Basic Tools needed for a beginning Metaldetectorist

[bpd138]

Hello again,
As I eagerly await the arrival of my new Minelad X-Terra 505 I am trying to decide what basic "tools" I will need for general metal detecting. I'm looking for advice on things like shovels, spades, gloves etc. I want to put together a basic kit to take with me that I can add to it as I become more experienced.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Once again, thanks for any information.
Willie

 

[Iron Patch]

Just the basics is all you need. Any type of finds pouch, gloves, maybe a shovel depending, and a digger that will not bend or break. The most common mistake made is people wasting their time using flimsy garden trowels.... much better to get something decent. Here's one that's tough as heck and under $20.

Saber tooth.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Welcome to the addiction and to Treasurenet. Just remember to cover all your holes, try to make it look like you were never there when you finish......

 

[cntrydncr1]

I bought a pinpointer. My recoveries took LOTS less time!!! Also a good set of knee pads unless you are strictly beach hunting.

 

[liftloop]

Hay......I'm a flimsy garden trowel user..so......BACK..OFF....

 

[lastleg]

You might get some long tweezers to pick up pull tabs. Oh, don't worry
about scratching your coins. They are only worth face value if you can even
read em.

 

[ivan salis]

== besides the detector of course ---- a good strong digging tool -- a pin pointer --finds pouch / apron --- short mini half sized shovel -(for bigger deeper targets in areas where its use would be ok)-- bug spray for warm weather use in buggy areas --and a small car type medical kit (for cuts and scrapes and such)

 

[midnightmoon]

Welcome bpd138!

Can I add a >bucket< to your list?

I keep all my recovery equipment in a 5 gal. bucket in the back of the Jeep. Keeps the ride clean and I often use the bucket at trashy areas. And when daylight dims, I just throw all finds into my nearby bucket to be checked out at home later. Have had some mud encrusted sweet surprises waiting for me in that bucket. And once while out in the desert without a detector, I filled my bucket with sand from beneath a washed out road crossing a drywash ... to be panned out later. Saw some neat rocks for the garden ... made it to the bucket. Last winter I used the bucket as a snow shovel to dig out the Jeep when we stayed too long in Jersey. Geesh that stuff is cold. Once, after Jersey, filled the bucket with ice and drinks when we realized we were having too much fun to go home and didn't want to buy another cooler. Can also be tipped over to sit on. Next to duck tape, I'd have to say a bucket is a most versatile tool.

Oh, and don't forget the duct tape.

 

[Dano Sverige]

Hay......I'm a flimsy garden trowel user..so......BACK..OFF....

You're a flimsy dress wearer too...so it figures!

 

[RGINN]

If you can get a military bayonet, those are great. Some garden trowels are ok, the ones that will break before they bend. Other than that, a backhoe could come in handy at times.

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Welcome to the addiction and to Treasurenet. Just remember to cover all your holes, try to make it look like you were never there when you finish......

Very good advise, and one of the best tools to have in your arsenal.

 

[HCW]

Supm dat kills ticks!

 

[Digger54]

Hello again,
As I eagerly await the arrival of my new Minelad X-Terra 505 I am trying to decide what basic "tools" I will need for general metal detecting. I'm looking for advice on things like shovels, spades, gloves etc. I want to put together a basic kit to take with me that I can add to it as I become more experienced.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Once again, thanks for any information.
Willie

Where will you be detecting and what type will you be doing? IE coin shooting in parks, relic hunting in the deep woods, beach hunting...? Give some more input so we can impart what we have experienced.

 

[bpd138]

Once again, thanks for all the advice. I live in Belchertown, Massachusetts. It was founded in the 1700's and has a lot of history surrounding it. There are several old farms, stone walls in the middle of the woods, an old rail bed, cellar holes and the list goes on. Currently I am reading and researching the history and looking for old maps looking for insight on how the town was populated back in the 1700 and 1800's.

Back to building my toolkit; Any suggestions on what type of small shovel to get? Are the cheaper Pinpointers (Bounty Hunter) any good? Lastly but not least what do you use to carry all this stuff in?

My X-Terra is slated to arrive on Tuesday and I can't wait. I've read the manual inside and out and I'm ready to get out and practice. I've got a few places picked out for my first attempts at this very intriguing hobby.

If nothing else comes out of this, Belchertown will be a much cleaner place when I have finished digging up all the pull tabs and bottle caps! lol

Take care,
Willie

 

[S.S.Tupperware]

The ames 7 in one garden trowel works great, and 10 bucks or so. The BH pointer sucks, I personally don't use one, but did try the garret probe, and would but if I really needed one. Don't fall for the gimmick stuff ya get. Give it a week or so and you will see what YOU need.

 

[midnightmoon]

Lastly but not least what do you use to carry all this stuff in?

A bucket.

 

[dogpound]

harbor freight and lowes has small 30 inch spade shovels for around 10 bucks if ya plan on diggin in the woods or fields, if your in a more groomed area than a smaller ames 7 in 1 tool works great. a backpack also works great for holding all your gear, that way water and snacks can be carried along with your tools,spare batteries and other gear. if ya wanna go cheap on a pinpointer harbor freight has one for under 20 bucks.

 

[Ozark Treasure Digger]

I use a diving knife to dig most targets that are shallow. You can cut a round plug in turf and flip it over without doing much damage to the sod if your in a yard or park. The cheap survival knives, about $10.00 are good. They are tough enough to pry with without breaking or bending and will hack through small roots. My son uses one and we both seem to use the knives as our first go to tool. An all plastic garden trowel is good sometimes for checking a scoop of dirt to see if your target is in it and an old towel to pile the dirt on makes the cleanup easier. I have a cheap pin pointer from harbor freight and I think it's a great value for the money. Hope you have a great time, it's all about the thrill of the hunt not what you find. Happy hunting. Al