A Little Disappointed

[Boatnut]

Read many of the threads here, lots of good advice. Decided to purchase the ACE 250. it arrived and the next day powered up in the back yard. Hit several nickels/quarters, dug and dug, nothing, would have a foot deep hole a foot wide and detector still said nickel at 4 inchs...

so instead of digging up the back yard I went to a sports field, soccer,baseball. the Detector was running wild, up and down the scale. so i moved away off and tried again, said dime at 6 inches dug and dug nothing, rescan hole and dirt pile nothing. repeat this process several times 5, 10, 25 cent signals.

moved to a plowed corn field that is the site of a civil war skirmish. every so often it would hit on something then i would work the area and nothingl. I did notice that somethimes if i came in contact with the ground it would signal and even touching a stick or stalk protuding from the ground it would signal ocassionally but not all the time... after 5 hours I dug over a hundred holes many a foot deep by a foot wide. Ruined a shirt (briars) a pair of jeans (red clay mud) and almost ruined a 300.00 metal detector by wrapping it around and fence post.

any thoughts, I really want this to work, very history minded and live right smack dab on top of a Union artillery line from the C/W read all the manuals, watched all the videos. it it helps I got the sports package, i had the larger coil on with a coil cover.. HELP

[Dustyloins]

You're not wearing steel toed boots or footware with steel lacing holes, are you???

Dusty

[Boatnut]

No, but did not think about that being a problem. will keep that in mind.

[Squishy]

My Ace 250 does that a lot too. I have dug a "lot" of holes a foot deep and a foot wide without finding anything. I always set the sensitivity down to the first or second bar. That helps somewhat. I'll be watching this thread to see what answers others have.

[The Rebel]

IDK but perhaps you got a bad MD or bad coil? Are you running in all metal mode? Might be large metal objects like pipes...etc...underground or EMI from overhead/buried power lines? Call the place where you bought it from & explain whats going on. Who did you buy it from?

[DIGGER27]

I started with a detector much lower down the scale from yours, and it took me 15 days and about 20-30 hours before I found my first clad.
After that, it got much easier because I finally started to learn what it was saying to me.

Detectors can and will sound "false" signals if the sensitivity is set to high, if you have EM interference from power lines, as mentioned steel toed boots can do it if you are a short swinger...lots of reasons for this.
Plus, ghost signals from large objects in the ground can have you digging big holes in the wrong place.

Recognizing these things and dealing with them are what we call learning the language, and it sometimes takes a few hours before that "eureka" moment hits and you go..."Ohh, now I get it!"

Also, when you are new, it might be hard to recognize small pieces of metal that are dirt colored.
You might have gotten it out of the hole and never knew it on a lot of those empty holes.

All of this will seem trivial if you just make up your mind to keep on going and learn as much as you can...it will come.

You can learn something from every signal you hear and every hole you dig...just keep your mind open and attitude positive.

[Boatnut]

Have been reading some of the other threads on pinpointing the ACE. for the most part was in all metal mode, Factory default sensitivity, i never attempted to move the sensitivity. no power lines, underground or other wise. I purchased it from Kellyco, prompt shipment , complete order, no complaints with fit and finish of product. Funny you should say that. That is why I didn't go with the 350 because it was so new, I like to let a thing be on the market a year or two to work out any bugs. It came with two coils will try in different area with out coil cover and then switching to other/smaller coil..

[CTCurt]

You need to be very patient, I would recommend setting up a test garden if you can to see what it tells you w/different objects,depths,settings...It takes time to learn any new machine!!!..good luck...Curt

[007tallguy]

i've been running my Ace on 4 or 5 on the sensitivity and in all metal mode and haven't had too many false signals. generally when it beeps at me, there's "something" there although i have dug the odd hole where i eventually give up, lol.
i seem to have a very iron-rich property (mainly nails and they're everywhere!) and it'll pick up on them, from the largest ones right down to tiny fragments a half inch long or even smaller and anywhere from 2 to 8 inches deep. the only reason i'm digging everything is in case the iron signals might be masking out better items. besides about 30 nails today, i managed to get a very old pocket knife, 1 bullet casing, a small pendant, 2 dimes and 3 pennies!

do you have first turn of the cable from your coil looped over the shaft? if you have it under, that might be causing your problem.
oh yes, things in the ground really blend in with the soil! maybe try using a magnet in the holes and see if some of those false signals are really false.

Pete

[Dustyloins]

Sometimes dirt high in minerals can get between the coil cover and the coil.....

Dusty

[Boatnut]

setting up on the table now to pass know targets infront of coils, some dirt between coil and coil cover. Cable did pass over the top of the shaft on first pass.

Thanks for the response guys. Will keep working at it..

You mean the Silver Dollar is not in the top of the hole and all shinney like in the pictures? JK

[SeizeTheDay]

Alright, I know I'm a newbie too but I just got an Ace 350 which I understand is quite comparable and 2 days ago I was ready to wrap it around a pole for the same reason. I did 5 things that helped me start pinpointing better and locating about 8 out of 10 of my targets (maybe not that good, but again, I'm new to this). 1) I extended the stem as long as it would go so the metal in my shoes did not interfere. 2) I reduced the sensitivity to only 3-4 bars. 3) I switched to jewelry mode. 4) I put a penny on the ground and followed the directions in the user manual on pinpointing and made sure it was working the way it should (it was spot on). 5) I made sure the cable was wrapped snug around the stem. After doing these I went to the local tot lot, where the unofficial metal detecting club has unscheduled meetings, and found a coin there. Then to my yard and found 2 coins, and a lot of odd and end things. Needless to say I am feeling a lot better and I'm sure you will also if you just give it time and get to know that magnificent machine.

P.S. As soon as I can get the funds together I'm investing in a Pro Pointer. I understang these really help pinpoint those hard to find items.

[CoiltoSoil]

It could be the soil, try doing some air test, lay it on a table with no metal around and wave some metal objects in front of it see how they sound. My uncle and cousin run 250's and from what I seen they dont have any major falsing issues in the ground here but if you are down south I know some of the clay and soils are hard to handle for a lot of detectors. An air test should give you a better idea if it is a soil problem or a problem with the detector.

[wonderer]

Boatnut,

First I don't have your brand of detector (mine were whites, tesoros & minelabs), but all VLF detectors are simular.

Second, they are not a magic wand either. Even though dealers like to make you think so.

When set up properly for the area (type of soil or mineralization) & with practice (about 50+ hours) you start to under stand what the machine is telling you.

You start out with the smallest coil you have (like training wheels on your first bike) so you can dig smaller shallower holes learning the machine.

Because every area is differant you set the sensitivity as high as posable without it becoming erratic.

Because I prospect I dig everything, I rarely use any discrimination....because you miss good targets.........as a nubie (you to) dig it all.......Its part of the learning process.......Each target you dig is educating you to the type of sound (sharp, mellow, drawen out, ect) it makes & the responce on the screen (if you have one) & good targets are allover the place on the visule screen (remember the machine is only guessing what the target is).

The only time I was detecting metal from my shoes was when I had a ML3500 PI machine, but then I was also digging 3 foot holes to. Haven't had that issue with VLFs. But thats me.

The big thing, take the time to learn your machine & don't get discuraged.


wonderer

[cmbtvet]

To me it sounds like high mineralization in the soil or a bad coil. Try using the other coil and if it still falses a lot, lower the sensitivity 1 notch at a time until it stops.

If it doesn't stop then you might have a bad machine and you'll want to call Kellyco and let them know you'll be shipping it back for a replacement.

[relicminer]

OK, another newbie with advice. I have the Ace 250, and at first I was getting the same thing, I was getting worried. I reread my manual, watched as much youtube Ace 250 vids as possible and started doing air tests. Started coming together. As I watched the vids I started noticing little things that helped me alot. The other newbie with advice, had as good as I've seen. Anyway lets stick with it and maybe will figure this out.

[Blueonceagain]

Originally Posted by DIGGER27

I started with a detector much lower down the scale from yours, and it took me 15 days and about 20-30 hours before I found my first clad.
After that, it got much easier because I finally started to learn what it was saying to me.

Detectors can and will sound "false" signals if the sensitivity is set to high, if you have EM interference from power lines, as mentioned steel toed boots can do it if you are a short swinger...lots of reasons for this.
Plus, ghost signals from large objects in the ground can have you digging big holes in the wrong place.

Recognizing these things and dealing with them are what we call learning the language, and it sometimes takes a few hours before that "eureka" moment hits and you go..."Ohh, now I get it!"

Also, when you are new, it might be hard to recognize small pieces of metal that are dirt colored.
You might have gotten it out of the hole and never knew it on a lot of those empty holes.

All of this will seem trivial if you just make up your mind to keep on going and learn as much as you can...it will come.

You can learn something from every signal you hear and every hole you dig...just keep your mind open and attitude positive.

Excellent post.No matter what detector you have there will be signals that are just not worth digging,things that disappear etc but with experience you will learn what to leave and what to dig.Try to ignore for now signals that dont repeat repeatedly.The soil is full of all sorts of things which can set a machine off.Lower your sensitivity and only dig those solid repeatable signals.It does take time and patience to realise what a good signal consists of and how your particular machine processes the signals it receives from the ground.Hope you give it time.As far as machines go my Sovereign is constantly going quiet(i.e nulling out,losing its threshold tone)when over a disced out target) whereas the XP is constantly on the go clicking and spitting at iron but when a solid target appears theres a world of difference in the noise it makes.All easy with experience;it becomes second nature but is very confusing to start with.All the best.

[oldbeechnut]

Hang in there, learn your detector..and the finds will come..never forget my first detector...White's Treasure Master 1000..water detector (1989).the guy that I bought it from found countless amounts of Gold with it, he gave me a few tips, took me out a few times,....let me watch him hunt with it, 2 old gold rings, and some other gooodies......He can do it, I can to...well after about 3 months of nothing... I sold it. The secret is, Get to know every little thing about your detector, inside and out. go watch a few Pro's where they hunt with there detectors, there style, where they hunt.....and it will happen...I got a excalibur 4 years ago, gave it time, the gold started 3 months in...

[sllingshot47]

Yesiree! I've had mine for over 5 years and tried to sell it 3 times at home garage sales and only have it now because I was too stubborn to take less than $150 for it. Fortunately, I found out a few things that made me WANT to keep it:
(1. The factory set 6 bars is a joke-what were they thinking? I once found a quarter at 6" and just because of the forums I decided to lower the sens. to 4 bars and the signal was STILL strong and got CLEARER. I now operate at 3 bars and have hardly ANY problems. In some favorable less trashy areas I go to 4 bars.
(2. The coil you mention is a joke for trashy areas like you hunt and I would only use it when going for the deep, old stuff on an older site. I was finding TONS of coins at a ballpark with my SNIPER coil when a guy with a large coil like yours came over and said that he liked my coil and his was DRIVING HIM CRAZY. GET THE SNIPER COIL!
(3. All Garretts that I have ever used from the 60's to the present do not do well with the coil touching the ground and are best with the coil about an inch above the ground
(4. Elevate the search coil on some questionable targets and slow the searchcoil down WHILE watching the screen. You'll get the idea how all the Ace features work together to help ID the target. Even going to a/m mode really gives you an idea whats there.
(5. Don't be afraid to experiment and soon you'll be giving us some advice on this oft misunderstood machine.
Hope this was of value. Good luck!

[Boatnut]

I realy do thank all of you for your suggestions and advice, I set the machine up on a table last night and "air Tested" with every type coin in the house, clad and silver, lead from fishing lures, kitchen utensils, jewlrey, etc etc, I do now hear a real differnce in tones, and Pinpointed with targets, that were in the open where i could see them. Adjusted sensitivty it does make a huge difference in depth "distance" from the coil..

I have a friend that is a retired Mine Engiener i contacted him last night he says most of the area is dolamitic limestone and the iron content is modereate to High. Discussed with another friend who says that the sports complex has been there for years, They had issues with the fields draining so they put down a layer of gravel/dirt and then dirt over that so the fields would dry out faster, he says there is a layer of pull tab covered by gravel and then another 20 years of pull tabs, softdrink caps and cans, most likely a very target rich location. To much so for a new bee. I have another couple of places to try, thanks again for all the help..