Metal Detecting Tips
Tips from Fellow MD's cont.
CHECK THOSE NEWSPAPER ADS
Looking for a place to hunt, Just check your local newspaper. A check of the Sunday
paper for used building materials showed an ad for used doors and window frames
from a home being demolished and gave the address. Another ad under houses for
sale (to be moved) listed three older homes and four barn's in good condition to be
removed from property. Adds like this can provide you with a place to hunt just by
picking up the phone and making the call.
DOWSING
Looking for a place to hunt, Just check your local newspaper. A check of the Sunday
paper for used building materials showed an ad for used doors and window frames
from a home being demolished and gave the address. Another ad under houses for
sale (to be moved) listed three older homes and four barn's in good condition to be
removed from property. Adds like this can provide you with a place to hunt just by
picking up the phone and making the call.
DOWSING
When out detecting get your self a pair of dowsing rods or make A pair from 2 coat
hangers; make rods in a "L" shape 6" x 17" long ; use a couple PVC of plastic pipe
or hose or metal tubing to put your short end of rod in so they swing & pivot real
free. Dowse by holding the rods about chest level about 14" apart with the tips of
rods pointed down about 5 Degrees; drop down more if windy. Think about what you
want to find before you start. Then think about following the tips of your rods & follow
them to where they swing you around in a circle or cross. This is your target, mark it
& several others with poker chips; then come back & detect an area about 6-8 foot
around target area with your detector; you'll be surprised how good this works &
ANYONE can do it. Checkout these American Society of Dowsing on the net for more
info. plus they sell dowsing equipment real reasonable as they are a club. Email me
if I can help. Do not buy a long range dowsing instrument unless the seller will give
you a free demo to see it work.
THE GRID TECHNIQUE
When ever I hunt a site I divide it into several small patches or grids. I lay a couple of
sticks or rocks down to mark my course or I use landmarks like buildings, bushes,
trees, or sidewalks. I hunt each grid in all directions until I'm satisfied I have found
everything there is to be found on that day. Then I move to my next grid and do the
same. I will sometimes go back to the site and do it all over again after a long steady
rain or a hard frost. This method takes some patience, but you'd be surprised what
will pop out of the ground during your second or third pass.
CHECK THOSE BUSHES
My tip is to never shy away from the bushes. Me and my step-dad had searched an
old library that held a site of one of the oldest schools in this towns history. As we
searched the grounds grass we collected nothing, as I started towards the library I
entered the bushes and then a few minutes later I received three coins that are ones
of my best to date (1856,1887-S Dime, and a 1857 Half Dime) all in a 10 foot area.
So my advice to you is if you enough time to search a whole lawn you surely have
time to sweep through a garden, trust me you wont regret it
TELL TAIL SIGNS
Whenever looking for an old house site or just out walking in the woods, look for
flowers or plants that seem out of place. These flowers could mark the edge of a
walk or sides of a long gone house.
HARD TO SEE COIN DATES
Having trouble reading dates on your coins. Try rubbing the coin with a pencil
eraser. It will remove the dirt and even put a little shine on it without scratching. I do
this with wheat pennies, older nickels and the newer coins that are tarnished. It also
works on some jewelry.
CLEANING DISCOLORED COINS
If you have clad or silver coins which have been discolored from tumbling with
copper coins, you can clean them using "Westley's Belch White" (white sidewall tire
cleaner). Use in place of your regular cleaning solution along with aquarium stone or
whatever you normally use. Tumble for an hour, check and tumble longer if needed.
LITTLE CRITTERS
When searching areas with squirrel or gopher holes, always check the dirt the little
critters dig out. I have found many good coins this way.
BACKUP HEADSET
We're always reminded not to take a chance on spoiling a detecting outing by
forgetting to carry extra batteries or even a back-up detector. Chances are, though,
if anything is going to break it will be your headphone cord or connector. This may
be hard to repair out in the middle of nowhere so keep your eyes peeled for an
inexpensive headset to throw in the car with your other "emergency" items...it could
save the day for you!
KEEP THEM SHARP
Although there are many different tools and methods for retrieving our finds, most of
them work best when kept sharp. Knives, trowels and even plug cutters dull quickly
out in the field. I always carry a file in my car or pack to freshen that edge when
necessary.
INEXPENSIVE GLOVE
Rubber kitchen gloves (Playtex Living, for example) are an inexpensive way to obtain
a great glove for MD'ing that is thin enough for dexterity, yet tough enough to keep
you safe from broken glass and other digging hazards. They'll eventually "give up
the ghost", but it's easy enough to move on to the next pair. And they're much less
bulky than the average work glove. We all know how bulky pockets and cases start
to get with all the accessories we bring at times.
IDEAL PROBING TOOL
I found using a screwdriver to probe for coins etc. to be less than the ideal way to do
it. My solution was to use a stainless steel welding rod embedded in an old mop
handle to be the ideal probing tool. You can make it as long or short as you want it.
ELIMINATE BROWN SPOTS
To eliminate brown spots when detecting lawns, cut your plug in a wedge or pie
shape leaving one side to hinge the grass.. Leaving the roots connected like this
while retrieving the target will encourage growth and eliminated the dreaded brown
spots... When removing some of the dirt, don't forget to use a drop cloth to place the
excess dirt on.
A LIFE TIME OF HUNTING SITES
There are many ways in which I find older sites to detect. First and foremost is my
mouth! I talk about and promote my hobby with almost everyone I come in contact
with. From my friends, my barber, the guy next to me in the restaurant, at weddings,
etc. (you get the idea) - especially anyone who comes up to me when I'm actually
detecting! I talk about my finds, where I found them and the types of sites I am most
interested in. In the course of the conversation, I ask if they remember any sites like
these. I talk about how I retrieve my targets and the kind of metal detector I use. I
promise you that you will be absolutely amazed!!! If you follow my advice on this one
tip alone, you will have more sites to detect than you can hunt in a lifetime...
MAKE THEM FLEXIBLE
Here is my suggestion for a pair of detecting gloves: Buy a good pair of leather
"drivers gloves" from your local home supply or hardware store, they will run you
about $15.00. Wash them well with warm, soapy water and let them dry. After
completely dry, soak them down with baseball glove conditioner, which you can buy
at any sporting goods store for about $2.00. Make sure that you saturate them well,
and let them sit for a day. They will become very flexible, soft, and tough, as leather
should be. I often scrub them and re-coat them as the season goes on. These
gloves are the best thing that I have found to protect my hands from sharp metal
objects and glass that you often find in your dig holes. Especially if you hunt old
home sites, these gloves are the ticket. Because the baseball conditioner is an oil,
the gloves will also be fairly waterproof. These gloves will also protect your hands
from drying out, as they will from all of the dirt.
WITHIN THE RADIUS
My top tip is once I have located a coin or artifact, I stand on the hole I,Ive dug, and
really concentrate on the area within the radius of the detector. It amazing the
number of people who lose more than one artifact.
CHECK FOR A NAIL IN TREE
When hunting old homesteads and you come to a large tree near the house, take a
good look up before you look down to sweep the base. To mark the exact spot of
their hidden stash so they'd always remember the spot on their next visit, it was
common for people to hammer a nail into the tree (usually somewhere on the lowest
large overhanging branch) over the dug spot. Then next time out, they'd bring along
a length of string with a metal washer attached to one end and wrap the other end
around the nail -- allowing the the weighted end to point straight down to the spot
where the valuables were kept. If you ever see a nail in a homestead tree, take extra
time and care sweeping the area beneath it.
LIVE AMMO
In the area I treasure hunt in (Southwestern PA) there are a lot of rural areas that
are used by hunters. In my searches I have come across numerous spent and
unspent cartridges which can present a hazard if one is not careful while digging.
Whenever retrieving coins, relics etc. be careful in removing what may appear to be
"a harmless piece of brass", it may turn out to be a live cartridge that could explode
in your face if you happen to hit the primer by mistake with your trowel.
CONSTRUCTION SITES
I've gotten into many construction sites (& government's!) because I show up
wearing a safety hat approved by OSHA. Thrift store bargains (less than $5).
Next
hangers; make rods in a "L" shape 6" x 17" long ; use a couple PVC of plastic pipe
or hose or metal tubing to put your short end of rod in so they swing & pivot real
free. Dowse by holding the rods about chest level about 14" apart with the tips of
rods pointed down about 5 Degrees; drop down more if windy. Think about what you
want to find before you start. Then think about following the tips of your rods & follow
them to where they swing you around in a circle or cross. This is your target, mark it
& several others with poker chips; then come back & detect an area about 6-8 foot
around target area with your detector; you'll be surprised how good this works &
ANYONE can do it. Checkout these American Society of Dowsing on the net for more
info. plus they sell dowsing equipment real reasonable as they are a club. Email me
if I can help. Do not buy a long range dowsing instrument unless the seller will give
you a free demo to see it work.
THE GRID TECHNIQUE
When ever I hunt a site I divide it into several small patches or grids. I lay a couple of
sticks or rocks down to mark my course or I use landmarks like buildings, bushes,
trees, or sidewalks. I hunt each grid in all directions until I'm satisfied I have found
everything there is to be found on that day. Then I move to my next grid and do the
same. I will sometimes go back to the site and do it all over again after a long steady
rain or a hard frost. This method takes some patience, but you'd be surprised what
will pop out of the ground during your second or third pass.
CHECK THOSE BUSHES
My tip is to never shy away from the bushes. Me and my step-dad had searched an
old library that held a site of one of the oldest schools in this towns history. As we
searched the grounds grass we collected nothing, as I started towards the library I
entered the bushes and then a few minutes later I received three coins that are ones
of my best to date (1856,1887-S Dime, and a 1857 Half Dime) all in a 10 foot area.
So my advice to you is if you enough time to search a whole lawn you surely have
time to sweep through a garden, trust me you wont regret it
TELL TAIL SIGNS
Whenever looking for an old house site or just out walking in the woods, look for
flowers or plants that seem out of place. These flowers could mark the edge of a
walk or sides of a long gone house.
HARD TO SEE COIN DATES
Having trouble reading dates on your coins. Try rubbing the coin with a pencil
eraser. It will remove the dirt and even put a little shine on it without scratching. I do
this with wheat pennies, older nickels and the newer coins that are tarnished. It also
works on some jewelry.
CLEANING DISCOLORED COINS
If you have clad or silver coins which have been discolored from tumbling with
copper coins, you can clean them using "Westley's Belch White" (white sidewall tire
cleaner). Use in place of your regular cleaning solution along with aquarium stone or
whatever you normally use. Tumble for an hour, check and tumble longer if needed.
LITTLE CRITTERS
When searching areas with squirrel or gopher holes, always check the dirt the little
critters dig out. I have found many good coins this way.
BACKUP HEADSET
We're always reminded not to take a chance on spoiling a detecting outing by
forgetting to carry extra batteries or even a back-up detector. Chances are, though,
if anything is going to break it will be your headphone cord or connector. This may
be hard to repair out in the middle of nowhere so keep your eyes peeled for an
inexpensive headset to throw in the car with your other "emergency" items...it could
save the day for you!
KEEP THEM SHARP
Although there are many different tools and methods for retrieving our finds, most of
them work best when kept sharp. Knives, trowels and even plug cutters dull quickly
out in the field. I always carry a file in my car or pack to freshen that edge when
necessary.
INEXPENSIVE GLOVE
Rubber kitchen gloves (Playtex Living, for example) are an inexpensive way to obtain
a great glove for MD'ing that is thin enough for dexterity, yet tough enough to keep
you safe from broken glass and other digging hazards. They'll eventually "give up
the ghost", but it's easy enough to move on to the next pair. And they're much less
bulky than the average work glove. We all know how bulky pockets and cases start
to get with all the accessories we bring at times.
IDEAL PROBING TOOL
I found using a screwdriver to probe for coins etc. to be less than the ideal way to do
it. My solution was to use a stainless steel welding rod embedded in an old mop
handle to be the ideal probing tool. You can make it as long or short as you want it.
ELIMINATE BROWN SPOTS
To eliminate brown spots when detecting lawns, cut your plug in a wedge or pie
shape leaving one side to hinge the grass.. Leaving the roots connected like this
while retrieving the target will encourage growth and eliminated the dreaded brown
spots... When removing some of the dirt, don't forget to use a drop cloth to place the
excess dirt on.
A LIFE TIME OF HUNTING SITES
There are many ways in which I find older sites to detect. First and foremost is my
mouth! I talk about and promote my hobby with almost everyone I come in contact
with. From my friends, my barber, the guy next to me in the restaurant, at weddings,
etc. (you get the idea) - especially anyone who comes up to me when I'm actually
detecting! I talk about my finds, where I found them and the types of sites I am most
interested in. In the course of the conversation, I ask if they remember any sites like
these. I talk about how I retrieve my targets and the kind of metal detector I use. I
promise you that you will be absolutely amazed!!! If you follow my advice on this one
tip alone, you will have more sites to detect than you can hunt in a lifetime...
MAKE THEM FLEXIBLE
Here is my suggestion for a pair of detecting gloves: Buy a good pair of leather
"drivers gloves" from your local home supply or hardware store, they will run you
about $15.00. Wash them well with warm, soapy water and let them dry. After
completely dry, soak them down with baseball glove conditioner, which you can buy
at any sporting goods store for about $2.00. Make sure that you saturate them well,
and let them sit for a day. They will become very flexible, soft, and tough, as leather
should be. I often scrub them and re-coat them as the season goes on. These
gloves are the best thing that I have found to protect my hands from sharp metal
objects and glass that you often find in your dig holes. Especially if you hunt old
home sites, these gloves are the ticket. Because the baseball conditioner is an oil,
the gloves will also be fairly waterproof. These gloves will also protect your hands
from drying out, as they will from all of the dirt.
WITHIN THE RADIUS
My top tip is once I have located a coin or artifact, I stand on the hole I,Ive dug, and
really concentrate on the area within the radius of the detector. It amazing the
number of people who lose more than one artifact.
CHECK FOR A NAIL IN TREE
When hunting old homesteads and you come to a large tree near the house, take a
good look up before you look down to sweep the base. To mark the exact spot of
their hidden stash so they'd always remember the spot on their next visit, it was
common for people to hammer a nail into the tree (usually somewhere on the lowest
large overhanging branch) over the dug spot. Then next time out, they'd bring along
a length of string with a metal washer attached to one end and wrap the other end
around the nail -- allowing the the weighted end to point straight down to the spot
where the valuables were kept. If you ever see a nail in a homestead tree, take extra
time and care sweeping the area beneath it.
LIVE AMMO
In the area I treasure hunt in (Southwestern PA) there are a lot of rural areas that
are used by hunters. In my searches I have come across numerous spent and
unspent cartridges which can present a hazard if one is not careful while digging.
Whenever retrieving coins, relics etc. be careful in removing what may appear to be
"a harmless piece of brass", it may turn out to be a live cartridge that could explode
in your face if you happen to hit the primer by mistake with your trowel.
CONSTRUCTION SITES
I've gotten into many construction sites (& government's!) because I show up
wearing a safety hat approved by OSHA. Thrift store bargains (less than $5).
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