New to Metal Detecting, I could use some help...

[hedshot56]

Hi, everyone. I am extremely new to metal detecting. I spent a few hours out in my yard today trying to dig up something, which probably was never there, and I dug about a 1 1/2 foot hole and found only rocks, clay, and dirt clumps. So does anyone have any tips on finding anything? My metal detector beeps and says the depth is between 2-4, whatever that means, I'm wondering if it's feet but it seems extremely deep. My metal detector also showed the arrow underneath a picture of a nickel and sometimes went to a nail? I had it set on pinpoint so I could find exactly where it was. Anyway sorry for rambling but like I said I'm very new and extremely confused. Thanks in advance.

 

[Shunkaha]

More info would be like, so totally awesome. Your detector could be a piece of junk or the best on the market.... but nobody would know by your post. Tell us what type of detector you have at the very very very least.

 

[hedshot56]

It's a White's Coinmaster, I'll have to find the stuff that came with it like the manual, as this b is the first time I've really used it.

 

[fella]

Since you are just starting I suggest you turn off the pinpoint function while hunting. Next notch out iron (nail icon).

Now when you get a good repeatable signal in two different directions, then turn your pinpoint function on. When you get a steady tone it should be in the center of your coil. This is assuming you are using the stock 9" spider coil! Once you have your target pinpointed, turn the PP off and dig it up.

By keeping the pinpoint on all the time it will sound off on anything metal in its detecting range and it won't discriminate for any metal that is passed under its coil.

It'll make things much easier!

This may help…

 

[hedshot56]

Another question, where should I start searching? There are 2-3 abandoned houses near my house, I was thinking they might have some coins in the ground there. Should I search there?

 

[OldJerseyGirl]

Read your manual. And there are some excellent videos on YouTube that might help. And most targets are not that deep. Four to 8 inches. You should really get a pin pointer. You will learn.
All the Best and Happy hunting.

 

[ThTx]

Another question, where should I start searching? There are 2-3 abandoned houses near my house, I was thinking they might have some coins in the ground there. Should I search there?

An abandoned house is a good place to search. The older, the better usually. But don't think that if you don't find coins it is a lost day. A lot of old items are great simply because they are old! Junk is in the eye of the finder. Also, be sure you have permission to hunt the abandoned property. It may be abandoned, but someone still owns it.

 

[hedshot56]

My family owns the land. Will definitely search out there after school. I believe the houses are. About 60+ years old. Thanks you all for your help. I will post on here if I have anymore questions/ find anything. Once again thank you.

 

[Hawk'n Dirt]

Have you got yourself a quality pinpointer. This is worth the cost and cuts your searching time in the hole by a ton.

The new Whites TRX or Garrett Pinpointers are the best out there. Well worth the money.

Also, I am not sure if your machine has a ground balance or not but if it does, make sure you do a good ground balance. It will cut out many false signals.

 

[hightonehunter]

Since you are new to metal detecting I would suggest that you go to the code of ethics page and read and practice them. HH......David

 

[Frankn]

Fast note: Your depth is in inches. If the signal keeps changing, The detector doesn't know what it is and is guessing. Never hunt in pinpoint mode, only use it to pinpoint. If it says 3" and fluctuates on the ID, it could be a coin at 3" or a larger object deeper down. The size of the object and the depth are interrelated in the program.

In the yards, look for worn areas in the ground, like old paths to storage buildings or old outhouses. if they have porches look on the ground around them. Change from pocket spills would sometimes roll off. Check in the back yards, near fences for old caches. Good luck. Frank...

 

[detectingpro]

Sounds like you need a basic pin pointer! you can buy as cheap as 39$ But if you want a good one, go for the garrett Pro Pointer for 127$

 

[hedshot56]

So, I found my first item today. Super excited to show everyone. After about 15 minutes of digging and 15 minutes of cleaning w/ warm water, I found this:
It's obviously a lid of some kind. All I can make out is "Kraft" there's a lot of rust in the way but I found it about 2 inches under the ground near the old houses. It's not much but I was happy to finally find something. Thanks for all your help.

 

[BARKER]

HI Headshot56; Welcome to detecting. Here's some basic Rules of Thumb so to speak ok. First is go online and find out if there is a Metal Detecting Club near you and JOIN IT. !!! You will be amazed at the amount of info you will learn there. Also you will meet a lot of other guys who detect in your area.
By joining a Club it will open up a whole new world for you that you never knew existed right under your nose ok. That is also one of the best things about this hobby. Fun, Finds and especially the Fellowship ok. I wish you the best and keep Posting the pictures ok. PEACE:RONB

 

[hedshot56]

Thanks for the advice. I'll be sure to look into join a detecting club, and keep posting pictures. Thanks!

 

[RGINN]

When I first saw your post I knew you had a White's Coinmaster. It's like I'm almost psychic, or else I actually took the time to read the info in that little box on the left side of your post. You can get some good advice on here. I'm not familiar with the type of White's you have, but I would start out in the most basic mode, and pay attention to the sound a little more than the display. Also, there is absolutely nothin wrong with finding a clean area and buryin things yourself, and see how the detector reacts to them. GH!

 

[hedshot56]

So, I spent 2 hours near my abandoned houses location and found 2 new things, of which I have no Idea what they are. The first item appears to be an ashtray of somesort, maybe a lid, it had 2 hinges on it, one on each side, and the second looks like a mini horse shoe. Here are the pics.View attachment 966937 The larger object has a W stenciled on it, and the paper clip is there for size reference.
2 things that irritated me today, I broke my trowel, and I spent an entire hour digging up, what my detector told me was a 50 cent piece, was actually a wire leading toward the abandoned house. So, yeah that's my day.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

........ I spent an entire hour digging up, what my detector told me was a 50 cent piece, was actually a wire leading toward the abandoned house....

hed-shot, in-lieu of this, and your opening part of the post (disappearing signals, giant holes, etc...) my suggestion would be to hook up with someone proficient. Find a good user/hunter in your area. Preferably with the same type machine as yours. Go out to an area prolific with clad, and trade off listening to flagged in-situ signals. Un-plug your headphone jacks and listen to what each other flags. Watch the way he swings. Listen to what he's trying to isolate. See the way he pinpoints and retrieves, etc... Because even though you SAY that the machine "gives a beep" and the ID screen "shows such & such", yet all such things are subjective and related to sounds, etc... In other words, things to which no amount of printed instruction can convey, since they are sound specific things. There are so many things that printed instructions can't convey, like whether or not a signal "repeats itself" (as that is subjective to each user). Or things like flutters verses beeps, and fast versus slow, and so forth.

So if you can hook up, don't go out to sad sorry worked out places. Pick a place prolific with targets, even if it means just clad. Once you do that, the "lights will go on" and it will all make sense.

 

[hedshot56]

So, don't dig if it's just a bunch of beeps every second? That's the way it was beeping over the wire.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

So, don't dig if it's just a bunch of beeps every second? That's the way it was beeping over the wire.

Hedshot, don't get this wrong, but ..... did you read a thing I wrote ? Don't you see that a question like what you're now asking is ........ again ...... sound specific ? As such it can not be asked or answered in printed text. It would be like someone asking: "please describe the sound of C minor in printed text". It can't be done. It has to be heard. No amount of "reading" in printed text about the sound of C minor can convey it to another person.

Thus again I tell you: hook up with someone in your area who is proficient. Go out to a place prolific with easy clad, and flag signals to trade off listening and retrieving practice.