Hello From A Metal Detecting Newbie:smile:

[LayDeeBuggAngel]

Hi y'all,

I've recently decided to take up the hobby of metal detecting. I have a Garrett Ace 250 on the way as I'm posting this. Well, I know zilch about this hobby except that you can find cool stuff. So, any newbie advice would be appreciated. Like the best places to MD, how to clean stuff I find,what other equipment would be beneficial, etc. Well, I just wanted to introduce myself and get some good tips from you pros before my detector arrives.

Thanks In Advance,

LayDeeBuggAngel

 

[Uncle Willy]

Welcome aboard. You've chosen a great detector to start out with. The places to hunt are endless, anywhere people have been unless it's private property. Read your manual more than once and practice, practice, practice. The best place to practice is in bark chip playgrounds.

Bill

 

[LayDeeBuggAngel]

Cool, thanks Bill. I can't wait until it arrives so I can test it out and practice

 

[BILLinOK]

Read the posts on this forum, especially the ones about the ACE 250. You'll learn alot! Welcome to the forum.

 

[John 'n' W.Va]

n/t

 

[Oak]

n/t

 

[Dick from IA]

Welcome, Welcome to a darn friendly and informative Garrett forum. The advice to scroll back and search for posts about the Ace 250 is "right on". It's amazing how quickly one can forget some simple little tip that will make a world of difference in your finds. I go back through posts quite often & it does help.

Good Luck and keep coming back!!

 

[John-Edmonton]

If you have any questions, just fire away. We were all in your shoes at one time. and please post your finds.

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[Mick in Dubbo]

Welcome to the forum There is a mountain of info available for you. If you want some tips on using the Ace, just have a look under the thread Ace250 Question, which is close to this post. I've written some tips in there that will be helpful "Tips for Newbies". Apart from that, like bill said bark chip areas are the easiest to learn in, as well as the beach' if you live near water.
A few tools that you will also need. 1)Patience.This is a fun and relaxing hobby, but when you first start, you will be learning a new skill, so be kind to yourself if you get a little frustrated at first. We all went through that.
You are also going to need some basic digging tools. The 4 most common tools are, a thin longish screw driver, a coin probe. It looks like a screw driver, but is designed for probing coins without damaging them. A coin trowel. It looks a bit like your common garden trowel, but thinner. Last but not least, a leshe (not quite sure how to spell that one).It is an implement that looks a bit like a knife, but is designed for cutting plugs. All of these tools can be bought from your local detecting store. You will need to check with your local laws as to whether you can carry a leshe though, as some places, it may be considered an offensive weapon by your law enforcement authorities.
The only other thing that you should take out with you, is a sense of adventure. I hope you enjoy your new hobby.
Mick Evans.

 

[ohio fred]

n/t

 

[ohio fred]

If you get a good signal and you pinpoint it and then start to dig and you cant seem to find it don't give up.I notice a lot of time once the ground matrix is broke you lose the signal even rechecking the hole wont find it.So you need usually to dig another 3 to 4 inches down.If you know something was there for sure it is still there,I had this happen a lot on older coins but you have to dig a little deeper and scan the dirt you pull out.A lot of time the coin is straight up and down in the side of hole.But remember when you are new to metal detecting you dig a lot of junk and as times gos on less and less.But with the 250 on days you get frustrated you can notch out almost any thing and just hunt quarters or dime or just nickels,It is a great machine for the price and will give 600 dollars detectors a run for the money especially if you have all the coils.It is a great detector to have in the car.I wish my whites mxt had a notch system like the 250 and not a dial up and lose everything.The notch system is great.Hope you take time and learn it is a great hobby and hard not to pull out your detector were ever you go. good luck and good hunting.

 

[awhitster]

See what a friendly bunch we are. No secrets here on how to use the Yeller Feller. The only secrets might be our "hot spots"You will want to invest in a pin pointer. There are a lot on the market. I prefer the Vibraprobe. Don't let the price scare you. It sure makes locating a coin in the hole so much easier. Checking your own yard was good advice. I didn't have mine for barley an hour and found an Indian head penny in my yard. Make sure you watch the DVD that comes with it. I found it easier to follow at first than the manual. Happy

 

[LayDeeBuggAngel]

wow...thanks for all the replies...y'all are a friendly bunch....I see I have a lot to learn...and a lot more supplies to buy eventually (when my budget allows) I've looked through a lot of the posts here...especially the pics..I like seeing what kinds of things I may/may not find..but I'm sure I'll have lotsa questions at first..heheh...

 

[Uncle Willy]

You'll do fine with the stock coil for awhile. It will find you enough goodies to keep you busy.

Bill

 

[KCK]

I guess if I could give any advice to someone new just starting the hobby it would be as follows:

Slow way down, practice in an area such as your local school grounds.
Slow down and cover the area of your hunt from more than one direction.
Slow down and dig every target until your mind says theres no need to dig this one.
Slow down...use a small coil if possible, cover the same area you did in the previous week. Make notes to your self while hunting. After about two weeks of general hunting, you'll feel better about the knowledge you've gained and have and increased knowledge of how the hobby really works.
Slow down and take the next 6-8 months to develop the skills your detector is teaching you!

All the new age bells and whistles are a fine thing! But many men and women have stated they found the most stuff in the old days when they discriminated less and dug more.

Finally remember that if you decide to discriminate pull tabs, you'll lose some of the Gold range and possibly your nickel range as well.

The detector you have chosen is and excellant detector for anyone!

Oh yea...did I mention , Slow Down!


Have fun and enjoy your new hobby, Remember if you get discouraged jump on this forum and your pals will be here for you!


KCK/Ohio

 

[ScottyD.C.O.]

hi, im a newbie too. my wife just got me a bounty hunter tracker2 for xmas 06. i live in an area that the ground freezes until about now. still i found 5.00 in clad(in about 10 hours of chipping) during jan. in feb i ordered the ace 250. since then i have found many more coins, an ear ring, and today a 10k gold band!! so good luck to you, check out my post, and dig nickels/pull tabs! good luck!! scott

 

[Leslie(nova scotia)]

From the land of the Bluenose.....nice to see a newbie joining the crew. Looking forward to reading about your finds and adventures.