Discover Metal Detectors

Hint #1

There are many places that are open to metal detecting, but whenever you are searching a location that is off your own property, it is wise to seek permission to search. In many cases this is as easy as asking the property owner, or the person in charge. For the most part people will allow you to search as long as you are not destroying lawns or flower beds. So be prepared to carefully remove and replace sod when searching on someone else’s lawn. Sometimes public parks will have limitations or restrictions on metal detecting, so it is always a good idea to check the park rules before beginning to dig.

Hint #2

Many people equate the price of a metal detector with its ability to find treasure. In many cases this may be true, but it is probably better to read many reviews and search for the best metal detector that the money you have can buy. The temptation in many cases is to spend more money on a metal detector than you have, and sometimes that additional cost may not provide a significant enough functional improvement to justify the extra money. So consider carefully based upon a balance a budget and needs. This is an especially important consideration when purchasing a children’s metal detector, since it is important to find a rugged and reasonably low cost unit, but still have something that the child can use. If the metal detector is so inexpensive that it cannot find any metal, the child won’t play with the toy for long.

Hint #3

Learn to use your metal detector and you understand what the gauges, readouts, and sounds are trying to tell you. Different manufacturers will use different methods of signaling the operator when an item of particular interest has been passed over by the search coil. Beginners can usually pick these signals up fairly easily, but to become really proficient with the metal detector expect to spend some time practicing. Time spent learning to use the metal detector can be an important parent-child bonding time during which everyone can have a good time.

Hint #4

When considering accessories it is important to think about the area or location where the metal detector will be used.

For beach searching, a sand scoop is very helpful. The same item would not be of much use at all when working in most backyards. For working in the backyard a probe, garden trowel, or one of the newer digging tools specifically designed for treasure hunting is highly useful.

A small box or pouch for carrying found items is very useful. Scuba divers frequently carry mesh bags and such an item might be useful for working at the beach as long as the match was small enough to prevent small items from falling out.

One very handy accessory is a carrying case for the metal detector. This can keep a metal detector clean and free from dust when stored in a closet waiting for use, and it can also help carry some of the other accessories necessary for the hobby.

Hint #5

Learn how to research. One easy method is to visit the local historical society, Museum, or library. These places often have a wealth of information about the location of old buildings, factories, stores, homes, schools and other places where people may have congregated in the past. Generally, places where people have congregated are places where you will find treasures lost.

Metal detecting is a great hobby for young and old alike. With a little bit of research, a little bit of practice, and little bit of luck, almost anyone can be successful. You need

An electronic metal detector can provide hours of fun and entertainment for children and adults. The hobby can be something as simple as a trip to the beach, or as complex as an archaeological dig requiring months of research. These 2 extremes require slightly different techniques as might be expected. Let’s take a look at some of the techniques required for deep scanning, which is often associated with relic hunting.

Many experts recommend that you avoid discrimination mode when relic hunting. For one thing ID machines may not be terribly accurate when pinpointing targets at the maximum depth that the machine is able to work. Often items that have been in the ground for a long time may develop a halo of rust or mineralization around them. These halos can prevent metal detectors from properly identifying the object. So, the advice is usually to turn off discrimination mode and to dig all targets.

When pinpointing targets that are thought to be deeper than an inch or so, try varying the speed of the coil sweep and swing the coil in an X-shaped pattern. This will give the best opportunity to hear the tone produced by the object to determine if it is an actual object or merely an area of mineralization in the soil.

Another tip is to dig a shallow hole and then rescan by placing the coil down inside the hole. If the signal is still there or is louder you can continue digging. If the signal has disappeared it is a clue that the object may be in the soil that was removed from the hole already. In this case scan the pile of soil and sod that was removed from the hole.

When relic hunting it is helpful to have some idea what might be underneath the ground. Some locations are filled with Civil War relics and on these sites there may be a large number of small lead balls, buttons, belt buckles and occasionally larger objects. On the site of an old store, the object may be primarily coins, nails, and other smallish metal items. The difference between these two locations is that one will likely have a lot more lead items than the other, and because one site is likely much older than the other the items from one site will likely be deeper than those found on the other site.

Older items are generally found deeper in the ground than newer items because they have had much longer to have soil accumulate over top of them. Therefore it is important to know something about the site you are searching in order to have some idea of how deep to search, and what type of item she might be looking for. A flattened Civil War bullet may look like a piece of scrap if you were to simply dig it up on the beach. But, found on a Civil War battlefield that same small piece of lead becomes a piece of history and something you can take home and treasure.

Metal detectors really aren’t hard to use and the hobby isn’t hard to learn. Like every other sport there some simple guidelines and rules to follow, and it takes practice, practice, practice.

Metal detectors are great fun, and an excellent way to get some exercise on a sunny afternoon. But, just like any other hobby you have to learn how to use the equipment. One thing that puzzles many people new to the hobby is how slow or fast to swing the search coil.

There really is no set speed, or any requirement that you move it at any given speed. For the most part people well experienced with the hobby will say that it is best to swing the search coil very, very slowly. The coil should also be held parallel to the ground when working. With that said, there are special circumstances that can occur when it might be advisable to move the coil differently.

If you are trying to pinpoint a target that your detector has found, is handy to move the coil in a X-shaped pattern so that you can help locate better where the metal object is underground. It may also be handy to move the coil a little bit faster sometimes when a target seems iffy. In other words you will sometimes have occasions when the metal detector signals a target but you can’t quite determine if it is a valid target were merely an anomaly caused by mineral content in the ground. In these occasions it may be better to move the coil of it faster or to vary the speed when passing over the area where the target is that you can see how the sound changes.

Most experts describe search coils as having an invisible cone shaped area underneath that is formed from the electromagnetic radiation of the machine. Because this cone gets smaller the deeper it goes in the ground is necessary to overlap each sweep of the coil to cover as much deep territory as possible. Some experts recommend a 50% overlap and other experts recommend even slightly more. The more times you are willing to overlap your swings the faster you will be able to swing the coil.

The speed that you swing your coil will also depend in large part on the coil size. Smaller coils will have a smaller cone underneath and therefore won’t be as able to find deeper items, unless those items are quite large. Larger coils will do better on finding deep objects and she may be able to move to larger coil faster if you are only hunting shallow targets.

A metal detector’s coil may also be scrubbed across the ground or through the grass. This often is not terribly effective, but will sometimes provide an opportunity to find objects that might otherwise be missed. Often, it is necessary when digging objects, to swing the coil over dirt dug from the hole in order to ensure that nothing has been missed. Sometimes small objects like pennies and small rings can easily be pulled from the hole with the sod and if you don’t go back over with a metal detector you may miss something is very important.