The Australian Metal Detectorist thread

Ordered myself a QED PL3 last night, went for the S handle the same as in the photo attached.
I'm getting a Nugget Finder 12" Evo coil instead of the standard one that comes with them.
As I already have the Gold Monster 1000 for the small stuff and the tight / scrub terrain I wanted something that would punch deeper and cover ground faster for the open areas.
My budget is tight with no work at the moment, so couldn't afford a collection of coils.. I will add to my selection either as the money situation improves, or if a bargain comes along.
I'm going to spend my time reviewing videos and "how to" manuals and tutorials for the QED while waiting for the detector to arrive in Sydney from Victoria.

Brilliant mate, and you thought right with the 12” Evo. That coil will live on the PL3. Perfect. Can be really sensitive to small gold while punching deep. Youll be surprised.

Have you got a copy of the manual yet? When you read it make sure you watch the associated video. It helps make it ‘click’.

Any questions i can help you with just ask.

Geez that was quick

Thanks for the feedback and the offer of a brain to pick for hints and information.

The bloke I've bought the detector through has sent me links to the manual and the settings tutorial videos (my guess is you know of Brian S in the Facebook groups).

Though I owned a couple of detectors back in the 1980's down in Victoria, I did very little detecting.. so I'm basically a novice, particularly with the new machines, and still have to learn to recognise the best ground to actually swing over in a gold area.

I'm looking forward to when the detector arrives up here in NSW so I can start to have a play around with it.

Brian Skinner and i talk often. Hes keen to show me how its done in my part of the world. Im sure he will.

Hillsborough this arvo. An old gold mining town that hasnt existed for many decades, probably nearing 100 years. The workings produced very well in ‘primary’ gold. No elluvial. Such a beautiful spot. Huge brittle gums and peppermints against a green backdrop. Would have been an easy town to reside in back in the day. The original town site has been preserved but surrounded in pine plantations except for the east side which plummets down in the direction of Bruarong where the workings took place running Nth/East. There is a huge open cut and diggings running parallel close to each other. Havent seen this before. Ill spend a bit of time in here with the QED.

I might have to buy a quad bike and a trailer to go behind my HiAce if I'm going in to areas like that.

Possibly, but it is more fun if you find gold.
There are plenty of interesting relics to find though, even if they won't make you rich.

If you are looking for a decent detector either AUSSIEADV or I can put you on to Brian Skinn.
He was more than happy to give me solid written (emailed) detailed quotes on SIX different options I was considering for the QED.
And even though I still hadn't finalised specifically what coil/s I wanted he started putting the package together.
Even with my faffing around, and the delays of having to be freighted by road from Melbourne to Sydney, the time from order to delivery will still be under a week most likely.

And the QED will give the Minelab 2300 / 4500 models more than a run for their money.. and the QED is half the price of them.

This arvo

ive thought about the quad. Would be so handy.

I used ride them chasing cattle and other livestock in Western Victoria.. spent more time hooning around the paddocks than I did moving the stock.

Have to check that out next time we’re in Beechworth, country looks amazing

Mike, its beautiful around here. Ill tell ya theres worse places than Hillsborough to have a gold town. They would have done alright out there.

Back to the top for those that detect - or not.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8619549/Boy-10-discovers-Bronze-Age-gold-Andover.html

Nokta Makro Simplex

Sometimes it's nice to find something that shines amongst all the shit...
Ring pulls & bottle tops were the order of the day but I kept digging targets, eventually my luck changed...

Some thoughtful person left this test target in the middle of the bush in a GPA in Clermont.
1cm long piece of aluminium wire, cut both ends.

An old recreation ground and hall site, the usual rubbish plus a few coins