Pinpointing with your metal detector
Pinpointing and Sensitivity Tips for Metal Detecting
With many of today's detectors, you may occasionally find that the pinpoint area is too large. Here's a useful technique that can help:
To pinpoint your target, press and hold the pinpoint button while locating the target. Once you're directly over it, quickly release the button and immediately press and hold it again while making only a very slight swinging motion. You'll notice that the target response becomes much smaller and more precise. This helps you dig less dirt, create a smaller hole, and more accurately locate the target.
This technique is called retuning. Although it is rarely explained in owner's manuals, it works on virtually any detector equipped with a pinpoint button, switch, or touch pad. That's 40 years of experience talking!
What About Detectors Without a Pinpoint Feature?
Many entry-level detectors do not include a pinpoint button or switch. Fortunately, you can still accurately pinpoint targets.
Simply raise the search coil slowly while swinging it over the target. As the coil moves higher, the detector's detection field narrows, causing the target response to become smaller and more concentrated. Continue lifting the coil until the signal is centered over an area only a couple of inches wide. This method helps you identify the exact location of the target.
All detectors have a cone-shaped detection field beneath the center of the coil, with the strongest detection occurring at the center. As you increase the distance between the coil and the target, the effective detection area becomes smaller. With practice, you'll learn to pinpoint targets accurately even without a dedicated pinpoint function.
Understanding Motion and All-Metal Modes
Remember that most detectors operating in discrimination mode are motion detectors. This means the coil must be moving, even slightly, for discrimination to function properly.
When you activate the pinpoint feature, the detector switches into an all-metal mode. In this mode, motion is no longer required to detect a target, but discrimination is disabled. This allows you to stop directly over the target and listen for the strongest signal, making pinpointing easier.
Detectors without a pinpoint feature remain in discrimination mode, which is why you must continue making slight coil movements while locating the target.
Setting Sensitivity Correctly
For smooth operation, it is important to find the proper sensitivity setting.
Running sensitivity too high often causes false signals, excessive chatter, and unstable operation. If this happens, simply reduce the sensitivity until the detector runs smoothly.
In my experience, most detectors achieve excellent depth with the sensitivity set at about three-quarters of maximum. This provides strong target detection while minimizing false signals and noise.
When your detector is running smoothly, it becomes much easier to distinguish strong, desirable targets from trash, scrap metal, and other unwanted objects.