Bench Test Discrimination on Sample Targets
1 hourBury nickel, pull tab, and coin samples at 4 inches; note VDI or tone IDs on your detector display for each metal type.
Field context
This workflow is part of 2 niche fields
Complete guide for metal detector setup — step-by-step workflow, tools, checklist, and expert tips to get started.
Bury nickel, pull tab, and coin samples at 4 inches; note VDI or tone IDs on your detector display for each metal type.
Perform automatic and manual ground balance on site; adjust sensitivity until stable with no false signals on clean ground.
Maintain coil 1–2 inches above ground, overlap sweeps 50%, and match walking pace to detector recovery speed.
Document final discrimination, sensitivity, and ground balance settings in notepad; schedule coil cable and battery inspection dates.
Records VDI numbers, ground balance settings, and custom program names for each hunt type.
Times sweep sessions to correlate pace with target recovery rate during practice.
Archives compressed screenshots of detector display settings for quick field reference.
Schedules coil inspection and battery replacement intervals from last maintenance date.
Common VDI Ranges (Typical VLF)
| Target | VDI Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Iron nail | 0–20 | Often masked |
| Pull tab | 35–45 | Discriminate carefully |
| Nickel | 45–55 | Near gold range |
| Silver dime | 70–80 | High conductor |
Overlap passes in a grid pattern — random wandering leaves large areas unsearched.
Note depth, signal ID, and GPS for every good find — context drives historical value.
Leave ground as you found it — unfilled holes get detectorists banned from sites.