Detector psychology

[nad]

Do you ever think about how you look to other people when you are detecting?. I go to tot lots, and school yards with a small modified trowel, no knife, or anything that looks dangerous..Trowels are common digging tools, and are accepted by the majority of the viewers. No threat implied.....I went to a house today, and asked permission to search . Told the lady that it was a bar turn of the century, and I would like to see what's in the ground.Showed her the Silver U Max and she lite up with a smile..That is going to find something in the ground??? Turned it on and it went beep,,,beep, beep, beep...lots of stuff. "Well dig something up" Not until it rains, otherwise I'll leave brown spots..That's fine,, stop back anytime..Jeez, I may get the 5 inch coil just to make it look even more harmless..But, the lady has seen the BIG metal detectors on Florida beaches, deep holes, and you have to admit, the Silver looks like a toy..Cordially NAD

 

[pulltab]

I have yet to ask a stranger to do there yard
I've seen some houses I would like to do. just a little scared of NO

 

[Scully]

If they say "no", you leave your information, tell them you would be available should they ever lose a ring or keys, etc., then politely leave. There are a ton of other places to hunt, just drive down the road to the next place. I have had people call me back to find a ring or property stakes. Once found and when asked what I charge I simply say "allow me to hunt the rest of your yard". Its good PR work too, they tell their friends and pretty soon you are more well known.

 

[marcomo]

Being friendly and most of all being non-threatening is the key to getting permission from people you don't know.

A lot of people think metal detectorists are a little odd, accept that and don't let it bother you. If you're worried about strangers thinking you're a little weird than it's time to find a different hobby.

I NEVER knock on anyone's door unsolicited to ask permission. Why you ask? Put yourself in their shoes. What goes through your mind when someone you don't know knocks on your door? I think what's this person trying to sell me. Or how are they going to try and scam me. Is it a traveller or gypsy trying to steal my stuff? A lot of people, especially women or older people are downright scared. They may not answer the door. If they do you can bet they are on the defensive with their guard up.

On the other hand, when people are outside working in their yard, sitting on their porch, etc. they are much more open to being approached. I very seldom get turned down asking people who are already outside. Again the key is to be friendly and non-threatening. You can't act scared and nervous. If you do people will sense it and think why is this person acting nervous?

But the very best and easiest way to get people to let you detect is just to be friendly and approachable when they come up to you or see you detecting another yard in the neighborhood. Doing this should come naturally anyway. The typical non-detectorist is going to see you and think what is that strange person doing in my neighbor's yard? Be nice to the kids who will invariably come over to watch. When kids are interested in what I'm doing, I always offer to let them try it themselves with my extra Compadre as long as they get their parents permission. By telling the kids they need their parents permission you accomplish two things. You let the parents know that you are not a threat and you also engage them in what you're doing so there is a good chance they'll give you permission too. Especially when they see how careful you are not to damage their neighbors yard. I haven't had any kid damage my detector yet and I don't worry about it because Tesoros are built tough and they have a lifetime warranty.

I'm willing to let someone who gives me permission to detect use the Compadre and hunt with me. Or let their kids detect with me. It's a big kick to see kids get excited to find something. I never offer to share my finds. I like to tell people that the chance of finding something really valuable is like the chance of winning the lottery. I let them know the truth: the thrill for me is finding something that was lost many years ago. Just the history of it and imagining who might have dropped it. Finding a wheat penny is more exciting to me than finding a new quarter, even though the quarter is worth at least five times more.

Enthusiasm is contagious, I'm never shy about showing how much I enjoy this hobby.

 

[nad]

I have an advantage. I have lived in this town since 1969. It is about 2500 or so people and I've said "hello" to most of them, stopped to chat, or thrown their paper on the porch..There are places out of town where I will ask, and get turned down.There ,I leave my card..Being a Santa carver, that usually gets some attention..Any of you characters carvers?( I had the last page and back cover of Chip Chats in N/D 2007 with one of my patterns)..Also,remember, you may outlive the person who said NO...Went for a haircut, saw a lady pulling into a property that was a House of Horizontal recreation years ago . Aw what the hay! Pulled in, asked and got permission...Found out at the barbershop, it may still be in operation????? Cordially NAD

 

[marcomo]

If you dig a lot of targets you'll have something in common with the ladies: you'll be getting down on your knees a lot!

 

[jabbo]

I got permission to search the yard of my sisters freind a few days ago. The owner said she lost a ring 40 years ago and hoped I would find it. Well, 10 minutes after I started, she came out and said she didn't know I had to dig a hole for everything and she didn't want her yard full of holes. I was digging tiny 2 inch plugs, putting all the dirt back, impossible to see. That ended that search real quick. So, I learned that some people don't have a clue that the targets are under the grass roots and that we must dig them up. Her house and yard were not maintained and was neglected for maybe 40 years, and yet she was concerned about me digging with a knife. Gotta make sure that they understand the procedure. Jabbo

 

[marcomo]

That's a bad break, jabbo. She must not have wanted the ring that bad.

If all you were doing was digging 2" plugs (that's a really small plug) I'd suggest trying the probe and pop method where you pop the target up with your probe. Works great on targets about 4" or less. Doesn't leave any telltale signs and if anyone is watching they won't see you digging holes.

 

[nad]

Dave, do you think we could do a probe saw catcher to check for rings/coins. Maybe brass to hit the coins, saw catcher to try and pull out rings..Anyway, the place along the river where they had picnics in the late thirties/early forties is a sod farm, so they may have scooped the stuff with the sod.. .Along the river from across 7Th Ave, you can dig Indian relics.Why don't you work a band along that side for Revolutionary War artifacts... . Now facing the river, to the left, up a ways is a bridge. One character fishing told me he saw a gun come sailing into the river..It is shallow. Same with the bridge to your right , down a ways.. Zarky said something about either finding one or seeing one..thrown in. That was a long time ago.. These are some of the spots I wanted to work if I got back. How about my front yard in the old neighborhood, or the two swimming holes? You don't have to beg lawns...Remember the research center that went out of business,, big ball fields ,many parties..Is French's house still standing? 1600's.That area, how many people fished along the falls since the 20's????? Suicide Hill? at the park...How about the Cliff, greatest make out place on the East coast.....And, if all else fails come on out..There is a yard where military officers had parties and danced on the lawn , you'll have to drive..Supposed to rain Sat.Have a show to do,maybe Sunday,morning I can check a place or two....Send me a County map....Cordially NAd

 

[marcomo]

Pardon my ignorance, but what's a saw catcher?

 

[nad]

Somewhere back in time Jabbo came up with a removal tool that looked like a reverse saw.The teeth snagging a ring.or help lifting the coins.I have a spot, that if I could dead nuts pin point, there may be a whale of a lot of rings to be taken...Just like I did with the Silver U Max, I'll be all over this and other sites looking for/at /about pin pointers..Anyway, a probe to either hit a coin,,(,going back to the late twenties on this site), or not hitting a disc, assumption there is a ring to be had..As soon as I can make the time, need to find exactly where dead center is on my coil,Then finding someone going to the big box store and starting with that pin pointer....This hobby is so much fun and addicting it isn't even funny...I've got two" buried" stories that I want to chase down, in two 5 acre fields, and the older I get, the less likely that I'll ever go after them.............Staying with the small stuff,,,,,cordially NAD

 

[marcomo]

Sounds interesting, if you have a picture I'd love to see it.

 

[jabbo]

Here's a pic of the ring/pulltab pulling tool that NAD mentioned. Made from an 8 inch bread knife (not a knife that has a long tapered point). Hooks onto just about anything, even C size batteries. Need a Dremel tool to cut the notches. Added the larger handles seen in the photo, then later changed them to a longer wood handle for two hand grip, easier to push it into the soil with two hands. Heck, if the handle was made 3 feet long you wouldn't have to even bend over. The bottom hook will wear down eventually from the larger round stones that it can't hook onto. Works good in moist soil, dry soil is hard to penetrate with this tool. I use it in parks searching for rings and clad up to 4 - 5 inches deep. Iv'e pulled out thousands of pulltabs, canslaw, bottle caps, trash of all kinds, modern coins, and a few rings. Sometimes I get lucky and get the target in one swipe as I pull up and toward me. When I miss, I try again in the same slit and twist it to make it go right or left. Jabbo

 

[marcomo]

That's down right ingenious, maybe you should patent it!