i've seen peiople with metal detectors combing the beaches of Long Island. Seen them pull out lots of coins. There have been several lost High School rings reunited with their owners. Helps if the ring has the school, the year and the owners initials engraved. Looks like an interesting, profitable hobby. But no tips,sorry.

Only in my backyard with grandson's NatGeo kid's detector and mostly for lost objects, screws, drill bits, etc.

The kids all had them at one time. It was fun, they only used them either around here or at their homes. The newer ones are really nice.

Sue

just don't leave it home..fil would pack it in the trailer every trip they made...i'm sort of hoping he might give us his someday...

Our son has one, has had a lot of fun "beeping", but hasn't found much except small change and a LOT of pop caps, lol. We'd love to take it to the beach sometime.

I have a metal detector that I use infrequently; on the beach in the summertime. It isn't the best one out there. My advice: make or have made a one foot square out of 1x3" wood and staple a piece of hardware cloth - think window screen but the holes are 1/4 or 1/2 inches square - to the opening. You then can scoop dirt or sand into it and shake back & forth to quickly see what set the detector beeping. Expect a lot of bottle tops, soda cans / tabs and foil from chewing gum. BTW I lost my HS ring in basic at Ft. Bragg NC in 1970. Let me know if you find it :)

Oh I would love to have one!! It's something that has
been on my "I Want" list for years!

Marry, it has been on my wish list for a number of years, too. I just decided to go for it!
I think I may try to go to the local park this weekend and check it out. They have a small concert every Sunday over the summer...should produce something.
Tom, I don't think Ft Bragg is going to be none too happy with me if I start scratching around...imagine how many shell casings you'd find?!?!?
I certainly didn't buy a really good one... I'll start slow and see how it goes.

My husband has sold them (on the side) for years and we've had some people find some interesting things!!

I've had one for years. It's such fun. Have found a lot of jewelry, coins, etc. I'd suggest going to places where you know a lot of people have been (the field after the 4th of July fireworks, for example).

Also, if you have work done around your house, it's great to check to make sure there are no discarded nails, etc left behind. I checked the lawn after we had the roof done and ended up with about a lunchbag full of nails and metal scraps. If you lose something important while working around the house, it will be handy, as well. DH lost a bolt off the snowblower once, in the snow, and I was able to find it pretty quickly with the metal detector. Also good for finding wires, pipes, etc in the walls.

Very useful as well as fun. Have a great time with it.

Oh, I always put all the coins I find in a jar, and cash them in in Dec.--usually have between $300-500 each year that I then donate to one or another children's charity.

I told my SO I bought it to use when he goes fishing...I get so bored when he wants me to go along. This way I can go, but I'll treasure hunt while he's out on the boat!
Azzalea, that's a great idea...I'll have to remember to make a separate jar for my treasures.

Have always played around with the idea of getting one, but just never have. Maybe I will one of these days.

SalGal, I can hardly wait to hear what kind
of things you find with your metal detector!
For years it's been my dream, when we retire
to move to Florida. I just want to spend the
days walking along the beach with "my" metal
detector!

Read the instruction manual. There are more than one type of metal detectors. The one I have was selected for hunting copper and native metal ores. It has to be be moving to detect. It works be sweeping it across the ground and it detects changes. When it is still, there is no changes and no signal. It is quite good because it can work in a variety of dry or wet soils.

Aother type of detector is adjusted while being held near the ground and when it moves over a matal bearing location, will beep continously as long as the unit is held over the detected object. New users find this type easier to use. However, it requires adjusting (Nulling) more often to compensate for changes in the terrain as the unit is moved about.

Salgal, yes, practice first. You'll find out what the different beeps mean, as when you find good stuff oppose to pull tabs and nails, etc. I've had mine for a number of years and enjoy it so much. I take it up to SC where we have land and about 100 or more years ago a house stood on it, long gone now but I have found alot of treasures. Hinges from the old house, along with utensils that were used when cooking over the fireplace, etc. I had an elderly friend who casually mentioned that she had lost a ring (given to her by her late husband) while gardening more than 50 years ago. I took my detector to the area where she thought she lost it and found it within a half hour. She was wanting to pay me for my trouble and I declined and said that no amount of $$ could equal to the joy on her face when I handed that ring to her.

renee, finding someone's ring like that would be the most rewarding thing I could ever hope for.
I hope I can provide that joy someday.

I bought one at an auction when we first bought this place. I enjoyed using it, but didn't find anything exciting. This place has had 3 houses on it...going back over 130 years and
Indians before that. I loaned it out...never got it back.

I'd like to get another one. It was fun...except the ground here is rock hard clay...especially when it is dried out.

I think it is so wonderful that Renee found the ring for her friend.

Renee, that is so wonderful that you were
able to find your friend's ring!

Salgal, what kind of detector do you have? Read the manual as there are alot of settings to use according to what you are looking for. I might be able to help you with this. I use to take my detector to the parks and elementary schools (both places are not allowed anymore) and found quite a few treasures. At an elementry school I found a steak knife, blade only! Very scarry!!! Didn't find much money though, I guess the kids were on the free lunch program but what little jewerly I did find I let the school principal know in case some of the parents lost theirs while on the playground with the kids. Metal detecting is very addicting. Have fun with yours Salgal!

renee, I bought a Bounty Hunter Land Star. The book is a little confusing, but I'm sure I'll figure it out as I start to get some signals and finds.
It is sunny and about 60 deg today so I may skip home a little early and go to the park to play!

Salgal, Read the reviews on the Land Star and alot of people seem to really like it. Let us know how it works and what you like and dislike about it. Something I found helpful was to get one of those cloth tool pouches that you can tie around your waist to put in everything you found. Also, read the signs at the park. About a year ago new signs were put up where I live saying metal detecting was illegal in county parks.

Renee -
I'm thinking of getting my guy a metal detector as a gift. He's quite technical and just loves gadgets. We have had a lot of fun geocaching, so I think metal detecting would thrill him. What kind would you suggest? What do you use?
Thanks!

Gardenspice;
I have the Minelab Advantage. I bought it about 5 years ago and never had a problem with it. It got it at Kellyco. But if he is really into gadgets hard, he may want to pick one out on his own. Also you will find that both of you will enjoy the excitment of each find, even if it's junk. As I tell my DH, you'll never know what is under neath the earth, just a few inches down.

Here is a link that might be useful: metal detectors

Thanks Renee!
You are of course right about him picking one out - but I so wanted to surprise him.
I know I'll enjoy it as well. We already have a lot of fun geocaching.
Sal gal - Apologies for crashing your thread!

I've practiced in my back yard and found mostly junk: nails and bits of aluminum siding from house construction and pull tabs. I did find a location of what may have been a tool shed. There, I began finding old tools: a multi-pronged wrench that was probably for a cultivator, remains of a screw driver, a monkey wrench, and a brace (a brace for boring holes using wood bits).

I've used it a couple of times to retrieve my car keys when those were dropped in the grass in the dark.

My main use was for hunting for copper ore samples in upper Michigan. I found many samples that would have otherwise remained hidden.

One more thing you should look for: water proof search heads. A waterproof head can be dunked in water without any ill effect. Some can actually be used in water. The others may fail or have to be dried out before those can be used again. A water resistant, or better yet water proof, is a good idea because in many cases, the head will get wet when used in the rain and/or wet grasses.