OK--first question...

[Jeff G]

buy yourself a GOOD digging tool!!! You will soon enough break 3 or 4 wal mart garden trowels and understand what I am saying. THE WORST EXPERIENCE in the world is to be in the middle of a good hund and break your only diging tool. Invest the money in a good one. Many of my hunts I only take the detector and the digging tool plus xtra battery pack.

If I break the one I bought I am in serious trouble. Heavy stainless blade, nice urethane handle. I almost bought a cheapy, but picked up this one--
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=24105-44675-1070866&lpage=none
I sharpened the edges to cut through sod better, put some small notches in to make a saw like edge.

For the probe and coin flipper I had some brass 3/16" rod in the shop, picked up a cheap oak table leg while I was at Lowes, drilled it out, epoxied the rod into the oak. It's quite comfortable. With the last piece of brass I pounded out the end to flatten it and mounted it in a piece of dowel I had lying around. A little clear lacquer on the wood finished those off.

I'll get some pictures later and post them. --I will get an avatar up tomorrow......

Thanks to all that have responded. Looks like I need to setup a "diggers" box in the truck to carry everything. Man, you guys are serious about this stuff....and I think I like it........

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A Handbook of Civil War Bullets and Cartridges - Grab it through Amazon!

[Stormtrooper154]

A camera so you can document your finds and the site. We like lots and lots of photos!!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot.......The People Demand Pictures!!!

 

[randall61]

What's with all this? All you need is a detector and a K-Bar knife!!! Oh, and extra batteries.
Oh yeah, headphones help a lot, too. And BTW, make sure your pants have BIG pockets.

 

[Stacylee926]

I always carry extra Walmart type bags in my car to collect trash.

Also - invaluable - Baby Wipes. Cleans your hands up nicely after rumaging in the mud.

 

[Jeff G]

These are all great suggestions, especially the gloves and the baby wipes. I don't go anywhere without my first aid kit....

 

[TreasureTales]

Baby wipes are good for cleaning hands, butts, faces, and mud-encrusted coins. Never leave home without them.

 

[lucky1777]

Baby wipes are good for cleaning hands, butts, faces, and mud-encrusted coins. Never leave home without them.

Good idea TT. But one suggestion, always and I mean always clean face before butt.

 

[TreasureTales]

Baby wipes are good for cleaning hands, butts, faces, and mud-encrusted coins. Never leave home without them.

Good idea TT. But one suggestion, always and I mean always clean face before butt.

To give credit where credit is due, the first to post them was Stacylee926. I merely explained why I carry them. And you are so right...gotta get the sequencing right. LOL I don't even want to go there. Talk about sh1t-faced. Sheesh.

 

[Montana Jim]

Baby wipes are good for cleaning hands, butts, faces, and mud-encrusted coins. Never leave home without them.

Good idea TT. But one suggestion, always and I mean always clean face before butt.

Hopefully that is something you either read in a book or was taught, and not something you learned from experience lucky!

 

[Eu_citzen]

A few things the more serious MDer brings along:
Backhoe, jackhammer, C4, Detonating caps, firearms, flamethrower....................Oh, sorry, got carried away there.
Just kidding

Happy Hunting.

No your right, if your using a big coil and have problems to find your target take that C4 and make a BIG hole!

And if your hungry a Flamethrower will make your lunch warm.

Jackhammer is where you have to be more carefull like in the city parks, or in asphalt. (when C4 is to good)

 

[mgdigger]

Don't forget a 9mm to keep away all the bandits who want your stuff. Just kidding of course but there are times if I am way out in the woods I carry a small 32 cal for just in case times. At 6'3" 230 lbs and carring a small pick ax I don't get hassled much. But I do ALWAYS carry sunscreen and wear a hat.

 

[Jeff G]

A few things the more serious MDer brings along:
Backhoe, jackhammer, C4, Detonating caps, firearms, flamethrower....................Oh, sorry, got carried away there.
Just kidding

Happy Hunting.

No your right, if your using a big coil and have problems to find your target take that C4 and make a BIG hole!

And if your hungry a Flamethrower will make your lunch warm.

Jackhammer is where you have to be more carefull like in the city parks, or in asphalt. (when C4 is to good)

Anpho is easier to get or make..... Makes a nice hole. I can get thermite for that tough asphalt..... LOL......

 

[Rave]

I would think you'll find a spade more useful than a trowel. something secure to put your finds in....I know people who've put them in their pocket, then lost them again

 

[packerbacker]

Don't tell the ladies but, I carry a plastic cat food container (empty of course) that has a screw-on lid. Say you are at a school on the weekend and the bathrooms are locked. There are other folks around so you can't use a tree. You can always get into your car and carefully take care of your immediate problem. In this case, the container is far more important than extra batteries. (also carry hand wipes)

 

[TreasureTales]

Don't tell the ladies but, I carry a plastic cat food container (empty of course) that has a screw-on lid. Say you are at a school on the weekend and the bathrooms are locked. There are other folks around so you can't use a tree. You can always get into your car and carefully take care of your immediate problem. In this case, the container is far more important than extra batteries. (also carry hand wipes)

Cat food container? LOL I'd need a 2 pound coffee can. Not bragging, either.

 

[Rave]

 

[Jeff G]

Don't tell the ladies but, I carry a plastic cat food container (empty of course) that has a screw-on lid. Say you are at a school on the weekend and the bathrooms are locked. There are other folks around so you can't use a tree. You can always get into your car and carefully take care of your immediate problem. In this case, the container is far more important than extra batteries. (also carry hand wipes)

LOL... I have a jug I carry for camping for just these purposes...

 

[stefen]

What's with all this? All you need is a detector and a K-Bar knife!!! Oh, and extra batteries.
Oh yeah, headphones help a lot, too. And BTW, make sure your pants have BIG pockets.

I agree.

If someone took the time to list all of the crap recommended, you would need a truck or SUV just to carry all of it.

Lets see, add the cost of transportation of $20,000 - $35,000 to the cost of the MD machine and supplies, you now have an expenditure of $25 to $45k just to find a damn penny so you can post it and get 20 or 30 atta-boys or way-to-go or I-envy-you-buddy

What happened to a fun hobby?

 

[Rave]

we must be so uncouth in the UK..........everyone just nips behind a hedge!

 

[Montana Jim]

we must be so uncouth in the UK..........everyone just nips behind a hedge!

Me too...

All this from a cat food container comment? LMAO... FOCUS people!