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Hard Prospector

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  1. I happened by the Whites factory some years ago and they did indeed have what appeared to be some kind museum of all Whites  detectors made going back several plus decades.

    Suppose I'll keep my Sierra Gold Trac (have all coils for it) as it was fun to use and found plenty of gold with it.  Although in its last days  I was somewhat unhappy with the customer service I received at White's,  no hard feelings remain and I wish the family well.

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  2. 1 hour ago, Tony said:

    Sea Hunter MK2 is about as simple to use as anything out there. These are my observations

    • Switch on to first position (Standard)
    • Threshold to suit
    • Elimination to Zero (can advance clockwise a fraction to reduce the salt audio rise from waves and swell). Leave at zero for hunting anywhere else. Elimination at zero equates to around the 15uS mark. In the surf, I ran mine at "2" or "3". This puts the delay around the 20uS mark (much like the Sand Shark)
    • The wobbly shaft might be a problem. I replaced with a carbon fibre upper shaft
    • Take care when aligning the headphone and coil pins into the housing
    • Shallow and big targets are quite loud in the headphones. Wearing a flap hat or some small foam in the earcups helps.
    • A very light application of silicone grease on the battery compartment O ring is important. Because the battery cap screws / rotates against the O ring, some grease prevents the O ring from potentially distorting. A dry O ring can "grab" against the cap. Don't screw past the indicator mark on the housing.
    • The coils are great but I found the epoxy was somewhat brittle and chipped in rocky areas. I applied Plasti-Dip to mine and it solved the problem
    • I ordered a spare battery cap and got some spare battery holders.

    That's about it really........I might have to get another one someday. They are a no frills workhorse detector.

    Great stuff Tony

    Thanks again!

    • Like 1
  3. 15 hours ago, Tony said:

    Much respect to you....Go big or go home.......you do know the coils can be swapped out or did you need an excuse to get two detectors 🤣🤣

    Here's my weapon of choice for an early New Years Day morning hunt....thanks to Eric Foster (RIP)

    Fully retro / vintage for 2024

     

    Garrett XL500 Pulse.JPG

    Easier to just grab a different detector than switch out coils (as we all know).  Plus the discussion on waterproof beach PI detectors possibly becoming extinct some day kinda spooked me.  Always wished I'd bought a second Sand Shark when I had the chance. Really appreciate all your help Tony,  perhaps when the detector arrives you'll give me some suggestions on settings,  thanks a bunch..........Robert

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  4. Been gold prospecting for over 20 years and have done quite well nugget shooting.  The biggest nuggets I have detected have been in established gold districts, tramp trash infested sites where "tones" and "ID numbers" implied don't waste your time digging this target only to reveal a multi ounce specimen. Dig it all is my program and yes I pull out a lot of junk but the pay offs have been worth the effort.

    I apply this same technique to beach detecting and have done quite well

    • Like 5
  5. 1 hour ago, Tony said:

    You are welcome......I sold mine years ago (and regretted it). To make up for it......I bought a fully restored and updated Garrett XL500 Pulse from Eric Foster (RIP).......my machine of choice when I venture to the black sand beach areas. The Garrett Sea Hunter MK2 with that little 8" coil is impressive.....I never cared for the bigger coil.

    HH

    Tony

    Was just about to ask you about the larger optional Sea Hunter 10 x 14 coil.........thanks again!

    My mind is almost made up but suppose I'll  let this thread run for a day or two before I order  a Sea Hunter

  6. 5 minutes ago, Tony said:

    If black sands (remember not all black sands are bad unless attracted to a magnet) aren't a problem then the PI detector may offer no real advantage to a decent multi frequency VLF machine. Also remember that the Sand Shark ran a pulse delay of about 20uS to 22uS so the salt audio is nicely dealt with. Some people saw that setting as "no good" but I disagree. Anyhow, what's available new today.....I think it's the Garrett Sea Hunter MK2 which is well regarded. It has a minimal pulse delay of around 15uS and maxes out around 30uS to 40uS (rough guess based on what the "Elimination" control knocks out at the higher setting). When I had the Garrett, I used to advance the delay setting to around the 20uS which is very effective in fast salt water. So if you're after "new" as you mention above then the Garrett is it......if you have deep pockets then the Fisher AQ is still available but you really should think hard about that machine as it's expensive and it's quite a handful to operate.

     

    Was leaning toward the Sea Hunter MK2 as it seems kinda like the Sand Shark and the price is certainly right. Rugged simplicity is what I lean toward and having been nugget shooting for 15 years,  I'm used to digging everything anyways.

    Thanks a bunch for input,  much appreciated Tony

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  7. Been going to Baja for many years exploring, fishing, diving and prospecting. I've always lived lived by three rules once I cross the border; 

    *Always treat the Mexicans with respect and dignity.

    *Don't invest in anything down there that doesn't  have wheels under it and........

    *Don't don't bring anything along you can't afford to lose.

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  8. Very valid points but I must respectfully disagree on the PI suggestion as they still (pretty much) lack effective discrimination.  You see; just like the mine dumps at hard rock workings .....these dredge piles are full of iron trash as well. They were the "open air dumpsters" for the work site. Food cans, all forms of metalic trash, bottles even old worn out boots  was just thrown about the spoils piles or sometimes  even pitched into the dredge pond. 

    BTW  if possible and legal,  getting a Bobcat or mini excavator into the site to spread material around would be a HUGE benefit.

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  9. Get a shovel, hard tooth rake and VLF detector with good discrimination as there will be lots of iron trash in the dredge spoils. I used my F19 in such areas and found some good nuggets. Nuggets are likely to be the bigger variety (often specimens)  as mostly smaller screened  material was processed and sluiced. Persistence and patience is key....... Good luck

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  10. Thanks phrunt, appreciate the in depth reply.  Heard some good things about the Garrett Pro Pointer (also heard the Minelab pointers were not so great).  When I was in Anchorage, went to AMDS and  talked to a guy who worked there named Dustin. He really seemed to know his stuff and liked the Garrett pointer for a quick spin through his screened material before sluicing or high banking.

    BTW; if ever in Anchorage, you gotta make a stop at AMDS.  This place is the "Bass Pro Shops" of mining and prospecting supplies. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff as well.  

    • Like 1
  11. Always had my doubts about these things for placer work. I mean; bed rock cracks, under boulders or just a quick pass through in screened material before it being sluiced or drywashed. Usually I reach for my trusty GB2 for such applications. Always thought the pin pointers are better left for the parks?  Perhaps I should be more open minded........?

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