METAL DETECTING & PROSPECTING

[rvpopeye]

So , you're out on a hike..
Decided to go look fer some yellah ?
You don't need much to get started.
Good luck to yarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr !



Panning 101

[Kyz]

So...I'm kind of wanting to try out metal detecting... Sounds like Garrett is a good mid-level detector to start with? So much for minimalism and not buying more stuff to want to put in a van...lol

Garrett Ace 300? Any other recommendations intead?

PS: I've been exploring on my parents 10 acres a lot lately and found neat (to me) things above ground so now I'm wondering what else is below ground. This land hasn't been accessable for probably 50 or more years (it was thick with trees). (And truth be told, it's still a bit of a mess with downed tree tops in the cleared areas.)

[rvpopeye]

Before I go any farther ,disclaimer LOL this can be VERY habit forming. And the top of the line stuff is not cheap !

You have what many call a "permission" and a great one too ! Do you know any of the property history ?
Is there a big red X on the ground anywhere ?????????????? Skuh kuh kuh kuh kuh
You can practice digging plugs invisibly without getting kicked for leaving dead spots too !

My today recc for you is Minelab Vanquish series .340- 440- 540 pro pack. ( .good , better , best) a more modern tech under the hood than the Ace series . but same idea , easy to learn , basically turn on and go . (uses 4 AA batteries) Go to Minelab.com and Garrett and download the manuals to compare
BUT any detector will go beep if you get the coil over some metal , some just go deeper.
There are a few newer companies out there that are producing some interesting stuff Nocta/Makro and XP are a couple.....

Get a cheapo pinpointer too. ~$25 Knee pads unless there are no rocks. A cheapo all plastic trowel.
Any shovel you like is good enough. Anything you have for a finds pouch too.

Good Luck !

[Kyz]

Well the property has been in the family for more than 100 years, but I don't think much was done with it (other than toss things out of the way back there). I've found tons of old bottles and jars back there among other metal pails and buckets and such and that was only in the front part of the land. Several of these small (dead) local communities were booming sawmill towns back in the early 1900s until around 1945.

Thanks for the recommendations. I'll look at them. No red Xs unfortunately.

[rvpopeye]

100 year old coins can be valuable if undamaged.
Relics can also surprise you , in among the tossed items will also be other things lost.
Dig wide plugs .

[Kyz]

I ordered the 440. Decided to go middle ground to start.

I'm excited. And I think my dad is too. He said he has an old one in his shop building, but thought it wasn't very good. I might have to find it just to see while I wait for mine.

[rvpopeye]

Definitely "dig it out" let me know what it is.
Good luck and have fun with dad.

[Kyz]

Here's what my dad has...he said it was a $50 pawn shop special (probably 20 or more years ago at least).

[rvpopeye]

(Bounty Hunter Pioneer EX )
~ less than $150 @ Wally World
so $20 was a pretty good deal.

Many started out with a Bounty Hunter.
That one is not that bad either !
Power 'er up Take it for a test swing.
It will go beep when the coil is over metal.
Leave that discrim button off and dig all the beeps. Swing slowly with the coil parallel and just barely touching the ground all the time. Overlap the swings so you have a better chance of not missing something.
The smaller coil is actually a good thing ,it will help to pick out individual targets in a cluttered area .
It has 3 different tones to help with target ID a bit.
When you get the 440 you can go over the same area and see what it missed ,
You can also compare them on the same target before you dig.

Pics of what you find or it didn't happen LOL

[Wayne49]

Coming straight from the job posting thread, and only for a second there, I thought that the above post was a job posting to be a bounty hunter.