The GOAL is 75,000 subscribers by 1/1/2026! If you have watched my channel for a while, please hit subscribe to support! It costs you nothing to do and helps me a lot. Please and thank you! I appreciate your support!
Merrill thanks for the lesson. Your site is the best. Its so much more than Beep Beep, dig a hole, look what i found. Something I have learned is after you dig out your target, what ever it may be. Don't cover it up, dig out another 3 or 4 more inches and check with your Pointer. The hole is dug you have nothing to lose. Once a penny gave me a signal at 3", A rifle case at 5", modern nails, then a 10" layer of coal ash, more nails but square cut, ham bone and rib bone yum, yum. Went farther, a nail. Farther a small spool of copper wire. Took out 2 more handfuls after not hearing any more and POW out came 1837 Large Cent at 19". T HE 47 nails kept me digging. Don't give up that hole so fast.
I am subscribed to dozens of Metal detecting channels and nobody has taught me more about metal detecting than you. And you do it with a sense of humor that never gets old. Looking forward to part 2 and 3 and 4......................😂
I second that comment. Merrill has made me a great Detectorists, he’s taught me everything I know, and I love passing that knowledge on to new Detectorists that I meet.
Can't believe you didn't mention troll worms. Troll worms find the coins and jewelry, and pull that stuff deep down into their treasure hoards. Then they find pull-tabs, square nails, and can slaw, and push that stuff into the upper soil layer. They do this to mask their treasure hoard locations. Troll worms are metal detecting's greatest nemesis.
I’ve gone back to the same metal detecting spot for years. It’s a county fairgrounds that’s been going since the mid 1800’s. It’s probably only maybe 4 acres. All grass and flat and right in the middle of town. It’s been detected by everyone. If I don’t find something one time, I give it a couple weeks and go back and start finding stuff again. Good stuff! Old stuff. I hunted this place hard. After 5 years of hunting it I go back and find my 1st seated dime. It’s crazy and then continue to find more Indians flying eagle 2 centers and more.
Awesome, Take an iron nail from your workshop and place it near a silver coin; you'll find it nearly impossible to detect the coin. Now, take an old rusty iron nail from the ground and repeat the test-you'll notice the coin is much easier to detect. When a coin is buried near iron, the rusting process makes the coin more detectable over time. Iron is ferromagnetic, rust is paramagnetic.
Absolutely true !!!! Go to a property. Swing one direction and not get any signal. Swing over the same spot a month later from a different direction and you get a signal.
Great video, well explained! I have gone to sites that were "pounded" both by myself and others and have still pulled out desirable targets. Yes, different machines, different directions, different moisture content, etc all play a big part in finding things in previously hunted places, but iron is constantly changing signals in the ground as well. That's why I don't mind when a landowner tells me a place has been detected before, because no place is ever hunted out! Thanks for the great info!
Great video. A lot of good points made. My dad always says, oh I've already hit that spot back in the 80s. But I always find stuff in places he says are hunted out.
Your style of the grid works . I have done this in Atlantic City beach for years. And I always find coins and other things. I say it’s also a lot of luck too. But it is fun and rewarding. Great video , cool info. Mike . 👍👍👍
I'm subbscribed to a few md channels, and one in particular constantly mentions getting all the "trash" out of the ground. Never really explaining why. One guy from the group will dedicate himself with the patience of Job to remaining in one 20 x 20 foot piece of ground pulling roofing nails, flashing, digging any signal he can, and hit it from every direction. On particularly trashy sites they will rework for years. This group will pull whatever iron or junk they can out of the ground. Then, on that 4th or 5th trip back, they almost always get rewarded for their hard work. One thing I've noticed is they detect newer trashy sites with small coils, then switch to deeper larger coils once the site is cleaned up. Merril, your description of how iron can mask good targets is the best I've heard. Thanks
Thank you so much for what you do. You are The Teacher and have taught me how to pursue a hobby I love. Please continue to not only teach but always entertain. Best wishes always.
Walt, go for it! I need it in my life. I was waiting in line at BJ's Wholesale (store) towards the end of 2012. I saw a metal detector while I was waiting on line. My wife said I would never use it. Metal detecting to me is my mindfulness activity. I could care less what I find. It is just a way to relax my mind and feel good. You get a little anxious at first when you are new and out and about but that wears off very fast. Since 2012 I have found about 1000 rings and a few thousand silver coins. In 2024 I found my oldest, a coin that predated America by almost 100 years; a 1697 William 2 sixpence. Lastly, although I am noticing that there are less coins being dropped since apple pay and credit card usage has gone up, you can still justify the expense either with one good find or the change you find along the way. Make that purchase!
When I first got my metal detector, I tried it out at my house in Southern, Maine. Found a lot of iron initially and after several passes over my property and getting to know my detector I started to find some coins (1870 Indian head, 1836 Matron Large cent). Also found a lot of melted lead on my property. Can't wait for my ground to thaw. Love the videos!
I love watching and learning from your videos! I’ve learned a lot from you and Terry Shannon. Thank you for the inspiration and the laughs! Happy Hunting!
@ I watched the video where you got to interview him. When I saw that video I purchased his book “Detecting the treasure coast”. It has taught me a lot. I started detecting only 5 months ago and I’m completely hooked! 😃 My goal is to one day get to join in on a hunt with one of my favorite legends as yourself or Terry. Keep the videos coming and may you Unlock LOTS OF SUSHI!!! 😃 Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge.
Good video, very interesting topic. I was thinking about that few times. There's a field that I've scraped dozens of times, but recently I've found two gold coins in 10 minutes. What a day! In my experience, ground condition also matters. Dry summer soil is very scarce on signals, unlike wet soil that gives good and deeper signals on small stuff.
100% right. Two weeks ago my hunting partner and myself went to a park that has been pounded, I mean pounded, and I found a Trime and an 1874 IH penny. I couldn't believe it...never hunted out!!!
I am using Deeptech Vista X that is single frequency but has really good separation and I can hear if a good target is mixed in with iron. It's tricky, but the tones usually don't lie. Listen to what your detector is telling you.
I always knew iron was masking signals but never thought about the effects of magnetic fields. Makes total sense. I also have noticed effects from electrical storms while hunting an area that I thought was hunted out. I believe deeper signals are enhanced after a storm. Thanks for the explanation.
Never thought bout that but it does make sense now imm gunna bury a few silvers just out of my detectors range n wait for an opportunity to test it who knows I may go back to Venice Louisiana where I used to live and check out some sand since it's the lighting capitol of the world or so the meteorologist say it is I can verify.
Iron decomposes into rust over a really long time, but I have seen changes happen in a very short time. Some times only a day or two and I think there are many variables causing that including soil conditions and even temperature and humidity.
I've hunted our family farm for the last 20 years with multiple detectors. It was built in 1865. I just hit the front yard again around Christmas time and found an Indian and two 1910's wheats. It never stops producing. This time was the perfect conditions though. A saturated yard with dead winter grass so I could get low to the ground.
I’ve overlapped or farm field for 6 years, thought I had it all, my husband lost a tractor part asked me to find it. I came back with a gold ring!!! My XP Deus II is incredible.
Nice video. I've been digging for close to 40 years and have used a lot of detectors. One particular spot I go to (over 10 years)has definitely been pounded, even by me. Every time I go back, I always find something. It's a Civil War area. A few months ago I found 2 Indian Head cents and several bullets. Going in on different angles has this spot still producing especially with the Deus2. One irony spot too! I'll be going back soon. Good luck hunting.
I love it and can’t live as happily without metal detecting. If you fight through the beginning (anxious detecting in public places, learning curve to find good sites) it will be a life changing hobby.
Hello Merrill. I think you hit the iron nail on the head. LOL Before I watched your video. I thought about the causes, and I had the same thoughts, of course, not as technical as yours. I experience that phenomenon at my local park that my buddy and I have pounded to the point, that we have moved on. BUT, big but, when we do go back, we get surprises. Great video info, Merrill. _/👍🏻
So, I take my new detector to a hot spot I had cleaned out with my old detector, but now find targets my old detector must have missed, but maybe my old detector would have found these targets too, but I attribute my success to my new detector, maybe incorrectly. What a hobby!
Great videos! I had kids later in life and couldn't enjoy the outdoors like a single fella. So while the kids play at the beach, I turned to metal detecting for shits n giggles. Got my 440, and it's getting fun. Best thing so far is a 1960s quarter. I just wish local and county rules were a little more relaxed. I'm in Jacksonville FL and you can beach detect quite a bit but I'm still nervous about hitting local parks etc. Fun hobby and terrific videos
Thank you. I was in Florida for an event and I recall talking to someone about a Jacksonville metal detecting club. Members of that club would give you the best advice on where you can, and can’t dig in the area.
@@Kunk35 it will be. I was originally going to release a 19 minute video today but I didn’t want to rush it. I was getting tired and the other topics need the same level of care.
Merrill, I've hunted an old road that became a trail and to say I hunted this trail out is an understatement, it leads to the deep forest I love to hunt. I still find old cents and silvers years later. I'm convinced it has to do with %moisture.
Watch this! We covered that in two recent videos: 1.) ua-cam.com/video/A0gPWidWWcI/v-deo.html and 2.) ua-cam.com/video/ms2IVZxDkXs/v-deo.html :) In short moisture does effect things, but there are greater factors including salinity.
@@davepelletier708 The salinity (salt content) actually affects a lot more than just depth. It affects the clarity of the signals and unusual interference. Here in NY, we can get the storms from the West that are pretty much freshwater by the time it gets to us, but the storms from the South and the rare ones from the East are driven directly by the ocean water, picking up and dropping, then twisting around and drawing more moisture from the ocean.. Cold rain versus Tropical rains :)
What a great video! I was hoping it would be a little longer but so great. I know I’m always amazed at what old sites can hide in the iron. But question. So is your new stance that the halo effect dosnt exist ?
I’m self taught with a lot of this but I’ve made some great connections with some very smart people. If you consider that iron rusts and the rust surrounds the iron object I suppose you can call that a halo. The rust is paramagnetic which still is a challenge. But I would call that more benign.
@@MetalDetectingNYCinteresting, I think you can count yourself as one of the smart ones. I’ve been watching your channel since I started detecting and pretty much credit your channel for teaching me to detect. Keep up the good work friend.
Merril what’s this word SHOOTER it’s my last name for 70 years now I love ya your intellect is far above the average poster and your information is priceless. PS this is not a joke my last name is Shooter and I m 70 years old with a beard and I metal detect and I can tell you in the final analysis I am not a shooting searcher but a Shooter by birth.
Omg that’s hilarious! I just did a video on how coin shooting programs are (arguably) obsolete. And I remembered a guy who for many years asked me for my coin shooting program. I kept trying to say in so many ways that I really didn’t have one and when I did he got upset at me. I’m sure he’s gonna read this too. L O L. But that’s how I chose the name shooter. That is a frigging awesome name!!! 😊
@ I would have given you my full name but not to the public anyway the guy that slew Goliath that’s me . When I was very young there were only two families in the US with that name spelled that way now there are more than I have been able to keep up with thanks for the great reply. It’s tuff when your name is a constant target for speculation. After 70 good years you get used to it. Again I thank you for your knowledge and may I say if you’re a teacher those kids are super lucky and fortunate to have you. PS I know my grammar and punctuation suck but so does auto fill .
Weather, wet ground, full moon or not. It's a thing. Different times of a month you can dig a hole and when you fill it back in you'll ether have more dirt to fill it or less to where there'll be a dip.
My wise guy answer is that you cant dig when its frozen. :) The freezing and the thawing called frost action causes soil creep which I will cover in the next video. As for the dirt, water (especially if there is salinity in the soil) can extend the reach of the transmitter coil.
Hey what about if you dug that ax head that was masking the silver coin but the halo effected the ground for a few. Ax Head gone the halo now gone silver coin can be reached. Good Info.. Thanks For Sharing.. Peace and Happy Hunting
Hey Danny. I was advised by very smart and reliable sources that the halo effect is overstated. Leech in to the ground. I suppose so but it is very localized and the rust is paramagnetic which is more benign than ferromagnetic iron. I think that big axe head would mask for a long time but the longer it rusts the better the chance you have. Or, we could all commit to removing a few pieces of iron.
What about erosion? If soil at the surface erodes, wouldn't that mean that deeper objects, which were previously out of range, would now be at a detectable depth?
Merrill great video as always. So if isn't breaking the Halo on the beach when you take a scoop of sand and the signal disappears and you take another scoop and find the object. What causes that?
As I see it, the beach is a special situation because it contains a LOT of what extends metal detecting signals (wet conditions AND salinity). I would guess that when you take a scoop and the signal disappears that you are breaking the extension that you get from the saltwater (in other words I am saying that it would go further than an air test signal and when you remove the sand, you have an air test).
@@TeamLynchBMD I have been doing the science geek out lately. This video will cover depth (I hope pretty fully): ua-cam.com/video/ms2IVZxDkXs/v-deo.html
The higher frequencies are more susceptible to EMI. XP plans for that with max frequency where you set the limit for the highest frequency while using FMF.
@@MetalDetectingNYC it wasn't EMI it was strange groud(it was too noisy for multi frequency programs) that gives on deus 2 mono program 60 ground balance.
I agree with the science and basic premise: there will almost always be targets that are missed in a heavily hunted area. BUT, even if there are targets that went undetected the odds are they aren't amazing treasures. It's more likely to turn up zinc pennies and pull tabs than old coins. Not that I'm knocking anyone with the patience and determination to keep looking...
Greetings Merill, excellent video as always. Thanks. Quick question for you or the community: I saw a computer program running that simulates a user changing settings on a particular detector so you can see what it does BEFORE you change them on the actual real-world detector. Do you know or remember what company's machine that was for?
@@MetalDetectingNYC I saw it in a UA-cam video. Wasn't a video dedicated to that subject, but to detecting. I saw an Indian Head penny on the screen and settings that are on that of the metal detector. Can't remember what company, but figured it would be a High End machine. I wasn't worried about not seeing it again as I "thought" I would search for it when I wanted to know more :(
I once detected a ploughed medieval fair site in a village near Lincoln, UK. Land owner said it had been searched every week for 30 years. I had a go anyway. Two of us searched for 10 hours and had one tiny piece of white lead between us 😂
I still believe, especially in England, when the other detectorists go away, go back to that site. Remember the land owner said "every week" and why would other detectorists come back if it wasnt good. Metal detecting is somewhere between 1.) the law of diminishing returns and 2.) Never hunted out. :)
One of my first times out detecting I found 2 or 3 coins with the detector I tested the find with a pin pointer. I narrowed the hit down to a couple of square inches. I put in a tent peg and felt a small scrape (I was very focused). I found the object that felt very coin-like on its edge. But then as I went roll the coin out of the ground using my finger I felt it slipping away. It/they were there. But every time I tried the coin sank a little deeper until it was gone. Ill use some long nose pliers next time.
Hunted my property for 2 years before I found my best coin a 1835 capbust halfdime. It was a jumpy signal because it was near a square nail. Still looking for more stuff don’t find much though anymore.
Great video Merril, on a similar topic ... I've encountered so many people who think you cant find gold with a metal detector because it isn't magnetic. Some even accusing me of faking my finds because gold isn't magnetic! I always tell them that it's about Induction, not magnetism, and explain the process. But ignorance is king today, experts are to be shunned and not trusted in today's world. Sigh.
I have been hitting an 1843 plantation for five years now and we still find good target each time we go, so I have to ask you, the iron in the ground here has been here for 180 years after all this time are you saying the iron is still changing each year enough to make a difference? I don’t know myself, I question the things we find each and every time we go, how is it possible we keep finding things?
Very interesting video. Maybe it’s a topic for another video, but you mentioned coins sinking - How about coins floating? I’ve found old coins on the surface of the ground after a rain that were not there the a couple of weeks before. What’s going on there?
@ Actually no. I was detecting a small forest area. I wondered if there’s such a thing as the moisture pushing up coins. Very strange and it’s happened to me a couple of times. Unless I just missed the coins the first time, but I did cover the small area very well. 🤷♂️
Merrill, my son gave me a little gizmo that can either magnetize or de-magnetize small items like a screwdriver. Simply wave the item on either side of the gizmo to get the desired effect. Would it be possible to create something larger that could be dragged over the surface of a trashy iron field prior to metal detecting it? My sound like a stupid question, but if you knew me you'd be use it it by now 😂. Great video - thanks!
It is not a stupid question at all. In fact, when I saw this: ua-cam.com/video/oNjMLtHFxkU/v-deo.htmlsi=oxSLzJcBR-viBz3t it sent me back to the drawing board in making my video. You are thinking about something like this: ua-cam.com/users/shortsFyUmG59R6NU . My honest answer is, its probably cost prohibitive....but a fascinating question.....
You are a smart and I appreciate the education that you provide. One question, I currently use a large Stainless sand scoop and it occasionally interferes with my signal. If I switch to a Titanium scoop will I get less interference? Something you said leads me to believe that a Titanium scoop will provide more benefits than just weight. Thanks
I was hired by XP to become their Ambassador in the United States. But after swinging literally 23, I am NOT willing to compromise. I searched for the best and I have the best. XP is progressive.
Not only interference from iron, but ground conditions. Im in the Michigan UP i have a very old county park i was giving permission to detect. The head of rhe Park said im the first to ask for permission during his employment. I think i know why, the ground is almost impossible to dig by hand 😮 it looks like nice rich soil thats about 100' above Lake Superior it was someone's homestead a long time ago. I know stuff is in it. But getting down more than a inch or two is a lot of work without using machines. Ive only been able to recover a newer dime in the swing pit. I'm not giving up irs just that it's like digging frozen ground even in August. Very hard and compact. Almost like permafrost yet its not frozen when im up there.
Joined about 2 weeks ago, love your channel. I have an older Whites Prism V detector and may upgrade to a Nokta Legend I learned from your reviews. Thanks. I spotted what seems to be a lightly used Legend for a great price at a garage sale. I have a question about where to get the permits needed to do this. Is there a permit for the county/city we are searching in? And do they specify what areas are allowed/not allowed to search in? Thanks a lot.
Yep that is a fascinating question and we will get to that. The 10 minutes in this video took a long time to make. I will make the rest of this video in parts so that nothing is rushed.
I would love to see a video of you covering cherry picking methods for just quarters and silver. I use to with a simplex plus and it did pretty good at finding quick pocket change and silver jewelry.
I detected a spot a bazillion times. Then right on top next to a barbed wire fence, I found an 1800's lead bullet. What? That's a big target. Rain, gophers and cows kicking around the field, Adele... All kinds of reasons things get missed. Sift the soil to get everything.
Yes I have been watching for about a year and you won me over with this video. But here's something you need to know NYC... I find amazing Nickles and silver half dollars this is how I do it... I look for yellow dirt as opposed to brown or baige. Yellow dirt means that people have lived there for a very long time also the yellow dirt is as hard as concrete and that means nobody has ever been there 100 percent of the time. Boom mic drop...
I lived at a house where the back yard had been used as a automotive and farm equipment scrap yard nothing but iron and aluminum in the ground i dug everything and everytime i dug a signal that disappeared which was two or three on every swing it was always a big blob of rust colored dirt where a piece of iron used to be but as soon as my shovel hit the red dirt the signal disappeared these rust halos do exist i hold the world record for finding them as a matter of fact i completly dug up the entire yard which didnt matter cause there was no grass anyway.
I forgot to say I don't dig rust halos anymore I took a piece of rebar n welded a t handle on it now I just stab the ground with it where my pinpoint by X shows the target and if the signal disappears I move on unless after breaking the halo I get a good high tone on the spot that the halo had masked which happens very often of course I would not know this if I hadn't turned an entire scrap yard upside down lol
OMG iron. I got into metal detecting for scuba reasons and a debris field i discovered in my backyard(working with my state officials) . Visually i found over a dozen silver and gold coins from the 1726 to 1845 along with other artifacts. The logic was image what i can find with a detector. My 1st gear I bought a deus II 9", scuba shaft, jaw bone headphones, and a nokta pulse dive probe. I managed to find a few more coins. But there is fists full iron nails, spike and bolts. Also a lot of melted lead and lead weights. I created a test bed of coins and placeed then around various samples of iron items i have found. Its very tricky to create and set program for this. The average dept of sand is about 2 to 6 inches then is hard clay. I have been practicing at a local beach when i can and cant dive. So many lessons there with heavy aluminum slag and rusty iron parts..
Is it possible the magnetic field in a field could change over time? Can iron levels change over time? Does soil temperature and density effect signals? I believe there is more to this than meets the eye.
@@MetalDetectingNYC as always great information. Seeing how you demonstrated the corrosion of iron in correlation with target ids changing over time is incredible information. This would explain why returning to an area months or even years later would result in other targets being exposed when high iron concentrations affecting the magnetic field of the coil itself begin to decrease. I have learned so much watching your videos. We appreciate you sharing your years of research and knowledge with all of us.
i do enjoy the lessons teach.🤟🤣..but all in..I swing and dig the beeps..but they seem to never go away..😳.but somewhat disagree..a rusty bottle cap does ring up better🤔different from a new one..my experience only?
The GOAL is 75,000 subscribers by 1/1/2026! If you have watched my channel for a while, please hit subscribe to support! It costs you nothing to do and helps me a lot. Please and thank you! I appreciate your support!
Merrill thanks for the lesson. Your site is the best. Its so much more than Beep Beep, dig a hole, look what i found. Something I have learned is after you dig out your target, what ever it may be. Don't cover it up, dig out another 3 or 4 more inches and check with your Pointer. The hole is dug you have nothing to lose. Once a penny gave me a signal at 3", A rifle case at 5", modern nails, then a 10" layer of coal ash, more nails but square cut, ham bone and rib bone yum, yum. Went farther, a nail. Farther a small spool of copper wire. Took out 2 more handfuls after not hearing any more and POW out came 1837 Large Cent at 19". T HE 47 nails kept me digging. Don't give up that hole so fast.
I am subscribed to dozens of Metal detecting channels and nobody has taught me more about metal detecting than you. And you do it with a sense of humor that never gets old. Looking forward to part 2 and 3 and 4......................😂
Oh my goodness! I am absolutely honored! Thank you!
I second that comment. Merrill has made me a great Detectorists, he’s taught me everything I know, and I love passing that knowledge on to new Detectorists that I meet.
@ HONORED! Thank you so much 😊
I third that comment 💪
That goes for me as well. Thank you Merrill 👍
Can't believe you didn't mention troll worms. Troll worms find the coins and jewelry, and pull that stuff deep down into their treasure hoards. Then they find pull-tabs, square nails, and can slaw, and push that stuff into the upper soil layer. They do this to mask their treasure hoard locations. Troll worms are metal detecting's greatest nemesis.
LOL the Troll Worms will be heavily featured in part 2.
I’ve gone back to the same metal detecting spot for years. It’s a county fairgrounds that’s been going since the mid 1800’s. It’s probably only maybe 4 acres. All grass and flat and right in the middle of town. It’s been detected by everyone. If I don’t find something one time, I give it a couple weeks and go back and start finding stuff again. Good stuff! Old stuff. I hunted this place hard. After 5 years of hunting it I go back and find my 1st seated dime. It’s crazy and then continue to find more Indians flying eagle 2 centers and more.
Sounds like a great site
Awesome,
Take an iron nail from your workshop and place it near a silver coin; you'll find it nearly impossible to detect the coin.
Now, take an old rusty iron nail from the ground and repeat the test-you'll notice the coin is much easier to detect.
When a coin is buried near iron, the rusting process makes the coin more detectable over time.
Iron is ferromagnetic, rust is paramagnetic.
Yes!
Merrill you're such a good teacher, you keep your audiance engaged. I have learned a ton from your videos. Best metal detecting channel out there.
Wow! Extremely honored by that! Thank you!
I was confused on how a metal detector works. But you straighten it out. thanks.
Thanks, Sunrunner. I’m glad it helped.
Absolutely true !!!! Go to a property. Swing one direction and not get any signal. Swing over the same spot a month later from a different direction and you get a signal.
Great video, well explained! I have gone to sites that were "pounded" both by myself and others and have still pulled out desirable targets. Yes, different machines, different directions, different moisture content, etc all play a big part in finding things in previously hunted places, but iron is constantly changing signals in the ground as well. That's why I don't mind when a landowner tells me a place has been detected before, because no place is ever hunted out! Thanks for the great info!
Yessir
Great video. A lot of good points made. My dad always says, oh I've already hit that spot back in the 80s. But I always find stuff in places he says are hunted out.
Pretty thoughtful insights. Also, explains things in a no nonsense way. Excellent teachable moment Merrill...
Thank you John
Great video Merril. No doubt about it. Finding good targets in areas that have been what I considered cleaned out is absolutely true.
I LOVE this video. Every detectorist needs to watch this one.
@@Kunk35 thank you so much! 😊
Your style of the grid works .
I have done this in Atlantic City beach for years.
And I always find coins and other things.
I say it’s also a lot of luck too.
But it is fun and rewarding.
Great video , cool info.
Mike . 👍👍👍
Thank you Mike!
I'm subbscribed to a few md channels, and one in particular constantly mentions getting all the "trash" out of the ground. Never really explaining why. One guy from the group will dedicate himself with the patience of Job to remaining in one 20 x 20 foot piece of ground pulling roofing nails, flashing, digging any signal he can, and hit it from every direction. On particularly trashy sites they will rework for years. This group will pull whatever iron or junk they can out of the ground. Then, on that 4th or 5th trip back, they almost always get rewarded for their hard work. One thing I've noticed is they detect newer trashy sites with small coils, then switch to deeper larger coils once the site is cleaned up.
Merril, your description of how iron can mask good targets is the best I've heard. Thanks
Thank you!
Thank you so much for what you do. You are The Teacher and have taught me how to pursue a hobby I love. Please continue to not only teach but always entertain. Best wishes always.
Thank you for the kind words and support! I appreciate it.
Wow, great info and great history! Thanks Merrill!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you Merrill for answering the questions treasure hunters have been asking for years.
Thanks buddy! Were just getting started!
Been so busy here with the fire disaster thanks for taking us away from that with your content Merrill.
Oh no! I hope you, your family and property are safe Gary!
That's is a awesome video Merrill thank you.
Thank you so much Jimmy!
Man, Oh Man, if I ever finally get a metal detector. I'll be so ready to go to town. Until then so much fun to listen to you and learn.
Walt, go for it! I need it in my life. I was waiting in line at BJ's Wholesale (store) towards the end of 2012. I saw a metal detector while I was waiting on line. My wife said I would never use it. Metal detecting to me is my mindfulness activity. I could care less what I find. It is just a way to relax my mind and feel good. You get a little anxious at first when you are new and out and about but that wears off very fast. Since 2012 I have found about 1000 rings and a few thousand silver coins. In 2024 I found my oldest, a coin that predated America by almost 100 years; a 1697 William 2 sixpence. Lastly, although I am noticing that there are less coins being dropped since apple pay and credit card usage has gone up, you can still justify the expense either with one good find or the change you find along the way. Make that purchase!
When I first got my metal detector, I tried it out at my house in Southern, Maine. Found a lot of iron initially and after several passes over my property and getting to know my detector I started to find some coins (1870 Indian head, 1836 Matron Large cent). Also found a lot of melted lead on my property. Can't wait for my ground to thaw. Love the videos!
I love watching and learning from your videos! I’ve learned a lot from you and Terry Shannon. Thank you for the inspiration and the laughs! Happy Hunting!
Terry was one of my original sources when I was learning how to hunt the beach. It’s an honor to be mentioned with him. Thank you!
@ I watched the video where you got to interview him. When I saw that video I purchased his book “Detecting the treasure coast”. It has taught me a lot. I started detecting only 5 months ago and I’m completely hooked! 😃
My goal is to one day get to join in on a hunt with one of my favorite legends as yourself or Terry. Keep the videos coming and may you Unlock LOTS OF SUSHI!!! 😃
Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge.
Good video, very interesting topic. I was thinking about that few times. There's a field that I've scraped dozens of times, but recently I've found two gold coins in 10 minutes. What a day!
In my experience, ground condition also matters. Dry summer soil is very scarce on signals, unlike wet soil that gives good and deeper signals on small stuff.
Thank you!
Merrill!! Soo glad to see you! You are my happy on grey times and day! Nk.
Thank you Nick! I appreciate it!
100% right. Two weeks ago my hunting partner and myself went to a park that has been pounded, I mean pounded, and I found a Trime and an 1874 IH penny. I couldn't believe it...never hunted out!!!
I am using Deeptech Vista X that is single frequency but has really good separation and I can hear if a good target is mixed in with iron. It's tricky, but the tones usually don't lie. Listen to what your detector is telling you.
I always knew iron was masking signals but never thought about the effects of magnetic fields. Makes total sense. I also have noticed effects from electrical storms while hunting an area that I thought was hunted out. I believe deeper signals are enhanced after a storm.
Thanks for the explanation.
Interesting thought about the storms.
Never thought bout that but it does make sense now imm gunna bury a few silvers just out of my detectors range n wait for an opportunity to test it who knows I may go back to Venice Louisiana where I used to live and check out some sand since it's the lighting capitol of the world or so the meteorologist say it is I can verify.
Iron decomposes into rust over a really long time, but I have seen changes happen in a very short time. Some times only a day or two and I think there are many variables causing that including soil conditions and even temperature and humidity.
Yes! I was getting tired at the end of this and I didnt want to rush the other parts. Other parts are coming! Thanks Donald.
Hi Merrill,great teaching video,wow so cool.
Thank you! I am glad you liked it.
I've hunted our family farm for the last 20 years with multiple detectors. It was built in 1865. I just hit the front yard again around Christmas time and found an Indian and two 1910's wheats. It never stops producing. This time was the perfect conditions though. A saturated yard with dead winter grass so I could get low to the ground.
Sounds like a great site.
I’ve overlapped or farm field for 6 years, thought I had it all, my husband lost a tractor part asked me to find it. I came back with a gold ring!!! My XP Deus II is incredible.
Nice video. I've been digging for close to 40 years and have used a lot of detectors. One particular spot I go to (over 10 years)has definitely been pounded, even by me. Every time I go back, I always find something. It's a Civil War area. A few months ago I found 2 Indian Head cents and several bullets. Going in on different angles has this spot still producing especially with the Deus2. One irony spot too! I'll be going back soon. Good luck hunting.
That's a lot of detectors. We've never had our own, yet we are trying to get some. I love learning from your channel hope we can detect soon.
I love it and can’t live as happily without metal detecting. If you fight through the beginning (anxious detecting in public places, learning curve to find good sites) it will be a life changing hobby.
Hello Merrill. I think you hit the iron nail on the head. LOL Before I watched your video. I thought about the causes, and I had the same thoughts, of course, not as technical as yours. I experience that phenomenon at my local park that my buddy and I have pounded to the point, that we have moved on. BUT, big but, when we do go back, we get surprises. Great video info, Merrill. _/👍🏻
Thank you so much Luis!
So, I take my new detector to a hot spot I had cleaned out with my old detector, but now find targets my old detector must have missed, but maybe my old detector would have found these targets too, but I attribute my success to my new detector, maybe incorrectly. What a hobby!
Well said! The tech is definitely improving; especially in target separation but yes there is more to it than just that!!
Great job Merrill!
Thank you so much Howard!
Very interesting,...my dear Merrill !!
Watson, I meant.....
Thank you!
Great topic thanks Merrill
Thank you for watching!
Thanks for the great teaching Merrill! Looking forward to part deux. I love the science behind the beeps. 🤓 Sam
Thanks Sam, I appreciate that!
Great videos! I had kids later in life and couldn't enjoy the outdoors like a single fella. So while the kids play at the beach, I turned to metal detecting for shits n giggles.
Got my 440, and it's getting fun. Best thing so far is a 1960s quarter. I just wish local and county rules were a little more relaxed. I'm in Jacksonville FL and you can beach detect quite a bit but I'm still nervous about hitting local parks etc. Fun hobby and terrific videos
Thank you. I was in Florida for an event and I recall talking to someone about a Jacksonville metal detecting club. Members of that club would give you the best advice on where you can, and can’t dig in the area.
Another excellent video, on my favorite channel. Thanks , Teach !!
wow ,your a great teacher,this getting better alll the time,thank you video keep getting good..
Juan thank you so much for the support and encouragement!
Merrill, thanks for this video. I'm still using a 30 year old metal detector on iron filled Ohio soil. Your video makes my experience understandable.
You’re welcome, it’s great to hear the video is helpful.
This could, (and probably should), be a whole series of videos.
@@Kunk35 it will be. I was originally going to release a 19 minute video today but I didn’t want to rush it. I was getting tired and the other topics need the same level of care.
Great video Merrill Hello 👋
Thank you so much Willie!
Thank you, nice explanation for us who have to know!
Thanks for lots of info
Am now saving for xpdeus ws6 master
I do beaches and fields good luck this year
You will never regret that decision! ESPECIALLY at the beach.
Merrill, I've hunted an old road that became a trail and to say I hunted this trail out is an understatement, it leads to the deep forest I love to hunt. I still find old cents and silvers years later. I'm convinced it has to do with %moisture.
Watch this! We covered that in two recent videos: 1.) ua-cam.com/video/A0gPWidWWcI/v-deo.html and 2.) ua-cam.com/video/ms2IVZxDkXs/v-deo.html :) In short moisture does effect things, but there are greater factors including salinity.
@@MetalDetectingNYC Yes, but I dont think salinity has the varaibility moisture does. Ill check out Part 2.
@@davepelletier708 The salinity (salt content) actually affects a lot more than just depth. It affects the clarity of the signals and unusual interference. Here in NY, we can get the storms from the West that are pretty much freshwater by the time it gets to us, but the storms from the South and the rare ones from the East are driven directly by the ocean water, picking up and dropping, then twisting around and drawing more moisture from the ocean.. Cold rain versus Tropical rains :)
Fantastic. Love it 👍👍
Thank you Wayne!
Love the bone conductive analysis
My dogs are always testing! LOL
"The Dog".... You're not fooling anyone Merrill, lol. Great topic btw. Looking forward to part 2.
Thank you!
Looking forward to part 2😬
Thank you!
Great knowledge drop 💪🏽
Thanks Josh!
Greetings from freezing Buffalo! Enjoying having this video to entertain me while I count down the hours of today's work shift
You can do it! I will be back to work tomorrow.
Hello from Pensacola, it's supposed to snow here tomorrow 🥶
Anyway I lived I Buffalo in the mid 90s, keep safe.
bummer underground..I actually got the day off..still can't hunt..but hey..🤷
Soooo how long would you expect magnetism to decrease enough to re detect old sites?
Any answer I had to that would be speculative.
What a great video! I was hoping it would be a little longer but so great. I know I’m always amazed at what old sites can hide in the iron. But question. So is your new stance that the halo effect dosnt exist ?
I’m self taught with a lot of this but I’ve made some great connections with some very smart people. If you consider that iron rusts and the rust surrounds the iron object I suppose you can call that a halo. The rust is paramagnetic which still is a challenge. But I would call that more benign.
@@MetalDetectingNYCinteresting, I think you can count yourself as one of the smart ones. I’ve been watching your channel since I started detecting and pretty much credit your channel for teaching me to detect. Keep up the good work friend.
@ I am truly honored to read that! Thank you!
DIG IT ALL!
Great vid.Thanks for posting.
Thank you Fred
Really great insight into the iron factor
Vader v light saber 😀
Thank you Tony!
Lots of great info. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Merril what’s this word SHOOTER it’s my last name for 70 years now I love ya your intellect is far above the average poster and your information is priceless. PS this is not a joke my last name is Shooter and I m 70 years old with a beard and I metal detect and I can tell you in the final analysis I am not a shooting searcher but a Shooter by birth.
Omg that’s hilarious! I just did a video on how coin shooting programs are (arguably) obsolete. And I remembered a guy who for many years asked me for my coin shooting program. I kept trying to say in so many ways that I really didn’t have one and when I did he got upset at me. I’m sure he’s gonna read this too. L O L. But that’s how I chose the name shooter. That is a frigging awesome name!!! 😊
@ I would have given you my full name but not to the public anyway the guy that slew Goliath that’s me . When I was very young there were only two families in the US with that name spelled that way now there are more than I have been able to keep up with thanks for the great reply. It’s tuff when your name is a constant target for speculation. After 70 good years you get used to it. Again I thank you for your knowledge and may I say if you’re a teacher those kids are super lucky and fortunate to have you. PS I know my grammar and punctuation suck but so does auto fill .
Weather, wet ground, full moon or not. It's a thing.
Different times of a month you can dig a hole and when you fill it back in you'll ether have more dirt to fill it or less to where there'll be a dip.
How does frozen ground effect metal detecting. Thanks for all your info. It helps us newbies a lot.
My wise guy answer is that you cant dig when its frozen. :) The freezing and the thawing called frost action causes soil creep which I will cover in the next video. As for the dirt, water (especially if there is salinity in the soil) can extend the reach of the transmitter coil.
Hey what about if you dug that ax head that was masking the silver coin but the halo effected the ground for a few. Ax Head gone the halo now gone silver coin can be reached. Good Info.. Thanks For Sharing.. Peace and Happy Hunting
Hey Danny. I was advised by very smart and reliable sources that the halo effect is overstated. Leech in to the ground. I suppose so but it is very localized and the rust is paramagnetic which is more benign than ferromagnetic iron. I think that big axe head would mask for a long time but the longer it rusts the better the chance you have. Or, we could all commit to removing a few pieces of iron.
@@MetalDetectingNYC Thanks for clearing that up. I do know that I need to start digging more iron out in spots that I heavily hit.
Kinetic energy is amazing. Wonder how that parlays into your part 2?¿
Already working on part 2.
What about erosion? If soil at the surface erodes, wouldn't that mean that deeper objects, which were previously out of range, would now be at a detectable depth?
That and other topics will be covered in part 2.
Merrill great video as always. So if isn't breaking the Halo on the beach when you take a scoop of sand and the signal disappears and you take another scoop and find the object. What causes that?
As I see it, the beach is a special situation because it contains a LOT of what extends metal detecting signals (wet conditions AND salinity). I would guess that when you take a scoop and the signal disappears that you are breaking the extension that you get from the saltwater (in other words I am saying that it would go further than an air test signal and when you remove the sand, you have an air test).
@ thanks Merrill great answer as I never have as much a problem on land👋😀👍
@@TeamLynchBMD I have been doing the science geek out lately. This video will cover depth (I hope pretty fully): ua-cam.com/video/ms2IVZxDkXs/v-deo.html
Sometimes multy not wok good. I wan on place today the ground balance it was 60. I switched to single frequency and becoming quilet
The higher frequencies are more susceptible to EMI. XP plans for that with max frequency where you set the limit for the highest frequency while using FMF.
@@MetalDetectingNYC it wasn't EMI it was strange groud(it was too noisy for multi frequency programs) that gives on deus 2 mono program 60 ground balance.
I agree with the science and basic premise: there will almost always be targets that are missed in a heavily hunted area. BUT, even if there are targets that went undetected the odds are they aren't amazing treasures. It's more likely to turn up zinc pennies and pull tabs than old coins. Not that I'm knocking anyone with the patience and determination to keep looking...
We don't know what is treasure before we dig it. Nobody does. There is no number on target ID that guarantees treasure. Every beep is a possibility.
@MetalDetectingNYC absolutely agree, which is why I dig everything that's not big iron. You never know what you're going to find.
Greetings Merill, excellent video as always. Thanks. Quick question for you or the community: I saw a computer program running that simulates a user changing settings on a particular detector so you can see what it does BEFORE you change them on the actual real-world detector. Do you know or remember what company's machine that was for?
That sounds interesting. This is the first im hearing of this.
@@MetalDetectingNYC I saw it in a UA-cam video. Wasn't a video dedicated to that subject, but to detecting. I saw an Indian Head penny on the screen and settings that are on that of the metal detector. Can't remember what company, but figured it would be a High End machine. I wasn't worried about not seeing it again as I "thought" I would search for it when I wanted to know more :(
I once detected a ploughed medieval fair site in a village near Lincoln, UK. Land owner said it had been searched every week for 30 years. I had a go anyway. Two of us searched for 10 hours and had one tiny piece of white lead between us 😂
I still believe, especially in England, when the other detectorists go away, go back to that site. Remember the land owner said "every week" and why would other detectorists come back if it wasnt good. Metal detecting is somewhere between 1.) the law of diminishing returns and 2.) Never hunted out. :)
One of my first times out detecting I found 2 or 3 coins with the detector I tested the find with a pin pointer. I narrowed the hit down to a couple of square inches. I put in a tent peg and felt a small scrape (I was very focused). I found the object that felt very coin-like on its edge. But then as I went roll the coin out of the ground using my finger I felt it slipping away. It/they were there. But every time I tried the coin sank a little deeper until it was gone. Ill use some long nose pliers next time.
Another awesome video Merrill 🗝💍🙏
Thank you so much for watching!
Hunted my property for 2 years before I found my best coin a 1835 capbust halfdime. It was a jumpy signal because it was near a square nail. Still looking for more stuff don’t find much though anymore.
Great video Merril, on a similar topic ... I've encountered so many people who think you cant find gold with a metal detector because it isn't magnetic. Some even accusing me of faking my finds because gold isn't magnetic! I always tell them that it's about Induction, not magnetism, and explain the process. But ignorance is king today, experts are to be shunned and not trusted in today's world. Sigh.
Ken.....I tested that.....there seems to be no gold on flat earth.....but on round planets it is plentiful.🤣
@@MetalDetectingNYC triggered!!! hahaha
I have been hitting an 1843 plantation for five years now and we still find good target each time we go, so I have to ask you, the iron in the ground here has been here for 180 years after all this time are you saying the iron is still changing each year enough to make a difference? I don’t know myself, I question the things we find each and every time we go, how is it possible we keep finding things?
By the way, love the video?
Great video💯
Thank you!
omg dude the drone with the 13"
I did 2 videos on drone detecting. It somewhat exists already for surveying sites.
Very interesting video. Maybe it’s a topic for another video, but you mentioned coins sinking - How about coins floating? I’ve found old coins on the surface of the ground after a rain that were not there the a couple of weeks before. What’s going on there?
Mass Wasting. I would guess that you live in a hilly area?
@ Actually no. I was detecting a small forest area. I wondered if there’s such a thing as the moisture pushing up coins. Very strange and it’s happened to me a couple of times. Unless I just missed the coins the first time, but I did cover the small area very well. 🤷♂️
School is in, you're right Merrill, no place is ever hunted completely out!
I’ve known for years. No place is cleaned out. It’s called right time and place.
What camera do you use while detecting?
GoPro 10
@@MetalDetectingNYChow to mount your gopro? chest ,head ? thanks
Merrill, my son gave me a little gizmo that can either magnetize or de-magnetize small items like a screwdriver. Simply wave the item on either side of the gizmo to get the desired effect. Would it be possible to create something larger that could be dragged over the surface of a trashy iron field prior to metal detecting it? My sound like a stupid question, but if you knew me you'd be use it it by now 😂. Great video - thanks!
It is not a stupid question at all. In fact, when I saw this: ua-cam.com/video/oNjMLtHFxkU/v-deo.htmlsi=oxSLzJcBR-viBz3t it sent me back to the drawing board in making my video. You are thinking about something like this: ua-cam.com/users/shortsFyUmG59R6NU . My honest answer is, its probably cost prohibitive....but a fascinating question.....
@MetalDetectingNYC that Second link is crazy!!!
You are a smart and I appreciate the education that you provide. One question, I currently use a large Stainless sand scoop and it occasionally interferes with my signal. If I switch to a Titanium scoop will I get less interference? Something you said leads me to believe that a Titanium scoop will provide more benefits than just weight. Thanks
You mentioned you had 23 detectors, curious to know how many you have now since you mainly use the deus 2 now, thanks Merrill
I was hired by XP to become their Ambassador in the United States. But after swinging literally 23, I am NOT willing to compromise. I searched for the best and I have the best. XP is progressive.
Not only interference from iron, but ground conditions. Im in the Michigan UP i have a very old county park i was giving permission to detect. The head of rhe Park said im the first to ask for permission during his employment. I think i know why, the ground is almost impossible to dig by hand 😮 it looks like nice rich soil thats about 100' above Lake Superior it was someone's homestead a long time ago. I know stuff is in it. But getting down more than a inch or two is a lot of work without using machines. Ive only been able to recover a newer dime in the swing pit. I'm not giving up irs just that it's like digging frozen ground even in August. Very hard and compact. Almost like permafrost yet its not frozen when im up there.
When I went to Arkansas, I couldnt believe how difficult is was to dig (compared to NY). I would research this site on www.historicaerials.com/
@@MetalDetectingNYC I'll.have to check that out thanks 👍
Only go there when it's been raining fir days, if that doesn't do it, quite 😂
Joined about 2 weeks ago, love your channel. I have an older Whites Prism V detector and may upgrade to a Nokta Legend I learned from your reviews. Thanks. I spotted what seems to be a lightly used Legend for a great price at a garage sale. I have a question about where to get the permits needed to do this. Is there a permit for the county/city we are searching in? And do they specify what areas are allowed/not allowed to search in? Thanks a lot.
Turf building, sink? Yes! More like buried a little more every time you cut grass. Grass turns to dirt, dirt is fill.
Yep that is a fascinating question and we will get to that. The 10 minutes in this video took a long time to make. I will make the rest of this video in parts so that nothing is rushed.
I would love to see a video of you covering cherry picking methods for just quarters and silver. I use to with a simplex plus and it did pretty good at finding quick pocket change and silver jewelry.
I detected a spot a bazillion times. Then right on top next to a barbed wire fence, I found an 1800's lead bullet. What? That's a big target. Rain, gophers and cows kicking around the field, Adele... All kinds of reasons things get missed. Sift the soil to get everything.
Yes I have been watching for about a year and you won me over with this video. But here's something you need to know NYC... I find amazing Nickles and silver half dollars this is how I do it... I look for yellow dirt as opposed to brown or baige. Yellow dirt means that people have lived there for a very long time also the yellow dirt is as hard as concrete and that means nobody has ever been there 100 percent of the time. Boom mic drop...
I lived at a house where the back yard had been used as a automotive and farm equipment scrap yard nothing but iron and aluminum in the ground i dug everything and everytime i dug a signal that disappeared which was two or three on every swing it was always a big blob of rust colored dirt where a piece of iron used to be but as soon as my shovel hit the red dirt the signal disappeared these rust halos do exist i hold the world record for finding them as a matter of fact i completly dug up the entire yard which didnt matter cause there was no grass anyway.
I forgot to say I don't dig rust halos anymore I took a piece of rebar n welded a t handle on it now I just stab the ground with it where my pinpoint by X shows the target and if the signal disappears I move on unless after breaking the halo I get a good high tone on the spot that the halo had masked which happens very often of course I would not know this if I hadn't turned an entire scrap yard upside down lol
Also process of elimination is a factor. Remove as much iron as you can then you find the good stuff!
OMG iron. I got into metal detecting for scuba reasons and a debris field i discovered in my backyard(working with my state officials) . Visually i found over a dozen silver and gold coins from the 1726 to 1845 along with other artifacts.
The logic was image what i can find with a detector. My 1st gear I bought a deus II 9", scuba shaft, jaw bone headphones, and a nokta pulse dive probe. I managed to find a few more coins. But there is fists full iron nails, spike and bolts. Also a lot of melted lead and lead weights. I created a test bed of coins and placeed then around various samples of iron items i have found. Its very tricky to create and set program for this. The average dept of sand is about 2 to 6 inches then is hard clay. I have been practicing at a local beach when i can and cant dive. So many lessons there with heavy aluminum slag and rusty iron parts..
Thanks for inspiring me. I’m working on that first gold coin!
Is it possible the magnetic field in a field could change over time? Can iron levels change over time?
Does soil temperature and density effect signals? I believe there is more to this than meets the eye.
8:14 Watch the whole lesson. Yes there is a part 2 coming out.
@@MetalDetectingNYC as always great information. Seeing how you demonstrated the corrosion of iron in correlation with target ids changing over time is incredible information. This would explain why returning to an area months or even years later would result in other targets being exposed when high iron concentrations affecting the magnetic field of the coil itself begin to decrease. I have learned so much watching your videos. We appreciate you sharing your years of research and knowledge with all of us.
what is the deepest metal detector for hidden treasures?
i do enjoy the lessons teach.🤟🤣..but all in..I swing and dig the beeps..but they seem to never go away..😳.but somewhat disagree..a rusty bottle cap does ring up better🤔different from a new one..my experience only?
That is the problem we love to have!
While all that is true, I don't believe hunted out is necessarily a 100% term, it has more fluid definition. Cheers! Sebastian
Do you still have and use the Nexus?
Brooks Kentucky