The biggest mistake in metal detecting

[smokeythecat]

I've seen it over and over and over again. Do NOT swing the loop 6" or more off the ground. I was at the beach yesterday and got some nice coins including an 18th century coin. There were other people out, they said they didn't find much. I was watching them and they were swinging their coils were a good 6" off the ground. It doesn't matter how deep the machine will go or how well the discriminator works if you give away 6" all the time. It ain't the machine, it's the operator!

 

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[Terry Soloman]

Sure would like to see the one from the 1700s!!!!! Congratulations!!!!!!!!

 

[smokeythecat]

1777 - George III. And a button and brass wedding ring from the same spot.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Sweet!!!!!!!!

 

[GarretDiggingAz]

That's a copper coin right? Nice find

 

[smokeythecat]

It's copper. George III, "fat George" as he was sometims referred to by us lowly colonists, has his head facing right. The others I found over the last 3 weeks weren't as nice.

 

[bill from lachine]

So true....swing low and swing slow gets you the goods.

Regards + HH

Bill

 

[SusanMN]

Amen. I can't bear to watch them. I want to run up, shove their coil to the ground and give them a lesson on the proper way.

 

[smokeythecat]

SusanMN, you go for it! And they detect running along at 20 mph no less! Friday, I walked a straight (sort of) line to an area I found two copper the week before. On the way I found two memorial cents. Almost no signals where I found the previous coins. So I went back to where I found the memorials and found the copper, a piece to a copper brooch and another small piece of very old brass. Everything was in a 10' x 10' area.

 

[SusanMN]

SusanMN, you go for it! And they detect running along at 20 mph no less! Friday, I walked a straight (sort of) line to an area I found two copper the week before. On the way I found two memorial cents. Almost no signals where I found the previous coins. So I went back to where I found the memorials and found the copper, a piece to a copper brooch and another small piece of very old brass. Everything was in a 10' x 10' area.

Yup, and not only are they lopping along with their coil in the air but they are swinging it like a pendulum so that at the ends of their swing they are more like nine inches in the air. And if they are swinging an expensive machine I nearly have a stroke watching them.

 

[smokeythecat]

Most of the machines I've sen them use here are Minelab Excaliburs. I use a cheap Tesoro Cibola and so far are running them in circles. Haven't seen anybody with a Minelab dig anything but die cast toys to date.

 

[Crispin]

Smokey: I think swinging the coil six inches above the ground is the second biggest mistake somebody can make. The first biggest mistake somebody can make is not swinging the coil. The worst day at the beach is better then the best day at the office.

Crispin

 

[smokeythecat]

Crispin, Right on! The NEXT worse mistake is not taking spare batteries along with you in the field.

 

[smokeythecat]

Of course another biggie is ignoring the "No Trespassing" signs.

 

[cudamark]

Yup, and not only are they lopping along with their coil in the air but they are swinging it like a pendulum so that at the ends of their swing they are more like nine inches in the air. And if they are swinging an expensive machine I nearly have a stroke watching them.

It doesn't bother me a bit. More goodies for me to find!

 

[GarretDiggingAz]

I figure let them make mistakes. You show them after you dig up what they miss. Lol

What signs? I didn't see that big white and red lettered sign.
Paying taxes lets you go wherever. Right?
So many mistakes. So little common sense.
I just hope I learn from others mistakes. Makes hobby more enjoyable anyway.

 

[smokeythecat]

Went back to the same spot New Years Day. One other guy out with a Bounty Hunter. He found nothing but was doing the zip down the beach thing. We tested it with a coin, it definately works, but he was at a disadvantage using a tiny loop. I re-gridded the spot where found some items lat week -50' x 25' and found another 18th century copper and two brass ships nails, plus misc other stuff.