Maybe you’ve done a bit of metal detecting before, and you’re looking for some new tips to have fun with.
Or maybe you’ve never picked up a detector in your life, and you want to learn more about what all the excitement is about.
Either way, I’d like to tell you about some of my favorite tips and tricks for getting more out of a treasure hunting experience.
There are many factors at play when metal hunting and numerous variables to consider.
Once you become knowledgeable about prospecting and its various aspects, you will acquire new skills to manage any problems you encounter in the field.
In this post you will find some useful tips, tricks, and secrets to make metal hunting a more enjoyable experience.
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Metal Detecting Tips, Tricks, And Techniques To Consider
Make Sure You Avoid Trespassing
When choosing a location for prospecting most detectorists pick public places like parks, beaches, and hunting gardens.
Although there is very little chance of getting prosecuted for hunting at such sites, sometimes things can get a little out of hand.
Special permission might be required from the park officer or an authority figure from the regional office. In some cases, you may have to apply for permission.
Some locations might be out of your reach permanently, and your application might get rejected multiple times.
In some scenarios, you might have permission to detect items but not to dig and retrieve them.
Getting permission from the authorities for detector work should always be one of your core rules.
Along with these rules, you are expected to follow a code of ethics outlined by the authorities.
Hunting metal without permission can lead to dire consequences, such as getting banned from entering a site again and making it inaccessible for other detectorists.
Permission might be arduous to obtain, but it’s the safest method for long-term hunting.
Buy the Right Gear As a Beginner or Advanced Detectorist
The prospecting goals of detectorists vary according to their competence and experience. A beginner would be happy with whatever he or she finds of value.
However, seasoned detectorists have different intentions, such as finding gold, old coins, interesting relics, etc.
It is one of the main reasons why you need to pick the right gear for metal hunting.
An essential prospecting gear list includes a metal detector, digging tools, headphones, and spare batteries.
However, the equipment needed tends to increase based on the detectorist’s experience.
We will now examine the equipment differences between beginners and advanced detectorists.
Metal Detectors
No treasure hunting is possible without a top-quality detector. They have come a long way from being first invented in the year 1881 ; and now there is a wide range of detectors available with various features that make prospecting easier.
However, not every detector is suitable for every detectorist.
A beginner’s metal detector will have basic search capabilities, such as an all-metal mode, preset ground balance, and a single frequency.
On the other hand, a metal detector with multiple frequencies, adjustable ground balance, selectable detection modes, and multiple audio outputs is critical for any seasoned detectorist.
Beginners generally pay less for metal detectors while detectors suitable for experienced detectorists can often cost thousands of dollars.
Digging Tools
Digging tools play a crucial role in metal hunting, as they help you retrieve the object detected by your device.
Just like metal detectors, digging tools also tend to vary for seasoned detectorists and beginners.
For instance, a shovel designed for beginners might be smaller in length than the ones used by seasoned detectorists.
A good reason for this could be the depth at which the two types of machines locate their finds.
Beginners look for objects like coins, rare buttons, and jewelry found just 2-3 inches underground and require very little digging effort.
Whereas seasoned detectorists are focused on locating objects of a higher value and lie deeper than 5-12 inches and demand more digging effort.
Search Coils
Most detectors can connect to various search coils to offer dynamic hunting results. A search coil enhances a metal detector’s ability to locate items buried underground.
If you’re a beginner, the search coil included with the detector should work well enough for you. Standard coil gives you enough sensitivity and detection features to make prospecting worthwhile.
Seasoned detectors need more coil options as they try to locate objects buried not only deeper but also covered or crowded next to waste items.
The additional coils provide features like broader sweep, precision targeting, and even locating objects that are situated in tight areas.
Carry Extra Batteries
One of the worst fears a detectorist has is running out of batteries because it means they have to stop their hunt sooner.
Therefore, it’s important to carry extra batteries on every trip. If your detector runs on rechargeable batteries, carrying the charger along can save you in dire situations.
Keep a Log of Everything
Maintaining a log of your hunts can help you in many different ways.
With a well-recorded logbook, you can keep track of all the hunting sites that you have visited and locations that you can revisit to discover new items.
In this logbook, you can keep a track of the date and time of the various hunts, the places you prospected, items found, and the challenges you faced while prospecting.
You can refer to these logs to prepare better and find more items.
It will also enable you to pick the best period of the year and apply for permission in advance.
Keep Digging
This is an important piece of advice that you need to consider when hunting valuables. If you find a coin, there is a chance you’ll find more in the same place.
Therefore, digging more will reveal new valuables from that particular place.
If you want to find something valuable, such as silver coins, you must dig deeper. Most of the time, valuable targets are found in pairs, sets, and groups.
So, if you find a target, use a pinpointer to locate deeper targets.
How To Clean up After Digging – A Frisbee Can Be Useful
Once you dig in a spot to retrieve a target, you must cover the hole, making it look like it was before.
Detectorists prefer using a piece of cloth, such as a towel or paper, to keep the mud and dirt.
Since you’re going to dig more than once during the day, it is wiser to find an alternative that makes the process easier.
The easiest way to clean up after digging is by using a frisbee turned upside down.
Frisbees are made of plastic, which makes them dustproof and waterproof. So, no matter how often you use them, you can clean them and use them repeatedly.
Use a Pinpointer and Headphones
Metal detectors can only give you an idea about the target’s location. Most detectorists prefer to use pinpointers to gain a more accurate picture of the target’s location.
The pinpointer signals the detectorist with a tone or vibration as it moves closer to the target.
The purpose of using a pinpointer is to reduce the amount of time taken to retrieve a target and protect it from getting damaged or lost.
There are many pinpointers on the market manufactured by many famous brands. You can choose one based on features, price, or design.
Metal detecting Tips For Coins
Coins can be one of the most valuable discoveries among detectorists.
If they’re very old, they will bring you a good price, and if you’re lucky, you will get great recognition for discovering those coins.
Here is a list of tips that can help you find coins faster and more effectively:
Multiple Coins in One Spot
Coins found via metal detecting are always in clusters or groups. So if you find one, try searching the ground around it. Sometimes the coins can be a few centimeters apart.
To find a bunch such as this, you should use a pinpointer. By touching it to the different parts of the hole, you’ll be able to determine whether or not there are more coins.
Hit The Beach
Beaches are among the best places for metal detecting, and they are known for being the best place to find coins.
It is much easier to find coins on the beach as the soil is easy to dig through.
To avoid missing your target, you can use a sand scoop to dig out the sand.
Wait For The Snow To Melt
It is not a good idea to hunt metal in an area covered with snow because, like sand, snow also shifts easily. Additionally, the land is wet, making the hunt even more challenging.
Since coins are usually smaller in size, it is easy to lose them in all the mud and snow.
Use The Small Coils in Places Filled With Trash
As trash items interfere with the signals received from the actual targets, small search coils with powerful signals and smaller search areas are required.
They will also provide a precise location of the target.
Carry a Belt Pouch
You will find many cool and old things during a metal hunt, and carrying them in your pocket can be highly inconvenient.
Getting a small pouch that wraps around your waist and has several pockets can help you store your finds during the hunt.
When choosing a belt pouch, make sure that its size does not restrict your movements or disturb you in any way.
Don’t Clean Every Coin
A coin wash is not only difficult but, if done incorrectly, can also ruin the details of the coin. Once these details are damaged, getting the correct value of the coin becomes extremely difficult.
Use A Good Pinpointer
A pinpointer allows you to focus on an object when you want to find a target.
Handheld pinpointers are easy to use, and due to their size, they can fit in tight places. A good pinpointer can expedite the process of finding metals.
Metal Detecting Tips For The Beach
Many factors can affect your metal detecting process, so you must approach metal hunting differently at the beach.
Compared to coin gardens and parks, beach environments are entirely different.
These are some tips you can refer to when hunting for metal on beaches.
Use A Pulse Induction Metal Detector
Usually, metal detectors come equipped with Very Low Frequency or VLF technology. To use them on the beach, you will need to use the discrimination feature.
Even with discrimination turned on, some detectors malfunction by interacting with the minerals in the sand.
On the other hand, Pulse Induction detectors are unaffected by hot rocks and work perfectly around saltwater.
Use a Grid Pattern While Hunting
You can find valuables on the beach if you walk in a grid pattern. A grid pattern will ensure that you don’t miss anything important.
By walking in this pattern, you will have an idea of where you have searched, the points you have missed, and the points you have to check.
Try Tourist Beaches
Tourist beaches have countless visitors every year which makes them a great source of jewelry and other valuables.
Many people have found gold rings, necklaces, earrings, and even coins from different countries on such beaches.
On the flip side, these beaches do not make an ideal spot for hunting relics.
Visit Abandoned Beaches
For those who don’t like the idea of bothering tourists or being in a crowded place, you can look for valuables on abandoned beaches.
Most abandoned beaches were in a position of prime importance once, so scanning the ground there is worthwhile.
Carry A Sand Sifter
Sand is the most tricky terrain for metal hunting as its fine particles shift quickly, even with slight movements.
To prevent that from happening, you can use a sand sifter for digging out the object.
Sand sifters are metal baskets with holes that allow sand to flow through while keeping items safe. Many detectorists consider sand sifters essential when planning a beach hunt.
Go Hunting After The Rains
There are two main benefits of going metal hunting after the rains. After the rains, the soil becomes wet, and it is easier to retrieve the item.
You can also get the most out of your hunt when the weather is decent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Frequency For Detecting Gold?
Gold is a highly conductive material, but finding it in abundance is a rare phenomenon. You will mostly find tiny gold nuggets or pieces of jewelry while detecting.
To detect such small pieces in the trash, a metal detector needs to have the right frequency output.
The best frequency of a metal detector for hunting gold lies between 20-30kHz.
What Does Ground Balance Mean On A Metal Detector?
Ground balance is a setting that increases a detector’s depth-seeking ability in mineralized soil.
Elements like iron particles, red soil, or salt typically found in beach sand react with the metal detector and influence its performance.
These elements cause a malfunction known as falsification, which causes the machine to interpret the wrong data about the target.
With the ground balance adjusted, the machine responds only to signals from the main target and eliminates the ones received from mineralization.
Is it OK to Metal Detect In Public Parks?
All of the fifty states in the US have different laws about metal hunting in public spaces such as parks. Different laws dictate the conditions and code of ethics to be upheld when prospecting.
To save yourself from all the legal hassles, you can join a local metal detecting club in your locality, as they are well informed about the laws.
Can You Metal Detect In The Rain?
There is more than one problem associated with rain when using metal detectors.
Firstly, not all detectors are waterproof, so if you are planning a rainy trip, you need a waterproof detector.
In a heavy downpour, digging the ground and retrieving the relic will be very difficult.
Here, you will need a sand sifter and a waterproof pinpointer to extract the target successfully.
Even if you have all the above apparatus, check for lighting and avoid going in open spaces.
Can Metal Detectors Detect Diamonds?
Diamonds are not metal. This fact alone dismisses any possibility of signals received from them.
However, in theory, the minerals in diamonds can trigger the signal interceptor and show them as potential targets.
So, if you have a highly sensitive metal detector with high or multiple frequency outputs, you can give diamond hunting a shot.
The diamonds you will find might not look like the ones you imagine.
How Much Metal Can A Metal Detector Detect?
The ability of a metal detector varies according to its sensitivity levels. A highly sensitive detector can detect a ferrous ball measuring 0.6mm.
Another factor affecting the detection ability is the amount of trash around the target.