Detexpert Tips & Tricks – Expert Advice for Detectorists Issue no.2

Welcome back to our Detexpert Tips & Tricks series.

This edition focuses on settings and customisation, the small tweaks and smart setups our Detexperts use to get clearer signals and better separation in every hunt.

Look, Listen, Dig & Learn

Mikkel Warming (Denmark)

For Mikkel, success comes from knowing his detector inside and out. He believes that every great find starts with understanding how your settings respond to the ground beneath your feet.

He recommends starting with lower sensitivity for stable signals and clear tones. As you gain confidence, raise sensitivity gradually to reach deeper and more challenging targets. Switch to All Metal mode and don’t avoid iron-rich patches; “that’s often where the best finds hide.”

Take your time, compare signals from multiple angles, and always pack out any trash: “We leave every field cleaner than we found it.”

His advice to detectorists is that patience and persistence always pay off, the more you get to know your MANTICORE, the more it reveals its true power.

Back to Basics

Chris Holmes (UK)

For Chris, mastery begins by keeping things simple. Before making major adjustments, he always returns to a default program to understand how each setting really changes the machine’s behaviour.

“Go simple first,” says Chris.” Pick a default program - for example, All-Terrain General on the MANTICORE. Perform a Noise Cancel, then start with higher sensitivity to ‘hear everything.’ Begin a low-and-slow sweep and dial the sensitivity down until the detector runs stable.”

He advises working targets deliberately: check signals from multiple angles and dig repeatable ones. Above all, trust what your machine is telling you - consistency beats constant tinkering.

His advice to detectorists is: go back to basics - start with a default program, settle your sensitivity, and trust your machine.

Precision and Patience

George Chavdar (Bulgaria)

For George, detecting is all about precision and patience. He believes success comes from learning your machine and taking the time to cover the ground properly.

“When searching, use the correct speed and make sure each pass overlaps the previous one by about 50%,” says George. “This ensures full ground coverage and helps you catch small or deep targets that might otherwise be missed.”

His advice for new detectorists? “Never rush straight to treasure hunting the moment you buy a new detector. Be patient, practice regularly, and give yourself time to connect with your detector - that’s the key to success.”

His advice to detectorists is: be patient, stay consistent, and let time and practice connect you to your detector.

Trust your Machine

Lean Van Tilborg (Netherlands)

For Lean, getting the most from your detector starts with preparation and patience. “Before you begin, start your detector and perform a rolling Noise Cancel over a clean patch of soil, free of iron,” he says. “Then raise or lower the sensitivity until the detector runs as quietly as possible.”

He also shares a useful trick for identifying iron targets: “If you’re unsure whether a target is iron that gives a positive signal, turn 180 degrees and sweep over it again. If the signal disappears, it’s 99.9% certain it’s iron.”

His advice to detectorists is: Be patient, trust your machine, learn how it behaves, and don’t rely solely on VDI numbers. For example, a foil reading of 12 could just as easily be gold or another metal with similar conductivity.

Stability over Sensitivity

Oddbjørn Kåsine (Norway)

For Oddbjørn, success is all about precision and control. He believes that fine-tuning your detector’s performance and adjusting to the environment is what truly separate good hunts from great ones.

He recommends prioritising stability over maximum sensitivity. “Set your detector’s sensitivity as high as possible while keeping it stable and quiet,” says Oddbjørn. “Always perform a Noise Cancel before detecting - a smooth, stable machine will find more than one chattering with interference.”

He also highlights the importance of adjusting sweep speed. With the MANTICORE, a slightly faster sweep can sometimes perform better than a very slow one. Experiment until signals sound crisp and consistent.

And when you encounter faint or unclear signals, Oddbjørn suggests gently loosening the soil near the target and resweeping the coil. “This often sharpens the response and helps confirm the target’s location.”

Hisadvice to detectorists is: Treasure every signal - whether it’s a relic from the Viking Age or a modern coin, a find is a find. That’s the spirit of Detekting Telemark – Norway.

Precision in Practice

Petr Zuklin (Czech Republic)

For Petr, detecting is all about understanding the science behind your machine. Years of hands-on experience have taught him that small technical adjustments can make a big difference to performance in the field.

He reminds detectorists that jewellery gold isn’t pure: “Gold jewellery is an alloy, mixed with different metals in varying amounts and shapes, this means its conductivity and target ID will vary.” Keeping this in mind can help you identify those more elusive targets.

Petr also emphasises the importance of matching your sweep speed to your recovery speed. “The speed you move the coil should correspond to your recovery setting,” he says. “If you move too fast or too slow, you risk missing good signals.”

And for MANTICORE users, Petr shares one final tip: “Give the Target Trace ball more room to move within the ferrous limits, it helps increase depth and improves signal clarity.”

His advice to detectorists is: pay attention to the small settings, precision and patience always lead to better results.

These insights show the depth of knowledge and experience across our Detexpert community, from learning your machine and trusting your instincts, to fine-tuning every signal for maximum performance. Each small adjustment makes a big difference, and every hunt is another step in mastering the art of detecting.

Stay tuned for the next issue of Detexpert Tips & Tricks, where we’ll take these learnings into the field, exploring real-world detecting techniques, search patterns, and recovery strategies to help you make every swing count.