How much time before you pay your equipment off?

[doodman]

How long does it take you to find 250$ worth of stuff?

Also, where do you bring your things if you want cash for them? Are pawn shops best, or maybe send your gold rings to that crazy dude that promises cash for gold on TV?

-Al

 

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[BuckleBoy]

If it's cash you're looking for, you should probably just get a part time job instead.

 

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[Frank1960]

I'm at $4.04 so far and paid $175 so got a bit to go

 

[pennyfarmer]

I really love all the different responses.

I am going to stick with the "Never break even monetarily" group. The time I have put in behind a detector does not have a price. The gas and equipment have cost me a pretty penny. My tired old soverign that now sits in the corner tells a long tale of treasure and many more skunks.

I had a person at work ask me what is the ratio of good hunts to bad hunts. I told him that you have to give up your family if you want to have the amount of stories I have. I have been skunked after driving many miles of dirt road more times than I care to admit.

When was the last time someone asked you if you have paid for your fishing rod? Never, but for some reason people think I should find enough to pay for my detector.

There is a very good possibility that I have paid for my detectors but I never really cared to run a balance sheet.

Long story short, Have fun and don't sweat the small stuff.

 

[olepossum]

i have a whites dfx300with 12inch coil headphones and a 5.3 inch eclipse coil $1,352.00, garrett propointer pinpointer $139.00 ,leshce hand trowel $45.00,lesche 48inch landshark relic shovel$75.00, bundle of rubber palmed and fingers gloves $20.00,a garrett ace 250 $165.00 , and a bounty hunter prospector dx with head phones $300.00all purchased in the last 2 years for a grand total of $2,096.00 not looking to pay it off any time soon if she is worried about pay off rate and you are not married get rid of her buy a really good machine and the gear to go with it and then find a new woman .you should be the only one digging for gold

 

[Frank1960]

Actually I'm not worried about paying off the machine or any other equipment that goes with the hobby just out to have fun get some excersise and enjoy the fresh air. To me it gives me a chance to just get away from everyday stuff and just be alone with only thoughts of what is under my detector. Just keeping a total to see how well I am doing.

 

[Eu_citzen]

How long does it take you to find 250$ worth of stuff?

-Al

Who cares? It's a hobby, enjoy it!!

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

How long does it take you to find 250$ worth of stuff?

-Al

When you start worrying about how long it takes to pay off equipment, it is no longer a fun hobby, it then becomes a job, you can make a lot more money working elsewhere for mininum wage....

If you keep it as a hobby, then it becomes a fun hobby that has the potential to pay for itself.......Not counting all the great exersize, fresh air, and nice people you meet...

 

[ivan salis]

how long does it take a fisherman to "pay" for his rod and reel and line ,hooks, sinkers plus his bait ---and time spent fishing ---to "break even" money wize at the price per pound of fish caught ?

no one would think "hobby fishing" in those terms --yet folks think of "hobby" metal detecting in those terms almost always it seems.

 

[kenley]

I got lucky. My first one was a D-TEX top of the line. I don't remember how much it cost now, but I paid for it and a Jeep the first month. I found a sterling silver dinner service in a collapsed dug out. The dealer took in on consignment and I got half. My check was $1,150. This is the only thing I have ever sold.

 

[ben2go]

Ace 250 cost me $250 new.I haven't found $1 worth of stuff in four years with it,but the fun makes up for it.

 

[Frank1960]

Ace 250 cost me $250 new.I haven't found $1 worth of stuff in four years with it,but the fun makes up for it.

You haven't found anything? Do you have batteries in it? Is it turned on? My first day out with it I found $1.91 and second time found $2.13 so something must be up with your machine

 

[ben2go]

Ace 250 cost me $250 new.I haven't found $1 worth of stuff in four years with it,but the fun makes up for it.

You haven't found anything? Do you have batteries in it? Is it turned on? My first day out with it I found $1.91 and second time found $2.13 so something must be up with your machine

I live in an area that has been flattened for housing developments and business.Plus I haven't been able to get out to good spots much.Hopefully this year I will be getting out to some place that haven't been touched in decades.

 

[Silver Surfer]

And I think we all can agree that this is one hobby that no matter how much or how fast, instead of only paying to play, we make money doing it...
Cant do that with many hobbies, especially fishing...

 

[ben2go]

Agreed.I find stuff, just not valuable stuff.It's the unknown story of a found item, and trying to figure it out,that keeps me interested.I'd really be excited if I found some old relics or artifacts connected to our history.

 

[treasurefiend]

How long does it take you to find 250$ worth of stuff?

Also, where do you bring your things if you want cash for them? Are pawn shops best, or maybe send your gold rings to that crazy dude that promises cash for gold on TV?

-Al

2 years ago on my 2nd hunt ever I found a gold wedding band and the melt value was enough to pay for my Ace250 but I woundup keeping the ring.

 

[Frankn]

I will tell you a sad story that effects my answer! I once saved everything I found. From my first find of a $5 gold coin to my first casch find of 13 silver dollars. 11 years ago my house burned down. I got out with my skivies on and nothing else! when going thru the ashes the only thing I found were the 13 silver dollars, I still have them. That taught me a lesson. I only save highly unique, to me, items. Everything is turned into cash. I save gold wedding bands until the price of gold jumps up like around'80 or now. I sell it to a jewler. The diamond, ruby and emeral rings go to another jewler. They have their specialities! Do I do it for the money? Yes! So I can keep doing it!!! The thrill lies in all three, research,the hunt and the discovery. So far this year I have found a gold ring with a 2ct. ruby and a 200 year old ax made by a blacksmith that I have mounted in black walnut. App.$3500 total value!

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