Hard Prospector

The Teknetics T2 is a good VLF gold detector especially in mineralized ground. I've had prospects in the desert where my GB2, GMT and even F19 would not function well because the ground was too hot, yet there was also too much metalic trash for my TDI. The T2 (at 13kHz) handled the ground quite well and its discrimination features made quick work of the trash. Effective, user friendly and good ergonomics for less than $500.00 Might be a consideration for you......Rob

At the beach and above waterline; Coins, mens gold and silver rings.......DD coil Gold chains, earrings and womens (small n' petite) gold engagement rings..........small concentric loop best but may drive you crazy sounding off on tiny bits of EVERYTHING metallic Below water line, I always start with Sand Shark. If I hit a "pay streak" of coins, I'll try to back over the area with different machines/coils. ***Man am I getting tired of digging up all of the cheap, crappy carbide rings!

Very nice Luke, you certainly earned it! Really enjoyed the drywash vid too.

Great idea and thanks for sharing

I think you nailed it Steve.......Thanks!

I bought two yesterday and interestingly, coil covers for it were difficult to find at White's. Apparently this coil which has been around for a while for export to Africa, never saw a demand for a protective loop cover. Further investigation led me to believe that the African placer miners are very superstitious and believe coil covers to be "bad luck"......I'm not kidding! I can't wait to compare it (on my GMT) to my GB2 on bedrock. My hunch is that this coil will breath new life into the Goldmaster series and I'm glad.

Nice take Steven BTW, how are you liking your Dues?

A small concentric shooter would breath new life into the Goldmaster line for sure.

Been waiting YEARS for someone to make a small concentric shooter coil for the GMT. Hint....Hint

Its too bad detectors don't retain their value like guns do. I have 6 machines but over twice as many guns yet they all make me happy in their own way.

I wondered the same thing about the new "all digital detectors" when they first came out. I've had a GB Pro over 5 years now and its been dropped a few times and seemed no worse for the wear. Same for my F19 which has seen the most back-country use this past year, even left it outside my tent (by mistake) when a afternoon thunder storm drenched it.......no issue. Of course I ordered a protective cover at first chance. Actually just picked up another GB2 took it and the Gold Bug and cut them down into pin pointers. Man what a difference having a "shorty" detector can make when working tailing piles and tight spots between boulders on bedrock. Not sure about you fellas but I often have to crawl on all fours to get the coil over where I want it and the full length detector left a lot to be desired in such circumstances. With over-all lengths of 22', these new mini's have made such tasks a whole lot easier. The cut down GB has especially worked out well, its lite weight has made for good ergonomics for use with one hand (hand tool in other). Working steep tailing piles this way, knee pads and boots dug into slope allows for a comfortable work position as I move/detect material and my back sure likes this method. I can't take credit for modifying these machines though, got the idea from Steve H. You've got my interest in that Fisher CZX, gonna have to check it out.

The GB2 has a 20 year history of rugged dependable simplicity in the gold fields and finding the tiny bits. Its rare that anything goes wrong with one even when abused, mine has been dropped on talus slopes and fallen off tailgates.......no problem. I know what you mean about having to re balance every few feet in hot ground though, gets tedious after several hours. I think about getting a Gold Racer often but buying a machine built over-seas with a still unproven track record and mixed reviews on the factory authorized repair facility has me spooked for now. Heck, I would like nothing more than to see First Texas come out with an updated version of the GB2 ( hint, hint....GG/Tracking)

Red tape,signs, fences, gates, studies, lawyers and Leo's cost money to "manage" our government land. Their solution; pay to play in given areas the rest stay out. Just a couple decades ago when public land was truly public (and free) everything seemed better in so many ways. I'll end my thought here 'cause I know Steve doesn't want things getting too political.

Rugged and effective, the Gold Bug 2 just never seems to go out of style

I enjoyed reading that article

Minelab has been having some incredible promotions this summer. My buddy just bought new GPX 5000 for $3000.00 out the door from a prospecting shop-Minelab dealer. He almost bought the 4500 for $2250 (OTD!) Top of the line machines for a mid-range price......Unthinkable just a few years ago.

How about naming that monster "The Punisher" and paint it on the side someplace.

VLF for Africa; I hear the Teknetics T2 has been a big gold prodecer

Nice pieces Steven and good luck in Nevada. Oh, and I do have an interest in that GB2 peanut coil that you came across during your move......Rob

FYI. just this year I bought a T2 and it has been a great machine to hunt parks. Ignores the aluminum trash a bit better (than the GB) seems to hit coins and rings deeper, less EMI issues and the VDI / target ID works really well. I'm sure the slight depth increase has to do with running at 13kHz (compared to the GB at 19kHz) but the sensitivity is still great. I use the 11"DD coil on that detector as well.

I came across a steel gold pan once at a garage sale. Bought it and later took it with me to the beach and let it soak in the bay for a few hours while I did some detecting. A week later and totally rusted, I mounted on the wall in my den. There's an idea on what you can do with a steel gold pan.

I use the 11"DD on my GB Pro or F19 when hunting parks and it works very well. Bits and shreds of aluminum trash would just drive the smaller coils crazy.

I know of a guy who does quite well working from a kayak in Nor Cal rivers and streams as it provides great access to areas where most can't. Some tools that come to mind: Garret AT Gold detector (its waterproof) Crack hammer Small plastic drop riffle sluice Plastic gold pan, crevice tools and sucker devices ***Review vids on crevicing and sniping for gold. Good Luck!

I ran into this old miner working his claims once while I was doing some prospecting/detecting up in the Inyo mountains and he showed me his "lucky nugget', a 2 ouncer that he said he carries on himself always since he found it back in 1969 Oh, and I've only lost gold (from my pocket) once and luckily "rediscovered it" in the washing machine tub......before my wife

Nearly retired from the fire service, this past year I started to identify myself as also a part time gold miner. When some people hear this, you wouldn't believe some of the looks I've gotten. Its like people just can't believe that its possible for a man, working alone to actually extract real gold from the earth! They would be more likely to believe me if I said I was running for US Senate or the CEO of a fortune 500 company than a real gold miner! Well after being in that position a few times and not feeling like I should have to explain myself to anyone, I had an idea. A few months back I started carrying around some of my finds, usually an oz of gold in a vial or a 4-6 gram nugget. Not every day but often and now when I tell someone that I prospect and mine, I'm usually pulling out the gold from my pocket at the same time. It's amazing how the Au speaks for its self and shuts down the nay- sayers . That's pretty much the extent of my gold bragging.