Detexpert Tips & Tricks – Expert Advice for Detectorists Issue no.3

Welcome back to our Detexpert Tips & Tricks series.

In this edition, our Detexperts focus on techniques in the field, the habits, search patterns and decision-making methods they rely on to improve accuracy, confidence and success during every hunt.

Search Technique & Coil Control

Neil Jones (UK)

For Neil, everything starts with proper swing technique. Keeping the coil flat and close to the ground throughout the sweep is essential, even when swinging at speed.

When a productive hotspot appears, often iron-infested and highly mineralised, Neil slows everything down. He recommends at least two seconds left and two seconds right, lightly scraping the surface and thoroughly gridding the area to reveal faint targets hiding between the iron.

Neil also encourages detectorists not to be afraid of using their machine’s full potential. By learning the menu and increasing sensitivity correctly, Minelab detectors can still run comfortably stable on worked-out sites - allowing faint, tight signals to jump out with surprising regularity.

Neil's advice to detectorists: Focus on swing technique, use your machine’s power wisely and combine patience, perseverance, and research.

Reading Signals & Making the Dig Decision

Truls Warhuus (Norway)

For Truls, some of the biggest improvements in his results came from slowing down and working overlapping search patterns, especially in heavily hunted areas.

When he encounters an uncertain signal, he always re-checks it from multiple angles and at slightly different coil heights. Weak or broken tones can often turn out to be good targets when approached patiently.

He also reminds detectorists that maximum sensitivity isn’t always the best setting. In difficult ground, slightly reducing sensitivity can lower noise, improve target clarity and increase usable depth, leading to more confident decisions in the field.

Truls' advice to detectorists is: Slow down, trust your ears and never dismiss a signal until you’ve checked it from every angle.

Robert-Jan Ousen (Netherlands)

Rob believes better decisions start with hearing everything the detector is trying to tell you. He always keeps iron sound switched on, as it helps reveal subtle clues that can easily be missed.

By keeping iron sound, listening for those small tonal shifts, Rob gains more confidence in deciding whether a target is worth digging.

Rob's advice to detectorists is: Use your sensitivity wisely, you can’t always drive a Ferrari at full throttle.

Settings in Real Conditions

Vaggelis Nyfantis (Greece)

For Vaggelis, optimal performance in the field comes from correct setup and controlled technique. He believes that letting the detector work at its full potential depends on how well the operator sets it up and uses it.

He recommends selecting the right search mode first, then setting sensitivity only as high as the detector remains quiet and stable, prioritising usable depth over unstable gain. In trash-dense environments, Vaggelis suggests a Recovery Speed of 4–5 for faster target separation, while in cleaner ground, lowering it can help achieve greater depth. Keeping Iron Bias low preserves valuable target information instead of masking weaker or borderline signals.

Technique in the field matters just as much as settings. “If your coil isn’t low, your finds won’t grow,” Vaggelis says. He advises maintaining a steady, controlled sweep and always confirming targets from at least two directions.

Vaggelis' advice to detectorists is: Apply the correct technique first - when the process is right, the technology performs at its best.

Experience, Adaption & Confidence

Colin Ashcroft (Belgium)

For Colin, field success comes from reading the site and adapting on the fly. He encourages detectorists to experiment with recovery speed and sensitivity during a session, adjusting to conditions rather than sticking to one setup.

Above all, he believes confidence comes from knowing your machine so well that adjustments feel natural.

Colin's advice to detectorists is: Learn your detector, trust your instincts, and let experience guide your decisions.

These techniques highlight how small changes in approach can make a big difference in the field. From coil control and signal interpretation to adapting settings and trusting experience, every hunt is an opportunity to refine your technique.

Stay tuned for the next issue of Detexpert Tips & Tricks, where we’ll explore how Detexperts adapt their approach to different environments, from beaches and forests to mineralised ground and cold conditions.