Lost Scout

2 hours ago, GoodAmount said:

Gold Digger picks are awesome. Those Supersede picks are awesome too - I love that the parts bolt on and are replaceable (I’ve done the same thing with my DIY-build pick an it’s worked out super well). I’d recommend welding on a new tip if you’re only replacing the sharp end of the tooth, given bolting it on will interfere with its travel into the ground. Bolting an entire new tooth at the handle collar will work great, but you’ll be throwing away good steel in the process.

So are you heat treating and tempering after welding the new tip on?

32 minutes ago, phrunt said:

Are you talking about the fine little wire that just connects to the black paper with tape, it's a shield wire.   To look at them they don't look like they're designed to last with all that masking tape.

No not that one. It was one that went to the connections to both coils that is covered in epoxy. I am not an electronics guy by any means. However there was no sign of water, no soil, the seal  was good.( A pain to separate in fact ). From a layman's point of view nothing appeared wrong. Probably have to hook it up to a multimeter or something to see where it went wrong. Oh well mechanical parts are prone to failure no matter the application. I don't abuse stuff but do use them  hard. I think I'll upgrade to a Nugget Finder Evo or a coiltech. I just bought two advantage coils for really cheap and was really impressed over the stock coils performance.

3 minutes ago, Tony said:

I had that exact coil years ago......it had done a lot of work on hard ground and finally died.

We gave it a good send off.....tied it to a tree branch and re calibrated it with 00 buck.

Like your send off!

So for any one who is interested...

It's possible that one of the very fine wires connecting to the epoxied doodad wasn't connected before I carefully removed some of the masking tape? In any event I was somewhat surprised that the bundling was a little more ... consistent. Im not an electronics guy but I thought it would be.

15 minutes ago, phrunt said:

Coils don't have reset buttons, they're just a dumb bit of wire in a plastic housing.  

Are you sure you didn't accidently flick your detector into cancel? 

Oddly the coils that could use a reset button are the XP coils, as they're a detector inside a coil, mine locked up and I had to reset it by disconnecting the battery! 

GPX coils on the other hard are not smart coils in any way, just wire.

Here is your DD Coil gutted and filleted. 

 

Sorry  Phrunt, my sense of humor and sarcasm didn't translate in text. I know it doesn't have a reset. The video is ok , good to see the insides the the coil. I'm going to take mine apart out of curiosity.

And yes I was using multiple coils and everything else worked. So I didn't have it in cancel.  It worked fine two weeks ago. Just don't understand why it it failed.

VMI went out today, it was beautiful. Wanted to do a bunch of testing and comparisons on coils and depths between a vlf and pi. ( So i know where the cross over is ). When I got to the stock 11" dd commander for my 4500 it didn't work. I mean I waved it two inches off my pick before it responded! I looked the whole thing over but can't find the reset button. Any words of wisdom? I've included pics top and bottom for reference. And fat fingered the pics, sorry.

I think I'm going to ever so carefully take it apart with a two pound hammer and see if I can find the problem.

On the other hand I can now fully justify a new aftermarket.🤠

5 hours ago, Jin said:

Any tips for how to sharpen a pick correctly to keep its Hardening/Tempering properties?

I've been filing my pick head with a hand file but it's so slow. Was watching the video below and it looks like I should have been grinding the whole edge of the pick not just the tip.

 

Hey Jin, use a  grinder quick and lightly. I watched the video and as someone who welds and uses shovels, picks, knives and other metal tools I'm here to tell you this isn't a knife. I'm picky about my knife sharpening but this is a pick. It hits the dirt and rocks. It doesn't need a fine edge. Just cleaned up on occasion. Some things need fine tuning and then there are some tools that you have to realize aren't a piano.

2 hours ago, phrunt said:

Yup, I just tried using a US server from my VPN provider and I can watch the unlocked episodes fine.

You can watch bits and pieces on Youtube though.

forged in fire - YouTube

 

3 hours ago, Guys gold said:

This new detector with being light weight,not much money for batteries,and it looks to do well with GPX coils old and new,And folds up small enough where you can pack it in to almost anywhere.Looks like something you’d want to get my hands on.

😂 Ok I'm laughing! Cause I can have a dirty mind. So many responses.... But I don't want to be banned from the forum....(you'd want to to get my hands on) I'm a little confused. And my wife wants to to know what's going on.

As far as the new detector goes it sounds really promising. But it's not happening any time soon for me. I did get two N F Advantage coils from an estate type sale really cheap.  8x6 and 14 x7. They arrived today.  Now I want a coil 15"-18" but may have to wait for a deal.  Can't do any testing around the house , too much emi. When I have a chance I may post the results.

Beautiful!

You might also check out 511tactical. I've got one of theirs for an everyday bag that's smaller. Doesn't have D rings but does have slots a ring or carabineer would go into.

1 hour ago, Purplehays69 said:

This is what I use. It carries a 3L water bladder, extras and the 2 clips on the back expand nicely to carry along an extra coil.

I have used the same thing for years as a hunting day pack. I vouch for the overall quality. Mesh side pockets do tear out. Because of the front Dee rings and the fact I just got a bungee from Docs I'm thinking this is what I'll use. Alps Trailblazer, Alps Outdoors. They have different styles. ( Was taking a break from a cold project outside.😀)

1 hour ago, F350Platinum said:

We are discussing whether we feel we are good enough to deserve an expensive machine or much to some spouses "Another one 🙄", but there also seems to be an undercurrent regarding not being up to jumping up to a newer and way more expensive detector out of suspicion that we might not match its performance, indeed like a rifle that is more accurate in a sandbag or vise hold.

I've received a lot of advice over the years, and luckily have remembered much of it.

I was employed right out of college as an Accounts Receivable clerk as I knew my fresh degree in IT and a dime might make me enough to call someone who cared. This was back when being able to spell "computer" without a "k" was almost enough. It helped that I was promoted to the computer department of a large company from the freight receiving desk earlier, but that's another story.

The IT director approached me one day and asked me if I knew anything about Lotus 1-2-3, to which I replied that I did, writing Macros was something I really enjoyed. It appeared that some young "genius" wrote a large macro to transmit financials at the end of day had crashed and they wanted me to look at it. I fixed it, and one day the director threw the system programming manual for their IBM system at me and said "If you can write me a program from this book, I'll make you a programmer". I did, and he did.

One day we were discussing the imminent bankruptcy of that company and he gave me the second most sage advice I ever heard:

"Don't ever be afraid to take on something that you think is bigger than you, be it a job, a thing, or person".

The reasoning was that if you do, you will push yourself to understand it and do it/use it/triumph over it.

Quite frankly I'm pleased and sometimes amazed at how I've been able to do that even if I get knocked down or pushed back.

Never doubt anything but your fears, even if you get knocked down or pushed back.

Great thread LS, I'll shut up for a while 😏

It's not about deserving or a suspicion of not being good enough for a machine. I hope I can communicate and make sense here. If you are happy and satisfied with whatever machine you're using I think that's great. I have been happy with a $110 machine from the pawn shop. Now I'm learning new technology on more expensive machines. I hope to learn them well, hope to make cool finds on the way and lm happy doing it. 

Learn the machine you can afford.

If you can afford the best and want one, go for it. (It also helps drive the economy and gives me a chance at the used models 😀).

In some areas of my life I like automatic turn on and go, get results so that I can spend time in on other things that interest me. Certainly in some areas I take on things that make me learn and are a challenge. When I bought a Nox 800 I bought a learning curve. Still learning, happy doing it.

In another thread there is guy selling a detector. Found out that's not the machine for him and he's finding gold with another model. I think it's great he's finding gold and hope he finds more. He found  the tool that works for him but seems to be searching for something a little more... Nothing wrong with that. So am I.

Am I up to my machines capabilities? No. But I'm happy using them.

20 minutes ago, DSMITH said:

I am like @F350Platinum I do not spend money on different detectors thinking I will make a living from detecting or thinking I am going to recover some big find that I can sell to make a profit on or make me famous as a metal detectorist LOL, all the detectors I have purchased other than one I have found enough that they paid for themselves some a few times over, the reason I purchase a detector is to learn a new detectors differences and to just get out of the house and enjoy the great outdoors, which I could do with the very first detector I ever purchased, meeting different people and just enjoying being out detecting, it is not about the money for me but rather doing something I love to do, if I do find something all the better and is gravy on top of the adventure, did I need any of the detectors I have purchased to do what I love to do (Nope not Really) I can enjoy what I do just by looking around at the different landscapes and exploring different areas, the detectors just make it a little funner when exploring.

When I do purchase a different detector I do try to learn as much as I can about that detector by talking to others and asking questions, some of that learning can only be done if you get out and swing that detector, but as far as purchasing a detector to try and make a living nope, its about learning new tech and things like that, but in reality what I have figured out is I could take the very first detector I ever purchased out with me and have just as much fun as I do with the newer so called technically advanced detectors, they all find metal some may do it a little better than others, but if I were to think about the money I have spent then it probably would not be near as fun anymore purchasing the different detectors.

I don't think it's always about making a living as it is about being proficient. Do you use it as an excuse to get out? Or are enthused about being able to find stuff in the ground? Either way I get it. Thanks for the reply and keep at it.

23 minutes ago, F350Platinum said:

I definitely am happy with my latest detector, so much so I now have two, well really four (Deus 2 and WS6) 😀. I still use my midrange machine now and again but it pretty much reminds me why I upgraded. I'll probably give my first machine to an interested kid.

Every hunt for me is practice and about testing skill, I don't mind getting skunked now and again and I'm thrilled when I don't. I try new stuff and bounce wild theories off of my detecting buddies, sometimes even here on the forum. I'm probably as good with a detector now than I was with a rifle, but my Army Expert badge was pretty hard earned too.

However, that sort of hunting doesn't appeal to me anymore either 😏

I may be missing the point of your question, but so far I have reached my goal about 95% of the time I use my machine, and yet I still have some to learn. That gap is closing now because of using it so much and sticking with it.

I constantly and repeatedly seem to outdo myself each year, probably haven't hit the other side of the Bell  Curve yet. I hope that doesn't happen until I'm too old and feeble. That's a lot of reward. A lot of factors play into my success thus far, but yeah, I think I'm good enough. 🙂 At some point there will be a better machine, so I still have something to anticipate.

You are obviously enjoying yourself. Keep it up!

I like your sentiments. For me i love the hunt. Doesn't matter if it's for game or metal detecting. 90 percent is being outside and experiencing everything associated with it. But I have to have goal... A point. If I can't eat deer meat once in awhile it negates my purposes. If don't find a treasure in the ground the rest seems pointless. I  would just  go out on hike or go camping and not spend the money on a detector.

32 minutes ago, F350Platinum said:

I'm kinda on the other side of the coin where the ultimate goal is not about making a profit at all.

For a good part of my life I was a musician, and wanted to go far with it, but my mother gave me some good advice early on:

"Don't make music or anything that could be a hobby your vocation, make it your avocation. If you have a good vocation, you'll be able to afford the best things to enjoy the avocation, and it will mean much more to you."

So, I joined the Army to pay for my college, and went out and got a career started in IT. I always disliked the IT profession, but it paid well and I made damn sure I could at least do things my way by the time I retired.

I had all sorts of guitars and amps and played in bands, had my fill of dopamine, but never made back the money I invested in it. I didn't care because I enjoyed the thrill of performing part time.

I was pretty darn good at photography too, worked for a studio for a few years again part time doing weddings, and yet again never made enough to pay for the great cameras I had until I started buying old cameras and selling them. That hobby probably broke even, but I kinda got disgusted with dealing with the public. There was no real thrill in it for me, people kinda suck in general when they want you to do something for them.

I bought a metal detector about 6 months before I retired, and probably get out there a few times a week, because of where I live I don't have to travel far. Heck I found a 1773 Virginia half cent about 100 yards from my house. There is that much stuff here. I've filled up probably about 30 Riker cases thus far. I've since upgraded to the latest detector, and after 2 years I'm still learning it, it keeps me going.

In 3+ years I have made some astounding finds in any book, but unless I find something that my wife doesn't want, that doesn't mean much historically, and I have no attachment to like a platinum diamond ring too big or gaudy for my wife, I'm going to take the low road and leave it all to the history folks posthumously. 😀 My local Jeweler is waiting for that day as well 🤣

I enjoy the thrill of the finds, period. I wish my wife was well enough to go with me, but at least I earn my points with her by tackling my responsibilities first, taking her out for dinner if I find precious metal, and giving her right of first refusal on everything. 🙂 It's a discipline but well worth it.

Bottom line for me is being able to afford the best gear has always been an easier path than starting at the beginning. My wife always says if you can't afford the best at least shoot for the midrange.

Oh and I really like this forum for the help and the friends I've made, for some reason the most genuine people I've ever known or met are right here. I think that's enough for me.

So to get back to my question, regardless of what you paid or how good the detector might be, are using it to its fullest? And if not are you happy with your your choice?

For various reasons I'm going over metal detecting stuff and gun stuff at the same time. And it occurred to me that an analogy could be made. 95 percent of people that hunt can't shoot as accurately as their gun can. Buying a sub minute accurate rifle for hunting is generally a waste of money unless you practice and are dialed in to your rifle at at all ranges. Spending the money on a $1500+ dollar rifle is not going to make you any better if you don't improve your own game. How many of you out there are hoping to to find the big nugget because you spent $7000 + dollars for new technology that you don't learn to use? I'm not trying to bash anyone, but rather encourage learning the machine you have to to get optimum results.  And there is certainly a cost/ benefit equation. I don't detect enough to justify  a gpz but have used a used 4500 enough to to get my money out of it if only for the satisfaction of the hunt. My wife and I have spent countless hours using an Equinox 800  and have been fully rewarded for our efforts if only for the time spent learning the machine. The ultimate goal is to come away with a profit ( monetary or historical ) and that is why it is worth while to pursue. I want to find gold..but I know that I have to research, practice and spend the time with the coil to the ground and pay attention to what I'm doing,  hearing, and the results I get.

I know this isn't technical and a deep dive into electronics but i would like to hear back from some you that make a living or spend a lot of time dedicated to this game.

1 hour ago, Gerry in Idaho said:

Being in Idaho and around MT or Eastern OR.  A good DD coil will allow you to hunt in hand workings and tailing piles.  If your 4500 came with stock coils, there should be an 11" DD with it.  If not, I would suggest a Commander 10" Ellip DD.  What's cool about that coil (many folks don't know), is you can actually run it in MONO mode and get half the coil to use as a small MONO for tiny gold.  And as mentioned before, it also will fit the upcoming AlgoForce.

DD coils seem to be overlooked by many, but in the right places and the Iron ID setting option of the 4500, you can save some time when hunting.

I haven't tried the DD in mono yet but I'm going to. I should be getting two used small NF Advantage coils in the mail next week. They were really cheap, estate sale. I'd like a 15" but just bought the pinpointers from you. So will probably have to wait on that. Hope to use the Equinox's on tailing piles this summer.

I know others have shared their gratitude in the past but I would like to do the same. Thanks Steve, for this forum. Thanks to all the contributers who's input, ideas, questions and expertise make this a great source of information, interest and an avenue to help pursue the hunt for buried treasure.

I'm sharing a photo of my wife when she found her first ring; priceless. And one selfie with both of us wandering around Nevada having a great time looking for for some yellow stuff.

Love learning more about detecting, the technical stuff, tips and tricks, geology and seeing some of the finds people have made.

Again , thanks.

Watch the video at docs detecting.com He sells a bungee set up called the qweegle. Just bought one and it is really easy to use and adjust. The video shows it in use.

Well I just gave my dad's old Gold Bug Pro to my kid so out of luck there. Lots of info on the thread,thanks.

So at the very least I can see that I need to pony up for a better coil. The amplifier intrigues me.

17 minutes ago, Redz said:

Amplifier allows you to lower the threshold on the detector controls, but then amplify with the external amplifier. The effect of this is you can use a much lower threshold but still hear it clearly, and boost the quiet signals that were hidden by threshold to be audible. When combined with emi shielding you can also lift the stabilizer so you hear much smaller signals. The overall effect of this is much greater sensitivity to small signals. In effect you are running the dector using settings you previously could not hear. The amplifier quality is also much better than the one in the stock battery.

In my experience it allowed me to go over ground and hear deeper nuggets. But ask the australians, they all use amplifiers

Ok. In some of the areas I try I have a lot of EMI in in others very little. That's one of the reasons I want to try an aftermarket coil. Sounds like I may need to look into an amplifier. Thanks

2 minutes ago, phrunt said:

Ahhh ok, I spoke to Woody about his EMI filter some time ago, it wasn't going to block out any EMI for me, it helps in Northern Western Australia with their radars going on, and in some other parts of Australia affected by them, but outside of that, powerlines and other traditional EMI I may encounter he indicated it wouldn't do a thing so recommended I don't buy one.

Seems like I'm all good then, I have the shield cover and use a lithium battery 😉

See this is what I mean by subtleties. It can be regional. Thanks to both of you.

1 hour ago, Redz said:

Yes. Get a 15" evolution and an amplifier. Shield from emi and ramp stabilizer and gain. You will see a difference

I get the newer coils but is the amplifier that much more of an advantage?

46 minutes ago, TE Gold said:

If, btw you decided to buy 2 aftermarket coils, a booster and a set of headphones....that would probably go close to the same money as an algoforce!

Yep I have consider it.

46 minutes ago, phrunt said:

Most certainly aftermarket coils are worth it, a bulk of the aftermarket manufacturers mostly only make spiral wound coils now, they're more sensitive to small gold than the bundle wound Commander coils supplied with your detector, they also give a bit more depth on the sizes of gold the spiral windings help on.

They also make sizes that very greatly from the standard sizes, and to top it off they're generally better build quality.

It all depends what you do, and where you hunt to recommending sizes and coils is difficult, although people in your area may help there.

The added bonus is if you ever find the need to buy an Algoforce you'll be able to use them on it too.

The Nugget Finder 8x6" Sadie has always been a popular choice for a small coil, the 9" Coiltek Elite is probably the most sensitive of the spirals readily available, closely followed by the 12x8" Nugget Finder, these smaller spirals can be a bit noisy in some bad ground though and the 14x9" EVO by Nugget Finder is a popular choice for general use, it's significantly more sensitive than the 11' Commander coil on small gold too.   The bigger deep gold hunters tend to go for the 15" or 17" spirals and then there are the monster size coils available if that's your thing.

An alternative battery setup might be worth it too, although if you're considering getting an Algoforce probably not worth the spend on that, as the Algoforce will be able to hit on gold the 4500 won't.  The 4500 with a big coil I think will hit on gold deeper than the Algoforce though, so both would complement each other.

Thanks phrunt. I value your input. In some instances I will be looking for specimen gold and in others the gold is smaller. Although I could get into bigger and deeper gold. I really think your insight is valuable.