Your thoughts on digging " Overload Signals"

[Silver Slayer]

Has anyone had any good finds on digging overload signals? I dig them at times just out of curiosity. Would like to hear your thoughts or stories on the subject.

Happy hunting to you all.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

99.99% of the time, they're going to be large junk. Like a hubcap, a flattened can, a pipe, a chunk of caste-iron, etc... The odds of any of them being a cache, is going to be pretty slim.

Oddly, back in the 1960s and early 1970s, there were probably more caches found per capita of users, than there is today. Even though our modern sophisticated sensitive machines are deeper seeking than yester-year machine, yet more caches were found in those days, of the cheapo BFO and all-metal TR's. The reason is simple: by their very definition, they were insensitive to smaller objects (some could only get a coin to an inch or two) yet could get larger objects with ease. So a person hunting a ghost town or whatever, had the "perfect discriminator" for those pesky small objects (coin, tabs, etc...), yet could still get jar sized targets.

Sometimes, when working demolition sites, or relicky sites, I'll dig up the overload signals just to get them out of my way (check for things next to or underneath, that were masked), NOT because I'm anticipating anything good from the overload signal itself.

I'm sure that over the years, many md'rs have passed up a jar or box of coins that gave an over-load signal, because they figured they were going to pass "another hubcap"

Has anyone had any good finds on digging overload signals? I dig them at times just out of curiosity. Would like to hear your thoughts or stories on the subject.

Happy hunting to you all.

 

[Jason in Enid]

100% of the overlaods I have dug have been large iron junk. Not a single good or even interesting item.

 

[CASPER-2]

if its an overload the size of a safe - then id pass
but smaller overloads - I will at least give a check on - but all depends
on where your hitting
I got an over load signal once - turned out to be the biggest brass lock
Id ever seen - was dated 1864 - supposedly a RR car lock - goes for about $500
found it in an old park
a friend got an overload at an old park near a bay and dug down 1 1/2 feet and got an
iron cannon ball bout the size of a bowling ball
I like to check and see if item is brass or lead - if its giant iron
I leave alone - but you never know what it might be

 

[spartacus53]

Sad part is if you don't dig, you never know what you may have missed

 

[NOLA_Ken]

I usually go over them in pin point mode, if they are really large or linear I pass them up because it's 99% going to be an engine block or a chunk of pipe. I end up digging up a few cans now and then, but I'd rather dig than wonder.

 

[leddel]

this was a passed over overload , i know because they didn't leave much else at this old cellar site it was reading very shallow and a large overload .

it was however about 4 inches down (the machine said less than 2) . i've been told it one of the most complete early militia hatplates seen in a while.

Dan

 

[ticm]

Has anyone had any good finds on digging overload signals? I dig them at times just out of curiosity. Would like to hear your thoughts or stories on the subject.

Happy hunting to you all.

If you don't take a look see on over load signals, you are missing out on a lot of good targets. Well last overload signals I found was a bunch clad quarters and dimes all mixed in together about three or four bucks worth just below the surface. I can't remember all the keepers I have found with a overload signal. Of course you will also find a lot of junk too.

 

[Frankn]

Got a signal that said ovreload but changed at each scan. It indicated 2" dept. It turnes out to be app. 13" DEEP. iT WAS THIS 1800'S BLACKSMITH AX HEAD.

 

[spartacus53]

13' Did you use a backhoe like Savage

I'm pretty sure you meant inches.. Remember, proofreading is your friend

 

[Frankn]

Way back, I told them not to put ' & " on the same button! lol

 

[lookindown]

A friend dug an overload signal in waist deep water and it was a 15 gram gold ring.

 

[Hot zone]

I usually check them out, but depends on how far it is to a dumpster. If I can get it out of the ground I gotta then haul it away. I have found so many tracker parts as of late that I expect the whole thing is buried out there.lol.

 

[dustytrails123]

I live on a ballfield next to the rail road tracks...it used to be a gas station in the 30's and a bar around the 60's to the present ..
Also was told there was a train accident here and i dont doubt that i can find all the rusty metal i want in this yard ..even if i dont want it
but i did find something in the back yard that pin points out about the size of a small car so im scared to see what it is lol

 

[Hot zone]

If I wanted to bury a valuable metal object and wanted to keep others from finding it, I would put one ugly huge piece of metal on top.

 

[curbdiggercarl57]

I figure that digging it only takes 10 seconds out of my life, so I dig.
I've wasted far more time in my life on other things.
Carl

 

[spartacus53]

but i did find something in the back yard that pin points out about the size of a small car so im scared to see what it is lol

Dig it up, it's probably Jimmy Hoffa

 

[Frankn]

Spart, You mean the can the "dog" food came in don't you!

 

[cz70pro]

I have had good luck with these signals beach hunting.I have uncovered:military dog tags,groups of coins,a set of keys next to a zippo lighter, cell phones,sunglasses,etc. I usually don't have as much luck land hunting overload signals.

 

[Frankn]

I would say that about 90% of my overload signals have been cans, but I can clearly remember one overload signal that was a zinc plated lid with a white glass liner followed by a glass mason with shall I say round silver pieces in it.