Although I have been detecting for over 35 years, the first thing I did when I received my new DFX yesterday was to read the manual and watch the DVD. After watching the DVD, I reread the manual, intent on understanding each of the controls and how they impacted the detector's performance. Although I also have an MXT, and have been enjoying some success this spring with the Super 12 coil, I knew the DFX was going to require some practice.

This evening, after eating dinner, I connected the Super 12 coil to my new DFX and headed out the door. I knew that the best way to become familiarized with my new detector was to hunt in an area that I was familiar with. So off to the neighbor's back yard I went. I honestly didn't expect to make any great finds, as I have hunted this same yard many, many times over the years. But, having been a coin shooter for as long as I have, I know that you can usually find something if you are methodical in your search.

Setting the DFX in a modified Coin program, I began searching along the sidewalk leading to an old garage. I got a few bleeps and beeps. But none of them would repeat when swinging from various directions. I worked my way across the backyard and started toward the old clothes line. Again, an area that I had hunted many times before. Working slowly and making sure to overlap the swaths on the Super 12, I passed over a target that gave a smooth audio tone. Glancing at the display, I saw a solid 92. Xing over the target, the audio tone, VDI and target location remained consistent. I pinpointed the target using VCO pinpoint and it indicated 6- inches. Being familiar with the VDI of my other White's detectors, I was hoping this 92 represented a half dollar. I cut a triangular shaped plug around the target and removed the sod and top soil from the hole. Scanning over the hole and the plug, the DFX told me that the target was still in the hole. Carefully, using my Lesche digger, I loosened the dirt around the perimeter of the hole and removed it with my hand. At a depth of about 6-inches, I caught my first glimpse of a large silver coin. And, upon pulling it up from the bottom of the hole, I saw that it was indeed a silver half dollar. The 1952 Franklin half is about the same age as me. So, I don't consider it very old. And, although it is in better condition, it is not a collectible coin. But for the first trip out with my new DFX, and the fact that I found it in my "hunted out" neighbor's yard, it is a pleasant surprise. Add the Super 12 coil and I have what I think will be a winning combination. I can hardly wait to take them out to some of my other "hunted out" spots.

"I BRING HOME THE GOLD!"

When our metal detecting club president and detector dealer, Gerry McMullen with Gerry's Detectors in Boise, Idaho announced that he had a few openings left for his trip to Ganes Creek Alaska I decided then and there that I was going.

I'd never taken a trip like this without my husband or children but I needed an adventure. I was nervous and excited about the trip. I had the fortune of buying my White's MXT from Gerry. What sets him apart is that he knows his detectors and personally trains his customers on their machines. I have been swinging the White's MXT for two years and after Gerry's gold training session, I felt confident that with hard work, the right detector, and the perfect location I could find gold.

I can't say enough good things about Doug Clark and his family at the Clark-Wiltz Mine on Ganes Creek Alaska. It truly is the trip of a lifetime and if you go you will have an adventure! Gerry organizes everything so all you have to do is grab your gear and go (don't forget to reread your detector manual on the flight up!).

I do not want you to think that detecting Ganes is easy or that the nuggets jump out of the ground and into your hand. They do not. The old timers left behind a lot of junk. The iron trash is everywhere. I did not find my first nugget until day 4. Thats 3 hard days of watching others find their nuggets. I had my training, my White's MXT, and the perfect location and I did not lose confidence. On the afternoon of day 4 I was swinging my detector over the soft dark brown dirt of the newly pushed tailing pile. I got that wonderful sweet signal in the VDI range of the mid 30's. I held my breath as I gently scraped away 4 inches of earth. My beautiful nugget was sitting there just glowing in the afternoon sun. I did a gold dance and shared my find with the others in our group. All anxiety about whether I could actually find gold passed away.

I started day 5 with renewed confidence and this pleased the gold gods. I found two more nuggets. The largest was .66 ounces. It was, however, the smallest nugget that made me happiest to find. There were boot prints all around the area where I found it. I was using the prospecting mode of the MXT when I heard a high tone amid the low iron tone. In a dirt pile of rusted pieces of old cable wire, I was able to pull out a nugget that others had missed.

I had the nuggets made into necklace pendants for my husband and I. I told my husband "You bring home the bacon but I bring home the gold!" I will be going back to Ganes Creek in 3 weeks and will be swinging White's new 12" Super coil. I've got my training, got a fantastic location, and thanks to White's the best detector out there for finding gold at Ganes Creek.

Kay G.

"A ring bonanza!"

Last weekend my fiance and I gained permission to detect in some fields on a still active farm. The farmer suggested that we visit a cellar hole on part of his property which was all that was left of a house that burned down many years ago. He recalled from his childhood that when the house burned someone had been detecting there and found some indian head pennies. I figured with my DFX and my fiancee's XLT, we would be able to reach greater depths and may find what the previous hunters had not.

We started in what was once the driveway and found some wheat pennies and a couple of indian heads. Finally, I heard that nice high pitch that usually indicates silver. I dug a plug and pulled a silver walking half dollar dated 1918. My next find was two seated quarters in the same hole. I tried to yell to my fiance, who had made her way to a stone structure that may have been a barn. With her earphones on, she could not hear me. So, after digging a couple copper roof clippings, I decided to check the cellar hole.

Up to this point, I had been trying to figure the best way in since the hole had been used as a large debris dump for many years and was overgrown with small saplings. I decided that the half collapsed wall that appeared to have made manageable stepping stones was the easiest descent point. The rain that had fallen earlier in the day made the climb less than manageable. As I slip-stumbled into the hole trying to maintain my balance, my detector picked up a hit as it swung past a wall mid-slide.

I made my way back to the section of wall I had passed seconds earlier. The tone was loud and clear as I waved the coil over the spot. I centered on a fist-size rock that was loose. As I pulled away the rock, I could see the gleam of a coin rim. I wiped away the years of dust that had accumulated on the coin in one swipe to reveal the yellow luster of a ten dollar gold piece dated 1834. This time my fiance heard the very loud yell I let out and came to see what I had found. Another hit in the wall revealed an 1890 Morgan dollar.

My fiance and I finished up the day covering the field around the house. At the end of the day we had added a silver spoon, ring and dimes; two broaches; several wheat and indian pennies; Connecticut and King George coppers; Coronet cents; a Massachusetts half cent; V and shield nickels; colonial buttons; and musket balls to our finds.

We have found gold jewelry and coins; large cents; loads of silver; many different types of tokens; and any other number of common and odd metal objects, but never in such quantities at one site. Usually, we have a few good finds at a site and a lot of newer items. This one site, which had been detected previously, yielded so many great items it was tough to leave at the end of the day. We will definitely go back next year once the frost heaves move the ground around and hope to find more treasures.

My husband purchased a new White's 12" Super coil and I can certainly say this coil is Super! He bought it to use on his MXT, however, he has been working so much he hasn't had a chance to use it. I also detect and I use the White's DFX so I decided to take the coil off of his detector and give it a test run.

I headed to town to detect the oldest park we have and can say this coil was an easy coil to swing for being 12 inch diameter. I really expected it to be a chore for me but it certainly wasn't. The coil was excellent at separation and pinpointing was no different than the stock 9.5 coil. I setup my DFX with my own custom program and use all tones. My first hour of detecting yield me many newer coins which I expected. As I was working my way to the outfield of the ballpark, I received a high tone with some broken iron tones which sounded deep. I pinpointed the target and cut a plug as deep as my digger would go, 8 inches. I removed the plug only to find my signal was still there. I removed a few more inches of soil and saw the rim of a silver coin. I pulled out a 1951 Franklin half which was on edge! This was my first silver for the year and the White's Super 12 did it's job! I rechecked the hole to see if there was another signal and there were none. I investigated the plug of soil and found two rusted nails in the plug! I was totally amazed and now knew the reason why this coin was never detected before. For the size of the Super 12 and being able to unmask this coin at this depth is truly amazing. My husband is going to have a tough time trying to get HIS coil off of MY DFX. Keep up the good work making these coils and quality White's machines!