Not a good first experience....

[Tbar]

Hello-

Just wanted to share my first experience with an MD.

I got a new minelab for christmas and took it out for a maiden voyage just after the new year. The weather here in Michigan was pretty mild at the time so I thought I would get my feet wet. My folks live on a farm that was built in the 1850s so I thought that would be a good place to start. I am new to this hobby and had a bit of trouble using the detector. After about 2 hours I had dug up an old brass bell, a clad dime, and a few bottle caps.

Across the street is another old abandoned farm where an old Victorian home once stood. So the next day I thought I would jump over there and swing the MD around. Because of the conditions...and the fact that the Minelab seems to go sooo deep, I found myself digging some deep deep holes, and got nothing but junk.(Like I said I'm still learning how to use this darn thing). I got frustrated and threw in the towel. A few days later I broke out in somekind of terrible rash...not unlike poison ivy, but worse, and was laid up from it for 2 1/2 weeks. I still don't know what it was. Whatever I dug up, it was of no value to me, i can assure you of that!

So, now the ground is all froze up, and I won't be giving it another shot until spring. It was not a fun first go around though.

Hopefully my luck improves. I have a map of the area from 1875, and there looks like alot of good sites, including an old horse track a school and the 2 houses I spoke of...all within walking distance of my house.

Cheers

 

[Silver Searcher]

Tbar, the best way to get used to your MD is to keep using it, welome to the forum TK

 

[TheSleeper]

WOW guy bummer on the rash, i thought poison ivy and sumac would only hit u during the warmer days when there fluids were moist.
Glad your better.

Hey that old horse track sounds like an odds on winner, esp if they had betting there, best of luck.

Don`t get frustrated, minelabs have a steep learning cycle, but in the end well worth it. Til u get use to what she is saying to u don`t worry bout digging the trash its a learning tool.

Which minelab did u get ?


Welcome to Tnet and best of luck

 

[Sandmaniac]

Hang in there bud we all have nightmare stories from whenwe first started out. I usually comb the beaches. When I first started I walked about 3 miles of beach with just my sneakers on and no socks. was'nt til I was done that i found out that i had taken most of the skin off my achilles tendons. blisters took a week to heel . After a while you will get to know your detector to the point where it will sound like its talking to you. Thats when the fun really begins. A quik way to do this is to hit the sand if you can. You will learn how to discriminate real fast with all the scrap you will pick up.
MIke

 

[Tbar]

I'm not disscouraged....I was just frustrated as a first time out.

I was real suprised I got the ivy or sumac too....or whatever it was. I'm thinking it was roots I dug up. It sucked big time though.

I have the explorer se. I need to practice with the discrimination. Throw a bunch of different metals out in the yard or something. I will say....I have a much greater appreciation for MDers now.

We'll see.....I can't wait til spring though!

 

[Stormtrooper154]

That sounds like my first time detecting LOL

Got a Minelab EX2, was digging iron that sounded like silver, didn't find anything good, got hives from digging something and was in bed for a few days.....UUGGGHHHH LOL

 

[Mirage]

I have never had poison ivy until this last fall. Did the same thing - dug up a bunch of roots. :P Didn't lay me up but still a nuisance.

Sorry about your bad experience. I would start buy going to a local elementary school and digging clad. Usually there is not a lot of trash at these places and plenty of clad. Great place to learn to use a detector. The minelabs do have a steeper learning curve than some other brands.

I would not give up on your folks house. My mother's house was built in 1853. She has 3 acres. It amazes me how much old rusty iron is distributed on that 3 acres! It really took us a while to start finding good stuff there. Heavy iron areas are the most difficult so if that is the case get some experience first before taking on these areas.

Mirage

 

[Montana Jim]

I agree with all the encouraging comments... when the weather sucks I hang out here and learn, or do research for my next trip out.

Sometimes you come home empty handed... it's part of the whole deal. However, it gets way better!

Good luck and enjoy... it always beats workin'.

 

[TxTim]

That sucks!!!
Poison ivy, sumac, etc. gives me a rash looking at it.
I got carried away and discovered myself in a patch last summer.
I took all the precautions and still blistered up.
Two weeks later after changing coils, I got it again! from the damn coil! I never wiped it down.
There is some stuff called "Ivy Block" that I use before I go to a new site - there is also a special wash which helps after you're exposed.
The best thing to do is avoid it, no matter how good it looks!

 

[halfdime]

Be patient and learn your machine; as you improve, you might find things in areas you've already searched. It sounds like you have some promising sites, so don't give up on them!

 

[emesis]

The worst case of poisen ivy I ever had was in the winter cutting wood. Look for hairy vines on nearby trees or stone walls. If you get into the roots or handle any of the vines you will break out. I avoid it like the plague. Soak in a hot bath with Epsom salts. It will help[dry it out faster.


PFP

 

[Moonshadow]

Welcome to the forum Tbar! It sounds like you have some great sites to get your feet wet! Good luck with those and keep us posted!

Sorry about the poison whatever! Those roots will get you every time! I've had the same thing happen to me....it did suck! I'd be wearing some gloves and long sleeves when going back to that spot....just a suggestion.

Happy Hunting,
Moon

 

[Nana40]

Yep. It's the roots! I never had poison oak/ivy till last summer, and then it was only a little spot here and there. Early December my huntin buddy and I decided to go in search of an old mill in the woods. Well after digging up tons of dang roots and trash we gave up. Several days later I had this rash alllll over my arms. I had worn long sleeves but as the day progressed and it got warmer I would pull my sleeves up....BIG mistake! Took over a month to get rid of the stuff! :P

Good luck on your next outing...it gets better~!

Welcome to the forum.

Nana

 

[Stacylee926]

Not so good! I got my MD for Xmas too and have stuck to elementary schools, my yard and 2 beaches. I have not found much yet either - maybe $6.00 in clad and various types of junk. However, I still go every weekend and I know I will find something good one day. I did find a decent ring in my backyard on my 3rd or 4th pass so keep at it.

I live in SE Va, and the weather is finally getting really cold - cold enough for the ground to freeze I think.
When the weather warms up, going out will be a nice experience.

 

[dugupfinds]

If your not patient then its not the hobby for you, if you don't enjoy being outside & digging up junk then its not the hobby for you.

But if.......

You put the hours in & work hard and cover all the ground systematically & clear all the junk then 1 day you WILL be rewarded. Its at this point that you're understand & appreciate the joy of grasping the past in your hands. Good times can be short & good times can be long, but if you don't try your never know.

If you expect too much, you will find little.
If you don't expect anything then you will be surprised.

Try everywhere your allowed once. If its good do it again.

Happy Hunting & may we see many more of your posts.

 

[DANGLANGLEY]

About 30 years ago I was looking around an old home site that was built around 1880 and it was late fall and I got into poison ivy by digging up the roots and it sent me to the doctor. I found some nice silver there. They had money and a house full of kids to lose change. I made a haul but paid for it later. I have since found something that works every time to keep poison ivy from breaking you out if you will use it within a few hours. Put some clorox bleach on a rag and rub it on everything that was exposed and wash it off after about a minute. It does burn somewhat but it is worth it to me to keep me from breaking out. I know it sounds crazy and you can save this remedy for a last resort if you like. Hang in there

 

[Ed-NH]

Hi Tbar, sorry to hear about the rash. Poison Ivy is bad and Poison Oak is even worse. You could have dug into some roots, they will get ya too. What Minelab did you get? Did a dealer suggest it to you? Just curious. I own a Minelab Explorer II. I hunt areas with lots of iron and can help you with some ideas for simple settings to try if you'd like. Just PM me sometime. Good luck and don't get discouraged; it takes hundreds of hours to get really good and you will always be learning.....

Ed-

 

[hollowpointred]

poison ivy is evil. you can still get it in the winter too. be carefull out there.

 

[Technician]

Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac are really ugly to those who are allergic!
I suppose I am one who is not allergic.... SO FAR.
I have helped clear acres of brush, trees and other vegetation in my time(both in Texas and Tennessee) and most has been without even gloves. I even chewed some once on a dare as a kid. It tastes terrible!!!
Even though it does not seem to affect me, YET, I caution everyone to wear gloves and sleeves any time they are working in wild brush. That crap is everywhere! Learn to recognize the plant and realize even though it has no leaves at certain times there are still vines an roots!
Be careful out there!

Jim

 

[goldencoin]

ouch! i had poison ivy from a ghost town, and all i walk away with was an old lisence plate.

HH
-GC