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FISHER METAL DETECTOR
Fisher CZ-3D Pro w/ 8 Inch Coil

UNIQUE INSTRUCTIONS
CZ-3D primary purpose = Enhancing the detection of specifically; old coins

If you are new to the CZ series of metal detectors, place the ‘Salt-Enhanced’ switch in the ‘Salt’ mode and follow all of the standard operating instructions provided. For advanced hunting, and for those who are seasoned CZ operators, follow the unique operating instructions provided below.

Congratulations on the purchase of your new CZ-3D! You are in for a bit of an ‘eye-opener’. With the new CZ-3D placed in the ‘enhanced’ mode, here are your operating instructions:

1 - Select your oldest detectable areas.
2 - Sweep coil.
3 - Find ‘high-tones’.
4 - Dig.

It is that simple. The CZ-3D looks like and nearly sounds & operates like a standard CZ. The largest attribute of any CZ are the tones - and since we detect nearly exclusively by the audio tones, this is also where the CZ-3D accelerates. Just a few simplistic audio tones keeps this unit free from “mental fatigue”. You will not notice any physical or dimensional differences from a standard CZ, however, your luck will ‘appear’ to be greater with the CZ-3D, by no accident. Additional operating tips:

- Do not ‘air-test’ the CZ-3D in the ‘enhanced’ mode. It needs the entire dirt matrix (with older generation coins) to operate as designed.

- It is STRONGLY recommended that you do NOT look at the meter for ID purposes while detecting, for (at minimum) the first 3 months of operation. There is legitimate justification behind this reasoning and, after some quantified hunting time, you will see why. Invoking the ‘enhanced’ mode, the detector enters into a exacting/customized special program. In consort, the meter also enters into a different set of operating parameters. Your primary concern will be to detect by audio.

- The CZ-3D is designed to find more good metals such as brass, bronze, copper, silver and certain gold; reporting it as a high-tone. When you recover a target that registered as a high-tone (zinc penny or high-coins ID), you will notice that it is of high conductance. While you are detecting, your intent is to find good metal targets with the CZ-3D -- hopefully, they will be older coins.

- With this specific detector, performance and ID can be further enhanced by a slower coil sweep speed, more so than previous CZ models, especially in trashy areas.

- A site that is c1950 is where you will JUST start to see the benefits of the ‘enhanced’ mode.

- A site that is newer than c1950, there are no benefits. In fact, the ‘enhanced’ mode can be a bit of a hindrance. It is strongly recommended to use the ‘salt’ mode at these newer sites. Reasoning; there are a few certain ‘modern day’ trash items that may cause the CZ-3D to identify a higher ratio of trash as a “high-tone” good target.

- A site that is c1920 or older, you will ascertain maximum benefits from the old-coin ‘enhanced’ mode. The key year for you to remember is “1950” --- the turning-point year for you to make the decision of choosing the ‘salt’ mode or the ‘enhanced’ mode.

- Read the 2nd edition of FISHER INTELLIGENCE - especially the chapter titled: “Finding Rare, Key Date & Gold Coins”.

After 2 years of extensive programming, calibrating and field-testing, (my apologies for being exceptionally slow,,, but thorough), the CZ-3D is now maximized for a very specific function - finding older era coins at older sites. To ascertain this extensive programming, simply select the ‘enhanced’ mode with the utilization of the ‘salt/enhance’ switch. No special or lengthy programming required on your part. And for the first time, this CZ has been engineered for “General Purpose” detecting AND “Specific Purpose” detecting (that being specifically the older era coins). The CZ-3D does not require a new ‘learning curve’ per se - it is the age of the areas that you hunt that will present a new ‘learning curve’, while in the ‘enhanced’ mode. The dirt you select & detect will be your learning curve.

In the ‘salt’ mode, the custom program is disabled, and the detector is configured to detect wet salt beaches with maximum stability characteristics at the ocean, as before. There may be times when you need to default out of the ‘enhanced’ mode; which can be accomplished by placing the CZ-3D in the ‘salt’ mode. Some detectable areas, the ‘enhanced’ mode will be very beneficial; however, it is not designed for all areas. A site that is dated c1950 is where the benefits of the ‘enhanced’ mode just starts to become realized.

Older coins have a increased propensity to ID as a mid-tone (trash tone) in greater quantity ((this includes all other brand detectors)). The CZ-3D will bring these ‘mid-tone’ coins into the ‘high-tone’ audio bracket. In many cases, the CZ-3D will ID coins more correctly, to greater depths. Just a few examples; Many of the bronze Indian Head pennies (especially the 1870’s & 1880’s) audibly read ‘mid-tone’. The 3 Cent silver coins and the Half-Dimes (in real soil) frequently read ‘mid-tone’,,, especially when tilted (or on edge). Under certain circumstances, silver dimes & quarters may read ‘mid-tone’ (in real soil conditions). Many Buffalo nickels & War nickels,,,, and almost all ‘V’ nickels & Shield nickels audibly read ‘mid-tone’. You may be surprised as to how many wheat pennies and older nickels you missed in some areas that read mid-tone on a standard CZ (or other brands). The most widely CIRCULATED U.S. gold coin, the $5.00 Half Eagle also reads as a trash ‘mid-tone’. All of these items will now read ‘high-tone’ on the CZ-3D. The list goes on. Some specific examples would be: nickels that previously audibly reported as a nickel/foil bounce or a solid ‘foil’ reading, should now read as a solid nickel. Indian Head pennies that bounced between square-tab/zinc penny or registered as a solid square-tab (mid-tone), should now register as a solid high-tone. Silver coins that were partially masked that registered as a mid-tone, should now register as a high-tone. Yes, This is to imply that the CZ-3D does work better in the trash, but not necessarily in an air-test. The intent is to breathe new life into the hobby, especially in old (and hunted out) areas. ---“HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE MISSING,,,,, IF YOU DO NOT KNOW THAT IT EVEN EXISTS”---

Keep in mind, the CZ series detectors has seven “potential target” icons. Also keep in mind that 3 of the 7 icons are high-tone icons; the zinc penny, nickel and high-coins. On any given hunt, you may pass your coil over 5000 detectable targets. Each one of these 5000 targets MUST fit within one of the 7 icons. (Hence 3/7 of the targets could potentially be high-tones). This is performed by the electronics of the detector in accordance with the conductivity of the detected metal object. This is to say that you will recover some trash that registers high-tone, as with any detector. There are certain pencil erasers and aluminum pull-tab/soda-tab tongues (beaver tails) that, inevitably will register as a ‘nickel’ - and aluminum screw caps that may read zinc penny or high-coins, as before. No metal detector from any manufacturer is immune from these conditions. Facing the facts, there will be times and places that you detect where many targets will be high-tone trash. You may have already experienced this phenomenon and it did not matter what brand of detector you were using. Before you fatigue, move to a different location. The CZ-3D is engineered to ascertain maximum successful performance for old coins while retaining the best possible ratio of good targets vs. trash targets. In older areas where aluminum trash is minimum, the CZ-3D will have exceptional performance. Areas littered with aluminum trash, invoke the ‘salt’ mode - or recover only the deeper high-tone targets while in the ‘enhanced’ mode. Your option. Remember, the dirt you detect is your learning curve.

There is yet another new feature of the CZ-3D. As expected, a mid-tone audio is heard on the “foil, round pull-tab, and square pull-tab” icons. However; the audio reporting system has been modified so as to present a slightly lower audio tone on the “foil” icon ONLY --a beach hunters delight. The “foil” audio is still a mid-tone, but comparatively sounds like a C-flat vs. a C-sharp. Justification for this minute’ difference in audio span variation is to retain a simplistic/user-friendly 3-tone system that is non-fatiguing (read = non-stair stepping flute) yet, in certain detectable areas, there can be tremendous benefits ascertained due in part to this enhancement. Here are a few steps (example inclusive) to improve your odds:

First = Say you have limited time to detect. You choose an old ball field and learn the old coins are at a 7” depth strata. You recover only the high-tones.

Secondly = When you do have more time, you may return to the ball field and recover the pull-tab readings (ignoring the foil tone) that are also at 7” or greater in depth. Keep in mind, aluminum pull-tabs did not exist prior to 1962 and if the 7” depth strata is allowing you to recover coins older then 1962, you should not find aluminum pull-tabs at the 7” depth mark, or deeper.

Thirdly = After you have recovered all of the high-tones and the pull-tab medium-tones, you may wish to recover the “foil” readings in the areas that produced the greatest items of interest.

*When recovering the high-tones, the ratio of good targets vs. trash is usually at its highest/best point.

*When recovering pull-tab mid-tones, the ratio of good targets vs. trash is usually average/acceptable.

*When recovering foil mid-tones, the ratio of good targets vs. trash is usually at its least desirable ratio.

--- This holds true for inland detecting. At the beach, you will want to recover ALL of the mid-tones, as ‘foil’ is the ‘hottest spot’ for gold jewelry, followed by the pull-tab readings.

The example here, is an old ball field. Other areas could be old home sites, churches, parks and schools. The list goes on, yet the concept remains valid. It is never a bad idea to sample some of the mid-tone pull-tab targets at the same depths where the older coins are being recovered. ***As with any new metal detector, the more ‘questionable’ signals that you dig/recover, the greater you increase your chances of finding valuable items, then you place “claim-to-fame” on the new detector,,, when, in actuality, it is simply the odds that were increased***. The CZ-3D attempts to remove some of the ‘guess-work’ out of the equation. If you do feel like experimenting, as always, recover the deep ‘square-tab’ readings.

Side note: From 1880 to 1905,,, counting all of the mintmarks, there were approximately 100 Half Eagle ($5.00) gold coins produced per one Quarter Eagle ($2.50) gold coin; Nearly a 100:1 ratio. Keep this in mind while detecting old sites with the CZ-3D in the ‘enhanced’ mode, as Half Eagle gold coins NOW produce a high audio tone/zinc penny ID! (Notice the CZ-3D still retains a ‘square pull-tab’ icon). Post your exceptional finds that you make specifically due in part (to the best of your knowledge) to the “3D enhanced” modification, on any of the popular Fisher forums. In the past, it was simply a matter of luck finding a Half Eagle gold coin. With the 3D, it is now just a matter of time. Who will be first?

Happy Intelligent Hunting
Thomas J. Dankowski