What Does “Discrimination” Mean in Metal Detecting?
If you’ve ever found yourself digging up bottle caps, nails, and random scraps instead of valuable items, you’re not alone. This is where “discrimination” becomes one of the most useful features on a metal detector. Understanding how it works can save time, reduce frustration, and help you focus on the targets that actually matter.
Discrimination in metal detecting is a feature that allows the detector to ignore unwanted metals, such as iron or foil, while detecting valuable targets like coins and jewelry.
Table of Contents
What Is Discrimination in Metal Detecting?
How Discrimination Works in a Metal Detector
Why Discrimination Matters (Avoiding Trash)
Types of Discrimination Settings
How to Use Discrimination Settings Properly
What Is Discrimination in Metal Detecting?
Discrimination in metal detecting refers to the ability of a detector to differentiate between types of metals and ignore those you don’t want to find.
For example, you can set your detector to:
- Ignore iron (ferrous metals like nails)
- Detect non-ferrous metals like coins, gold, and jewelry
This helps reduce unnecessary digging and improves your overall detecting efficiency.
How Discrimination Works in a Metal Detector
Metal detectors identify objects based on how they conduct electricity and respond to electromagnetic fields. Each metal produces a unique signal, which can appear as:
- A target ID number
- A specific tone
- Or a combination of both
Discrimination uses these signals to filter out unwanted targets.
For example:
- Low-conductive or ferrous metals (like iron) can be ignored
- Higher-conductive metals (like coins) are still detected
👉 This is how you start learning the difference between trash vs valuable targets when metal detecting.
Why Discrimination Matters (Avoiding Trash)
Without discrimination, your detector will alert you to every metal object, including:
- Bottle caps
- Foil
- Nails
- Scrap metal
With proper settings, you can:
- Avoid digging unnecessary trash
- Focus on high-value targets
- Improve speed and efficiency
👉 This is especially useful when detecting in parks, beaches, or trash-heavy areas.
Types of Discrimination Settings
🔹 Notch Discrimination
Allows you to block specific ranges of metals while keeping others. For example, you can ignore pull tabs but still detect coins.
🔹 Iron Discrimination
Filters out ferrous metals like nails and rusted objects, which are common sources of unwanted signals.
🔹 Tone-Based Discrimination
Instead of blocking targets completely, the detector uses different tones to help you identify metals.
👉 Many experienced users rely on tones instead of fully filtering signals.
How to Use Discrimination Settings Properly
Using discrimination correctly is key to better results.
✅ Start Low
Begin with minimal discrimination to understand how different metals sound.
✅ Adjust Based on Environment
- High trash areas → increase discrimination
- Open or unknown areas → keep it lower
✅ Combine With Other Settings
Discrimination works best when combined with:
- Proper sensitivity
- Ground balancing
- Frequency selection
👉 This helps reduce issues like false signals or unstable readings.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Setting Discrimination Too High
You may accidentally filter out valuable metals like gold, which can fall within the same range as trash.
❌ Ignoring Weak or Inconsistent Signals
Some valuable targets, especially small ones, don’t produce strong signals.
❌ Relying Only on Discrimination
It’s a helpful feature, but understanding tones, depth, and signal behavior gives much better results.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does discrimination mean on a metal detector?
Discrimination is a feature that allows a metal detector to ignore unwanted metals and focus on valuable targets like coins and jewelry.
2. How do I set discrimination on a metal detector?
Start with low discrimination and gradually increase it depending on the environment, especially in trash-heavy areas.
3. Can discrimination filter out gold?
Yes. Gold can fall within the same range as trash metals, so high discrimination may block it.
4. Is discrimination good for beginners?
Yes. It helps beginners reduce unnecessary digging and understand how different signals work.
5. What is the best discrimination setting?
There is no universal setting. The best level depends on where you are detecting and what you’re looking for.
6. Does discrimination eliminate all trash signals?
No. It reduces unwanted targets, but some trash items can still produce similar signals to valuable metals.
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For questions about Super Eye Metal Detectors, contact a Representative by calling 1-877-369-1199 or message us by clicking here.