You won't even notice, you'll just look at your pile one day and realize you have a collection of treasure. There will be many trips finding squat.
I was out of the hobby for 25 years and returned just 4 1/2 years ago. When I came back I still had my Fisher, joined here and "studied". It was my choice to go multi-frequency, so went first for a Etrac, sold that and went CTX. And I also wanted to water hunt, so went with the Excal II on that end.
The first couple of years back were iffy times, didn't get out much. This is my second solid year of hunting, but really don't get out as much as I'd like. I've done that 100 hours on each my CTX and Excal, thus I find I'm able to make "field decisions" by listening to the targets - I really don't pay attention to TID numbers.
And I also log each hunt into a database software I found on the Net. That keeps it interesting for me too in the off times - like it's raining hard out my window this morning. So, updating that database keeps me thinking of my next venture out - encourages me.
It also helps me dispel some myths I had. I was thinking that the water held the most jewelry finds. In logging the data I find that dirt & water are about equal in jewelry finds.
I have my shelving loaded with coffee cans with clad & cents separated, and closed by year. I haven't cashed any in yet, no need to. It's going to pay for my next detector - nothing on the market right now that I'm interested in.
I've grown a little collection of toy cars, have a container for nice junk jewelry, one for junk jewelry, and one for seriously junk jewelry
Some of the miscellaneous things I've found, I actually actively use. Things I'd have never purchased.
You'll find along the way that you need a tumbler, a set up for electrolysis, gold & silver test kit, a weight scale, a digital microscope camera for those very tiny 925 or 10k etc markings - but those needn't be immediate priorities. You'll accumulate them along the way.
The best way to learn any detector is to seriously listen to the sounds it makes. Over time you'll understand the patterns.
If you're digging rusty razors, maybe you might want to take your Disc up a notch. Take it up until you can't hear a nickel, and lower it until you can hear the nickel and leave it there for a while. Everyone says that when you first start a hobby, dig everything - and I agree with that. But now as you've put some hours in, I'd give yourself a break for a little bit. Digging everything gets to be almost like punishment, and that will wear you out. It's also about fun & delight. You've all the time in the world to use any method which pleases you.
So be generous with yourself too. You can't learn a lot of anything with 15 hours swinging under your finds pouch.
Jenni Lee,
