portubob
Greenie
As a kid, I always thought it would be cool to have my own detector; however, I never had the means to get one, so it was put out of my mind...until...last November (2013), my pop-in-law was watching youtube videos of folks finding cool stuff and I caught the bug. I realized as an adult, I actually have the money for this hobby now...my first adult hobby! I talked with quite a few sellers on craigslist and read many of your articles about being a newbie. After 3 months of reading articles ya'll have written and watching many many youtube videos, I bought a Garrett ACE 250 on craigslist for $175. I was so proud of myself...my wife forced me to save for it over 4 paychecks rather than just buying it outright. She wanted to make sure I really wanted it, I guess.
Since then, I'm up to about 4 wheat pennies, no silver coins, a necklace with a .925 silver cross and a .925 silver ring with a garnet as well as a junk ring (I think it's junk-it has not imprint inside), and about $50 in clad (which took me a while to understand that's pretty much all 1965 and newer coins). A fellow detectorist in S. Cal told me that as long as I just kept going, my detector would pay for itself. So far, he's right, it's working it's way there...
Now for some questions... What do you all do with your finds once you get the more pricey ones? Where do you sell them/how do you sell them? Or do you just hold onto them as mementos?
I just bought a Whites TRX pinpointer on eBay for $100...I should get it Mon-Wed next week. This hobby just keeps getting more and more expensive. haha. So here are my goals:
Find enough with my ACE 250 to pay for scuba certification ($180 in S. Cal through Groupon), then eventually to buy an underwater detector...which based on what I've read/seen, the Fisher CZ21 is probably my best bet? I don't plan on going much deeper than 10 feet with my detector and wonder if there'd be a better underwater detector with a discriminate option...as well as finding a way to make sure my new TRX is waterproofed for that depth.
Thanks all for your help and support!
My first ring: (found in a freshwater lake--Grand Lake, CO about 18" below the surface using my ACE 250)
Since then, I'm up to about 4 wheat pennies, no silver coins, a necklace with a .925 silver cross and a .925 silver ring with a garnet as well as a junk ring (I think it's junk-it has not imprint inside), and about $50 in clad (which took me a while to understand that's pretty much all 1965 and newer coins). A fellow detectorist in S. Cal told me that as long as I just kept going, my detector would pay for itself. So far, he's right, it's working it's way there...
Now for some questions... What do you all do with your finds once you get the more pricey ones? Where do you sell them/how do you sell them? Or do you just hold onto them as mementos?
I just bought a Whites TRX pinpointer on eBay for $100...I should get it Mon-Wed next week. This hobby just keeps getting more and more expensive. haha. So here are my goals:
Find enough with my ACE 250 to pay for scuba certification ($180 in S. Cal through Groupon), then eventually to buy an underwater detector...which based on what I've read/seen, the Fisher CZ21 is probably my best bet? I don't plan on going much deeper than 10 feet with my detector and wonder if there'd be a better underwater detector with a discriminate option...as well as finding a way to make sure my new TRX is waterproofed for that depth.
Thanks all for your help and support!
My first ring: (found in a freshwater lake--Grand Lake, CO about 18" below the surface using my ACE 250)
I wanted to give an update. I have found over $150 of clad, 6 or 7 silver rings, and my latest find was with an Excalibur II I bought myself for Christmas. I found a hefty sterling silver ring with 18k gold on the top. I've posted nearly 30 metal detecting videos on my YouTube channel, and life is good. I'm about to head to Ohio next week and hope to detect along the route. Once I come back from Ohio, I'll be buying another underwater detector-probably the underwater by detectorpro, then heading off to Catalina Island in January...life is good.
