I Keep Scratching Coins

[stayrunner]

I've had my Cibola for about 3 weeks now and I'm digging everything and having fun, but I keep scratching the coins when I recover them. I'm using a flathead screwdriver since the ground is mainly hard packed dirt. I could sure use some tips on getting these coins out of the ground; the good news is I've only scratched clad and not any silver! Any suggestions? Maybe I could grind down the screwdriver?

 

[Elton]

Then dig deeper for the target without doing damage to grass.

 

[JimGilmore]

I have been using a probe made from fiberglass rod and file handleand seems to work ok.....I have not scratcked up any coins yet.....but I do need to work carefully where I think good coins might bee. It will dent aluminum if you probe forcefully.

 

[TerraDigger]

Get a gasket scraper at a auto parts store. Has a flattened head. Rest is like a screwdriver in size. Put a grinder wheel to the head to smooth/round it out. Makes a nice coin popper. They come in different sizes so if you need a heavy duty coin popper with a thicker/longer shaft, its available.

 

[stayrunner]

Thanks, those are good ideas! Sounds like experimenting to find what works is the name of the game. I like that!

 

[dewcon4414]

It may just be because of the hard dirt. You get under the coin and the hard dirt requires more pressure and the coin doesnt move as easily causing the damage.

Dew

 

[mudpuppy]

It takes a ton of practice, like daily for a year! but, by dang, you wouldn't believe the "feel" you will develope both with the probe, as well as telling the depth of the coin by the strength of the signal...
you will be able to tell the differrence in underground objects just by touching them with the probe...you can distinguish rocks and pulltabs and all sorts of foils without having to dig them up if you dont want to..you wont scratch coins if you really try to master this method, it just takes lots of practice...you could also use the probe to pinpoint, and leave it in the ground over a deep coin, then dig around it to retrieve it. that works good and fast too..
Mud

 

[mortarman]

You could also try a small nylon garden shovel until your skills develop. I've been practicing in my back yard and I don't even have a detector yet. Soon though!!

 

[Bucksport]

I use a 1/4 in brass rod around 6 inches long and rounded at the tip

 

[Jerry-Wi]

I scratched quite a few when I first started popping them out with a screw driver. Hardly ever do now and only when I get careless. Like already mentioned, it gets better with practice.

Jerry

 

[wvrick]

If you know someone who can braze, I have my long shaft screwdriver that I grinded off the tip to a flat end and brazed brass to make it brass tipped.

 

[WV62]

I use a ice pick with the tip slightly blunted, now most of the time I only use the probe to feel for a coin or metal item. Then I cut a 3 sided plug and remove my prize or junk. Sometimes if it turns out to be shallow I will locate it and take the probe and zip open the grass and roots just above the coin and put the probe under the coin and a finger on top and pop it out.

I know a lot guys out there cringed when I said ice pick, but I have tried just about everything and none have the feel in the ground that the ice pick does. Okay now my secret is out.

Ron in WV

 

[codydog50]

Ground conditions can dictate the best tool for the job! That being said, I have used a brass probe for years. It takes practice to learn "the feel" for coins.
You can make your own out of 1/4" brass rod and a brass drawer pull. ( cut the rod 6 1/2" long, drill out the threads on the pull to 1/4", add a few nicks to the end of rod and JB Weld in place!) Works great, looks cool! be sure to round the end of the probe with a belt sander! for a coin popper that won't scratch, take a flat screwdriver attach a 3/4" long piece of brass tube to the blade, flatten brass, JB Weld or solder in place! These tools work great and are easy to make! HH....C-Dog