tvr

There sure seem to be a lot of tire valve caps and tire weights in the bay. Every time I dig one of those I have to scratch my head as to why they are there. Congrats on the ring!

I've got the original F75LTD with the DSP update. I have not done depth tests with known targets, but have a liking for the little 6.5" Elliptical Concentric coil in trashy areas. Separates very well and when working tot lots can get close to the poles and edges of side walks and fences and just find targets. Good info in your post. Thanks for the info.

I had that thought too, but didn't post it since I just don't know.

I don't know if they had any identification on them such as serial number or initials. I did some looking to see if I could identify approximate date they used that design and did not find information that was useful. The organization's facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/VFWPost2275/

Looks like it is a members medal from Veteran of Foreign Wars SABLE Post 2275 that is located in El Cahon, California.

I'm guessing that it won't be very long before you are not digging many of the hair pins. Nice catch with the gold!

Without looking at mine to be sure ... if the spring clip in the lower shaft that snaps into the hole in the upper shaft is like the great majority of the spring clips; then to make the lower shaft shorter is a matter of pulling out the spring clip, drilling a hole the desired length down the rod, cutting the rod shorter and reinserting the spring clip in the new hole. Just make sure the hole you drill is lined up. Thanks for reporting another clamp that does not work well. I can feel an improvement in the works.

Congrats on the newborn. I always found having a three year old around a fun time. They grow so fast that they are grown up and out of the house before you know what happened. Enjoy balancing your time between detecting, family, work and what ever else is going on. Thanks for the AQ report.

Excellent. My back is sore thinking about the digging. Please do let us know results if you get the big one tested.

Let me add to my experiences with the rod clamp type used on the AQ. Most of my detectors use the same type. For the dirt detectors, they work just fine and are not problematic at all. Even my trusted, well used CZ6a uses a clamp that looks the same and it gets salt spray that is wind carried, but does not get dunked in the water; that clamp has worked fine for decades. The detectors that get used in the water, even with rinsing after every use, that have that type of clamp, get very stiff and or seize up. That is part of the reason my other water detectors get put on aftermarket shafts or I make a shaft without a lock. It appears to me that First Texas / Fisher Labs is being responsive to several pieces of feed back. How many other detectors have you seen an initial limited build released for users to exercise in the wild who have the ability to comment on an open forum prior to a full production version release?

It is. They work great. No problems for me ever with those clamps.

Clive, Thanks for mentioning the peak. I'm hearing that fuller sound on small foils and little split shot sinkers ... and will need to think more about discerning the "bitty" responses and peaks when I'm over a target. Funny how quickly I became one with the HHPulse. This one (AQ) is going to take me more time, yet it is definitely showing me it's potential. Thanks for the words of wisdom. Cheers, tvr

Today I went to shorten the rod by one notch to put the coil closer to my feet for water hunting. I have been hunting, both in and out of the water with a length more suited to wet sand sweeping. It was very difficult to get the locking mechanism loosened up so I could slide the rod. Same issue I've had before with similar locking mechanisms when used in salt water; particularly with fine sediment in the water. Please change to a different type of locking mechanism. The one in the first picture is the AQ, and I do not like it since it is already freezing up and took a lot of work to free it up. The second picture is an after market straight shaft with locks that work very well and don't freeze up. The last two pictures are of locks on my wife's shell / shark tooth scoop with the lock open and closed; this one works well and also does not freeze up after much sand and salt water use.

Try: "Junior Order of United American Mechanics"

I think you are right on that one. With the decaying leaves and goose droppings in the sediment; many scoops come up with the smell of a failed septic system.

I'm finding a wider swing over targets (wide enough to make sure both edges of the coil clear the target by half a coil width or more) gets more of a double or modulated sound on bad targets in all metal, even at slower coil speeds due to drag in the water. Still not much time on the AQ but am getting more and more interested in seeing the release of the 8 inch coil. I've got a water pump to replace on my truck so I might be done detecting for the week. Good luck to you if you get out.

Something about the combination of brackish water, a lot of decaying organic matter and fertilizer run-off in this area that tarnishes gold and cakes up and eats silver. Not sure of the chemistry of it all but it is tough on silver.

Interesting hunt with the AQ. First thing I find out in the water is that my gauntlets are leaking; oh well, not that cold; first time they have been used since this past February. Pulled a couple handfuls of lead, a couple nickles and what I'm pretty sure was a silver ring. The ring took a long time and many scoops to get up out of the bottom. Yesterday, I would have been well over my head in the water where the ring was. It had the kind of crusting that I see on silver rings in these waters. When I went to work with a dental pick to work the layer of crud off, the ring started to disintegrate. I did get some of it to stay together and it looks like what I'd expect from a silver ring in these waters. I've had some stay together and some break up. This little hole by itself has paid for every detector I've bought; but pickings have been thin this year. Time to branch out a bit more. Cheers, tvr

Low water at the local hole today. Low enough that I had wet sand to do some testing with. I can call fish hooks well in the wet sand in all metal ... but not well in the water where I don't have the same ability to change coil speed like over the wet sand. Got lots of lead today, not too many fish hooks other than those attached to rigs with lead or with brass swivels. A couple of deep nickles, one really deep spark plug and one junk child's ring. Was chest deep over a target that sounded really good ... and the battery died. Didn't pack the second one because I had to take care of some other things today, so it was my alarm clock to head home ... and enough of a work out in the shape I'm in. A bit sore this evening, but it is a good sore. Cheers, tvr

Sounds very similar to the 15 inch in that regard. Thanks for the report. Looking forward to a production run being available. Unfortunate about you being put in the squeeze with confidentiality commitment vs. the "ask Joe" exposure. Nothing for you to apologize about.

When I put my old CZ20 on a straight shaft, I had bad coil float going on. It was not a buoyant coil; the box was a little buoyant and the angle between the box, arm rest and coil caused the coil lift. Moving the box up the shaft completely changed it to where I could make it neutral. Would like to hear Willy's informed answer; yet there are several ways to deal with it if it is.

Hope it doesn't float. 😉

I too am looking forward to availability of an 8 inch coil. Hope you heal well and can resist over-doing it too soon.

I looked over about a three mile area for some cuts and did not find any good ones. Sand was soft and the way the slope come down from dry area just looked like replenishment stuff. Thank you for confirming that. I was surprised by how much change the beach held; a lot more than some other areas I've been.

Had a nice week. Got to visit middle son; ate too much, got tanned and got some metal with the Excal. Four days of flat water, two of a little chop and one with chop that was tough to work. Did about half slope hunting and half in the water; left the dry to others. What a luxury to be able to clearly see the scoop when shoulder deep in the water! Not much jewelry; three pieces of silver (ring, earring and charm) and two gold looking stainless steel. Lots of change 37 Quarters, 34 dimes, 19 nickles and 171 pennies; no foreign coins on this trip. Next adventure is to find a spot on the local beach devoid of metal and start over with known targets to set up and learn the AQ. Cheers, tvr