nickelNdimed

Can anyone point me to a good VDI scale for Simplex for typical US targets? I found some tables I can reference but was wondering if there is a common scale out there on the web maybe laid out vertically across their scale or if someone has already done this? Like for example, I like how Minelab in their manual for Equinox and Vanquish provide a scale for targets and VDIs common for various countries.

Exactly. So already 3 different scoring methods/scales in just 2 responses. I agree it is not a good global test but maybe a good local test. Maybe that is a good way to describe it. And the scoring scale and nails or board used, or technique of the user don’t matter as much as long as they are the same for the group of detectors being compared and those variables are stated or defined. Anyway. I’m wanting to do some detector comparison for fun and to scratch the winter detecting itch so wanting to figure out my method and could not find anything definitive on the scoring. Thanks!

I seem to remember folks also scoring detectors on this test or making references to X detector is a 6 on Montes nail board test. Can someone explain or point me to an explanation of this? Is there a sequence of sweeps? Does each direction count as a point if it reads picks up the penny? What if it picks up one way? What if one detector scores the same points but in a different combination of positive results? Is it out of 8 or 16 or other?

I wanted to add these pics just to show the difference in position of my arm and angle of elbow joint (wish I had taken without jacket) with my feet and coil at same position. This is what I noticed with my Vanquish that I did not have to stick out the lower as much for same placement due to the offset. My issue is pain above elbow and shoulder joint and never noticed with the Vanquish. I hope to try my new Equinox setup for longer hunts soon. Waiting for some warmer weather....

Steve said he could look into making me a 3 piece shaft by adding another connection closer to the coil end of the S. So essentially you would have an upper, middle, and lower. But after discussing with him I felt it would add complexity and weight on the wrong end. If I wanted it more compactness I can always revert back to my stock shaft for travel. My other thought was that my travel scoop will only go so compact so there would always be some limiting factor into how compact I could go.

I debated the shaft over the Coiltek but couldn’t pass up the shaft when Steve finally offered us this solution. Maybe if I hold out on the coil, someone will come out with a lighter 10X5 option... ⏳

Upper is one piece and it is about same length as upper and middle on stock shaft as you can see in one of the pics. I only have one pod hole and cuff is adjustable like stock shaft. From my experience and other comments I have seen, Steve is willing to work with individuals and make adjustments or customization when possible. I’d check with him on any unique needs or questions. He was even willing to make me a three piece iteration but at the end I settled for his original concept as I did not want to add more weight on the wrong end and keep it as light as possible.

I believe it is as close as it can get and still allow for easy removal of coil connection. Further away limits the range of the lower rod.

I know this topic has come up here a few times and there are some of us out there who prefer an S shaft. We have debated the benefits of the straight vs S shaft, counter balancing, offered Frankenstein solutions, discussed the limited available options. When Steve announced he was working on an S shaft option for Equinox, and mentioned he was looking for testers, I jumped at the chance to try this out. I provided Steve my thoughts on the prototype I received from another tester in Florida, exchanged a few messages. Great guy to work with. I believe the prototype shaft was only getting one small tweak so I immediately placed my order. Couldn’t wait to get my production version! A few days later, Steve had my S shaft built and in the mail. Behold the Equinox S shaft from Steve’s Detector Rods! I opted for black red color and no counterweight but I believe he is offering that option on this shaft same as on the straight shafts. I’d also like to thank Steve for listening to us and now offering this beautifully executed solution! Some pictures for your enjoyment below.

Me too : ) Couldn’t wait to get mine!

Yes!

I’m just going to leave these here...

I actually remembered a story from a neighbor that grew up in the area I thought this crowd might appreciate. We were talking about how he came to live at his house facing park. He grew up in a different part of the neighborhood and used to walk to the park to swim. When he did that he would walk to pool barefoot as that saved him the dime for the locker for clothing. So, he would walk through grassy areas and streets that had grassy curb strips. His current house is on that route facing the park and he used to think that was where all the rich people lived. They really were and still are modest houses but he wanted to live there someday and now he does. Anyway, I thought that was pretty cool and also made me think about the kids that did bring that dime or other change and other things they may have dropped on grassy areas on way to the pool or other activities at the park. Like maybe that’s how that watch fob ended up there!

Watch fob is probably my favorite so far. Yes, hopefully more good finds to come! Looking forward to the spring. I’ve used them before but on this park I have been using the city GIS. Good reminder. I’ll have to try it and see if I find something different than GIS aerials. Older ones are pretty blurry. Park has changed over the years but I have done a little research on it and have a few areas of interest. The thing is I am trying to hit not so obvious areas as this park is frequented by detectorists hitting the obvious spots. So I din’t just move here to detect but it was one reason. I now don’t have to drive here! As I get to know neighbors and meet people, I’ll have to work in the request to detect their yards : ) It is an old neighborhood and hundreds of houses so it is a good place to be.

I haven’t posted anything significant in a while. I moved mid year and changed role at work. It has been busy getting settled in and sorting out some things at the house, getting up to speed at work, life. It has been tough getting away to detect. But I also just walk to my detecting spot now. Anyway, wanted to post my more notable finds this year from my new to me 1920 house and neighborhood 1800s park. These were found with my Equinox 600 and Vanquish 440. Hope to have more time to detect this year now that we are more settled. From my front yard and part of backyard I found wheats from 30s-50s, a 40s Merc, an old clock winding key, and lots of nails. The house has been mostly renovated and has probably had a few roofs over the years, so lots more nails to remove. It also has had two additions on crawl space so some of the back yard was lost to that and the 2 car garage. Work has been done on sewer line and buried gutter drains so a lot of the yard has been disturbed over the years. I’m hopeful there are more goodies in rest of yard and masked by the nails. We’ll see what next year brings. These finds show some potential. From the park, I’ve only hunted some areas scouting for potential and only gridded one area mostly for surface finds where a festival was held. I had better luck than I expected. Found a modern silver ring, a modern token, random clad and spills not shown. But what was interesting were a few signals I could not ignore that were good and deeper than surface. So I took the time to dig those. I also can’t resist a good nickel signal so I often dig those as well. I managed to pull a no date Buffalo about 6” or so and an old watch fob, slightly damaged with typical of early 1900s designs. This was a higher tone about 8”. Wasn’t a silver coin like I hoped but I’ll take it. Anyway, there is lots of trash typical of a park and plenty of acreage so hopefully more interesting finds to come after thoroughly gridding and cleaning up areas. Oh, the old religious pin I found in a different area a while back just digging all signals. Never know what you will find in those hunted out spots.

Check out RTG (Reilly’s Treasured Gold). Good scoops and reasonably priced. Made in Florida. After much research I went with the Blade travel version but they have a 6” round travel version as well and many other options. Hand scoops, short pole, long pole, travel pole, aluminum and stainless. You can order direct, other detector shops, ebay, Amazon. They offer some customization if you order direct but not sure on overseas.

Seems like a nice facility with some freshening up needed in office spaces. What would a facility that size be good for these days in Oregon close to a city like Portland? Electric cars or batteries? Tiny houses? Indoor Kale grow operation? Jokes aside, I’m sure it would be nice to see some life and jobs back in that building. Probably where all those White’s product catalogs I used to get as a kid came from. I still look for a Whites Classic I that I wanted and never got. If I can pick one up cheap enough just for nostalgia/wall hanger.

I’ve been wanting to use this test to compare a few detectors I own and thought this variable needed some control. I thought it was odd this was not used in video comparisons and I was such a nerd for thinking that a metronome and some sort of markings for sweep length/distance for reference might be useful.... Guess I’m not the only one so that makes me feel better. And I am now wondering if the cadence foot sensor from my Garmin might be a useful tool in monitoring this if I attach it to detector shaft far enough away from the coil or my arm so it does not interfere. I really only need a point of reference from unit to unit that I am testing 🤔

I saw all minus the Simplex listed on a couple US based online dealers. That is a killer deal almost $100US less than these sites and shipping only $14 seems pretty cheap.

I’ve wondered if it would help differentiating a copper penny from a dime better. They are so close and similar on the Equinox. I’ve hunted some sites where I have found a bunch of wheats but not a single silver dime and wondered if someone more skilled or with a different scale sniffed them out and left the wheats behind.

Have I missed the pricing being discussed for the various detectors? Are they now available from US dealers? Online? Thank you I see metal detector online site has them mostly for $250 and Ace model for $220 but no Simplex model listed? Thought it was on the list..

Don’t forget the “Arrow”! I’m not planning on purchasing a Legend but if they offer the right coils I may just have to and sell off more of my others. Heck even the Equinox 600 if it really is as good.

Because they can get away with it and it works? They will still get tons of sales. Why does a Hyundai H look like a slanted Honda H emblem?

The Vanquish ones are pretty cheesy and lame too. They seem to like taking subtle and not so subtle jabs at each other. But how interesting or what class of actors would one expect for something like metal detectors? I mean it is almost on par with Law and Order or CSI level of acting.