10 Metal Detecting Tips for Beginners
10 Metal Detecting Tips for Beginners!
We here at Metal Detecting Tips Magazine have been detecting for a few years. Here are 10 tips for new metal detectorists that we wish someone had told us when we grabbed our first metal detector. We'll be adding more tips of the trade over time, but we think the tips below will get you started off nicely.
1 Without trying to put you off metal detecting, Most of what you will dig up from the ground is junk! Patience and perseverance will be the key to successful metal detecting. There is a lot of junk in the ground and generally you will have to dig a lot of it to find the good stuff, but the good stuff is there too! So don't be put off if you're digging bottle caps and foil. The next target just might be an old coin or jewelry!
2 Research! If you are looking for older items then think about the older places within your town. Visit your local library, hit up Amazon for local history books or check out the local historical society or speak to some of those old timers! They can be a wealth of knowledge and may be able to tell you about that old swimming spot, old store, school or gathering place that has long since been forgotten.
3. Practice makes perfect! Take your metal detector into your backyard and just start detecting! Try placing different coins, pieces of jewelry etc onto the ground and put your coil over them. Do you notice any difference in the signals? Also try some junk items, like pull-tabs, bottle caps, nails etc. And again make a mental note of what the metal detector does when you pass the coil over them. Maybe even grab a book, there are a few beginners guides that you can download pretty cheaply from Amazon.
4. Practice again! As well as learning your metal detector you will need to learn how to dig a nice neat hole, also known as a "plug" in the metal detecting world. Use a sharp gardening knife like tool to cut a small neat flap in the turf and peel it back gently. Use a small hand digger to take earth out and consider laying the earth onto a drop-cloth to keep it neat. Once you've found your target carefully replace everything and stamp the grass flat so it looks like you've never been there!
The best way to lose areas to metal detect is to leave a mess, so make sure that you are good a digging a nice neat plug so that you can go back another time to try your luck again! Also, consider getting yourself a pinpointer. A pinpointer is a small handheld detector that you can keep on your belt, once you've dug your hole run your pinpointer over it and it'll tell you where in the hole, or plug it is. It'll save you time and frustration and will minimize damage to the ground.
5. Take your junk away. Look at tip number 1 again. You will be digging lots of junk and rubbish. You should never leave it in the ground or you'll be digging it up again, and certainly don't leave it on the ground either or you'll get yourself in trouble. Get a junk bag or pouch and take your junk away with you to dispose of. There are some great metal detecting pouches on Amazon, its an essential piece of kit!
Its also a great way to show people that you are doing a valuable service if they ask you what you are doing you can show them the trash that you are going to take away from the area, thus leaving the area better than you found it!
6. Be nice! You will probably get people stopping to see what you are doing and what you are finding. You are an ambassador for the metal detecting hobby so be pleasant. Show them the rubbish that you are taking away and show them how neat and careful you are being. Also, you never know if that person may be a property owner who would love you to come along to search their property for them. Being nice pays off!
7. Slow and low!! Swing your coil nice and slowly, keep it flat to the ground a couple of inches above the surface and try to overlap your sweeps somewhat. Imagine that you are painting the ground with the coil. You don't want to miss anything so take your time and be consistent.
8. Recheck your holes. If you dig a target take your time to double check the hole with your metal detector again. Often people lose a pocketful of coins so there may well be more in the ground for you to find, either in the same hole or very close by!
9. Knock on some doors! The key to finding really good stuff, is to have good places to use your metal detector. So it looks like you will probably have to ask people if you can go metal detecting on their property.
When you do go, make sure you've done your research and know that you may be in a good area. Make sure that you are clean, neat and presentable. No one wants someone scruffy and seedy looking around their property! Be nice and polite, and explain what you may hope to find, like old coins, buttons etc. Maybe even have some examples to show them.
10. Never go metal detecting anywhere without permission ! Avoid getting yourself into trouble by making sure that you are allowed to be there and use your metal detector. If you are going to be metal detecting in a public place make sure that you know and understand your local laws and bylaws.
Never go onto private property without the permission of the owner. People can and will be protective of their property so avoid unnecessary conflict by making sure that you know who owns the land you want to use your metal detector on and make sure that you get permission first!
Comments