New To Metal Detecting But Not Dowsing

**Coasty** · Feb 28, 2010, 06:00 PM

Almost 40 years ago I saw my future father-in-law dows for water. I actually saw an apple branch twist the bark off in his hand. I tries it and I just looked stupid walking around with an apple wishbone in the air. Then he came out with 2 bent coat hangers and said try this. I walked the property they crossed he said stop and came over with the apple branch which did not bend. We got out shovels and abour 2 feet down we dug up an old plow blade. Since then I have been able to hone my skills based on length of the coat hangers. I was in the Coast Guard for 21.5 years. I actually found unexpolded ordance on several military bases. This was confirmed by ground penetrating radar. Even after our utility locator dos their job I still walk the area and find usually abandonded systems. I even can find the leach fields for PVC pipe septic systems. I never thout of using dowsing as an addition to metal detecting until I started checking out forums. My neighbors have asked me to locate their CATV lines and I have on many occasions. Now I am going to try dowsing for relics this has lots of possibilities.