normmcq

Jin A very good sand scoop with a long handle is a must when detecting in the sand

Skate There is very good information here on this forum on just about every topic that you have a question about. Having said that, joining the GPAA is one of the best ways to put yourself in gold areas. They have claims in just about every area that has gold and maps that show you how to get there. I am not an activist, but the GPAA represents my views as a prospector and part of the dues are spent to defend them. Norm

After finding my first Merc in a campground, I have spent lots of hours in every one I can find. The most productive areas is in the duff that has been raked off for a tent. I have also talked to neighbors and friends about detecting their yards and just about any place that is not off limits. I have been on a roll lately. The Merc in the middle was my first one Norm

Warranties have been a life saver for me. Seems like I am the unlucky guy on the block. Several years ago, I bought a new Coiltec 16" mono for my GPX 4000. They had some problems with several of these coils that fell into a range of serial numbers and mine was among them. I was on my fifth one before I got a good one. They were all handled very professionally with no hassles and a letter explaining the problem and the serial numbers of the ones after the design change. Thank you Coiltec and Doc's Detecting. Next came my new CTX 3030. The second time I tried to use it, it failed. Minelab resolved my problem very fast and I had a new one in about a week. Thank you Minelab and Creek Detectors. Next was my B and Z Booster, It suddenly decided not to work. It was replaced, no questions asked. Thank You J. P. and Doc's Detecting. My last experience was with my GPZ 7K. The select button quit working. I must have been in the transition between the two companies doing the repairs for Minelab. They paid the freight both ways, very happy about that. Minelab had it in their possession for three weeks before they contacted me, repaired and back to the shipping department the same day. Thank You Minelab. Only bad was the length of time without my detector. I cannot imagine the problems and costs I could have had without warranties. Norm McQ

Elections do make differences!

Flak Just hold the power button for a few seconds at start up, screen will ask if you want total reset or just settings, just settings usually works. My Zed recently died. The select button refused to work, and would only work after total reset. I sent it in for repairs and it came back with a new control panel and handle assembly. The detector works properly now. Between transportation to and from, I was without my detector for over a month, no mention from Minelab that there might be an added month of warranty. Just saying. Norm

I too like to be a lone wolf. I did participate in a push a couple of years ago with several detectors on a 150 x 300 foot area. Not an easy deal getting all the detectors to cooperate with each other. Just hoping there might be an other opportunity to test out a better way. Norm

With several GPZs working in a small area, is there a recommended auto tune procedure to tune each other out? Norm

I just returned from a trip to Oregon to watch the Solar Eclipse. I took my CTX 3030 just in case. Well, we arrived in Central Oregon a couple of days early and stayed in a U.S.F.S. Campground on the route. I checked out the empty spaces and found a few clad coins. Judging by the layout and size of the camp spaces and the lack of any old roads near by I was guessing it to be built in the 70s or 80s. After checking all of the obvious places, I moved out between the trees where someone could have set up a tent. After a few minutes, I got a nice signal and found a 27 Lincoln in pretty nice shape. My wife was waving to me to come back to camp. She was talking to an older woman( I can say that, she is six months older than me) and she asked me if I had found any treasures and I replied that I had. I shared the 27 penny with her. She told me that her father had started her collecting pennies at a young age and she didn't have a 27 s mint. I gave her that penny, and it made us both feel good. All night long, I kept wondering why was that penny there? The next day, I had to go back and see if there were any more old coins there. I did find one more coin in that general area. A very nice Merc. I still don't know why those coins were there.

Thanks for the clarification Steve, I thought I read that someplace before I got the CTX. Norm

I know it is ok to use the 3030 battery in the GPZ. Is it ok to use the GPZ battery in the CTX? I am thinking the larger battery would help with balance when using the large coil. Any thoughts? Norm

Bada Bing That specie with that much gold is an amazing find especially with the 19" and had been invisable to the other detectors. Congratulations on that find. It really doesn't surprise me that the gold content was much highher than expected. I am attaching a picture of a specie that I found with the 14" that a specific gravity test shows a negative amount of gold. Maybe it has a void in it and causes a false weight. Norm

I'll bet Paul forgot his boots someplace

Scott That is one of my favorite views and finding gold is frosting

The full moon rising over Rye Patch, Gold Basin in the spring and a sunset near Quartzsite

JW This nugget came from an area that was cleared of all debris by another detectorist a few years ago and not the first nugget I had found in the clearing, but had never found one there before getting the ZED. It was only about a foot deep and I am suspecting it wasn't laying flat or it would have been a booming signal. I agree with you it had my name on it but, I am going to blame the 19" coil and go back to most areas that have been good to me. Norm

Was it The download? Was it the 19" coil? Was it me? Went back to an area that I thought I had covered carefully more than once with the 14". Was pleasently surprised to get a very clear signal right in a very open area that produced this 5.56 gram nugget

https://youtu.be/1XkPeN3AWIE For all of my Yank friends that don't know what a Bower Bird looks like, I found this link. Great video Norm McQ

Enjoyed the video, didn't understand a word of it. They sure were having a good time. If the Gold Monster has the same quality coil cover as the ZED coils, they probably need a new cover before the next session.

Steve Knowing some of the areas you hunt, you are lucky to stop at three rotations. I am surprised there aren't some pictures of puncture wounds from the unfriendly vegetation there. Hope you heal soon Norm

I had the same falsing issues with my 19", but worse was the fact that it almost came off when detecting in brush and rocks. To solve the problem of the cover coming off, I used 18 small zip ties to secure it. After my mod, the falsing was gone. I assume that the zip ties added stability to the coil. Here is a picture of my mod

Nevada Chris detectoraid.com@gmail.com

Jennifer Don't try to kick out big nuggets with that footware you have!

Check out these boots. I just bought a pair after seeing a friend wearing them. He is very happy with his. No metal, no side zipper. Water proof Gortex liner, slip resistant, oil resistant sole, can be resoled. The sizes seem to be right on. They were comfortable right out of the box. They look to be very durable. Bates E03135 Lace to toe 8" $160.00 from Amazon

I just read the reviews on the Red Heads, lots of negative comments.