Againstmywill

I went out today for an hour and a half at a local elementary school that was built in the 90's. I have hunted this school extensively in the past with a Teknetics G2 and E-trac. The finds were becoming very few and far between. I might find a dollar or two in a few hours. It was very easy to pick out quarters and dollar coins with the 800. There is so much trash at the school that I can see why I missed a lot with the other machines. This machine is able to see through and find the good among the bad. The jewelry pieces came in around 18 or 19. I was running multi-frequency, speed 7, tracking, and Park 1 with sensitivity at 21. Total change was $7.15. 

Last Saturday I had an hour or so to burn. So, what better to do than to take the brand new Equinox 800 out of the house for its maiden voyage (ordered back in Sept.). I had not paired the headphones yet, so it was truly a learning outing. I was unable to ground balance as I did not read well enough at home. I was in Park 1 with almost stock settings as I can remember. The sensitivity might have been up a bit, but otherwise it was as it came. 

I had hunted the park a couple times in the past, but there was never more than clad, and not much of that.

About 45 minutes in to the hunt, I was working alongside a sidewalk that enters the park. There was a lot of trash and plenty of pull tabs. I got a solid 15 ID and dug what I thought was a titanium or cobalt ring because the number in the inside said 417. I recall that some stainless rings have had numbers, so I really thought it was a junk ring.

Well, today I was counting my change from the last three hunts (7 hours total) and thought I would look up the numbers in the ring. To my pleasant surprise, it means 41.7% (10k). 

The total change for 7 hours is $18.89, all clad.

Today's hunt was 4 hours and I found 30 quarters at a high school that I have hunted hard in the past. I was in Park 1, 21 sensitivity, speed 7, 50 tones, and tracking was on. This thing loves quarters! When going over junk and coin, the coins certainly stand out.

After checking the Chinese coin, it was made in the late 1700's. I found it at an elementary school. Must have been brought by a child from home. 

Mine also has some play in the lower shaft. I looked at the inside of the cam lock and saw that the small portion that contacts the lower shaft when tightened does not contact enough to prevent wobble. I marked the lower shaft at the collar of the cam with the detector at the height I like. I then wrapped Teflon tape (10-15 turns) around the lower shaft where the pressure is exerted by the cam lock. It took away all play and it is very tight now. I don't tend to shorten my detector for transport or storage, so it is not a big deal for me. However, I am happy to hear about the excellent customer service provided by Minelab to MPL; I trust it would be the same for me if I should want to send it in should my fix not work so well.

I called Minelab and asked about just having the middle rod shipped to me instead of sending it in. I was told that, per management, the whole detector needs to be returned. The shipping, to and from the facility, is paid for. I will send it in when I know I won't be detecting for a few days.

Delivered this morning. Lots of work to do and tons of snow on the ground...detectorist's worst nightmare.

6 hours ago, Againstmywill said:

Email from Kellyco this morning that said a delivery is on the way. The tracking from FedEx showed it was shipped last Friday and is due for delivery today.

It was changed to tomorrow due to the weather. however, it appears that it is actually in the local facility. Just in time for the big snow we  got! Been warm and dry all winter...until now. Irony

Email from Kellyco this morning that said a delivery is on the way. The tracking from FedEx showed it was shipped last Friday and is due for delivery today.

I ordered from them on Sept. 20th and did not receive an email yet. I, too, tried an email and a couple calls to Kellyco and got no response from the email and could not get through on the phone. Even their live chat feature said they could not chat now. I knew it would be a wait, but to have zero communication  for 5 months was probably as frustrating for me as it was for Kellyco when Minelab was having Cabela's sell units before their customer's pre-orders were fulfilled. I have learned from this process and will take this knowledge and pull from it in the future. Thanks for the heads up about the shipping of units.

5 hours ago, Skate said:

From what I understand bout beach hunting in Florida is that you will have plenty of competition. I would PM Dewcon here and see what he can share as he's a known master of the Florida beaches. 

Thanks, Skate.

16 minutes ago, Tnsharpshooter said:

See first post in this thread.

I see a hat.

Thanks. Wasn't sure if he had purchased one or if it came with. 

I will be moving to the Clearwater area in July. Anyone on this forum that is in the area and is willing to show me the ropes of beach detecting? I currently am landlocked in the western U.S., so I don't have any idea how to read a beach. The only beach success I have had was on vacation in Puerto Rico a few years back. I took my AT Pro and found out quickly that it is not so good on the beach! However, the night before leaving the island, checking through the finds from the week, there was a copper Maravedi from just after 1500--something I thought was junk. Goes to show that we should take the junk with us and check our finds before pitching them in the trash. I have an Equinox 800 on the way, so salt and water should not be a problem now. 

I pre-ordered mine on Sept. 20 from Kellyco and have heard nothing from them yet. I have tried to call a couple times, but gave up after waiting for close to a 1/2 hour. When I check on my order using their site, I see "pending". I'll update when I hear something. Also, anyone know if a Minelab cap or t-shirt are being included in the boxes that have already arrived?

This is my first post after lurking for many months. Steve, you have a way with words and a level of civility that verges on saintly. I have learned a great deal reading your posts, specifically about the Equinox, and I hope to glean more from this excellent forum in the future. Thanks to others who also contribute excellent content. While I don't have much to share, I thought I would at least post a "tip" for a common problem we have. 

Here is a link to a video describing a way to keep the Garrett Carrot's tip from wearing through for not much money.