What is metal detecting?
At it's simplest, the hobby of metal detecting consists of two parts. The first is scanning with an electromagnetic machine to locate metal objects. The second part is then retrieving the detected object.
Metal detector hobbyists can find all sorts of items, from valuable rings to rusty iron scrap. Most commonly, detector users look for coins, jewelry and relics from the past. These relics can include farm implements, buttons, suspender clips, and bullets. Anything metal that has been lost has the potential to be found.
Beach and water metal detecting is a little different from detecting on land, but the machines operate in the same way. Beach and water hunters use a scoop with holes to sift through sand to find their targets and land hunters use small digging tools to retrieve most of their targets. Prospectors use similar metal detectors to find metal ores such as gold nuggets or raw silver.
Metal detector hobbyists can find all sorts of items, from valuable rings to rusty iron scrap. Most commonly, detector users look for coins, jewelry and relics from the past. These relics can include farm implements, buttons, suspender clips, and bullets. Anything metal that has been lost has the potential to be found.
Beach and water metal detecting is a little different from detecting on land, but the machines operate in the same way. Beach and water hunters use a scoop with holes to sift through sand to find their targets and land hunters use small digging tools to retrieve most of their targets. Prospectors use similar metal detectors to find metal ores such as gold nuggets or raw silver.
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How deep does it go?
Most detectors will detect items from right on the surface to about 6"-12" down. The larger the object, the deeper it can detect. On average most items I dig are about 5" deep. Are you looking for gold? Generally, no. I'll take it if I find it, but it's mostly pennies and bottle caps I'm finding. My focus is coins, and I am especially looking for older coins with designs that are no longer made. Some detector users, especially beach hunters, look for gold and silver jewelry almost exclusively. What's the best thing you've found? I've never made one outstanding find. I have found several gold rings through the years and many older coins. Is it profitable? Not really. It's a hobby more than anything else. I certainly have not found enough to recoup all I have spent on machines, research, travel expense and batteries, though I have found a lot of interesting things. Admittedly, that spending was a choice. I could have spent much less and still enjoyed the hobby. Some people are lucky enough to find valuable objects that are worth a great deal, but these are rare occurrences. What's the oldest thing you've found? I've found many old items such as square nails and skeleton keys but these don't have dates on them. I have one badly worn copper coin that is unidentifiable but is probably from the late 1700s or early 1800s. In 2009 I found my oldest coins up to that time, an 1820 large cent and an 1833 dime. In 2015 I found a 1720s Spanish silver pistareen or 2 real, now my oldest coin. Can a metal detector find my ring/jewelry/keys/cell phone? Probably! Especially if you have a good idea of where it was lost. Finding a ring in a football field sized area may be time-consuming and challenging whereas, items lost in residential lawns are usually more readily recovered. If you're seeking the help of an Ohio detectorist, you may want to post your request on the Buckeye Treasure Hunter Forum or contact members of that forum on their "valuables recovery" page. Another site that lists detectorists available for searches is The Ringfinders and Lost My Stuff. Another option is contacting a metal detecting club in your area, even if it is not in your city, as they may have members willing to help. Active clubs are listed on the top of the Links page. |
Where can I get a detector?
There are many sellers online. Some are lucky enough to have a retail store or dealer near them. You can check the manufacturer's websites for dealers in your area. If you are a first time buyer, I strongly suggest buying from a dedicated brick-and-mortar dealer as he can help you choose the machine that is best for you. Also you can try out different machines and the advice these guys can give is worth more than the few dollars you'll save buying anonymously online. Dealers will also be a resource to connect with other local detectorists. Where do you go to find stuff? Usually I go to parks and public schools in the area. I search the yards of my friend's homes and seek permission from property owners at apartments and private schools, and anywhere else I can think of. A friend of mine has been helpful getting permission on some old home sites in farm fields, and a few of these have been great sites. Some places do not permit metal detecting, and it is important not to use a detector in these places. Always get permission to detect from the landowner! Charles Garrett's book Successful Coin Hunting, is still a good resource for identifying the types of sites that might be good for detecting. I need help learning my detector and/or find a hunting buddy. If there is a club near you, or even within a reasonable distance, consider at least making one visit to a meeting as this is a great place to connect with people face-to-face and almost all of them love to talk detecting! Please visit and join the Buckeye Treasure Hunter Forum this online forum has many detectorists from all over Ohio that can help with your detector and may also want to meet and detect. Other forums listed in the links section are also great places to connect with other detectorists everywhere and get more information about your specific machine. Find's Treasure Forum has many classroom forums decicated to specific brands and models of detectors. What settings do you use on the Minelab E-Trac detector? Others who own the same brand and model of detector I use often ask about the settings on my machine. Here they are:
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