Big Boys Hobbies

Probing for targets

T

TonyinCT

Elite Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2006
Messages
1,899
I am seeking opinions on probing for targets. Does anyone believe that a new detector user can pop out coins at 6+ inches with a screwdriver on a consistant basis ?
I am asking this because of a review of a detector I saw online and this is what the author said they could do. Also in the same thread another operator of the same detector said that it was the best on the market over all others and Could pinpoint this well.
Just curious about what you think.
 
Tony, this is just my opinion. You may have the ability to "pop" out a target with a screwdriver, but I have done this a couple of times, and I found I scratched the coin. Good thing it was just a clad. Had it been a worthy coin, I would have been bummed. Thats why I always cut a plug, and remove the coin GENTLY from the plug. There is less damage for me. Someone else may be a lot better than I am. :roll:
 
Hi Tony
Personally, I cannot pop a coin out of the ground at 3 or 4 inches, never mind 6+. Granted, I am 4 months new at this but you did say a "new detector user" and I would qualify. I have tried, and can't even find the coin without cutting a plug or flap and removing dirt. Also since I am new at this, I sometimes don't get an exact pinpoint on a coin and must use a hand held pinpointer to find a coin. I don't see how one could stick a screwdriver or some other probe into the ground 6 inches and find a coin, never mind lift a coin through all that ground without damaging it.
Roger B.
 
Tony, accurately pinpointing a coin 6" deep is not difficult.
Popping it with a probe/scredriver at that depth is insane
(in my opinion). You will most likely rice it and waste a
lot of time in the process, trying to lever it to the surface.

A neat plug and carefully putting it all back into place and
tamping it down is better. At least, that's my two zinks worth.
 
I used to teach at metal detecting seminars and my subject was always probing coins out of the ground with a screwdriver, or probe. At 6" it would be very very difficult and you have to probe the coin out from two different angles, and have very long fingers. 4" would be the comfort zone for most people. Now depends what the writer means by probing. To me it is a hole big enough to stick your finger in. Some probing I have seen is the equivalent of digging a small hole.
 
Yea, he could probe out a coin at 6 inches, and I got the Shania Twain in my living room wanting to tape a scene for girls gone wild..



Gotta go, she's calling me.
 
using a elite I can pinpoint 95% right on the money an get a coin out using a screwdriver but 2-4" is about it, after that I have to really work at it too get it out of such a small hole.
 
I'm with the rest here. I've been using a screwdriver for many many years and I can only think of MAYBE twice that I have popped a coin. A slit or plug is best no matter if your new or a veteran in my opinion.
 
i use a screw driver for surface coins, i.e. an inch or two. But anything deeper would be insane to me. Could be a nice barber. No way am I gonna put a dent in that
 
Interesting  question  Tony.  I have  been detecting  for a number of years
now  and  find probing to be art in itself.  Anyone can get good at anything if they practice enough, but no one really has the patience  for it. Soil conditions are  the biggest factor  here. I live in Florida  where  sand is king.  Hardpacked  shell  and soil conditions make it easy  to find  items. I have tried probing in the north, and  probeing a  dime  from 3  inches  can be done, however even if you use a pointed piece of brazing rod  or a copper tipped  probe, you still have to  weedle  the coin through a  path of  pebbles, rock, muck, and other surface damaging aggregate. cutting a slit in the grass to get  your finger  onto the coin is a  three inch deal but  not  six inches even if the machine  has  GPS  capabilities. The deeper  the item  the greater  the chance of damage.  Clad is one thing, but ask anyone who is pulling  Barbers  and Indians  regularly  if  they  probe. Not if they can plug  the coin out......Thats  my opinion....No charge......Gil
 
How BIG is the screwdirver used? :lol:   At the present moment, and for the far foreseeable future, I will not need a screwdriver as I have decided to be a Sand Specialist - be it tot lots, playgrounds or beach!  ;)  I love all the older stuff you guys find in the ground up North , but living in Miami, "I gots what I gots"! 
 
Enough of you have responded so here's my take on the subject. Within the first 2 to 3 " I use the probe or end of my trowel if it's surface unless I'm in a place I think can yield older coins nearer to the surface. In 31+ years of detecting and using almost everything on the market , including detectors I don't or didn't sell , there has been no detector that was "dead on" with regards to pinpointing everytime. Those who claim this are "inaccurate" at best. Most coins do not lay flat in the ground , therefor deflecting the pinpoint location to somewhere on the side of the point you think it is. Less expensive and less "talented" detectors do this to an even less degree. It has disturbed me lately that so much is being written about detectors that simply cannot do the things some are saying they can. Is it ego? Is it lack of knowledge or experience? I don't know. What I do know is this : if anyone can show me ,in person , that they can pinpoint "right on" everytime with a cheaper detector model and then probe out a coin at 6" on a consistant basis , I'll eat my words and offer a public apology. In my opinion ; this ainta gonna happen kiddies !!! So i guess I'll stop my rant by saying : Beware what you read , where you read it and whether or not the person writing it has much experience to write such conclusive statements with their limited knowledge.
Hope to see some of you in the field real soon. :yes:
Thanks for reading. :grin:
 
Wait a minute this thread did not start out as "cheap metal detector" used to pinpoint and probe coins at 6" I have had some higher priced dogs that could not do it either. So exactly what machine are you referring to in this review?
 
I never said it started with "cheap" detectors. I was referring to a detector I saw a review of online and the fact that pinpointing is wrought through experience and knowledge and that there is no one I know of that can do this. It just so happens that the detector in question was a less expensive model. My later comment was an elaboration on something that I find disturbing to me toward the hobby. I was giving MY opinion in my later comment. In my second comment I said "less expensive" or "less talented" or "CHEAPER" detector. Nowhere did I say "cheap metal detector" . I wanted unbiased opinions and I got them from users of many different types of detectors I presume. If I were to say what detector or detectors that would be bashing now wouldn't it and we can't have any of that here. ;)
 
Tony
My poor self got into a bad spot later I have found out!
I bought a Cobra Beach Magnet which is made in China AND cost the seller $69.00 for it but they market it as a $400.00 to a $600.00 one.  :mad:
Did I get ripped I feel so!  :mad:
I hit every thing on the beach from toys to gold!
IMHO this one would not do it and I would opt. for better one.

Will be checking out the BH 3300 shortly giving my humble option if you want.

Note: This is IMHO and has no means to bash any ones detector, just found out what one company bought theres for and how I got hurt in the pocket book.
 
When I was new, and started putting the puzzle together based on their OWN advertising, the red flags went up. After hearing of a few stories, some worse than yours, Hell would have to freeze before I gave them one clad cent.
 
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