Anyone do any metal detecting?

braggscowboy · #1 03/02/10, 07:26 AM

Got around and got me an Garrett Ace 250 metal detector and took it out to the back yard yesterday to test some of the sounds on different coins. I could not tell a great deal of difference on each coin, but the screen on the detector was right. ( I can't hear well out of right ear.)So, I decided to see if I could find anything, sure enough, I got a hit on something and it said it was a penny about 8 inches. I dug, but did not find anything. (I begin to doubt it and quit digging. Tried another place, about the same results. I didn't give up as easy and sure enough, there it was, a penny. Had another hit and got a dime reading at about six to eight inches and seems I dug up the whole yard. Not really, has a pin point on it, that gets pretty close. There, a dime. Neither was really old, have lived here 32 years. I have done some yard work from time to time and drive the tractor through wher I found the dime, but don't know how they get that deep. Have gophers and have had, May be the problem. I was by the detector like I am sometime by a compass, but both are right. I think that 11 cents will put me well on the way to paying for the metal detector. I have some really good place in an old Indian Territory town and hope to find some trade tokens or money would work. Any "find" stories that you have and how you have gotten rich, found something interesting, or just had fun? Thanks!

tallpines · #2 03/02/10, 08:35 AM

We have an Ace, also.

We take it along when we are camping with the grandkids.
We bury a bunch of coins just for their entertainment but they always find several things that we didn't put out there.

**clovis** · #3 03/02/10, 10:08 AM

I have a Radio Shack metal detector that I bought at a garage sale for $9. It is not very good, even though I found 30 cents with it once day. $8.70 to go, right?

I'd love to have a real detector, like a White's.

I love looking at all the Civil War relics that are found on mytreasurespot.com. I think it would be so cool to detect CW stuff.

FreightTrain · #4 03/02/10, 10:18 AM

I have a real nice Whites from the 80s before they went digital.. paid 400 on sale new, Big money for back then.

Found a mens gold crucifix ring once on beach in NJ and a wealth of coins, knife, nails and pull tabs

ronbre · #5 03/02/10, 10:22 AM

when i was a child my parents dug around old foundations using a metal detector..and found a lot of antique crocks and bottles and things..they gave us the metal detector when dad died..but we never really got into it.

seagullplayer · #6 03/02/10, 11:11 AM

I bought an ACE 250 a while ago, then got my oldest son one for his birthday.
Great units, it will take you a while to get the hang of it. You need to get a set of head phones if you don't have them. I hear very well, but wouldn't hunt without them.

You might have fun looking around this place, they really helped me:

http://www.treasurequestxlt.com/comm...play.php?f=335

The DVD you got with it does not do a very good job showing you how to pin point, check out this youtube video, it made all the difference for me.

I bought one of these from Harbor Freight, it seems to save me hours of digging, you can spend a lot more on a pin pointer, but this is well worth the money in my book.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=97245

It is a fun hobby, I have never really found much of value, it is kind of like fishing, you don't know what you might pull up.
My biggest supprise was a negative, I have an old ball park/fair location near me, but it is so full of trash that you get junk on every swing.
You will get good at figuring out pop cans from dimes and pennies, or you will dig a lot of junk!

I have one lake beach I hunt after digging in the summer dirt, it is like a vacation...

Good hunting!

BTW: An old bat bag makes a great carring case.

Christina R. · #7 03/09/10, 06:27 PM

I'm double posting this with a thread on shop talk, but I'm thinking of getting my husband a metal detector for his birthday. My initial question was on what type. I found a post on a local craigslist today for a Bounty Hunter IV for $80. Is this worth pursuing?

FreightTrain · #8 03/10/10, 04:56 AM

the bounty hunter 4 is a cheap model selling for 129 new. im not one who is into buying USED electronics, or into almost anything RADIOJUNK sells

http://www.radioshack.com/family/ind...Games:Standard

cowboy joe · #9 03/10/10, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christina R.

I'm double posting this with a thread on shop talk, but I'm thinking of getting my husband a metal detector for his birthday. My initial question was on what type. I found a post on a local craigslist today for a Bounty Hunter IV for $80. Is this worth pursuing?

I have a Bounty Hunter IV. You can do better price wise:

http://www.google.com/products/catal...wAg#ps-sellers

Not a bad unit for the price. I've found coins, nails and a few old artifacts with it...and lots of aluminum arrows as I use it during bow practice when I miss the target.

lostspring · #10 03/10/10, 06:33 AM

I just bought a Tesoro Silver umax. Now if the ground would just thaw.

Christina R. · #11 03/10/10, 09:09 AM

Thanks, everyone. I will go for some of the other brands people have mentioned.

Scott in Florida Panhandl · #12 03/11/10, 05:21 PM

I've used a White's for years and highly recommend it. The biggest mistake I see noobies on the beach doing is swinging their coil a foot off the sand,lol. Work hard on style and you'll be able to just skim the surface.

Scott

plowjockey · #13 03/11/10, 08:30 PM

My DB did detecting years ago.

He'd look for old family trash dumps in woods. Started digging and would find quite a few antique bottles.

Look around tree trunks. Coins would fall out of pants pockets, as in the old days, people sat on the ground more.

blufford · #14 03/12/10, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plowjockey

My DB did detecting years ago.

He'd look for old family trash dumps in woods. Started digging and would find quite a few antique bottles.

Look around tree trunks. Coins would fall out of pants pockets, as in the old days, people sat on the ground more.

also swipe under picnic tables and benches.