Magic

[Chippy]

Hi There,

Never thought I would be hooked so quick. Bought my second hand explorer xs a few weeks ago and I love it. Although a button looks like a coin and the amount of lead and copper I pick up makes me think of becoming a scrap dealer. I have read through the site and it seems there is a big learning curve to learn.
I have been given permission to use a few good locations one being a roman burial site, I found there being a lot of contamination from the farmer spreading compost which has had every thing put in it so it's very hit and miss for me. I know there are programs out there but I have got it on factory settings as its so hard to just program for a newbie.
But why dose lead and copper sound like gold.....? My wife's rings sound the same (I haven't bought fake gold have I)

Regards mark from Sittingbourne kent

Also why am I out detecting when I should be at work?

[Captainpugwash]

Welcome to the forum. The composte the farmer is spreading sounds like green waste, there is alsorts of crap in it. Ive never had an XS so I will not comment in case I give you the wrong info, but im sure some is going to advise you about the tones.

[minty fresh]

welcome to a great site and community, what these guys dont know about detecting isnt worth knowing about, GL&HH

oh, i forgot to say, keep all the lead and copper/brass you find, its worth money

[shep]

Hey Chippy and welcome to MLO
if you're finding copper and lead not iron then it sounds like things are going well!!
The thing about every metal detector is that rubbish often sounds the same as the goodies and the same is true with the Explorer, you just have to put up with the ratio of bad signals to good, some times the shape of an object can influence the sounds as much as the metal..
Best advice would be carry on for the moment and as you feel more confident raise the sensitivity and use a pattern with less discrimination, this will give you more depth and ability to find smaller bits!
On your green waste field it's just a matter of grin and bear it I'm afraid, as long as the good signals are worth waiting for it's worth persevering

Be careful that your program isn't chopping out any hammered coins and small roman with too much discrimination.. best way to check would be to buy some bits from ebay and listen to how they sound.

All the very best and let us know what you find
Pete

[omegamike]

Hi Mark, welcome to the site. Why do I get the distinct impression thay 'keycol' is one of your fields? if I was a betting man I would say your farmers initials are either OD or IK ? Sounds like you well and truly have the bug, welcome to the club.

[jon_jn]

hi,even though i have never had this detector i found this video invaluable when i first got my minelab...nice to meet you by the way

http://www.minelabowners.com/forum/v...php?tubeid=367

[dave9]

Welcome to MLO,great tip's etc on this forum,enjoy.

[ARGONAUTE]

Welcome chippy
Copper and lead are highly conductive just like gold
(unfortunately), but as others have stated you are in fact on the ball/money

[stewart73]

Welcome aboard mate. You've found yourself a great hobby and a great forum to enrich that hobby. Ask questions, post finds, and enjoy yourself on MLO!

[Chippy]

Hi Omegamike.... You are a switched on cookie you knew the farmer it was I.K
I have found more lead and copper than I can hold in my pockets, I am not sure if should send an invoice to I.K on cleaning his fields. Am I doing the right thing or am I just digging every signal that sounds solid thinking it's going to be a coin..... Or a hored....
I have been really demoralized today by just doing 4hrs and found pretty much rubbish, is this the case with most outings?

[shep]

Some fields seem to be just full of junk Chippy, if you're finding the good stuff as well tho then keep plugging away! If ur not then it's time for a new field I'm afraid

[Cumbrian Fox]

Welcome to the forum, I hope you enjoy it as much as I am. I am also pretty new here and if you can ever get to one of the rally events that these guys organize then not only will you make some great friends but also learn a hell of a lot that you didnt know about your machine. The wealth of information that people here are willing to share on and off the forum is mind boggling. Good luck on your permissions and stick with it you have made a great start just by joining this place.

Happy Hunting

[omegamike]

Hi Brian, don't get too down in the dumps. Sometimes it's really hard work out in the fields. Sounds like your finding plenty of non-ferrous targets which is great. All you need now is the right field!. I've been doing IK's fields for nearly 3 years now and to be honest it's been really hard work with just the odd pocket loss. Still haven't found a field where I can walk onto it knowing I'm going to get a roman or hammy. They have recently removed dozens of trees off the roman urn field so it's probably your best chance of finding something now the ground is disturbed. But I have to tell you that over 3 years I have only ever found one Celtic and about three tatty Romans from that field, and the usual 19th century coinage and tat. You might want to try down the old telephone exchange to increase you chances....

[Chippy]

Thank you all for giving me good advice. I went out again today and found 3 hammered coins and a old one that's in prity bad shape......! I am also going in to the scrap business because there is so much tat it's unreal. Thanks again chaps will be back in touch soon.......!

[Chippy]

Thank you all for giving me advice on this, it's not something that you can just expect to be an expert within a few weeks. Although I feel like I am getting the hang of it a little bit. I have found a few hammereds that look like roman that are in very good condition and a few coins that are in a very bad condition and haven't a clue on what era there from. What's the best site for identifieing coins and learning to clean them up..... Every ones saying put it in some coke , I won't be trying that as I think that would damage them to much. Also how do I tell what meteal it is as some come up really green others black nothing silver or gold yet but I am very opptermistic on that. I have been told if it comes up shiney it's the good stuff... But what worries me is that doesn't silver go a bit blackish after being in some types of soils.....?
Thanks to Omegamike who knows the place very well and will be trying those old tree sites. I live right next to the that field. Also where was the old telephone exchange as I haven't a clue on the location of that place. If your up this neck of the woods next time would you like an apprentice...... As I am sure I could find more but can't seem to discrinate between foil and a coin...... So annoying.......!
Thanks again who have given there support. Regards Mark

[Chippy]

Have not been out in a while as the weather has been foul and I haven't the wellies (on there way by eBay). Was not sure if the metal detector was rain-water proof. I was given a case to put over the screen but not sure if they can take a soaking from our lovely weather.
Was wondering were this old telephone exchange was as am not to sure on the location of that one.
Well off to do some more detecting hope its a good one.
Regards Mark