Which you may come to find out later, adds to your credibility as Detectorist of the highest caliber!! And who knows may also lead to others after seeing how careful you are… “Asking if you can help them find objects that they might have lost” And in turn get you an invite to hunt there property…. This I know for a fact!! ” It’s happened numerous times for me! “

So, watch this Video very closely… It’s a Top Notch Tutorial!! And practice in your yard if you have one. Or some empty lot if you have permission… Or in alot of cases if it’s not roped off or any signs arent posted…” Your usually pretty safe to do so” Anyway, I hope this helps you out greatly!!

Oh, a little off topic… I have decided, In the header section of my site in the coming weeks to add some various games for all you guys to play for free 24hrs. a day if you like LOL I decided to add these games to my site, for the mere fact that sometimes you are just not in the mood to do alot of reading and need a break from it all and do something different. So, I hope you enjoy this little release so often!! Ok, now go check out the tutorial… It will make life much easier for ya!!

Practice searching and retrieving of your own property.  Unless your yard borders a beach, you’ll probably be working in soil and you’ll have to dig in order to find your target.  The one thing you must learn to do this without leaving your yard looking as if gophers have moved in.

First, pinpoint your target, then located with the probe.  After you have probed gently and touched your target, note the depth of the probe.  Then what you will want to do is remove the probe and insert and center an 8 inch screwdriver just above the target and rotate slowly to open the ground.  Then just insert the screwdriver just under the target(remember that measured depth) at an angle, and lever the target to the surface.  Tamp the Earth back into place with your foot leaving the ground as you found it.  This system works well if the target is 1 to 4 inches deep and the ground is damp.

If the ground is hard in the target deep, use a sharp sturdy hunting knife, “make sure!!”  You cut only three sides of the plug of soil and leave the fourth side intact.  “This will greatly increase the grass survival rate” okay, now fold this plug of soil back.  With your search coil relocate your target.  If it’s in the plug remove it with your fingers and replace the plug.  If the target is still in the hole, dig it out what your trowel.

This may involve removing quite a bit of soil.  Pile the soil on the cloth or frisbee if you have one.  “I use an old bowling towel” after you’ve retrieved your target, it’s as simple as funneling the soil back into the hole and replace the plug.  Tamp a bit on it with your foot.  If you’ve done this very carefully, it’s very unlikely that anyone will be able to tell where you have dug.

Did you find a coin?  Maybe a ring?  Or perhaps the notorious pull-tab?  Guess what, what ever you find, it’s definitely a keeper.  Your apron or least in my case my camo pants…  Should have at least two pockets one for trash and one for treasure.  By removing it and disposing of it properly improves our environment, and besides that it also prevents you from finding the same trash the next time you hit this area, and “darn it!”  It’s just the plum right thing to do for other detectorists  out there.

Well, guys I have to run for now…  But I will be adding more to this later! I hope this was helpful to some of you out there!  And I hope each day that you get out there is a very prosperous and awesome day!!

Now, as you work with your detector,  you may become aware that the pinpointed target, even when lying flat in the ground, doesn’t always fall exactly under the center of your search coil.  Instruments vary.  No two are exactly alike.  To check for this variation, turn your detector on and run a coin over the bottom of the searchcoil.  The spot where you received the loudest signal is the bull’s-eye spot on your detector.  Mark that spot with a magic marker, top and bottom, and use it in the future.

Another way to pinpoint a target is to move the searchcoil left to right across the target area, noting where you get the loudest signal.  Then move the search coil Forward and backward, listening for the loudest signal.  Under the spot where the two patterns cross giving the loudest signal, you’ll find your target.

Still another method of pinpointing involves raising your search coil until you hear only the faintest signal.  That signal should be directly over the target.  “Now what I would do for starters “is try these pinpointing systems until you find the one or ones that work best for you.

Now if you have a metal detector…  That has a pinpointing feature built-in like some of the Garret models.  Then this becomes really easy.  All you have to do is back away from the target area to press the button and as you move towards the target the signal will get louder and louder as you get closer… this makes pinpointing a target extremely easy!!

Well, I hope this gives you a better understanding on how pinpointing is done.  “All it really takes is just a bit of practice!! ”And before you know it…  You’ll be having much better luck hitting your targets!  ”Good Luck!! “ 

Well, as I was heading home… I thought that I would go into a little bit more detail on how to use your equipment for metal detecting. So, here it goes!! Most importantly… ” Work Slowly” covering about one foot per second “if possible”. Make sure each pass you make you are overlapping your sweeps so you’ll have a very good chance of finding whatever’s there to be found. ” Remember, nobody ever finds all the treasure out there!”

Now, if you are using an 8 inch coil, overlap your sweeps by at least 4 inches. Just when you hear a beep you’ll know you’re near a target. That target should be directly below the center of your coil. “I will discuss a bit more about pinpointing your target later”. But, for right now your ready to go!!

Before you get out and go crazy in this hobby, which may be as far as your own backyard for now… You may want to place a few coins and other objects on the ground, pass your searchcoil over them, and listen for the sounds you’ll recieve. I tell you what…. Careful Listening will save you a ton of needless digging as you learn your new machine.

By all means… Spend as much time practicing as needed!! You can start by placing at 2 foot intervals a penny, a nickle, a dime, a quarter, a nail, an old pull-tab ” a square of alluminum foil works”. Now, just listen to the sounds each one emits… Modern dimes and quarters are always know as clad coins because they contain no silver. These coins will cause the detector emit loud, harsh sounds which you will soon be able to recognize “without a doubt!” Pennies give this same sound too- especially pennies that are near to the surface.

If you manage to get ahold of some silver coins-coins minted before 1965-place some of these on the ground and listen as the detector passes over them. You will probably note that the sound is now a more smooth and mellow sound. If you happen to be wearing a gold ring or can get ahold of one… Test your detector on this object… Listen for the audio differences… There should be a very distinctive sound difference! ” Try and remember these sounds”

Now, if your practicing in your yard… Go ahead and start buring the coins and object in your yard! ” Keep note of where they are buried just in case” I use golf tees at one time… Ok, now just rest the searchcoil on the grass. When you get a signal, run the searchcoil over it horizontally, then try it again running the coil vertically. You should get a smooth signal in both directions. If you recieve a smooth signal in one direction but not the other, the target is most likely junk…

While you are learning to operate your detector, check out all your signals just to be sure of how the detector is operating. Now comes pinpointing your target… Which I will get into more detail about tomorrow… But, basically you narrow down your target range by making sweeps over the target in an X pattern Thus, zeroing in on your target… You will more than likly at first dig a bigger hole around your target area at first but soon you will get the hang of it! ” Just hang in there” Also, why it’s important to start in your own yard or a friends if they give you permission.

But, my next post should give you a greater idea on just how to pinpoint so you dig the smallest hole possible!! Hope you all get something from this post… Heading out now!! I wish all of you happy hunting and hope you have a wonderful day!!

That being said… Probably one of the most neglected things, when starting out in Metal Detecting is the fact that most people when they first get thier Metal Detector are so excited about getting one that they just want to rush out there and start detecting without even giving a second glance at there Operating Manual!

Trust me… I know I’ve been there… And because of that probably missed some good finds my first day out! Getting familiar with your metal detector in the beginning, Is so important. When you first open the box, be careful to try and not destroy the box and save any packing material that may have came with it. You may need to return it, for modifications or repair or may even decide to trade it in. ” Just by having the box can save you a lot of time and headaches if you ever have to return it for any reason.”

Next, thing you will want to do… Is find the directions for assembling the parts and follow them very “carefully!” Assembly usually consists of joining the two sections of rod stems, attaching the searchcoil to the stem with wing nuts, and attaching the searchcoil cable to the control box. The batteries will probably already be in place “ but if not just follow the directions.”

Now, very “Important!” And I know ” You just want to get out there… But do yourself a favor!” Read from start to finish the operating manual!! Now, if you are to excited to read through the whole manual… At least find the condensed operating instructions and read them carefully. And read a couple of pages to learn the purpose of the control knobs. You can always return to the manual later “If need be” for a more in-depth reading.

Also, instructions of the use of various types of detectors can vary and do… So, set the controls on your detector according to the instuctions in your manual. Set the discrimination where it will eliminate nails and junk. Place your headphones on and plug them into the jack on the control housing. ( side note:) If you intend on using any type of earbuds, you will more than likly need a headphone adapter ” Can be found at any Radioshack shop” also, when considering any kind of headphone’s make sure you get a set that has someway for you to control the volume ” Mine has a slider switch that works very well!”

Oh, I almost forgot… ” You must check your batteries!!” sometimes depending how long they have been in the unit. Can, be weak… And a set of weak batteries can cause some false signals!! So, before you head out for the hunt always make sure you have a nice set of strong batteries! ” And having an extra set on you before you head out… Wouldn’t be a bad Idea!”

Ok, now all you have to do is make sure all your connections are nice and snug! And your ready for the Hunt!!

Well. gotta go for now… But, my next post will be more about the workings and some tips on how to swing your metal detector once your out there in the field!! 

Well, what I plan on doing with this site is to give all of you a very strong understanding along with some invaluable knowledge that I have learn through-out my Metal Detecting career… And get this all for “Free!!” Reason being it’s more of a spiritual journey than anything else. I have been quite fortunate with my metal detecting passion, and have found many facinating things… And yes I have read many books and watched tons of videos on metal detecting through the years!

But, what I want to do is give back to what has started out to be a hobby and has turned into a full-blown career for me! And by doing so “hopefully bring others into this quest!”

Ok, to begin with first things first!! ” Choosing your Treasure Hunting Equipment” The most important thing to remember is that your Metal Detector is the workhorse of your hunting experience. “That being said” you must choose wisley the detector you plan on using. ” Not Really!!” thats what they tell you!! The fact of the matter is… When your out there detecting ” unless your planning on prospecting for gold” and even then I have found may a gold ring with my cheap inexpensive detector.

What it really all boils down to is this… What your needs may be if you plan on taking up detecting… Is a real nice multi-purpose, turn-on-as-you-go metal detector. The learning curve is virtually nothing!! And you can be out there finding little treasures left and right and having a blast!

So, my first bit of advice… for my very first of many post’s… Is ” Don’t Believe all the Hupla, about needing an expensive detector… Unless it’s more of a status symbol thing! Stick to the simple…” Iv’e made a small fortune with mine, and I don’t believe I paid more than a couple hundred bucks for it!

Well, hopefully these post’s will get you on the right track… I look forward to writing them, and hopefully the structure inwhich I plan on keeping this going will become a good foundation for all those looking to get into Metal Detecting for a hobby or in my case a life long passion!! Anyway, I’m sure this series will continue to grow day by day