Movement · 3 minVisual lesson live
Swing and Coil Control
Keep the coil low, level, slow, and overlapping so the detector sees the ground evenly.
Open this lessonMetal detecting techniques
Build a repeatable hunt—one movement at a time.
Good technique makes an ordinary detector easier to understand. Start with a quiet setup, move the coil evenly, test the signal, pinpoint the spot, and leave the ground neat.
The field order
Five jobs. Always in this order.
Do not change every setting at once. Fix the first weak step, then test again.
- 01Stabilize
Choose a simple mode and lower sensitivity if the detector chatters.
- 02Sweep
Keep the coil low and level. Overlap each pass instead of racing.
- 03Question
Listen for a repeatable signal and turn 90 degrees to test it again.
- 04Pinpoint
Use shorter sweeps to shrink the target area before opening the ground.
- 05Recover
Use the smallest opening that works, refill it, and take the trash.
Technique library
Pick the skill that is failing now.
Live lessons link to real explanations. Topics still being tested are labeled instead of sending you to an empty page.
Signals · 4 minSignal lesson live
Read Target IDs and Tones
Use the number as a clue, then test whether the sound repeats from another direction.
Open this lessonSetup · 3 minQuick lesson live
Ground Balance in Plain English
Help the detector ignore normal soil so real targets are easier to hear.
Open this lessonBefore digging · 3 minQuick lesson live
Cross-Check and Pinpoint
Turn, rescan, shorten the sweep, and make the possible target area smaller.
Open this lessonDigging · 4 minQuick lesson live
Clean Target Recovery
Open the smallest area that works, control the loose soil, and close the ground neatly.
Open this lessonAdvanced groundField guide in research
Salt-Beach Technique
Stability, sensitivity, sweep speed, and target checks for wet salt sand and moving waterlines.
No thin page—we publish it after source review.Three quick fixes
Plain English before deeper settings.
These checks solve many noisy, jumpy, or oversized signals without a complicated menu.
Ground balance
The detector first hears the soil. Ground balance teaches it what normal soil sounds like, so a metal target stands out more clearly.
Use it when:the detector changes tone as the coil moves over clean ground.
Cross-check
Sweep over the signal, turn 90 degrees, and sweep again. A repeatable center is easier to learn from than one perfect number.
Use it before:deciding where to open the ground.
Clean recovery
Pinpoint first, keep loose soil together, use the smallest opening that works, and replace everything in the order it came out.
Stop when:you meet roots, utilities, protected material, or anything unsafe.
Keep moving through the atlas
Choose the next question—not a random article.
Each hub has one clear job. Move between them when your question changes.
023 picks · 4 product links checked
Choose the machine
Detectors
Match a detector to your ground, water, targets, weight limit, and real starting budget.
- Beginner comparisons
- Beach and gold machines
- Exact models and coils
016 states · 6 checked places
Rules & ground
Places & rules
Find the land manager, read the current rule, and confirm the exact boundary before you dig.
- State rule guides
- Verified public places
- Permits and boundaries
044 identification routes
Read the object
Find identification
Record the clues before cleaning, then narrow the object family without damaging the find.
- Coins and tokens
- Buttons and relics
- Jewelry and hallmarks