besides depth, if you dig everything what difference does the detector make?

[supra]

I hear alot that you should dig everything, that being said, besides depth shouldnt most detectors have the same results? The reason im asking is im looing into a new machine, just cause i like spending money, But if i just dig everything it shouldnt matter?? Am i being ridiculous?? thanks in advance
kurtis

[Arkwater]

If you hear the sound your machine makes and then dig up the item that made that sound & see it, before long you will know what you are going to dig just y the sound! Hence "dig everything" until you know your machine. Some machines are better at telling you what is there than others, making the choice to dig easier. IMO!

[bill(de)]

Digging everything is impractical at extremely trashy sites and detectors with exceptional target separation win this game. When targets are relatively few and far between the dig everything concept would be the best approach in my opinion.

Problem is to decipher and dig the target response on the fringes of detection or the ones that appear as junk. It really boils down to a thorough knowlege of the detector and site your hunting and willingness to dig. There is no magic wand. HH Bill

[RingDancer]

Some detectors will give you a better reading...such as telling you the size of an object which helps identify what the object might be...as more odds of being a coin or ring...Some objects depending on how long and what type of minerals they are affected by over the course of years can give off a scratchy signal or tone...and this will also depend on what depth the target is at...The digging everything...just lets you know you don't miss any good target that you might have thought as a junk target...

No science teacher here, but hope you could understand my idea

RingDancer

[Inspector]

Most importantly missed thus far, is recovery time for nested targets, usually but not always, the newer more expensive detector will have a faster recovery time, which helps alot. More than most people give credit. I can dig by tone or visual numeric id and have a reasonable idea of what is in the ground before it comes up, its the speed that finds more targets. My 2 cents.

[bdahunter]

Ferrous items we don't generally dig and large aluminium can signals unless they are shallow. The objective is to strip out the junk so we can get to the good stuff which is more dense so generally deeper. Once you've cleaned the beach and are digging deeper targets this is where your detector shines because you don't want to be digging a huge hole to get to a pop can or a bottle top.
Depth does matter, discrimination matters, response time matters, durability, submersability also matter, comfort and ease of use matter; there are a lot more variables than just depth. In a laboratory environment with ideal conditions depth might be the only consideration, in the real world all of the other factors overwhelm, simple depth of detection.
This applies to all types of MD'ing and it is why people continually post the question 'Which type of detector should I get??'.

Cheers,

BDA

[ERnurse]

Originally Posted by supra

I hear alot that you should dig everything, that being said, besides depth shouldnt most detectors have the same results? The reason im asking is im looing into a new machine, just cause i like spending money, But if i just dig everything it shouldnt matter?? Am i being ridiculous?? thanks in advance
kurtis

Well. if you want to take "dig everything" literally, then I guess; no it doesn't matter. You just need something to tell you theres metal in the ground.
But what we are saying is, no matter what machine you have, a $49.95 National Geographic, or a $2000.00 Minelab, or what ever in between, When you first start out with a new machine, dig all signals and listen to your machine. Eventually, you will be able to distinguish the good targets from the bad, just by what you machine is registering or sounding like. Then you won't have to "dig everything".
But, if you just want the exercise, then get a big ole shovel, and have at it. My grandad said theres no better exercise.

[bdahunter]

Originally Posted by ERnurse

Well. if you want to take "dig everything" literally, then I guess; no it doesn't matter. You just need something to tell you theres metal in the ground.
But what we are saying is, no matter what machine you have, a $49.95 National Geographic, or a $2000.00 Minelab, or what ever in between, When you first start out with a new machine, dig all signals and listen to your machine. Eventually, you will be able to distinguish the good targets from the bad, just by what you machine is registering or sounding like. Then you won't have to "dig everything".
But, if you just want the exercise, then get a big ole shovel, and have at it. My grandad said theres no better exercise.

Rob: You make a good point! In fact it just occurred to me that I've been wasting my money on expensive metal detectors when what I should have been spending my hard earned dollars on is BETTER SHOVELS. Think of the extra exercise I've been missing out on. Your Gramp sounds a lot like mine.

Cheers,

BDA

[ERnurse]

Originally Posted by bdahunter

Rob: You make a good point! In fact it just occurred to me that I've been wasting my money on expensive metal detectors when what I should have been spending my hard earned dollars on is BETTER SHOVELS. Think of the extra exercise I've been missing out on. Your Gramp sounds a lot like mine.

Cheers,

BDA

When I was shoveling rice fields growing up on the farm, he'd tell me to stop diggin if I ever reached a place and couldn't understand the language.

[EBCIII]

Well Supra I really have nothing to add. I just wanted to say hey and good luck with your choice, Beale.