use? Read the forums and find the best one you can that will fit your budget. Keep in mind a general rule is with most major manufacturers, the detectors with the best capabilities for your type of hunting will cost more. For a really decent detector with the better capabilities look to spend in the $700 range or higher.
There is nothing wrong with starting out with a lower priced detector like a Bounty Hunter or Garrett Ace model. In fact, you can spend more time learning metal detecting techniques than fooling with learning all the advanced features of a higher priced more advanced detector.
The make and model of your machine has little to do with learning how to use a metal detector effectively. I will not even begin to compare different makes and models. This has been and always will be covered quite well by others on this forum.
Sorry for the misleading title, but I did this to make a point that you should focus on the below regardless of which detector you buy.
1. Read your manual carefully.
2. Have the following treasure test items: a gold or silver ring and a silver dime, quarter, 50 cent piece and a wheat penny, Indian Head Penny.
3. Have the following trash items: modern penny, square pop tab, older ring pull tab, beaver tail part of old ring pull tab, ring part of old pull tab, can slaw, foil, rusty nail, aluminum screw cap, big piece of iron, tin can and of course a modern and rusted bottle cap (where do you get these items? In an old trashy park by finding them with your detector).
4. Lay these out on the ground (where you have cleared the area of any other targets) and get used to the VDI and audio signals that the good treasures produce and the junk trash produce.
5. After you get good at this mix the good target with a couple of trash items in an areas the size of the width of your coil. Get used to picking good stuff out among trash. Like rusty nail and pop top on either side of a silver dime.
6. If there is a book on your detector by an independent author, then purchase the book and read it.
7. View Youtube videos of detectorists using your make and model detector. Look for the videos where the detectorist will show you the display readings and have good audio so you can hear the tones.
8. If you are specializing in ocean beach hunting, then look for books and videos specifically about ocean beach hunting. Same goes for relic hunting and coin hunting.
9. Don’t give up too easy. Not finding any good targets after 30 – 50 hours? Then you should change your hunting locations.
10. Learn to do research to hunt places which actually have a better chance of having good treasures in the dirt.
11. Re-read your manual carefully.
Other hints:
1. Adjust your detector settings for the type of hunting you will be doing.
2. If you really want to take the time bury these items in a test garden and remember to mark the location of each separate item.
3. Start hitting local parks for testing what you have learned.
Which detector to use? Read the forums and find the best one you can that will fit your budget. Keep in mind a general rule is with most major manufacturers, the detectors with the best capabilities for your type of hunting will cost more. For a really decent detector with the better capabilities look to spend in the $700 range or higher.
There is nothing wrong with starting out with a lower priced detector like a Bounty Hunter or Garrett Ace model. In fact, you can spend more time learning metal detecting techniques than fooling with learning all the advanced features of a higher priced more advanced detector.