abbynormal
Full Member
- Sep 17, 2012
- 114
- 43
- Detector(s) used
- Garrett 350, AT Pro
- Primary Interest:
- Metal Detecting
So, today I got a nice response to my email to a local church (which I chose because it's pretty old and has a big property) saying I could detect there. I immediately arranged to use some of my vacation time to take the rest of the day off. I was so excited I had to turn around at the end of my street and go back for my pin pointer.
I have been digging my yard but it is very, very trashy and frustrating. I was anxious to get to better grounds.
I found a few things- I still kept my sensitivity relatively low, but the discrimination set to jewelry which is still quite broad. I found that I got much better at pinpointing where there were not so many junk targets right on top of each other. I was able to get pretty close. First hit I found a strange piece of wire that was pretty big, but I was proud that I was able to dig a nice plug and find it quickly. The next hit I found pretty quick, a wheatie about 4 inches down. I got some iron hits and ignored them, then an odd hit that was bouncing around a lot and seemed harder to pinpoint. I remembered that the big wire sounded similar and bounced around the same way, one minute showing iron, the next as a penny. I dug and it was about 6 inches down, a nut and bolt so big I wondered if it was a doorknob at first. I noted that the Garrett had put this big hunk of metal at only 2 inches down and figured its larger size had thrown off the depth somewhat.
Next I got one of those hits that is right in the range where it's either gold or a pulltab. This one was very easy to pinpoint without the broad overreaching signal that I got from the junk. I dug another nice plug and found a bit of rumpled foil about the size of a pulltab, but I found it quickly and cleanly. I was getting much better at digging a small surgical hole, finding the target, and closing back up neatly. I was really happy!!
Next I got another clean tone that was easy to pinpoint, and found a clad roosevelt dime. Then a rusty nail and washer, a small bit of steel, and an old coat hook or something. Finally, I got a really strong signal. I dug down about 6 inches at the edge of the flower bed, and was having trouble seeing anything, when my centech pointer started going nuts over this small black rock that looked to me like a lump of coal. I pulled it out and waved it over my Garrett and sure enough that was it. I checked the hole and nearby area to be sure I had it and there were no more signals. I have NO IDEA what kind of rock would set my Garrett off like that- it was ringing in the 25C range and then all the way at the end of silver sometimes. It gives off a very strong signal. I plan to photograph and put in the What Is It forum.
At any rate, for all you other newbies out there--- I am finding that patience is really needed in this, and I read some posts where some are getting frustrated. Also, try to find an area that is not TOO trashy or you might be lost like I was.
There is still a lot of land at the Church and I have only begun to explore this area! It will provide many more hours of practice. I am encouraged as I can see myself improving with every thing I dig.
I have been digging my yard but it is very, very trashy and frustrating. I was anxious to get to better grounds.
I found a few things- I still kept my sensitivity relatively low, but the discrimination set to jewelry which is still quite broad. I found that I got much better at pinpointing where there were not so many junk targets right on top of each other. I was able to get pretty close. First hit I found a strange piece of wire that was pretty big, but I was proud that I was able to dig a nice plug and find it quickly. The next hit I found pretty quick, a wheatie about 4 inches down. I got some iron hits and ignored them, then an odd hit that was bouncing around a lot and seemed harder to pinpoint. I remembered that the big wire sounded similar and bounced around the same way, one minute showing iron, the next as a penny. I dug and it was about 6 inches down, a nut and bolt so big I wondered if it was a doorknob at first. I noted that the Garrett had put this big hunk of metal at only 2 inches down and figured its larger size had thrown off the depth somewhat.
Next I got one of those hits that is right in the range where it's either gold or a pulltab. This one was very easy to pinpoint without the broad overreaching signal that I got from the junk. I dug another nice plug and found a bit of rumpled foil about the size of a pulltab, but I found it quickly and cleanly. I was getting much better at digging a small surgical hole, finding the target, and closing back up neatly. I was really happy!!
Next I got another clean tone that was easy to pinpoint, and found a clad roosevelt dime. Then a rusty nail and washer, a small bit of steel, and an old coat hook or something. Finally, I got a really strong signal. I dug down about 6 inches at the edge of the flower bed, and was having trouble seeing anything, when my centech pointer started going nuts over this small black rock that looked to me like a lump of coal. I pulled it out and waved it over my Garrett and sure enough that was it. I checked the hole and nearby area to be sure I had it and there were no more signals. I have NO IDEA what kind of rock would set my Garrett off like that- it was ringing in the 25C range and then all the way at the end of silver sometimes. It gives off a very strong signal. I plan to photograph and put in the What Is It forum.
At any rate, for all you other newbies out there--- I am finding that patience is really needed in this, and I read some posts where some are getting frustrated. Also, try to find an area that is not TOO trashy or you might be lost like I was.
There is still a lot of land at the Church and I have only begun to explore this area! It will provide many more hours of practice. I am encouraged as I can see myself improving with every thing I dig.
