Which detector principle would be best for this particular purpose?

[pelanj]

When I ran my modded Cibola with GB and the 5.75DD coil through my nail infested (and already heavily minerelized Wa. soil) yard which I had gone over numerous times with the 9X8C (which went off on every nail), it hardly made a peep unless there was a valid target. I found a key, a brass clasp and a wheat penny that I'd missed with the 9X8. I would say go for a DD coil to battle the iron. (Modded Cibola optional)

That might be an option, thanks.

[pelanj]

But i thing you basically need something that will detect small metallic objects at 20-30cms+ depth, and has ferus - non-ferus discrimination?

That would be a dream come true if I could reach that with 6" or smaller coil - that is most probably next to impossible. What I need the most is solid detection of non-ferrous signals amongst nails and larger pieces of iron - and I am ready to accept a 50/50 ratio of trash/good targets. With what I have now I would have no other chance than to dig it all...

[pelanj]

A BFO would be useless for the conditions you describe, especially if you hate digging iron. It sounds like you need a motion detector with a very small coil. Try a 4" concentric coil with your Tesoro Silver uMax, like this one ->
http://www.metaldetector.com/tesoro-...-pin-connector

I have read somewhere that a very old BFO decector was the best one in a similar place - but maybe I just do not remember correctly. I will try the smaller coil I have (5.75"), but I still have such a feeling that my Silver uMax suffers quite a lot with iron masking compared to other detectors. Do you have any idea how deep could the 4" coil get? I would really like to get down to 6", there should not be much below.

[pelanj]

There is nothing wrong with motion compensated detector. Just aim for something with iron discrimination, like IGSL, and you are on.
I'd say there is a middle path between a motion and non-motion detectors, and that is a slow motion. Every motion compensated detector can be modified for slow motion.

The problem is that a motion detector with 8" coil will not really fit into some of the spaces. A 6" or smaller could do it - but as the space is restricted, I do not know if there is enough space to swing it, so I though a non-motion detector would be easier.

[HECTOR]

When I ran my modded Cibola with GB and the 5.75DD coil through my nail infested (and already heavily minerelized Wa. soil) yard which I had gone over numerous times with the 9X8C (which went off on every nail), it hardly made a peep unless there was a valid target. I found a key, a brass clasp and a wheat penny that I'd missed with the 9X8. I would say go for a DD coil to battle the iron. (Modded Cibola optional)

[RelicHunter88]

I believe that a ISGL, King Cobra, or similar would be sufficient.

But i thing you basically need something that will detect small metallic objects at 20-30cms+ depth, and has ferus - non-ferus discrimination?

[Qiaozhi]

I need to search a relatively small piece of land to find small silver and copper coins amongst larger pieces of iron (nails, screws, horseshoes). The easy ones have been picked up already by others. I think there are some more, not necessarily deep. Nobody likes to dig iron, me neither. Someone mentioned a BFO with some 10 - 15 cm coil could get some 10-15 cm depth on a coin sized target and not suffer too much (or at all) from iron masking. A non-motion detector could work better in this area as there is quite some weed. I want to discriminate out as much iron as possible and still get signals from all other metals including "foil".

I have a C.Scope CS1MX, which is quite good, but it is motion-type and the coil is maybe just a little too big to fit in. Tesoro Silver uMax just does not unmask with my favorite SEF 12x10 coil, I yet have to try it with the small 5.75 concentric if it can get any better.

I am considering a non-motion C.Scope with a very small coil - one like asolone. Would a simple BFO work?

A BFO would be useless for the conditions you describe, especially if you hate digging iron. It sounds like you need a motion detector with a very small coil. Try a 4" concentric coil with your Tesoro Silver uMax, like this one ->

http://www.metaldetector.com/tesoro-4-inch-round-concentric-search-coil-with-5-pin-connector

[Davor]

There is nothing wrong with motion compensated detector. Just aim for something with iron discrimination, like IGSL, and you are on.
I'd say there is a middle path between a motion and non-motion detectors, and that is a slow motion. Every motion compensated detector can be modified for slow motion.

[pelanj]

I need to search a relatively small piece of land to find small silver and copper coins amongst larger pieces of iron (nails, screws, horseshoes). The easy ones have been picked up already by others. I think there are some more, not necessarily deep. Nobody likes to dig iron, me neither. Someone mentioned a BFO with some 10 - 15 cm coil could get some 10-15 cm depth on a coin sized target and not suffer too much (or at all) from iron masking. A non-motion detector could work better in this area as there is quite some weed. I want to discriminate out as much iron as possible and still get signals from all other metals including "foil".

I have a C.Scope CS1MX, which is quite good, but it is motion-type and the coil is maybe just a little too big to fit in. Tesoro Silver uMax just does not unmask with my favorite SEF 12x10 coil, I yet have to try it with the small 5.75 concentric if it can get any better.

I am considering a non-motion C.Scope with a very small coil - one like asolone. Would a simple BFO work?