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Showing content with the highest reputation on 08/17/2018 in all areas

  1. I scored a permission a few days and finally got to it today. Although not very old, it turned into a very productive hunt. I was using an Equinox 600 and was digging everything from nickles up. First sweep yielded a wheaty, that's a great way to start a permission. Little did I know I would spend the next 5 hours digging almost almost nothing but coins. Almost every sweep netted a coin or something cool, fortunately, everything was shallow. After almost 2 hours of digging nothing but copper memorials and wheats, when I get a solid and repeatable 33 on the nox. I flip the dirt over and felt a metal object hit my digger :headbang: big silver!!! I love these coins, I thought I might find a silver Washington or maybe a Bengy, but, the Walker was a big surprise. That was only the beginning of a great silver day from a rather small yard. As you can see, lots of neat fun stuff came out of the yard, the 3 small Mexican coins were in the same hole. It appears to have been a homemade piece of jewelry because the solder joints look a bit rough. I also found some kind of trade token, but I cannot make out what it is because it's worn pretty bad. I went over the place 3 times from different directions and will be going over it one more time with the Etrac just to see if the Nox and I missed anything. I also have another permission a couple of houses down from this one. I plan on trying to get into several others as well. Very unusual yard, I found a silver rosie on top of the ground last week when I was delivering the mail to this house, which is what prompted me to ask for permission. Several of the wheats were barely under the surface, the Walker was maybe 2" deep, nothing over 5" It appears that this yard has never had grass or has been worked since the house was built, barely a blade of grass, just dirt :icon_scratch:
    7 points
  2. My first detector was a Jetco Gold Star BFO. I was 12, mowing yards in the summer, and saved up enough to buy one through the "Bennett Bros Blue Book" catalog. Couldn't afford the one I really wanted, a White's, and I thought, "That Jetco looks like a White's so I bet it's just as good!" Eh, not even close. In '78 I got a Kellyco catalog (still have it) which fueled my desire to upgrade to a Red Baron. Sold the Jetco, still couldn't afford a new Red Baron, but a barely used White's 6000/D showed up in the newspaper, and I met a guy at a McDonald's parking lot and bought it. Hunted years with that one, still got it. The "JET" in Jetco stood for John E. Turner, the guy who eventually bought the assets of the bankrupt Teknetics and Bounty Hunter, and eventually sold that business to First Texas. And now I work for First Texas. Oddly, I also worked for White's, the first "real" detector I ever owned. Some years ago I snagged another Jetco just for funsies. Also have a Red Baron now. Both are here in El Paso:
    6 points
  3. November 25, 1972 I sent a letter to my mom. I was 14 years old and just got my first metal detector and mailed a copy of the ad with the letter. My mom gave me the letter and ad back recently... My first detector in 1972 - a White's Coinmaster 4 TR for $199.50 (a lot of money then, especially for a 14 year old!).... And from the letter, my very first detecting report... "I went hunting at Goose Lake and Elderberry Park for coins. I only went hunting five times and I've found: One 1964 silver quarter, seven silver dimes, including one 1936 mercury dime, four ordinary dimes, six nickels including one 1943 and one 1944 silver nickels from during the war, thirty pennies, the oldest a 1946, two bullet shells and one bullet, some parts of necklaces, and 10 billion pop can lids, gum wrappers, etc." No discrimination yet in 1972, and aluminum was already showing up in quantity. Only a couple inches of depth, but as one of the first guys on the ground with a detector locally it was easier to find silver in those days then it is now. I also mention in the letter I am saving up to buy my first gold dredge, a 3" Keene with no floats, for $379 new plus shipping. So my first detector in 1972 followed by my first gold dredge in 1973.
    6 points
  4. Having a good week with “The Schoolmaster” here in Meeka area. We are preparing for a dryblowing mission and while Trent is busy scraping up dirt into piles... I am busy as a crow behind a cultivator picking up the pieces he misses...lol Been fun so far...
    5 points
  5. Bounty HunterRB7 was my first in 79, couldn`t source a Whites 600D or a Garret Deepseeker in OZ, too much demand. But don`t knock the RB7 it was a producer once the driver got the go, took nearly 3 years and the bloody stuff was just laying around. Recall running across another detector operator in about late 81, he had a pocket full and gave me that go......."slow & low ya not brush cutting" he said with a wink............40 years on and tis still the go.
    5 points
  6. I have been acquainted with the Equinox longer than most people and so I am not sure it is a fair question since some would say I helped create the hype! Nothing in my opinion about the Equinox has changed since February except that I have more respect for it than ever. The Equinox has replaced all my "in use" detectors except my GPZ 7000.
    5 points
  7. My first detector was a Compass Yukon (still have it, why I don't know) and I believe that was in 1976, then a Compass Relic Magnum 7, after that was a White's 600 DI. I have a Metrotech that a friend gave me back in the 1980's. My wife started out with a A.H. Pro Backpacker, then to a White's 6000DI. Still have the A.H. Pro Backpacker(two of them), a A.H. Super Pro V, and the Metrotech (again why, I don't know why. I guess it brings back memories of the good old days). Found 13 ounces of gold amalgam in ghost town in 1980 with the Compass Relic Magnum 7. (sorry for the poor picture)
    4 points
  8. Yes. My first (1980) was a Garret deep-seeker vlf/tr. I never found any gold with it but lots of coins and tons of iron. I found my first and only silver dollar with it... fred
    4 points
  9. The Minelab Equinox Series "From Beginner to Advanced" by Clive Clynick is the first book available about the new Minelab Equinox metal detectors. The 8.5" x 5.5" format book is 111 pages of densely packed information that is intended to help new Minelab Equinox owners get the best out of their new detectors. The early part of the book relies of screen shots to illustrate the various controls on the detector, and then switches to hand drawn pictures to illustrate various concepts described in the book. In this day and age of slick graphics the hand drawn images lend a "homemade" feeling to these books. That is indeed probably the case since the book is in the "fold and staple spine" format favored by those printing books at home. I can't really fault Clive for using the hand drawn images however. A picture does often easily get across some idea that might be very difficult to describe in writing. I personally can sketch out a useful image quite easily, but turning that sketch onto a slick computer generated diagram can be time consuming. In the end the hand drawn sketches get the idea across, and that is what matters most. The first roughly 40 pages of the book basically go over the controls, adding some details not found in the owner's' manual. The real meat is in the last 70 pages of the book. Clive goes into great detail emphasizing important details about the Minelab Equinox meter and audio characteristics. There is a lot of information here about how to use the Equinox features along with good handling skills to get the best performance possible out of the Equinox. The book has an emphasis on coin and jewelry detecting both on dry land and beach. I therefore think the book will be of most use to people looking for information more specific to these subjects. Information specific to relic detecting or nugget hunting in particular is more in passing while discussing coin and jewelry detecting. Much of the information presented does assume basic detecting knowledge along with basic knowledge from the Equinox owner's manual. Clive tries to avoid repeating information already found in the owner's manual, and so from this perspective I would rate this book as being applicable for detectorists with moderate to advanced detecting skills. People who are totally new to detecting may feel in a bit over their heads initially. That is fine because any detecting book worth having usually needs more than one reading. Things that do not sink in at first make more sense after getting some hours of experience before they "click". The book may be challenging for true beginners on the first go, but that is because there is meat here to satisfy more advanced operators. Anyone that perseveres with fully understanding the information in this book will no longer be a beginner, and the good thing is the skills learned will apply to many other high performance metal detectors. The bottom line is I recommend this book for people looking for information that goes far beyond what is offered in the Equinox Owner's Manual, and which is of primary interest to coin and jewelry hunters. Clive is an accomplished writer with several titles to his credit that qualify as "classics", especially as regards jewelry detecting. Visit his website at http://www.clivesgoldpage.com/ to see all the titles he currently has available.
    3 points
  10. I came across an old letter about metal detector I sent to a mate, "My first detector was a hired Whites 5000. I got a new Garrett Deepseeker for the September school holidays 1980, for my wife. It was too hot (weather) in wedderburn for her during the first summer and I ended up with it. Got her a whites coinmaster 6000 for the next trip as it had motion discrimination and was easier and quieter in the hot ground. It took a while for me find any detector that exceeded the Garretts. However I found that my White goldmaster (1986 ) was much easier to use in the Victorian gold fields. I made a PI detector with a hand made Teflon coated wire coil before 1986 that would go deeper than the Garrett Deepseeker but was too slow to use in the field and I did not like the sound of the clicking sensor. .........." Do you have fond memories of your first one (detectors that is ?)
    3 points
  11. They will be heavy when all added up in 60 days ?
    3 points
  12. I have a couple of these printed packs. They will fit in the case with some modification. So will the super hot 16v battery pack I have. Officially White's can't endorse a 16v battery due to the increased chances of component wear and heat generated by the large caps on the board. The 18650's diameter prevents use in this waterproof case without a slight modification (2 minutes of Dremel action) on the inside of the case. This may void your warranty. The 14500's have the right size to use in a battery holder but usually come out about 750mAh. You could do 4 x 2, get 14.8 volts out of it but only have 1500 mAh. Less time to hunt than the OEM pack. All of these things are options for intrepid DIYers, but our goals were 1) release this in a timely manner before the competition 2) keep the price of the detector reasonable and 3) don't push the hardware to the point of failure. I know it's not ideal, but at the worst you can carry an extra battery in a waterproof case or baggie with your wallet/keys/phone. And at least you will still have a nice deep seeking PI before fall of 2018. This project is more of a "Huh, that's a good idea. Why wasn't this done before?" vs. making a huge engineering project out of it.
    3 points
  13. You are too kind.... the lack of anything remotely resembling poor behavior is a real testament to all the forum members. I was more worried about a troll or spammer joining in my absence and going nuts, and even considered disallowing new members while I was away. I did also figure if anyone tried that you would all step up and just run them off. Part of me just wanted to see what would happen though so I just let it go since truly nothing could happen that I could not clean up on my return as if it had not happened at all. I know people want to know where I went and what I was doing. Yes, I went to some old haunts in Alaska. It would be hard to have a better time than I did in all respects - truly a fabulous trip and wonderfully relaxing. Other than that I have emails and posts to catch up on first. The tale itself will be a long story since I am going to backtrack decades and tell you all a genuine story full of context and photos. What I did the last few weeks will simply be the exciting ending you will all have to wait for. Yes, I do like building a little suspense. I think the tale will be fun and enjoyable for all so all I can say is get ready for a peek at a part of my life in Alaska over the years. It will also be a journey through models over the years and how improving technology really can make a difference. I am looking forward to telling the story as much as as some of you may be in hearing it. Note Sept 1, 2018 - The story is told here Thanks again to everyone for running a great forum. Yes, that is what you all did while I was gone - good job!!
    3 points
  14. Sometimes you just have to find the right beach ... the right energy. That is what I did this morning. I got out about 3 hours before low tide (4:30 AM) at a regular beach and found next to nothing. There was nothing that had been moved by the tide or the waves in one of my favorite beaches. This half of a mile beach was dead. It was time to go over a jetty and detect a beach that could get waves and energy from a different direction. That got me started. The waves overnight had been small and the tide was not really going to be very low but the beach had quite a slope to it. I found a couple of quarters. I gridded as I have done this beach before and the quarters kept coming. These were 'old' quarters as my wife sometimes says. That means they are tarnished and have been in the water for some time. Now enough energy had focused on this beach to move them up. What comes with old quarters? RINGS! The first one came at the bottom of a grid. It was the stainless steel black ring. More quarters and more dimes and then the bracelet, and then the second ring and more quarters and a little trash and I'm skipping some pennies. Then I get an 18 on the 800 and I did it and it is the 3rd ring. Another cheap one but still a ring. I'm closing in on 3 hours and I need to go move my car but I also want to complete my grid pattern. Then for about the 3rd or 4th time this hunt I get multiple signals but the 800 is fast enough to distinguish the sounds. I focus on a 'ring sound' and sure enough I get the 1.9g/14k ring. It was among 2 other quarters, a couple of nickels and a dime. These were all within a 5 ft circle digging down about 6-8 inches. It was a good day and a good lesson once again about the energy. The places I hunt need energy to move valuable objects. Some of the heavies will be at the bottom of the grid but the gold ring was near the top. Quarters will get there also with the right waves and wind. I don't need a negative tide to find some good stuff. Totals 38 Quarters 37 Dimes 14 Nickels 23 Pennies (I could have dug more but I do a little cherry picking to save my arm and time!) 4 Rings The beach is not always this good and looking for gold in the desert has its challenges also. You have to take what you can get. Mitchel
    2 points
  15. Actually it's the same price $13 for shipping 2 as it is for 1. 1 ounce through 8 ounce is $13 They weigh about 3 oz each. So combining orders would be the way to go. Doc
    2 points
  16. Oh, you mean here.... That was indeed a great trip (years ago when I was there).
    2 points
  17. I returned to site 2 today, hoping nearly six months of experience with the Equinox would give me enough skill to make some additional finds. Park 2 allowed me to find three additional wheats cents, plus my first ever Barber half. It's a worn 1904, and it wasn't particularly deep.
    2 points
  18. Cant remember them all, but my first was a Detectron in 1961 or 2.
    2 points
  19. Yeah, Geof I graduated up to the RB10, no doubt it was no slouch although didn`t have much of a following up here in NQ OZ. The Garret A2B was the machine that beat them both at those smaller pieces, until the GM2 & GB2 came along. The PIs...... pffff memories......... and the fever Zeds on, a privilege to live in this electronic gold rush age and of coz lots of fun.
    2 points
  20. This is my latest "Nugget Detector Guide", now published for over twenty years, updated January 2024 with some of the latest model information. Each model has a short description, followed by a very PERSONAL OPINION. Copyright 2002-2024 Herschbach Enterprises - Please do not reuse or repost without my express permission. This is offered as a simple guide for those wanting a comparison of the various nugget detectors available new with warranty, along with some kind of real opinion about them. That's all it is, folks, so take it or leave it for what it is worth. It's just that listing specs is of little help to people, and so I take my best stab at providing some guidance for those newer to detecting. These are only my opinions based on my experience with various detectors over the years. While I do have a lot of experience, I must throw in the caveat that I have not used all detectors under all conditions. What may be considered a good detector at one location may not be so good at another location due to differences in ground mineralization and the gold itself. Detector performance is site specific and so your mileage may vary. Never forget that when reading comparisons on the internet. Although many detectors sold today can potentially find gold nuggets, I've chosen to only list current models from major manufacturers that are sold and marketed primarily as prospecting detectors or that at least have a specific prospecting mode. I no longer list general purpose VLF detectors running under 18 kHz because they are too common and that being the case they offer nothing special to the potential gold prospector. If you are interested in other general purpose detectors that might make good prospecting machine but are not listed here, look at my more comprehensive reviews list. Many discontinued prospecting detectors are also listed there. Various popular VLF gold nugget prospecting metal detectors Please, if you own one of these detectors, and I call it like I see it, don't take offense. Any nugget detector made will find gold in capable hands, and the owner is far more important than the detector model. I'll put a good operator with almost any detector on this list up against a novice with whatever is deemed "best" and bet on the experienced operator every time. The person using the detector finds the gold. The detector is actually one of the less important factors in nugget detecting success or failure. A quick note to those who know nothing about these machines. These are metal detectors. There is no such thing as a "gold only" detector. These detectors will also find lead, copper, aluminum, and other metals. These units are best used to look for relatively larger pieces of gold at relatively shallow depths. Concentrations of gold dust are not detectable. Some of these units can hit gold that weighs as little as a grain (480 grains per ounce) or less but only at an inch or two. Only the larger nuggets can be found at depths exceeding a foot. Only world class nuggets weighing many ounces can be detected at over two feet. The vast majority of nuggets found are found at inches, not feet. About Long Range Locators (LRLs) WARNING ON COUNTERFEIT DETECTORS - The market for nugget detectors far outsells coin and relic detectors worldwide, with huge sales in third world countries. This has made many of the models below very popular with counterfeiters. Here are some Fisher and Minelab examples. If you shop these models there are two simple rules. First, you are safe if you stick with approved dealers. Second, if the price seems too good to be true, beware! All legitimate dealers have a limit on how low they can advertise, the Minimum Advertised Price (MAP). Review prices at the approved dealer list, and if you find the detector advertised as new at a significantly lower price by somebody not on the list, the odds are very high you are looking at a counterfeit detector. Legitimate dealers are prohibited from advertising at those kind of prices, and a price too good to be true is your number one warning you are about to be ripped off. The detectors are listed in order based on the lowest price normally advertised on the internet as of the date below. Steve's Guide to Gold Nugget Detectors - Updated January 2024 Before I start, a quick note about recent events in the metal detector industry. A few years ago we lost a major manufacturer in the form of Tesoro. That lead to the Tesoro Lobo SuperTRAQ being dropped from this list. 2020 saw one of the true industry stalwarts fall by the wayside. White's Electronics was acquired by Garrett in October of that year. I am therefore dropping the White's nugget detectors from this list as no longer available new with warranty. For now, see my detailed reviews for information on White's models. Bounty Hunter Time Ranger Pro / Fisher F19 ($399, 19 kHz) - This detector is a later, more advanced version of the Fisher Gold Bug Pro (see below), with added features. There is an excellent threshold based all metal mode plus a dual tone discrimination mode. The F19 has both ground grab and manual ground balance, plus adjustable tone break, just like the Gold Bug Pro. Extra features are added to enhance the coin, relic, and jewelry capability, such as notch discrimination with adjustable notch width, volume control, separate ferrous tone volume, and a LCD meter backlight. These extra features may even find use while gold prospecting. The Fisher F19, and the Bounty Hunter Time Ranger Pro, can use any Gold Bug compatible coils plus those made for the Teknetics G2 series, providing for a huge number of possible accessory coils. This detector can be had with several stock coil options, including a 7" x 11" DD coil, or 5" x 10" DD coil. Weight including a single 9V battery is 2.6 lbs. Steve's Opinion - If you can afford it, look at other options below. If you want the lowest price detector worth even looking at for nugget detecting, you can look no farther than here at $399 (or less). First Texas, the manufacturer of Bounty Hunter, Fisher, and Teknetics metal detectors, sells quite a few identical or near identical metal detectors under different brand names and model names. Due to oddities in their marketing scheme, some more powerful models are often available at lower prices than other less capable models. Currently the 19 kHz Gold Bug name carries a premium price, while other identical or more capable models, sold under other names, can often be had for less money. That is currently the case with the 19 kHz Fisher F19 models, and the identical Bounty Hunter Time Ranger Pro model. The bottom line is this. If you can find a BHTRP/Fisher F19 with 5" x 10" elliptical coil for under $500 at a legitimate dealer (see counterfeit note above) it is easily my current recommendation for an extremely capable, entry level, VLF nugget detector with general purpose capabilities. I recommend this detector over the Fisher Gold Bug and Gold Bug Pro models below, not only because of the extra capability, but because it can be had stock with the 5" x 10" DD coil, the best general nugget hunting coil for the FT 19 kHz series. It can only be had as an accessory coil on the Gold Bug models, driving their out of pocket cost even higher. Nokta Gold Kruzer ($549, 61 kHz) - Nokta/Makro started shipping the new Gold Kruzer model in June 2018 and with a change in the company name is now simply the Nokta Gold Kruzer. The Gold Kruzer is a variant of the old Makro Gold Racer that has been boosted to 61 kHz from 56 kHz and put in a waterproof housing good to 5 meters (16.4 ft). The Gold Kruzer comes with a 10" x 5" concentric coil and a 4" x 7.5" DD coil. The weight including LiPo batteries is 3.0 lbs. There are four coils available for the Gold Kruzer. Steve's Opinion - The Makro Gold Racer was one of my favorite detectors because until recently there was nothing running in this frequency class that had full target id and other options normally seen only in coin detectors. The Gold Kruzer takes it all to the next step by being waterproof in excess of ten feet. There are no other detectors running at a frequency this high that are fully submersible with built in wireless capability and therefore this detector may find favor with freshwater jewelry hunters as well as prospectors. The Gold Kruzer is worth keeping an eye on, and is a better value than it appears at first glance due to the dual coil packaging. 2024 Note: The Gold Kruzer has been reduced in price from over $600 to only $549 which seriously upsets the cart. This is an incredible value for what you get and well worth consideration. Fisher Gold Bug Pro ($599, 19 kHz) - Essentially the same as the Gold Bug above with the addition of manual ground balance. The target ID makes the Gold Bug Pro good for more than just nugget hunting, and it will find favor with jewelry and relic hunters. The manual ground balance gives expert operators the control they desire to get the best depth possible. This unit normally comes with a 5" round DD coil to enhance the sensitivity to small gold but other standard coil packages are available. Weight including a single 9V battery is 2.5 lbs. Many accessory coils are available for the Gold Bug Pro. Steve's Opinion - The Pro is the final version in this series which saw several early variations including the Gold Bug above. It is a excellent choice for prospecting, relic, or jewelry detecting and does fine as a coin detector also. However, you are now paying a premium for the Gold Bug name, and the more capable Fisher F19 at the top of this list can be had in a better configuration at a much lower price. The Nokta. Unless you just want the name, pass. XP ORX ($599, 14, 28, 56, 80 kHz) - The XP ORX emphasizes gold prospecting and coin detecting in the promotional material. The XP ORX appears to be a version of the "Africa only" Depar DPR 600 made for sales in Europe, the U.S., and elsewhere. The ORX has been refined from that early effort by the addition of the ability to use the new X35 coils. Steve's Opinion - The XP ORX went through some teething pains with coils before settling into its final role as XPs gold nugget detector. I think the ORX is a great little nugget hunter personally (I love the compact design), but it seems to be overlooked my most serious prospectors, and getting more attention as a low cost alternative to the XP Deus for coin and relic detecting. The new lower price makes the ORX a serious contender, a big step up in capability from the Fisher 19 kHz models above, and a little less money than the Garrett 24K below for a more full featured detector. Garrett AT Gold ($639, 18 kHz) - The AT Gold was a totally new concept in metal detecting from Garrett Electronics when it was introduced. This full featured detector has everything you would expect from a dry land detector - LCD display, full control set and functions, speaker, interchangeable coils, and lightweight. But it is submersible to 10 feet! Even the speaker is waterproof. Note that the unit itself may be submerged but if you want to put your head underwater you will need optional submersible headphones. Weight including a four AA batteries is 3 lbs. The stock coil is a 5" x 8" DD elliptical. Many accessory coils are available for the AT Gold. Steve's Opinion - The Garrett AT Gold was an innovative concept when it was introduced, and was the only waterproof nugget detector option at the time. The nugget hunting world has moved past the AT Gold now, and unless it comes down in price it's hard to recommend for somebody interested primarily in a nugget detecting VLF. Only for Garrett fans really, and even then more for the relic hunting crowd. For a much better option, see the Garrett Goldmaster 24K below or one of several less expensive models above, like the Nokta Gold Kruzer. ads by Amazon... Minelab SDC 2300 ($3599, Pulse) - This model is unique as Minelabs first waterproof pulse induction metal detector. A key feature is that the detector is physically packaged in the proven F3 Compact military housing that is waterproof to ten feet and folds down into an incredibly compact package only 15.7" long and weighing 5.7 pounds including four C cell batteries. Steve's Opinion - I have used the Minelab SDC 2300 and I must say I was impressed. The waterproof compact design is perfect for hardcore backpack style prospecting. The main thing however is that the SDC 2300 comes as close to VLF type performance on small gold as you can get while being almost impervious to the ground mineralization, and hot rock issues, that plague said VLF detectors. In fact, the SDC 2300 will find gold nuggets smaller than most good VLF detectors can detect in mineralized ground. The SDC 2300 is also one of the simplest detectors to use and master on the market. The main caveat is that the detector is optimized for small gold with the hardwired coil, and so other ground balancing PI detectors are a better option for large nuggets at depth. It is also nearly twice the price of the Garrett ATX above, and so you are paying quite a premium for a little better performance on small gold. Still, the SDC 2300 is almost impossible to beat for the price, if the goal is just to go find some gold, any gold at all. If the budget allows, however, at this point I would pass, and go to the new Garrett Axiom below, which offers a much more sensible design, with many more coil options, and better capability for larger gold at depth. Garrett Axiom ($3995, Pulse) - A new pulse induction gold nugget detector, just announced for 2022, available by the end of the year. The Garrett Axion is the first pulse induction nugget detector to truly reflect 21st design options and capabilities. The Axiom is a sleek, modern design, perfectly balanced at only 4.2 lbs with the 11" x 7" mono coil. The detector is fully weatherproof, with waterproof coils. The Garrett Axiom is available in a couple package options, but the most popular will include the 11" mono coil, 13" DD coil, and Garrett Z-Lynk high speed wireless headphones. The Axiom has a perfect balance of controls, giving experts more options than more simplistic designs, while still focusing on only the controls really needed, to keep things easy for beginners. Steve's Opinion - Well, I have to admit I'm biased on this one. I lobbied Garrett every way possible for almost a decade, to make a detector like the Garrett Axiom. So it is literally a dream come true for me, a powerful pulse induction detector in a really great, ergonomic package, and at a price that won't break the bank, but honestly still more expensive than I was hoping for. I have used the Axiom already enough to know that it is very competitive although it is not that it is the most powerful option available. For that I refer you to the Minelab GPZ 7000 below. The Axiom goes head to head with the GPX 6000 and basically offers 90% of the performance of that machine for two thirds the price. Minelab GPX 5000 ($3999, Pulse) - This Pulse Induction (PI) unit essentially ignores ground mineralization and most hot rocks. The GPX 5000 is designed specifically for nugget detecting and so it has many adjustments for mineralized ground not available on other PI detectors. The GPX 5000 is the culmination of over 10 years of innovation in pulse induction technology. The GPX weighs 5.3 lbs. not including the harness mounted battery, which weighs another 1.7 lbs. The detector comes with both an 11" round mono coil and 11" round DD coil. Over 100 accessory coils are available for the GPX 5000 (Minelab, Coiltek, Nugget Finder)! And more coils are being released every year. Steve's Opinion - The Minelab GPX 5000 can at this point be considered the reliable, well proven option, for just about any pulse induction task a person wants to consider. It has found a wide audience not just with nugget hunters, but with beach and relic hunters. This is in large part due to the incredible coil selection. For general nugget hunting however, the GPX 5000 faces new competition in the form of the Garrett Axiom above, for almost the same price. The Axiom is a better package from a physical perspective and more capable than the GPX 5000 on bread and butter small gold nuggets. However for 1/2 ounce and larger nuggets the GPX 5000 still has the edge due to it's superior large coil selection. personally I lean Axiom for the ergonomics but a case can be made for either machine depending on the user. Minelab GPX 6000 ($6499, Pulse) - The Minelab GPX 6000 is a new pulse induction model that is just now getting into end user hands. The GPX 6000 is exceptionally light and well balanced compared to previous Minelab models, and promises to set new standards for ease of operation. The GPX 6000 weighs 4.6 lbs. and has three coils available at launch, an 11" round mono, 14" round DD, and 17" elliptical mono. The detector has built in Bluetooth wireless headphone capability and quick release Li-Ion batteries. Steve's Opinion - Minelab beat Garrett to the punch in making a very ergonomic metal detector for the 21st century. The GPX 6000 is an excellent choice for gold prospectors, with out of box sensitivity on smaller gold that exceeds the Minelab GPZ 7000. Sadly, what should have been rave reviews by users, has been muted by persistent issues regarding bad coils and hardware based electrical interference. I admit I feel like I have a little egg on my face, as I raved about the GPX 6000 a lot when it came out since mine had none of the problems that far too many people have been experiencing. Regardless of that, I still think when it is running like it should, the GPX 6000 is a superb detector. The closest competitor is the Garrett Axiom for $2500 less. I do think the GPX 6000 retains a small performance edge over the Axiom but whether it is worth the 50% higher price will depend on the user. The more you use a nugget detector, the less the price difference matters. Minelab GPZ 7000 ($8999, ZVT) - The new Zero Voltage Transmission technology from Minelab takes gold prospecting to the next level. The new platform represents a break from the past SD/GP/GPX series in more ways than one, with a new weatherproof housing design based on the Minelab CTX 3030. The GPZ 7000 weighs 7.32 lbs. and comes with a waterproof 14" x 13" coil. There is one official accessory coil available at this time, plus one officially sanctioned aftermarket coil, but more are coming as I type. Brave souls can check out numerous hacked Russian coil options. Steve's Opinion - It's pretty simple. If you want the most powerful metal detector made for finding gold nuggets, get a Minelab GPZ 7000. The GPX 6000, Garrett Axiom, and even SDC 2300 can beat it out of box on the tiniest gold nuggets. But the 7000 will hit stuff plenty small, and more importantly, deliver the goods on the bread and butter gold that matter most to genuine prospectors who want to put weight in their pocket. The difference in small gold capability can be made up with options aftermarket coils, meeting or exceeding what the other models mentioned can do. Yes, it is heavy, and it is expensive, but most really serious gold prospectors are using the GPZ 7000 for a reason - when it comes to sheer performance, it's the best machine for the job. A Steve's Opinion summary - So maybe all the above is still too much information, too many choices. And you want to ask "what would you do Steve?" Well, I'm not trying to speak for anyone but myself, but here is my current thought on the situation. If you want a really great VLF nugget detector in 2024 at a great price the Nokta Gold Kruzer and XP ORX are standout values at under $600. Both are excellent VLF nugget machines and both can be used for more than just nugget detecting. The Gold Kruzer coming with two coils and being fully waterproof would be my choice. As far as PI goes for me it's either GPX 6000, or Garrett Axiom. If money is no object and you only ever intend to use the machine for nugget detecting, then the 6000 wins the day. For me I do more than just nugget hunt so I find the Axiom to be a better general purpose PI for my uses, even though I am giving up a small edge on small gold nuggets. If sheer power is all it's about, weight, price, nothing else matters, just performance, I still think a person has to go GPZ 7000. Yeah, for specific situations other machines might be better. Heck, a Gold Bug 2 might be better in the right spot! But overall, if I had to pay my bills with gold found, I'd be using a GPZ 7000. If I can offer one final word of advice, it would be to pay particular attention to what experienced nugget hunters are using in any particular region. Do not assume you are going to outsmart them, and find some model they have not already tried, and set aside, as less than optimum. Serious prospectors in any particular location will end up focusing on certain units that do the job. In areas of extreme mineralization this is usually a PI detector. In areas with less mineralization and lots of ferrous trash VLF units often are preferred. If you can discover what models the locals prefer, it will give you a head start in knowing what to use yourself. Above all, whatever detector you finally choose, dedicate yourself to mastering it. It takes at least 100 hours of detecting to become proficient with a detector model. Any less, and you are still practicing. Knowing your detector well is more important than what particular model of nugget detector you own. So there you are. Hopefully this helps some people out. I can be found daily on the Detector Prospector Forums and would be pleased to answer any questions you have on metal detecting and prospecting. Also check out Steve's Guide to Metal Detecting for Gold Nuggets. Sincerely, ~ Steve Herschbach Steve's Mining Journal Copyright © 2002 - 2024 Herschbach Enterprises - Please do not reuse or repost without my express permission.
    1 point
  21. I was hunting an old field and found an old button and after rubbing it with some vegetable oil to preserve it I went back to the same spot and found this old coin. I was shaking all over as I gently cleaned it off and rubbed it with a lightly oiled paper towel. I looked it up and it is a colonial Vermont copper from around 1785.
    1 point
  22. On ya, enough talkin about the scraps, the bigun show us the bigun.
    1 point
  23. Western & Eastern Treasures magazine does a Silver & Gold Annual issue and another customer of mine was featured. Many of you saw the photos posted earlier this summer. Some gobstopper saves/discoveries are in this issue, so I recommend you order one online. Congratulations to Duane and Sarah on their Golden Treasures and thanks for allowing me to earn your detector business again.
    1 point
  24. I can't tell either, I tossed em in with my pile of other wheaties, I'll have to wait until the end of the year when I go though em ?
    1 point
  25. Great haul! You just never know what you'll find. If we hit a HR every time out it wouldn't be nearly as fun when we come across a site like this. Another beautiful Walker..., can hardly wait to find mine. Thanks for showing the dates on the Wheaties. A little fuzzy -- what is the far left one on row 2 and the far right on row 3? (I'm hoping 1933-D and 1931-S respectively. Think positive!)
    1 point
  26. Thank you. Park 1...2-tones...1st break -9 thru 11 pitch set to 1... recovery 3 ....Iron bias 0 ...sens 18.... Second and 3rd passes I ran Field 2, same settings. Minelab received my 800 yesterday, I haven't heard when they will be shipping it back.
    1 point
  27. Nice finds, esp. the quantity of coins and, of course, the Walker. What search mode were you using and recovery speed? When are you supposed to get your 800 back from ML?
    1 point
  28. Pretty sure it should more correctly be editions, not volumes - although new material is added at the back of each "volume". Jim told me some years ago that the original and only typed computer copy of the dry washers book had been lost (and that prompted me to make lots of extra copies of the files that form my book). That typed computer version is needed to edit it and add any new material. Jim said that no one really wanted to re-type his book, so they just re-printed the old part and then kept putting in additional addendum at the back to cover any new or updated material.
    1 point
  29. Dan you landed a great permission, congrats, love that pile of silver with the walker in the center !!
    1 point
  30. WOW you have been busy, nice finds !
    1 point
  31. Great Hunt! Funny how some yards hold nothing and others are loaded. I like the loaded kind.
    1 point
  32. I guess you had a great day - hard to do better than that!!
    1 point
  33. Detectors were expensive back then, more than 4 ounces for a Garrett or Whites and latter the Bounty Hunter RB 10 (The red barron was our nick name for my mate). I did well with coins at first and learnt how to use it before finding nuggets and have three gold coins (the wife found them).
    1 point
  34. I walked out of my house this morning and was meet by a three legged dog . He for whatever reason was missing his right back leg .Now this dog was making his way with what he had and looked happy wagging his tail. I know you’re wanting to know what to Sam Hill this have to do with the TDI Beach Hunter. Well I’m getting there! I’m wanting the Beach Hunter and I understand what some problem it may be on the run time detecting for the young and strong. At my point in life I’m like the dog in I’ll live with it and make do just the way it is. Oh I’ve done mods on things and some worked out but others was a down hill slide from the beginning. You know how some old girls will hide their money around on their clothing ! Well I was checking my wife out to see if she was hiding some and she’s thinking the old man came alive. Heck all I wanted was enough money to put with what I had to buy the Beach Hunter . I’m about as unlucky as that three legged dog.He can still wag his tail and mine is too short to wag. Chuck
    1 point
  35. Tony How about you and I bringing up this matter on a different type of batteries at the next White’s board meeting. I hear you loud and clear on the run time. I was in hopes it would be better than a TDI SL. Maybe Tom will say if he knows what is the run time on The Heavy Duty Battery that come with the Beach Hunter. Chuck PS Tom did say something about a run time from 5 hrs maybe up to 6 hrs. For me at my age I can live with that but younger people that’s not a long run time.
    1 point
  36. My experience with Minelab machines and DD coils is that you still get great depth even with the smaller coil. The size and depth difference is more pronounced with concentric coils. You might lose maybe 20% depth, but you can also increase sensitivity on the smaller coils.
    1 point
  37. Tom When the TDI first came out I found myself hunting on the beaches of Ms. It had the dual field coil on it and I never before dug so deep for a coin than ever with other coils. In my opinion if you going to use the Beach Hunter on the beach . This can be in are out of the water you just can’t go wrong using the dual field coil . The only thing I wonder is what’s next coming out of White’s ? Chuck
    1 point
  38. Gosh, it looks like we do have a waterproof TDI after all! Ships with a Heavy Duty battery for longer run time and also has increased sensitivity and stability due to the hardwired coil. A bonus we did not expect! Want a mono coil? Coiltek? Miner John? Etc? We are working on setting that up in "White's Custom Shop." Or if you are handy you can DIY (note: this will void your warranty). Sorry for not having more info earlier. We like to tell our dealers first and wait until products are ready to ship. Now excuse me while I jump in the Klamath River and find some nice nugs in the bedrock. https://www.whiteselectronics.com/product/tdi-beachhunter/ White's TDI BeachHunter Specifications Operating mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pulse Induction Pulse Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.6kHz - 3kHz Pulse Delay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10μs - 25μs Search modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PI, Ground balanced PI Ground balance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Differential delay Audio tones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hi/Lo Audio output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hard-wired headphones Search coil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12” Dual Field (aftermarket coils available) Weight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 lbs (with 12” DF coil) Length. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 - 48 inches, adjustable Batteries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (8) AA, NiMH & alkaline Battery life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6 hours typical2 Warranty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 years, transferrable Waterproof. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25ft/7.5m White's TDI BeachHunter Owner's Manual
    1 point
  39. Market the item youself. Retail price on jewery is insane and is usually bought on impulse. Jewelry is a loss not an investment.
    1 point
  40. 90% of spot is about the melt value that I was offered, so how do they manage to get people to pay the $1,000 figure ? Next time I am looking at rings I will ask what the return policy is or if I need to sell it back to them ,what will they give me for it? Too bad I can't legally record the conversation tho? Maybe the flea market is the place to go or ask around at work if anybody is looking for a ring I found and get offers? Man's greed knows no bounds it seems...buy for $50 and sell for 10-20 times that, what a racket ??
    1 point
  41. That is a good post. My 19 has not been out for a walk in a while. It is firmly lodged between my seats in the 4Runner. Mitchel
    1 point
  42. Well, did some more research on the pinpoint problems. Have not gotten out to the garden due to the rain. Great videos from a technical standpoint on you tube explaining the nuts and bolts of DD coils. Author posts under the name of Quadruple Bypass. Maybe I am a day late on this. But I thought I would pass it forward. Jim
    1 point
  43. Nah, score so far, O2 from young fellas spots, AU+ from old codgers, buh everything's normal gotta hold their hand and lead em to it...........
    1 point
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