Do you like to discover things? Do you have a fascination with metal, regardless of what type it is?
If so, then you might want to pick up the hobby of metal detecting. Of course, if you decide this is something you want to do, there are some things you need to know to carry this hobby out effectively.
9 Tips to Help You with Your Metal Detecting Adventure
1 – Get and Secure Permission from Any Private Land Owners
If you decide you want to go detecting on private land, you need to get the owner’s permission first. If you’re nice when asking, they’re far more likely to be amenable to your request. If you discover anything on their land, consider sharing it with the landowner.
2 – Do Your Homework
Before undergoing any kind of metal detecting, be sure to talk with the locals to learn if an area you’re interested in has already been prospected. A number of metal-detector hobbyists will get involved in local or national clubs. These clubs typically know the best areas to go metal-detecting at.
What are some of the ideal places to go metal-detecting?
- Beach: Many times you can find some small treasures – coins, jewelry, metallic objects the water has swept onto the beach.
- Regions that have older buildings: You may uncover some hidden treasures from areas that have been long-abandoned.
3 – Check out Maps and Talk with Local Historical Associations
You can get a lot of useful data from old maps because they often bring to light places that the newer maps don’t share. Some ideal locations for treasure hunting include, but are not limited to:
- Old/abandoned schools
- Old/abandoned churches
- Old/abandoned police departments
- Old/abandoned retail stores
The local history associations can give some guidance on what regions of the town were developed first and what sites are still in existence today. You can also get books on the locality, learning about its settlement and expansion. The book could reveal some interesting information about older buildings like:
- Bars
- Hotels
- Restaurants
Basically, any place that saw a lot of traffic and gave people a chance to lose their possessions is a prime target for metal detecting.
4 – Detect In or Just After the Rain
You may think that wet conditions will hinder your hobby fun. However, the best time to do a treasure hunt is either when it’s currently raining or just after it. The reason is that the wet ground conditions cause the metal detector to be more sensitive and emit the signal when it’s found something. On top of that, the soil is softened and loosened, which brings the hidden treasures more to the surface, and it’s not as difficult to dig for them.
One thing you need to remember though is to take some waterproof clothing and purchase a waterproof cover for the metal detector.
5 – Use the Detector on the Beach before a Field
There are two key reasons to use the metal detector on a beach first:
- Its easier for you to dig.
- More people tend to gather on the beach, and there’s an increased possibility of you finding valuables.
6 – Headphones Are a Must
When you use a metal detector, you should also use a headphone. And, the reason is that the small variations in a metal detector’s tone cannot be heard if you have a lot of background noise.
7 – Have Digging Tools and Accessories with You
When you go metal detecting, you need to have the proper equipment with you including but not limited to:
- Digging tools
- Gloves
- Plastic containers
- Nugget bottles
These and other metal detecting accessories will assist you when it comes time to dig for your hidden treasures.
8 – Buy a Protective Cap for the Metal Detector’s Search Coil
Be sure you buy a protective cap for the search coil, as replacing them can get costly.
9 – Purchase Knee Pads
Of course, you’ll be doing a lot of digging, meaning you’re going to be on your knees a lot. Purchase hard-cap knee pads to save them from any pain that’s associated with the kneeling and bending of the activity.