magnet hunting

lonesomebob · Jul 6, 2011

Has anyone used the 250lb pound pull from harbor freight? any good stories or fun advice? just got one but not out yet. B

Frank1960 · Jul 6, 2011

I used mine to get some metal out of a old cement water thingy once was about 4 feet deep had to climb down in the first time anyhow because I did the knot wrong and it came off LOL I got it so I wouldn't have to go down in there in the first place because I was worried about snakes. I got in and out like a jack in the box head lol Once I got the knot tied right it worked pretty good. Haven't needed it since and it is somewhere in the back of my truck been thinking of trying this magnet fishing in the water around here just haven't yet. Good luck though

mfitzy111 · Jul 22, 2011

how much does it cost at harbor freight? I'd like to check out an old fishing hole to see if I can find discarded interesting goodies...too bad magnets can't pickup silver and gold- kind of makes it less profitable...

Frank1960 · Jul 22, 2011

a 250 lb magnet goes for around $15.00 at harbor freight find a 20% off coupon and it would be even cheaper.

ntt · Dec 21, 2011

please explain this to me, i have never heard of magnet fishing?

NOLA_Ken · Dec 21, 2011

Magnet fishing is tying a magnet to a long rope and chucking it into the water. you never know what will turn up. The best spots are really around bridges IMO, since that's where most things get tossed from. There's a great spot here where the police used to dump confiscated guns off a bridge and I'd really like to give it a shot there soon.

Produce Guy · Dec 21, 2011

Did this with a friend years ago,we tied it to some climbing rope and thru it in the lake and found about 4 tackle boxes,1 even had a cellphone in it,we also found a couple 100 yards of fence post pipe,but we were young & dumb and left 'em on the shore. :BangHead:

ntt · Dec 22, 2011

so it's basically like dragging a river? i have wanted to do that too, i am going to have much fun here i can tell.

so what would be a good magnet/ rope to get, i do know of a couple good spots for that,

thanks in advance

ammo_u · Dec 22, 2011

Very neat, I checked and in Tulsa they have one for $13

stefen · Dec 22, 2011

Hey!

Put on some waders and spend a few hours in a new relaxing hobby :thumbsup:

Beats dumpster diving and is much cleaner.

Rockin Chairs Gold · Dec 24, 2011

We did this some years ago when my kids were young. The boy came home with a story about some kids bikes being thrown in the local park pond. I purchased a 250 lb magnet at Harbor Freight and a long rope and we went out to the park. The first throw produced a kids bike, the second throw produced another, the third produced one that had been there a long time.

The first two belong to two kids who's father ran a local Pharmacy, we cleaned them up the best we could and called the pharmacy and they picked them up that evening. That old black gumbo from the bottom of that pond sure did stink, I hope they were able make them usable again.

A couple years latter the local police asked me to see if I could help salvage some guns that were stolen and thrown off a bridge at a local lake, we managed to reach a couple of them, but the other were to deep for my ropes. The fire departments diving team was called in to recover the rest.

They work pretty good as long as it is steel and the rope is long enough and you are strong enough to drag it out.

Rick :coffee2:

NewsMan · Dec 24, 2011

There's an old ferry crossing near me I'd like to try this at.

Alienson · Dec 24, 2011

I lost my kayak anchor because of a lousy knot (somebody tied) but remembered that I had one of those magnets in my truck. Tying a SECURE knot on it, I found the anchor in short order.

scott jacobs · Dec 24, 2011

mine, got my crabpot up then one of my strings came untied. worked great first try! :icon_sunny:

P.B. and Dylan · Dec 24, 2011

I got my magnet at harbor freight. Used it a few times.
Got a nice 20 speed mongoose bike from a bridge. My son rides it now.
Last time out I saw a large box shaped object. The magnet stuck to it but was not strong enough to lift it. I think it was a washer or refrigerator.

nuggy · Dec 26, 2011

If you loose the magnet just fish it up with a lump of steel. Had to do this when friend let go of rope! Nuggy

airborne1092 · Dec 26, 2011

You should mount an ATV winch in the bed of your truck, or try and use a Hi Lift jack as a come-a-long. It would pull a lot easier than just your arms. But then again, a $99. winch kinda destroys the "thrifty" factor, if that's what you were after...

It sounds like fun! I remember as a kid at the local lake, seeing a paid paper box in the bottom of a little cove. It was too deep to get it, but I remember thinking about all that bubble gum money still in there!

bartholomewroberts · Dec 26, 2011

Been doing this for years now...I live in B.C., and fortunately, our coins are magnetic... so our dimes, nickels, quarters, dollar and two dollar coins are attracted to the magnet.

On my best day, I pulled out over $225.00 in coins using a magnet