A full days metal detecting today in glorious sunshine once the fog
had cleared. Perfect conditions to try out my new XP Deus for the very
first time. My Nephew has used a Deus for the past 3 years so I had a
good teacher today to guide me in my quest to learn this machine. First
he showed me how to set it up in Basic Mode One, guided me on the ground
balancing and setting my discrimination and sensitivity. I thought this
isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be and I was soon on my way
swinging. Within half an hour I knew I was going to like this machine.
It was running very quiet, no weight to it at all, no annoying cables
connecting me to the machine, it all just felt so perfect. Around
midday, he kicked me up a gear and I was running the Deus in the Dues
Fast mode, full sensitivity and no discrimination. I liked this mode as
it got me digging everything so I could tell what different targets
sounded like. Wasn't long before I was totally ignoring the low iron
grunts and concentrating on the more sharper signals and comparing them
with the onscreen display.
We
were detecting on his permission which he has had for years. Ive been
with him on this site a lot of times, but today, with the Deus it felt
like this was a brand new permission. I did say before that today was
going to be a learning curve and if I did find anything it would be a
bonus. Well, I dug 11 coins, not in great condition, but it was 11 coins
missed on past hunts, also dug a lovely buckle, a nice Tombac button, a
musket ball and a smaller pistol ball, and some other bits. All in all a
very enjoyable day and I feel very confident that the XP Deus is going
to serve me well.
The
top picture shows the total finds, some old grots there, I can only
make out the 4 old halfpennies. The grass picture shows some of the
bigger finds from today and there's a picture of the Tombac button and
buckle. Below is a pic of some old farm machinery we often pass by. Today I took a snap of it through the thick fog and thought I'd love this as a garden
ornament, much better than Gnomes.
I
nearly lost my finds though today, when we finished and made our way
back to the farm house where my car was parked, we bumped into the woman
who owns the farm with her brother. We stopped for a chat and when I
went to get my finds out to show her, my pouch was empty but for some
rubbish. I realized then that when we stopped out in the field I had
taken my finds out and laid them on the grass to show my nephew, we had a
drink and a chat, got up and carried on detecting our way back, leaving
the finds on the grass. I popped back but couldn't remember where I had
laid them, gave up and went back. My nephew said come on, we'll all
look and so us two and the farmer woman went to where we thought we had
stopped and looked around. I was just about to give up and count my
losses when the farmer woman shouts out, "Look what I've found",,,,Bless
her, she found my stash.
So all ended well.
Good job. Sounds like a lot more finds to come. Did you use the 11 inch or standard coil?
ReplyDeleteCheers Detectorbloke. I was using the standard coil. I have heard mixed feelings about the 11" coil, some like it, some don't, and some say there's hardly any difference depth wise between the two. Of course the 11" coil will give you more ground coverage. I'll see how I progress before looking into the bigger coil.
DeleteNice. An impressive haul, especially on a well-visited site. That XP Deus sounds like a beast. Very impressive. You were lucky to have an experienced XP Deus-user with you on your first time out with the new machine.
ReplyDeleteOh, and speaking of coils, I've been considering a Detech coil for my Garrett 250 but I just read your description (on another site) of a Garrett 250 with a Detech 15x12 as being like walking around with a breezeblock tied on the end of a broom handle (!). Lol. That concerns me because the 250 isn't very well balanced even with the standard coil. Do you mind if I ask if you ever found a better alternative than the big Detech 15x12?
Cheers
Martyn
Hi Martyn, Cheers, yes, I was impressed myself with the first finds with my Deus. I've been out in my back garden today having a play around with it. There's just so many things you can do to it to suit different detecting sites but at the moment I'm keeping it simple to get to know the machine.
DeleteI'm not sure what you mean about the 15x12 coil for the Ace 250, I've never used one so really can't comment on it. What I did get for my Ace 250 was the 13" Ultimate coil which was great and it transformed the Ace 250. Performed well and was well balanced on the machine. I still have that set up now as a back up.
Ah...sorry about that, I must be getting my wires crossed somewhere. I've been researching coils online lately and I think I've been reading too much! 13" Ultimate? Ah ok, got it, thanks. I'll check it out.
ReplyDeleteCheers mate, and I wish you continued good luck with your new machine.
M.
Thanks Martyn, and good luck on your choice of coil.
DeleteHi J your small button is a early navel button 1700 of the royal navey.
ReplyDeleteHi there Chris, Many thanks for the ID on the button. 1700 is a lovely old date, pleased with that.
DeleteHi J they are one of the earliest naval buttons you will find.Lieutenant's undress 1748.
ReplyDeleteThanks Chris, excellent info you have provided, its made me look more closely at my other buttons. I think buttons make a nice collection on their own and its great to be able to put a date on them and who wore them.
ReplyDelete